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KP Report: WF @ GT 6 pm Sunday ACCN

Pilchard

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Our undefeated Deacs embark on their first road trip of the season as they head to McCamish Pavilion on Sunday for WF's ACC Opener. Here is a quick take on the Jackets:

This season: Lost in the haze of the confusing end to the 2020 season was the GT surprising 5th place finish and winning conference record (11-9). Josh Pastner had the Jackets playing their best ball to end last season as they finished last year winning six of their last seven ACC games, and their last 8 games at McCamish. With that hot finish and 6 of their top 7 returning, some jumped on the the Jackets as a trendy surprise team in 2021. Things didn't start as planned as GT opened the season with losses to GA State (#106) in 4 OTs and Mercer (#160). Since the early stumble to start the season, GT has returned to form winning 5 of 6, including a dominating 17 point win over KY (#52) and Wednesday's come from behind 5 point win over UNC (# 27). GT's lone loss since November was by 13 at talented FSU (#32). Heading into Sunday's tilt versus the Deacs, GT sits at 5-3 (1-1).

The lineup: GT is one of the most experienced teams in the country (#6), but they aren't deep (#322 in bench minutes) or particularly big (#265 in height), against UNC, the Jackets top 6 played all but 9 minutes. GT has an experienced battle tested back court with 6-0 Sr. Jose Alvarado (seems like he's been at GT forever, think Bobby Cremins may have recruited Alvarado ;-)), 5-11 Sr. Bubba Parham and 6-5 Junior Michael Devoe. All are threats from 3, as they have combined for 46 threes on the season, Alvarado is the best so far this year, shooting 40% from deep; Devoe considered heading to the NBA after last season and can score. GT is not huge upfront with C James Banks departing, but 6-9 Sr. Moses Wright has improved every year to become a solid inside finisher, while 6-7 Jordan Usher and 6-7 Khalid Moore rotate in at the PF and C spots. Each of GT's top 6 can hit the 3.

The skinny: When looking at early in the conference season matchups, often look to see if either team is stepping up in competition for the first time (to go against the team faces speed, size and ability for the first time). No team is taking a bigger step up in competition to start conference play than WF. The two D1 teams (Del. State and Longwood) that WF has played to start the year are a combined 2-13 on the season and both are rated among the bottom 15% in D1 teams. Plus as the result of COVID racking the program, WF has played one game since November 27, and to be kind, WF looked "rusty" against D2 Catawba yesterday. Finally, WF may be missing up to 5 scholarship players (Ingraham, Adams, Antonio, Dubose and Okpomo) on Sunday. Given these factors, the KP projected final of 73-67 is essentially meaningless. The line will be double digits, and expect the vast majority of the action to be on GT. Against a deeper, bigger opponet, I would be calling for a WF blowout loss, but GT is coming off a huge win over UNC and they have a key road trip on deck. Also, GT under Pastner notoriously plays up to or down to their competition. As mentioned above, they have lost GA State and Mercer (who are decent mid-major teams), and they also allowed Florida A&M (#294) to hang around only beating the Rattlers by 10. Finally, GT also played pathetic Delaware State and Pastner somehow found a way to win that game by "only" 28, WF beat the Hornets by 60. Within the realm of possibility for GT to fail to bring their "A" or even their "B" game on Sunday. Unfortunately, even if GT plays with a lack of focus, it doesn't appear that WF is in position to take advantage given the adversity faced to start the season. WF may hang around early, but the more experienced and talented Jackets will pull away to win.
 
Wake may have Antonio available for some playing time. Supposedly he was held out of the Catawba game "in an abundance of caution." His shooting could help Wake stay competitive.

At least Wake isn't at a massive size disadvantage in this game. They will be in the future.
 
Alvarado has had a nice career. He had some good games as a freshman coming off the bench behind Travis Best.
 
Alvarado is STILL at GT!?! I thought he was about 30 now. Shows how closely I have followed the ACC during the dark ages of our program.
 
Moses Wright could easily have 20 and 20. We don't have anyone that can stop him down low.
 
Alvarado and Brook Steppe were an awesome backcourt combo.
 
Looks like we can go all-out since UVA's likely to cancel.
 
Reading that GT has some COVID problems within their program. Not sure if we are looking at playing a depleted Jacket team, postponing the game, or cancellation all together.

If we have to postpone/cancel, it would be nice to slide an out of conference game in, although it'll be tough to schedule with such short notice
 
Reading that GT has some COVID problems within their program. Not sure if we are looking at playing a depleted Jacket team, postponing the game, or cancellation all together.

If we have to postpone/cancel, it would be nice to slide an out of conference game in, although it'll be tough to schedule with such short notice

So if we finish the season 7-0, we make the tourney, right? Ohio State just set the precedent.
 
The NCAA implemented a rule prior to this COVID season that to qualify for the NCAAs a team must play at least 13 D1 games. Not sure how the NCAA came up with the number, but the Deacs must find a path to at least 11 more D1 games.
 
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How many of our players had covid? Maybe we are the one team that doesn’t have to worry about catching it now.
 
I know who Brooke Steppe is but couldn’t name Alvarado or any other current Ga Tech douche-loser if you put a gun to my head.
 
Need Antonio ready to go if we are going to have a punchers chance. And we need like a 6 for 8 shooting performance from him.

Otherwise we will have an 8 man rotation of Neath, Zay, massoud,Ody, Williamson, Whitt, Johnson and Wilkins.
 
Oh yeah, and one of those guys just graduated HS and is limited due to conditioning and lack of practice with the team.
 
Oh yeah, and one of those guys just graduated HS and is limited due to conditioning and lack of practice with the team.

Saw that against Catawba :) Biggest problem Whitt has is on defense. Seemed to slide right into the offense
 
Well Forbes’ philosophy is to recruit for offense and teach defense. Seems like that’s what we have with Whitt.
 
Saw that against Catawba :) Biggest problem Whitt has is on defense. Seemed to slide right into the offense

Not sure that 25 minutes says he is limited by conditioning. Because his understanding of the D is limited, because he has had only a few practices, his minutes may reflect that.
 
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