Pilchard
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Our 14-4 Deacs descend on Atlanta for a Wednesday night clash at McCamish Pavillion. Here is a report on the Jackets. Admit it, you missed it. Thanks to Omicron, the Face-Shield is back.
2021-2 Jackets: Not that long ago, in March 2021, Coach Face-Shield led GT to its first ACC title in decades, but the Jackets are a very different team this season. After starting the season 5-1, beating a series of non-descript opponents, GT's fortunes have collapsed, winning only two games since November 26 (GA State in OT and @BC by 5). Currently, the Jackets sit at 7-9 (1-5 ACC) #122 (13th in the ACC). GT has been competitive, but lost its two most recent home games (L'ville by 3 and ND in OT). In addition to the loss of stalwarts Moses Wright and Joe Alvarado off last year's championship team, injuries have plagued the Jackets this year as projected starting PG Bubba Parham has only played in two games (and may be out for the season) and starting center Rodney Howard has missed the last 5 games with a sprained ankle. As the result of the losses and injuries, GT is now the worst offensive team in the ACC. In ACC play, GT is last in offensive efficiency (by a massive margin), 2nd to last in effective FG%, 2nd to last in offensive rebounding, 2nd to last free throw rate, and among the worst in both 2 PT and 3 PT FG%. The defense has been slightly better than offense, but still poor. Among the 15 ACC teams, GT is 10th overall, 11th in effective FG% defense, 12th in 2PT defense, and 11th in defensive FT rate.
Jacket Roster:
Against UNC, GT started:
G 6-2 Kyle Sturdivant Sr.: USC transfer; was a TO machine early, but has improved (no TOs in the last 3 games); 35% from 3 (41% in ACC games)
G 6-5 Gabe DeVoe Sr.: considered declaring for the 2021 NBA draft; leading scorer 20.5 PPG; 41% from 3; coming off his worst game of the season at UNC: 2 PTs 6 TOs
F 6-6 Dallen Coleman Fr.: 4 star recruit; 48% from 3; 34% from 2; erratic 4 double figure games; 6 ppg 5 rpg
F 6-7 Jordan Usher Sr.: USC transfer; 2nd leading scorer 15 ppg; 36% from 3; leading rebounder 7 per game; 22 on Saturday against UNC
F 6-7 Khalid Moore Sr.: Can't score; double figures twice all year; 23% from 3; 47% from 3; more TOs than assists
Bench:
G 6-1 Devion Smith So.: Miss. State transfer; coming off his best game of the year 16 points and 3 assists at UNC; has been awful for most of the season (82.5 O rating)
C 7-1 Saba Gigiberia So.: Forced into action due to Rodney Howard's injury; 4 points and 4 rebounds against UNC; 6 points 6 rebounds against Duke
Projection: KP projects a 73-69 WF win in 70 possessions. This is a bad spot for WF. Deacs are coming off a huge win at UVA, and host UNC on Saturday. GT is coming off an embarrassing 23 loss in Chapel Hill trailed by as much as 32. So, GT will look to bounce back in their return to Atlanta. GT has been competitive at home losing close games late to both ND and L'ville. Despite the bad spot, the matchups strongly favor WF as WF is bigger, and better offensively and defensively (particularly in the paint). As long as WF avoids TO issues, WF should win. That said, there is no chance that I would lay 4 on the road in this spot. Will just watch and be happy with a win by any margin.
2021-2 Jackets: Not that long ago, in March 2021, Coach Face-Shield led GT to its first ACC title in decades, but the Jackets are a very different team this season. After starting the season 5-1, beating a series of non-descript opponents, GT's fortunes have collapsed, winning only two games since November 26 (GA State in OT and @BC by 5). Currently, the Jackets sit at 7-9 (1-5 ACC) #122 (13th in the ACC). GT has been competitive, but lost its two most recent home games (L'ville by 3 and ND in OT). In addition to the loss of stalwarts Moses Wright and Joe Alvarado off last year's championship team, injuries have plagued the Jackets this year as projected starting PG Bubba Parham has only played in two games (and may be out for the season) and starting center Rodney Howard has missed the last 5 games with a sprained ankle. As the result of the losses and injuries, GT is now the worst offensive team in the ACC. In ACC play, GT is last in offensive efficiency (by a massive margin), 2nd to last in effective FG%, 2nd to last in offensive rebounding, 2nd to last free throw rate, and among the worst in both 2 PT and 3 PT FG%. The defense has been slightly better than offense, but still poor. Among the 15 ACC teams, GT is 10th overall, 11th in effective FG% defense, 12th in 2PT defense, and 11th in defensive FT rate.
Jacket Roster:
Against UNC, GT started:
G 6-2 Kyle Sturdivant Sr.: USC transfer; was a TO machine early, but has improved (no TOs in the last 3 games); 35% from 3 (41% in ACC games)
G 6-5 Gabe DeVoe Sr.: considered declaring for the 2021 NBA draft; leading scorer 20.5 PPG; 41% from 3; coming off his worst game of the season at UNC: 2 PTs 6 TOs
F 6-6 Dallen Coleman Fr.: 4 star recruit; 48% from 3; 34% from 2; erratic 4 double figure games; 6 ppg 5 rpg
F 6-7 Jordan Usher Sr.: USC transfer; 2nd leading scorer 15 ppg; 36% from 3; leading rebounder 7 per game; 22 on Saturday against UNC
F 6-7 Khalid Moore Sr.: Can't score; double figures twice all year; 23% from 3; 47% from 3; more TOs than assists
Bench:
G 6-1 Devion Smith So.: Miss. State transfer; coming off his best game of the year 16 points and 3 assists at UNC; has been awful for most of the season (82.5 O rating)
C 7-1 Saba Gigiberia So.: Forced into action due to Rodney Howard's injury; 4 points and 4 rebounds against UNC; 6 points 6 rebounds against Duke
Projection: KP projects a 73-69 WF win in 70 possessions. This is a bad spot for WF. Deacs are coming off a huge win at UVA, and host UNC on Saturday. GT is coming off an embarrassing 23 loss in Chapel Hill trailed by as much as 32. So, GT will look to bounce back in their return to Atlanta. GT has been competitive at home losing close games late to both ND and L'ville. Despite the bad spot, the matchups strongly favor WF as WF is bigger, and better offensively and defensively (particularly in the paint). As long as WF avoids TO issues, WF should win. That said, there is no chance that I would lay 4 on the road in this spot. Will just watch and be happy with a win by any margin.
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