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In the final game of the regular season, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defeated the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 64-56. Josh Okogie finished with 22 points, six rebounds, and three assists. The game was a back and forth slop-fest riddled with turnovers. Georgia Tech’s defense played especially rugged forcing 22 turnovers. The Yellow Jackets made scoring in the lane almost impossible, keeping the Demon Deacons mostly on the perimeter.
After the game, the Jackets found out they would be playing Boston College in round 1 of the ACC Tournament. Georgia Tech will need the same kind of defensive effort throughout the tournament, minus the turnovers. They allow 69.3 points per game versus ACC opponents and they only score 63.6 themselves.
Boston College should provide some relief in that area for the Tech offense. Versus the ACC they allow 77.7 points per game while giving up a .458% shooting percentage from the field. The 74.6 points they average per game is well above what the Yellow Jackets allow, which means forcing turnovers will be their best friend. The Jackets rank sixth in the ACC in steals. Quick hands on the perimeter will lead to fast break points going the other way.
Tech will have to get points inside with center Ben Lammers and their penetrating guards Okogie and Tadric Jackson. They have proven themselves as guys able to finish around the basket and draw fouls. Boston College is 13th in the ACC in blocked shots, with only one of their players (Steffon Mitchell) averaging at least one block per game.
The regular season finale proved the Yellow Jackets have another gear they can tap into. Boston College is formidable but definitely a team the Yellow Jackets can defeat to move on to round two. Winning the ACC Tournament is their only way into the NCAA Tournament. The Jackets may have caught their second wind and we will soon find out which way the breeze blows.
Game Notes:
Midway through the first half of the game versus Wake Forest, Josh Okogie scored his 1,000th point. He is the third Yellow Jackets player on the current roster to accomplish that feat, joining Ben Lammers and Tadric Jackson.
Wake Forest guard Bryant Crawford was the ACC’s active leader in total assists with 458 coming into the game. He finished the game with 22 points, but only had three assists and eight turnovers.
