Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2020-2021 Overall Rank: #42
Conference Rank: #7 ACC
It has been over a decade since Georgia Tech last reached the NCAA Tournament. With six experienced upperclassmen returning to a team that finished a respectable fifth in the ACC, this could be the Yellow Jackets’ best chance. Coach Josh Pastner has done a solid job building up this program, but now is the time to see some results.
2019-20 Record: 17-14, 11-9
Coach: Josh Pastner
Coach Record: 65-67 at Georgia Tech, 232-140 overall
Key Departed Players:
James Banks III, Forward/Center, 9.5 ppg
Evan Cole, Forward, 4.4 ppg
Asanti Price, Guard, 2.7 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Michael Devoe, Junior, Guard, 16.0 ppg
Jose Alvarado, Senior, Guard, 14.4 ppg
Moses Wright, Senior, Forward, 13.0 ppg
Jordan Usher, Senior, Guard/Forward, 8.2 ppg
Bubba Parham, Senior, Guard, 5.2 ppg
Khalid Moore, Junior, Forward, 3.3 ppg
Key New Players:
Saba Gigiberia, Freshman, Forward/Center
Rodney Howard, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Georgia
Tristan Maxwell, Freshman, Guard
Jordan Meka, Freshman, Forward
Kyle Sturdivant, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from USC
Projection:
Michael Devoe was the team’s top scorer last year, averaging 16.0 points per game on top of 3.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals. Devoe is one of the most consistent three-point shooters in the ACC as well, connecting on 42.7 percent of his attempts from long range. Jose Alvarado has not been as consistent from long range as Devoe, but the senior can still fill up the stat sheet. Alvarado tallied 14.4 points, 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game last year. Wing Jordan Usher missed the first semester last season after transferring in from USC, but once eligible he made a big impact. Bubba Parham only averaged 5.2 points per game during his first year with the Yellow Jackets, but he was a key player in Coach Pastner’s rotation and will be again. The frontcourt will be held down by Moses Wright. The 6-9 senior turned into a very productive player last season, averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. The problem in the paint will be replacing James Banks III and his production on the defensive end of the floor. Khalid Moore has potential, but has yet to live up to it. The addition of Georgia transfer Rodney Howard will at least provide a little more depth. Howard only saw limited minutes as a freshman with the Bulldogs, but should be ready to see some more action at Georgia Tech. Like Howard, Kyle Sturdivant spent one season at a major program without making much of an impact. Sturdivant comes from USC where he played just 8.3 minutes per game. Georgia Tech will not need too much production out of their newcomers, but a couple of them will be asked to play a few quality minutes here and there. If they do, this will be a team knocking on the door of the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 68.6 (251st in nation, 10th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 66.4 (93, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.2 (97, 4)
Field-Goal Defense: 39.9 (33, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.2 (330, 15)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 31.2 (285, 11)
Free-Throw Percentage: 67.7 (274, 14)
Rebound Margin: 2.5 (110, 7)
Assists Per Game: 13.7 (124, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 16.2 (339, 15)
