Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Overall Rank: #41
Conference Rank: #7 ACC
Georgia Tech Team Page
The high scoring Georgia Tech squad fought their way to a 9-7 record in ACC play and that was good enough to sneak into the NCAA Tournament. Once there, the Yellow Jackets defense again let them down. They allowed 98 points to seventh seeded LSU in a 20 point first round loss. The ACC is going to be tough, but this group has the talent to get above .500 in conference play and get back to the NCAA Tournament.
2013-14 Record: 20-12, 9-7
2013-14 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: MaChelle Joseph
Coach Record: 213-134 at Georgia Tech, 213-134 overall
Strengths:
Tyaunna Marshall, who led the team with 19.6 points per game, is gone, but Georgia Tech still has plenty of scorers. Kaela Davis is a dynamic scoring threat who knocked down 85 three-pointers as a freshman. She also scored plenty inside the arc and averaged 18.6 points per game. Davis is now the prime scorer for this team and we will see how she performs in that role. But there are plenty of other scorers who are ready to step up. Fellow guard Sydney Wallace is the other shooting threat. The 5-8 senior averaged 9.8 points per game and is capable of helping to replace Marshall’s scoring. Aaliyah Whiteside has had some great offensive showings during her first two years and will surely have more. The 6-0 wing can finish around the basket and a more consistent outside shot would turn her into a consistent double digit scorer. Nariah Taylor, Roddreka Rogers and Katarina Vickovic will have to handle most of the interior scoring. Taylor averaged 6.2 points per game as a sophomore despite only playing 14.6 minutes per game. Rogers can score some in the paint too, but she will also be the team’s top rebounder.
Weaknesses:
The rest of the frontcourt is relatively unproven in the scoring department. However, Coach MaChelle Joseph will get some production out of 5-11 freshman forward Zaire O’Neil. The scoring will be solid all over the floor, but this team does need to find somebody besides Rogers who will hit the glass. And defense in general has been an issue for the Yellow Jackets recently. Taylor can block some shots, but Georgia Tech still allowed their opponents to shoot 40.9 percent from the floor while scoring nearly 72 points per game.
Final Projection:
Georgia Tech has the potential to take a step up this year, but a small step back seems more likely without Marshall. That would leave the Yellow Jackets right on the bubble and that is not a bad place for the program to be right now. As long as the frontcourt can be effective on the glass and the defense gets a little better, this group will end up on the right side of the bubble.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA Tournament
Projected Starting Five:
Sydney Wallace, Senior, Guard, 9.8 points per game
Kaela Davis, Sophomore, Guard, 18.6 points per game
Aaliyah Whiteside, Junior, Guard, 7.8 points per game
Zaire O’Neil, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
Roddreka Rogers, Junior, Forward, 6.0 points per game
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 79.7 (18th in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 71.7 (275, 15)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.7 (70, 7)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.9 (204, 11)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.4 (149, 6)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 31.4 (169, 8)
Free-Throw Percentage: 67.0 (252, 9)
Rebound Margin: 4.8 (55, 5)
Assists Per Game: 13.3 (186, 11)
Turnovers Per Game: 16.8 (235, 11)
Madness 2014 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#37 Zaire O'Neil
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