Georgia Tech Preview and Game Thread -- 03-19-2021

[swellafelon]

As I understand Georgia Tech plays a lot of zone defense. I don't recall us facing a lot of zone this year.
Does anybody recall how we looked against a zone, and how we attacked it?

[JCT]

As I understand Georgia Tech plays a lot of zone defense. I don't recall us facing a lot of zone this year.
Does anybody recall how we looked against a zone, and how we attacked it?

We were 4-0 against Illinois State and Bradley, the two MVC teams that play a lot of zone. I don't think we have a lot of trouble with 2-3 or 3-2 zones (remember how frightened we were of zones several years ago?), but the 1-3-1 is more tricky. The usual way of breaking a zone is a lob pass to a (tall) player near the FT line, which causes the zone to collapse on a player, which opens someone on the perimeter to shoot or drive. The 1-3-1 packs the center of the court, which discourages passes to the high post with the possibility of trapping. This dares teams to pass out of the high post to corner shooters, but GT has wrinkles and modifications on their 1-3-1 that adapts for that. They also gamble more on steal attempts than most zone defenses are set up for.

I think the senior leadership of Krutwig and Wiliamson (plus Clemons, Uguak and Hall) gives us a lot of experience to counter zones. The ACC loses so many players early in their career to the pros, and the sophomore and junior starters don't have as much experience as they do in non-power conferences. Maybe that's why Syracuse always seems to do well.

[swellafelon]

Thanks JCT. I hope we bring our 3 point shooting eye. Lucas I believe likes the corner 3.

[ahunte1]

Great article here about the Covid situation. Hate to say this, but I really like Pastner.

https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-tech ... utType=amp

[GoRamblers]

Great article here about the Covid situation. Hate to say this, but I really like Pastner.

https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-tech ... utType=amp

Don't love the author who gave GT the higher seed.

[swellafelon]

Hot take:

Indianapolis area native Tate Hall will have a big game on his home turf.

12 points, 2 for 4 on 3s, 5 boards.

[ToledoRambler]

Hot take:

Indianapolis area native Tate Hall will have a big game on his home turf.

12 points, 2 for 4 on 3s, 5 boards.

What will his free-throw percentage be?

[shyhyme]

Ticket prices dropping on the Stubhub. 4 pack as low as $148 apiece. Who’s ready to fire up the Winnebago?

[eg1]

As I understand Georgia Tech plays a lot of zone defense. I don't recall us facing a lot of zone this year.
Does anybody recall how we looked against a zone, and how we attacked it?

We were 4-0 against Illinois State and Bradley, the two MVC teams that play a lot of zone. I don't think we have a lot of trouble with 2-3 or 3-2 zones (remember how frightened we were of zones several years ago?), but the 1-3-1 is more tricky. The usual way of breaking a zone is a lob pass to a (tall) player near the FT line, which causes the zone to collapse on a player, which opens someone on the perimeter to shoot or drive. The 1-3-1 packs the center of the court, which discourages passes to the high post with the possibility of trapping. This dares teams to pass out of the high post to corner shooters, but GT has wrinkles and modifications on their 1-3-1 that adapts for that. They also gamble more on steal attempts than most zone defenses are set up for.

I think the senior leadership of Krutwig and Wiliamson (plus Clemons, Uguak and Hall) gives us a lot of experience to counter zones. The ACC loses so many players early in their career to the pros, and the sophomore and junior starters don't have as much experience as they do in non-power conferences. Maybe that's why Syracuse always seems to do well.

I think Krutwig gives you guys a huge advantage playing against zones — a big target with great hands and vision who does his best distributive work from the high post. The loss of Wright will also take pressure off him on the defensive end. I think you win unless you have an uncharacteristically poor shooting day.

[01grad]

Virginia Tech and Florida headed to OT. Might push the start time of our game back a bit.