With each team trying to inch back to the .500 mark, Georgia Tech hosts Virginia Tech in Atlantic Coast Conference play on Wednesday in Atlanta.
Georgia Tech (8-11, 2-6 ACC) enters play reeling and undermanned, having dropped four in a row while playing without several key pieces. In its 91-78 loss at Florida State on Saturday, the Yellow Jackets played just six players due to injuries.
Kowacie Reeves Jr. (9.3 points per game), Luke O’Brien (6.4 ppg, 4.4 rebounds per game) and Jaeden Mustaf (9.1 ppg) were all out Saturday for Georgia Tech.
Despite the missing production for the Yellow Jackets, coach Damon Stoudamire is refusing to make excuses ahead of Wednesday’s game.
“The game isn’t all physical. You’ve got to become better mentally,” he said. “I think that we make a big deal out of certain things. Here’s the reality. You can play six or seven guys and win. I believe we can win games. The one thing you’ll never hear from me is an excuse about injuries.”
During Georgia Tech’s four-game skid, slow starts have been a recurring issue. In losses to Syracuse, SMU, Clemson and Florida State, the Yellow Jackets are averaging just 23 points per game in the first half — a problem Stoudamire knows his team must correct.
“I think that our slow starts are a byproduct of not taking the shots that are there at times,” Stoudamire said. “I think that we play well enough on defense to be in games early, but we haven’t scored the ball. We’ve got to take the shots.”
On the season, Lance Terry leads the team with 15.8 points per game, while Javian McCollum scores 12.9 and Baye Ndongo chips in 11.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest.
Virginia Tech (8-10, 3-4) ended a two-game winning streak with Saturday’s 72-63 home loss to Wake Forest. The Hokies, who are looking to avoid their first losing season in a decade, didn’t pass or protect the ball well against the Demon Deacons.
“That’s so disgusting. Nine assists to 14 turnovers. That’s hard to see,” coach Mike Young said. “We’ve never played that way. You can’t play that way and win.”
Tobi Lawal, who’s recorded consecutive double-doubles, leads the Hokies with 12.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Mylyjael Poteat follows with 10.6 points per game.
