Countdown to Tipoff: Site Predictions

Countdown to Tip-off: 1 day

Its time to make some predictions!!! The FTRS staff will take a stab at how the season will go for the Jackets, game by game results, and player predictions.

Patrick

Overall Finish: 19-12 (12-8)

I have high expectations for this team, but its also the most talented team Georgia Tech has ever had under Pastner. They have finally reached the first part of Pastner’s go-to saying: “Get old and stay old.” The Jackets return 75% of their minutes from last season, including their top 3 players: Banks, Devoe, and Alvarado. The addition of sharpshooter Bubba Parham and do-it-all forward Jordan Usher should allow for the Jackets to have a NCAA tournament resume and their best ACC record of the 21st century. The offense has been the biggest question mark under Pastner, and that should be vastly improved through development and Parham’s shooting. In addition, Georgia Tech is much deeper than in years past at guard and wing, so they won’t need to be reliant the starters playing 35+ minutes per game.

Predictions: James Banks wins ACC Defensive Player of the Year and 2nd team All ACC, Bubba finishes in the top 25 in 3-pointers made but Devoe will lead in percentage, Georgia Tech averages 74 points per game.

Robert

Overall Finish: 18-13 (10-10)

What stands out for me this season is the amount of different weapons that the Jackets will have, especially in the backcourt. Jose Alvarado, Mike Devoe, and Bubba Parham make up one of the strongest group of guards in the conference. James Banks will center the rotation down low and is among the top centers in the ACC. By his side in the paint are other very capable players in Moses Wright and Evan Cole. On the wing, Jordan Usher brings a level of athleticism and physicality that no one else on the team can match. On any given night, any of the aforementioned players can beat you with a big game, meaning if one players is struggling, Tech has other players who can fill the gap. The non-conference schedule is one of the toughest for the Jackets in a while and has the chance to make or break the season. A strong showing can create a lot of positive momentum and physically prepare Tech for ACC play while a couple bad results could spiral out of control and torpedo the season before it ever really gets started. I have Tech right at 10-10 in conference play so it will be interesting to see if they can beat that mark and finish above .500 for the first time since 2004.

Reed

Overall Finish: 17-14 (8-12)

I think this team checks a lot of boxes including the fact that the vast majority of last year’s team is back. That should provide a baseline level of cohesion that will allow them to compete with most of the conference sans the upper echelon teams that have separated themselves. The non conference schedule sets up well that hopefully will build some momentum for a more rugged ACC slate than ever before with the added two games. The defense and effort stats have always been good under Pastner but offensive questions remain. I think three headed monster in the backcourt of Alvarado, Devoe and Parham provides a shooting and playmaking dimension we haven’t seen from a Tech team in a while. Usher will need to step up on the wing but even if he does, I wonder if there is enough depth behind him. Banks will be dependable in the paint on both ends but what will we get from his frontcourt partner, Moses Wright? He is the true wild card and potential breakourt player on this roster if he is able to build on his finish to last season.

Predictions: Bubba hits 100 threes on the season, Michael Devoe make ACC all 2nd team, Shembari gets lost in the shuffle and fails to make an impact, Tech beats Louisville continuing with is tradition of beating a top 10 team at home.