Georgia Tech’s season has been an uphill battle since the start. As much as Josh Pastner would like erase the opening two losses to Georgia State and Mercer, he can’t. They are there, and they are anchors. Georgia Tech needed to really produce during their ACC schedule to make up for those games. An extremely disappointing 57-49 loss to Virginia after having a 6 point halftime lead, the Jackets sit 9-7 (5-5).
That is not the kind of resume that will make up for those opening losses. For Georgia Tech, the season is on the brink. It’s now or never for the Jackets. The margin of error is zero. Georgia Tech has eight games left with just 2 tournament quality teams Clemson and Virginia Tech left on the schedule.
The Jackets need a 6-2 finish period. That would leave Georgia Tech at 15-9 (11-7). I’m not sure that 14-10 (10-8) gets Georgia Tech in the Big Dance without a big run in the ACC tournament.
A win over Virginia would have taken some pressure off the Jackets, and produced a high quality win. That didn’t happen.
Those that follow me on twitter at @TalkinACCSports, the podcast, or the blog know I’m not a fan of Josh Pastner. I don’t think he’ll ever get it done at Georgia Tech. Tonight was another example of a failed strategy as Pastner backed off Kihei Clarke of Virginia and let him shoot at will. Not a noted shooter, it was a sound strategy to start, but once Clarke knocked down a couple of threes, it was time to adjust. Pastner failed recognize the hot shooting Clarke who made four 3 pointers, and it was the difference in the game.
With that said, I’m not going to rip Pastner further here. There will be plenty of time for that if Georgia Tech misses the NCAA tournament yet again in his tenure.
For now Georgia Tech is running out of time. It would be a shame if a player the caliber of Jose Alvarado never played in the Big Dance.
