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#147 R.P.I. Georgia Tech #29 R.P.I. Virginia Tech:

Virginia Tech men’s basketball must be butter. Because the no.9 nationally ranked Virginia Tech’s men’s basketball team is on a… roll!

The Hokies were on a roll. As that’s what my opener read just 35 days or basically one month-n-change ago. Though that was four quality ballers ago and one #5 practicing robber ethics on what is/was a pretty sharp looking hurrying Hokie season. As oh how the sporting World Turns… As now the other Atlantic Coast Tech visits us on a Coastal division rematch clause and my oh my how things have changed. Though what has not changed is that this is a 327-mile roadie. As the Jackets (now) check in with a negative rec’ at 11 up and 13 down (.45) and 3-8 in A.c.c. ball. They have beaten who they are supposed to beat, and yet they have been stung by nearly everyone with any real live name-recognition cachet. Though they are now fighting for their (potential) playoff lives. Nevertheless, as you will read below, this one is about to get defensive indeed… although you wanna know who will ultimately offend who in the end? Read on, to find… out!

Georgia Tech Head CoachJoshua Paul Pastner: Age=41, 208–113 (.649) overall, first year 45-48 (.484) so far at Georgia Tech.
$1,870,000.oo

Not a dum’, coach. Just ask our visit to the ATL… all fingers point to, that.

Kid, Josh Pastner, is a Glen Dale, Wv., native and the son of Marla and Hal Pastner. Hal is a high school/A.A.U. coach and basketball promoter in the Houston (Tx.) area. Josh Pastner knew he wanted to be a coach since he was in the 5th grade. By the age of 13, he was publishing the Josh Pastner Scouting Report of local high school talent in the Houston metro’ area | at the age of 16, the Houston Hoops A.A.U. squad was turned over to Josh Pastner by his father/coach Hal; as this was Josh’s first job as a head coach! While a teenage A.A.U. coach, Josh Pastner coached future NBA players such as Emeka Okafor, T. J. Ford, and Daniel Gibson. WOW!

On April 6, 2009, Josh Pastner was selected to replace John Calipari as head coach at the University of Memphis. At Memphis Coach Josh Pastner only won five conference titles in his seven years as the big whistle; including one C-U.S.A. Coach of the Year award in 2o13. Josh made the March Madness big dance at Memphis his first five seasons; then declined lesser post-season invites in his final two shotgun to Coach-Fu tenured years. Josh is known to be one of the best young hotshot recruiters in the land, including inking the #1 recruiting class nationally for Memphis in 2010. To put it mildly, Josh Pastner is a basketball coach and nothing other than a basketball coach. Coach Josh Pastner also courts a rep’ for lack of post-season success with a lot of one-n-done high roster turnover early entry type talents. Baller Josh Pastner was a walk-on freshman on the 1997 N.C.A.A. Championship University of Arizona basketball team. After winning the NC2A title, Pastner was able to finish his degree in only two and a half years, taking as many as 33 credit hours per semester. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Family Studies from Arizona in December 1998. He finished his master’s in Teaching and Teacher Education in December 1999 before beginning work on his doctorate and starting his coaching career in 2000 as a graduate-assistant under Lute Olson at Arizona and later at the University of Memphis under John Calipari.

Then we see that… Georgia Tech basketball coach Josh Pastner filed a civil lawsuit last year in Arizona against Ron Bell and Jennifer Pendley, alleging defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil conspiracy, aiding and abetting and injurious falsehoods and attempts to blackmail and extort. WoW!

Then “wow” some more… as a counterclaim has been filed against Georgia Tech head men’s basketball coach Josh Pastner in Tucson, Ariz., where he’s accused of sexual assault (14 times in 10 months).

The alleged incident happened in February of 2016 while Pastner was still the men’s basketball head coach at Memphis. The counterclaim comes after Pastner filed a civil suit against former booster Ron Bell, who provided impermissible benefits to Yellow Jacket basketball players Tadric Jackson and Josh Okogie, who were both suspended three and six games respectively by the NCAA for the violations. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Pastner’s suit alleges that Bell and his girlfriend “defamed him and attempted to extort and blackmail Pastner and his family.”

(UPDATE: An independent Title IX investigation of Georgia Tech basketball coach Josh Pastner over allegations of sexual misconduct found the claims to be false and “concocted” as part of an extortion scheme. The 29-page report from the law firm Fisher & Phillips, obtained by USA TODAY Sports this summer, detailed numerous attempts by former Pastner friend Ronald Bell to blackmail Pastner, including apparently fabricating allegations that Pastner sexually assaulted Bell’s girlfriend, Jennifer Pendley.)

Mmmmmm-k, and if I knew what all that meant?
I’d know what all of that… meant.

Still yet, may St.Joshua & St.Paul bless and sing: “kum-ba-ya”

Six of Pastner’s former assistant coaches have (already) gone on to their own careers as head coaches.

Daddy Josh’ is (still) married to Kerri Lamas; they have three daughter’s: Payten, Sydney, Pastner, and one stepson (Ethan); Lord have mercy.

Gah.Tech at a glance:

  • 6th BEST in 3-point FG defense (27.7% allowed)!!!
  • 13th in FG percentage allowed (38.9%).
  • 24th in scoring D (64.2 ppg allowed).
  • ⇑ 10th in swats action (5.2 bpg).
  • 48th most steals (∑=7.7 spg).
  • 72nd most turnover forced (15.45 tpg).
  • 311th in offensive rebounding (8.77 o-rpg).
  • ⇓⇓ 342th in 3-point shooting (29.3% makes).
  • No injuries listed (Thx @Coach God).

Jackets Returning Starters=3

Georgia Tech Strengths:

  • This is what I wrote about one #10, and now leading Jacket scorer Jose Alvarado last year. “Georgia Tech Pt.Guard Jose Alvarado is variously listed as: “out indefinitely” and: “out for the year”. Either way, he seems highly unlikely to run ball vs. us on Saturday with a fractured left elbow. Gone away are Jose’s second-leading 12.2 ppg (now 11.7 ppg) and his classic penetrating and distributing game at the Point. Jose’ is said to be a tough (little) 6′, 160 lb. wiry, sharp-elbowed kinda One that is NO fun to guard. Gone as well are his well-hewn winning attitude and perhaps some minor lack of shooting range. 45% overall (now 37%) 80% FT’s (now 76%), and 27% deep (now 24%), with 3.7 boards (now 3.8 rpg) and the team lead in dimes dropped (3.9 apg) (now 3.3 apg), and in swipes (1.7 spg) (now 1.9 spg); all done for a while– if not for the year… may St.Jose bless!” This year it finally occurred to me -after I updated the above numbers, Jose Alvarado is not related to the T.Bay Ray’s star major league pitcher. This Jose -may or may not know the way to San Jose- although he is known to be a tough, gritty, high motor Pt.Guard who became an Ironman running the Jackets’ offense until the above-aforementioned elbow blowout (may St.Julia bless). Or in other words… most everything has regressed when most expected Jose to progress. And/or elevate his flat or somewhat negatively slopped game this campaign. And G.Tech surely needed the ESPN no.33 baller to do so— in particular on the offensive end. As Alvarado put up rarefied quadruple-doubles in high school and was thought to be the latest/greatest inner-city NYC thang. Or the next Steph’ Marbury or Kenny Anderson of G.Tech fame his ownself. Though he did beef-up to a now 178 sophomoric lbs. So one would think that would only help. This from a kid with a well-hewn slickster rep’ for: scoring, distributing and defending. Well, 1.75 outta three ain’t sad. (UPDATE: every single stat I looked up was down less steals (same). As this kid has gone into a funk (-10% on his 3-ball) since we saw him last ⇓ –that’s what’s up here). (and in further point of fact… Jose’s 3-for-30 from the field over his last three games and 8-for-49 over his last five)
  • 6′3″, 203 lb., grad-Sr’, Shooting-Guard Brandon Alston is a passer, a shooter, a shooter, more shooting and not a lot much else. A second best 9.1 ppg on 48% overall and 38% long is decent enough. Although the book here reads: does not like to go to the basket; a perimeter player only. The Vienna, Va. native/escapee is formerly of Leigh.edu where he plucked an undergrad (already) in Economics (in just six semesters)! Alacrity and erudite Props on dat. As his shooting acumen is indeed in demand, although the rest of a classical three-layer offensive game, Alston thus far has been unable to… supply. Though Alston is said to be a 3-n-D, newfangled specialist type Wing-Guard. i.e. he’s a shooter and a stopper at the 45° elbow extension bend. And that’s it. Now mix in 84% on 15′ unguarded set-shots with 10 seconds to shoot (A.K.A. FTA’s), 1.9 rpg and 1.2 apg and you wish this shooter brought a higher caliber, gun. Although he does bring you a sometimes blonde… ‘fro. (UPDATE: down slightly across the board).
    Does not want for, confidence. Not at all.
  • James Banks III is a “carved outta wood”, 6′9″, 243 lb., P/F-C frontcourt combo’-swing from Texas with a smile as big as his, state. The third-year Post is leading G.Tech at 7.5 rpg and chips in with 10.4 ppg on a likewise team-pacing 55% shooting from the floor. And he does have 2.5 send-backs (bpg) thus far this year. J.Banks.III is a rarefied “immediately eligible” transfer baller from the Longhorns where he had a tag of being a baller who was a hard-grinding defender and rebounder or a perspiration industry type guy down-low. Then he and Team U.S.A. went and got a gold medal at the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Valdivia, Chile. Then he got P.T. (playing-time) claustrophobic in “everything’s bigger Texas” and up and left. Jay Bee is from Decatur, Ga., so the ATL is something of a homecoming for him and he got to the Delta hub’ so late he is not even listed in any of my G.Tech preseason magazines. Still yet, Lindy’s preview of Texas says that he was expected to be: “a big factor” in the paint for Bevo and company. This from the no.49 kid in America three years ago according to Scout and a kid with a national title ring to back it up. However, you almost have to be wondering if he could be doing more, accordingly… (UPDATE: medium down everywhere you look)

Georgia Tech Weaknesses:

  • human double-double Ben Lammers is gonzo and that hurts any frontcourt. G, Josh Okogie and lefty shooter Tadric Jackson are finished as well and 42 ppp and 19 rpg all went with ’em.
  • Likewise, the fact that Lindy’s listed this team last on A.c.c., depth.
  • Ditto the fact that this squad has not been to the NC2A’s in nearly coming on a decade.
  • Tritto the fact that this club is hard-trying, although soft on experience or Mountain Dew been there done it (successfully) late in games type of ball.

Y.Jacket Bench: (depth=)

Abdoulaye Gueye and Curtis Heyward II at least give you some spot minutes here and there off the Jacket pine. Abdoulaye Gueye by way of Dakar Senegal fame is a 6′9″, 217 lb., r-Sr., 7′ 3” wingspan frontcourt rebounder and defender who is pretty under-cooked everywhere else. 7.4 ppg with 4.1 boards and 1.1 blocks, a steal and an assist on 51% from the floor and now 62% (up from a horrific 25%) on FTA’s says, so; although the book here reads that Gueye is developing and that he is a natural leaper who runs the court well enough. As a 660% improvement in scoring off of a broken wrist (St.Julia bless) makes you wonder what this kid can do with full health/matriculation? Because nobody is wondering about this worker-bee’s heart, that just drones on and on. (UPDATE: really developing, sharply,  as his offense is nearly doubling since we saw Gueye last)

Curtis Heyward II s a 6′5″, 202 lb. second-season Wing who looks like he’s at least 30, maybe 33-35 years young. Greg Oden syndrome 1o1 if you will… nevertheless, this Heyward (22 years) has a 6-11 wingspan and a very rough-n-tumble attitude. Bet the under on guys who pick on this Heyward. As this Heyward has a tag for driving hard, a high hoops I.Q. and his bio’ says he: “specializes in: hard-work.” So there you go, a high octane, calorie burner extraordinaire. As every team needs a lead-pipe sparky welder kinda kid such as this. Curt and his blossoming game get you 6.5 ppg, on 2.8 rpg and 1.3 pockets-picked. Mix in 27% deep and 76% on his FTA’s and you have a glue guy who will, will his way to low teens in scoring come 2021. As Curt knows how to win, an Oklahoma state title than a full-fledged scholastic national title upon transfer to the NJ. hoops factory of Brewster Academy both says so. (Apparently no relation to R.I.P. Craig “Ironhead’s” kid who just graduated last year that I could find) (UPDATE: modestly dipping everywhere I looked… , here)

Holding court at home vs. the other Tech as a 13 point fave is all about... what?

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Illationconclusion(s) and OPT digits:
Number of Jackets who could sting @Tech=1'ish.

the takeaway:
The takeaway here is… this one is no one’s gimmie or lay-up, a cherry-picking, or breakaway clear path to the basket game.

All the more so at home where Eye am want to type that “yah it should” be as this is a lowercase Atlantic Coast Club to be sure.

Nonetheless, the other Tech means to do us, hard. In particular on the halt-unit end. where they are even starchier than when they gave us a good ATL 1-shot scare last time out. Still yet, fortunately for us, points are at a premium for the other Technotronic Atlantic Coast hoops squad this season. As the Jackets can defend, although (offensive) output is just not their long suit at the moment.


Our handy-dandy friend the so-called Forum Guide of Graham Houston fame is calling for a drunkenly, handsy under the table -sans the table- publically obscene 66 point VicTory in this one. (methinks we can dismiss that and Eye will eat these words if we even win by six-five).

Nevertheless, the seasonal trends say that… the Hokies are +3% in shooting overall (), and +4% from 3-point (way ), land with a negligible +1 edge in rebounding margin ().

In the most recent five-game set… the Gobblers are now up (⇑⇑) a sharp looking +13% in shooting from the floor (due mostly to G.Tech arctic circle shooting), and the up (⇑⇑) a whopping +19% again from behind the arc (due to G.Tech hooping in the R.M.S. Titanic’s gymnasiumm) with a now virtual season-best vs. anyone with a pulse () +9 advantage in rebounding margin. Wow, go fig’ on all of that?!?

V.Tech is actually +3 on rest and hooping @home, plus the other Tech must travel for this one and they just logged a 678-mile roadie up north to South Bend.

Overall FT-shooting has now opened up () to a surprising in-season +6% Hokie edge. With G.Tech .25 so far as a visitor and the Hokies .916 as a host.

the call

Well, I’ma gar-ron-damn-teeing that Tech wins this game or I b.street will eat these very, words.

And quite honestly I was messing around with the upset pick here -as I prolly will be- until if/when “5” gets back. (J.Rob’ I mean; as he’s the most valuable Hokie Qb this side of T-mobile trying to stay unscathed, upright and errect in the pocket).

  • The Jackets have been stung on the offensive glass and in turnovers of late.
  • The Yellow Jackets are last in the A.c.c. in scoring at 65.5 points per game | although t-freshman guard Michael Devoe has been tight of late as he just hit 4-of-5 of his 3-point attempts Sunday en route to a career-high 18 points and has reached double-figures scoring in four of his past six games to bump up his scoring average to 9.2 per game.
  • Georgia Tech has failed to reach 60 points in its five-game losing streak and twice failed to reach 50.
  • V.Tech is averaging just 54 points per game – 24.4 points fewer than before training rooming Robinson and his 14.4 points and 5.5 assists per contest.
  • Accordingly, star G, Nickeil Alexander-Walker shot 3-for-14 from the field against Clemson to finish with 13 points and is now averaging (only) 13.7 points per contest since the Robinson foot “yelp”; yikes!
  • The Gobblers bench is down to a 1 or 2 man substitution-pattern and providing for just over 12 mins. per game on average since J.Rob’ went down. (i.e. 2nd-half fatigue will be an ongoing issue for the good Tech).
  • Virginia Tech has won the past five meetings in the series and nine of the past 11.

If you ask me -and you did via reading these very words- this is nearly a needy game for both squads. V.Tech needs a win here to break-out-of this gimpy/limpy funk. And G.Tech surely must win to entertain any R.A.T.T. post-season hoops hopes.

Ergo, therefore, to wit, I expect each team to (attempt) to land their best A-game punch. Even if both teams have a feckless offensive punch or even if this one turns into a jabbing contest that lacks (offensive) outburst voltage indeed.

 ***

     That all being rightfully said… Eye did feel a good better after I updated the stats and ran the Forum Guide.

The U.s.s. V.Tech may be leaky, taking on water and calling for extra pumps. As “Bravo Zulu” we just, ain’t.

However, the other Tech (Gah.Tech) has offensive decks that are nearly, awash. On the bottom mind you -where the view never changes.

8 pm kick-off!

The other Tech (the Wrambling Wreck) can play some mean D and who likes having Yellowjackets get in your shirt?

Not me and anyone allergic to such (May St.Ambrose bless us). As this Atlantic Coast contest has Benadryl eyesore written all over it.

Still yet, if defense and 1954 Gene Hackman Hoosiers fame hoops are your thang you’ve prolly come to the right place. As G.Tech has only cracked 54 points once since the third week of January and our beloved V.Tech has only cracked 64 points once since “5” got hurt.

You do the maths…

(67% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech=64Georgia Tech=54

“LETS GO!

Hokies!

bourbonstreet**

2 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. nice write up. You are right about #5, we look lost on offense with out him, firing on 4 clyinders vs 8. !

    1. Mea culpa… I’ma guilty as heck of not giving him his roundball Qb props & love.
      And I played and still play (thx @Coach God); the One (Pt.G).

      And I realllllly did miss what he meant to this team as an unsung table-setter extraordinaire.
      Shame, on, me!!!

      b.street

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