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#9o R.P.I. Georgia Tech #29 R.P.I. Virginia Tech: 

Virginia Tech men’s basketball finally, prolly, or at least a nearly semi-definitely, maybe; returns to work this Tuesday night over in a slightly warming New River Valley…

The Hokies now host 11 up and 8 down, (9th place .538 or 7-6 in the A.c.c.) Georgia Tech of all things ATL Delta hub fame. The Wrambling Wreck is also o-1-4 as all things 2020-2021 cancellation and postponements go respectively this campaign. As this is not a great All Championship Conference team— tho’ it may just be a team that has been a bit good’er of late, if you will. Nonetheless, what you wanna know is… who is gonna win this one and by how much, right? So, read on to find… out!

Georgia Tech Head Coach: Joshua Paul Pastner: Age=43, 242–148 (.621) overall, 75-75 (.500) so far at Georgia Tech.
$1,870,000.oo

Not a dum, coach… all fingers point to, that.

Kid, Josh Pastner, is a Glen Dale, Wva., 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.

Though Eye do know that Joshies overall numbers and his digits in the ATL are trending upwards; so, there are a couple of encouraging signs, here.

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

Seven of Pastner’s former assistant coaches have (already) gone on to their own careers as head coaches. Pruning a broad branching coaching-tree, already!

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

Gah.Tech at a glance:

  • 8th best in Turnover Margin!!!
  • 13th best in Swipes!!
  • 36th best in Assistance!
  • 47th in FG-percentage O.
  • 301st on the defensive and 309th on the offensive glass!!
  • 315th worst in 3-point percentage allowed!!!

Returning Starters=

Georgia Tech Strengths:

  • Josè Alvarado —this Josè Alvarado of the hurtful (St.Julia) bless fractured elbow two yarns back recall. Well, this ATL One is now your 1st-best leading scorer with 16.7 ppg. This alpha output pacing effort courtesy of a sometimes beta outta control classic penetrating and distributing game at the Point. Josè is said to be a tough (little) 6′, 179 lb. wiry, sharp-elbowed, whip-sawed kinda One that is NO fun to guard. And even less fun now that he has found some steaks and a weightroom and added a much-needed 19 lbs. in the past two off-seasons. As this Josè has a Fight Club type of winning attitude and perhaps he did have some minor lack of shooting range foibles when we saw him last. At 42.9% overall, and a modest 31.2% deep last year. Tho’ this year? Well, he’s sharpened that very whipsaw all the way up to a most useful looking nearly 53% from the floor and a very crispy looking 42% long. This with 3.7 boards and the team lead in dimes dropped (4.2 apg) and alpha’ing again in swipes (2.8 spg). As this is a downright nitty-gritty hard way up Bronx bomber of an NYC streety kid. This year it finally occurred to me that Josè Alvarado is not related to the T.Bay Ray’s star major league pitcher. This Josè -may or may not know the way to San Jose- although he is known to be a tough, spikey, high motor Pt.Guard who became an Ironman running the Jackets’ offense until the above-aforementioned elbow blowout. Because he rarely leaves the floor unless he has foul trouble or is injured —as he has played the entire 40 minutes (45 in two overtime games) 15 times in his career. Or in other words… most everything has progressed a bit or mo’ than a bit since we saw him last year. As this kid has elevated his previously flat or somewhat negatively slopped game this season. And G.Tech surely needs 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. This from a kid with a roughish and/or a slickster rep’ for: scoring, distributing, and defending. Well, 1.75 outta three ain’t sad. And he enjoys… “listening to music.” So, there is dat, too— and oh yes, his Free-Throwing is now up to an Association -esque 86%. As this kid is (now) some measure of a pro’, the only question is export or domestic? ’cause you love this kid if he is on your roster; as this pint-sized gyro spinner has every tat’ on his bod’ dedicated to his (stomach cancer; St.Elmo’ bless) grad-ma-maw. As he’s a plucky promise-keeper, and so will be his returned just to get his GT.edu, degree!
     A flashyposing player who loves the game.
  • One #10, now gone one #none (Or no.0) Jr. year, Michael Devoe (no coaching relation). Was your #43 ranked baller (tho’ only 13th ranked Pt.Guard) overall two years back per Rivals recruiting service. (which clearly shows us just how Guarded the modern era hardwood game has wannabe g.State “splash brothers” become… tho’ I tangent…) Anywho… this number-zero jersey numeral Devoe can indeed whip it good. In particular for being a Koufax or lefty unorthodox One, with a high basketball I.Q., while being an excellent playmaker with really good positional size (6′5″, 197 lbs.) as a pass-first roundball Qb1. As the ‘whispers’ say that Devoe really improved this past summer on the Wreck’s version of a Spanish Armada trip across the pond. The book also says that Michael has range (44.2% overall and an attractive 42% long) and is set to jump as a rare kid who plays both ends of the floor equally well. Only knocks were: his handles (2.7 tpg is just a little sloppy-joe) and he needs to be more comfortable and/or aggressive finishing inside the arc. That all said, all the tools are solid and numerous here, what with: 14.8 ppg, 3.1 apg, 1.2 spg with 77.2% charity-stripe work. And Michael is also an honor-roll student… GT.edu props insert (_____) here, check! As Devoe is a lowercase or fringe version of a pro’, the only question is his overseas tax-bracketology? Because most high school kids who incredibly net 63% of their shots from the floor and 52% of their scholastic 3’s typically are! (UPDATE(s): Devoe has had some kind leg ‘ding’ and has been slowed for several games off/on this campaign. St.Nikon bless; as recall on top of all of that, that Devoe also has a history of a lame foot off/on to boot. St.Sebastian go Godspeed @0!) And his scoring is down about 2-3 ppg for balling on about 1.75 good wheels it thus far this year.
  • Moses Wright is a 6′9″, 233 lb., final year P/F. This Moses is parting the paint for a now second-best and rather improved for it 16.3 ppg and a first-best 7.5 rpg with a mutually first-best 1.7 bpg, all on 52% from the floor. As Wright wears the tag’ of a: “late bloomer” form nearly anyone you ask… as he has grown 5″ and added 40 lbs. since his sophomore year in high school; 25 lbs. of them post (pardon the pun) post his enrollment at g.Tech. As this is a headroom type of player with room to horticulture or greenhouse his game all mo’. As his close-to-the-rim lifestyle continues to dilate and expand on-floor at both ends. As the rap was, he needed to go to work on the glass and suddenly this offseason this Moses did just that. As this kid only picked up the rock at age fourteen! He attacks the rack, and his Jurassic 7-2 wingspan ain’t hurting anything 1ι or one-iota either. Ditto his tennis and swimming prowess which is what he flexing was prior to flexing his hoopology. As Wright and his still-developing box-score racket are possibly fringe overseas good as is; and good on him fo’ dat.
  •  6′7″, 213 lb., G/S-F ‘tweener, Jordan Usher is a senior season kid who is a self-made man. As this kid has brought himself up the depth-chart and accordingly up the box-score alike. As his utility type 10.7 ppg, his 4.3 rpg, with 2.7 apg and 1.4 spg were not really forecasted here. Likewise, his gap-filling 48% from the floor and decent enough 31% behind the arc. The book says that his So.Cal Trojan transfer does not horse around athleticism-wise. With the ability to get to the rim and the strength of a bigger kid trapped in a more parts Wingman body. This is a classical glue-guy; as every team has one or every team needs one. Take thy pick…

Georgia Tech Weaknesses:

  • Curiously enough, there was next to nil weight-room betterment here this off-season for G.Tech. Maybe that is the way things are this particular time around the bend? Tho’ still, there were a couple here that coulda stood to grow into bigger bodies no matter what.
  • As you will read immediately below… we really need to make a run when Gah.Tech sits its starters. As their pine-squad lacks scoreboard firepower here.
  • The vibe coming into this year was that Josh needs another year (or two) to truly season all the green-wood he inherited. As part of his method is to recruit and retain and ripen kids into final-year Techmen.
  • Additionally, and beyond the likable Wright upstairs, this is not *that* epic of a frontcourt A.c.c. club. Not at all.
  • Tristian Maxwell is sidelined with a foot injury (St.Servatius bless), and there is no timetable for return. Sidelined as well are his 6′2″, 2o9 lbs. His 3 ppg and his nugget or rookie year legacy baller swagg. As ‘yes’, he is the son of Vernon Maxwell, a former the University of Florida All-American and longtime N.b.a. veteran and champion with the H’town Rockets way way back when.

WramblinWreck Bench: (depth=2 sometimes 3, shorter bench here…)

Bubba Parham is a gliding-looking 5′10″, 162 lb., r-Sr. season rarefied Lexington, Va. or V.M.I. transfer back-up One. Where Parham -you may recall- made the All-Southern Conference team as a sophomore and was named SoCon Freshman of the Year, the year before that. As this bowling-star in the making (off-court) is a 3-point taking fiend from downtown. As this Bubba’s range is basically the gym; if he’s in it? He’s open and his career 39.1% deep great for 21.1 ppg last time as a Keydet tells you just how explosive this mighty-mite can be out on the perimeter when Parham gets it going when dialing long-distance. As of Gah.Tech now, however, he nets you 7.7 ppg, with 3 rpg, 1.8 apg and he gets you 1.1 swipes in relief with 81% FT’s if you need him. As this former now homecoming septa-A (AAAAAAA) Georgia H.S. champion Bubba is instant O, just add P.T. And he’s prolly your Fox Mulder or X-factor baller in this one.

6′7″, 2oo lb., third-year, Khalid Moore is a Three or S/F who handles and moves a bit more like a lead-G or a Two. Khalid is a lengthy, athletic (7-foot, 0.5-inch wingspan) Forward with good scoring ability and a top-shelf basketball I.Q. This is a Rodin or thinking man’s baller. Although this year he is only thinking of: 4.2 ppg and 2.7 rpg on a less than Summa Cum Laude 24% long-distance and partly 35% all. As ‘more’ was expected from this part-time starting combo-F, here.

Sophomoric Kyle Sturdivant is a 6′2″, 198 lb., is also a Southern California transfer baller. A One or Pt.Guard in this case who transferred all the way to the ATL to enroll in… aerospace engineering! GT.edu ‘wow’! Don’t get to type that one out, often; or… ever. That slide-rule praise rightfully bestowed, Kyle is said to be a tough playmaker and a solid scorer, adept at controlling the tempo of a game. And Kyle was a VHT peach-state escapee (93rd in America per Rivals). Where he enjoyed a buzzer-beater rep’ for basketball factory Northcross. Said to play as ‘an older’ player does already. Tho’ his 3.4 ppg with 1.2 rpg on a meager 25% from 3-point land say he may need to mature for another year, or three.

A technological VicTory here will be code for, what???

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Illationconclusion(s) and OPT digits:

Number of 'Jackets who could suit up @Tech=4'ish.

the takeaway:
The takeaway here is… well who knows who is about to get took here?

As Mike Young and company could have the freshest legs they’ve had since about September/October. Or they could be covered in O&M oxidization.

Or ring-rust if you will.


Georgia Tech is also a tough nut to intellectually crack. As they have been upset by dippy-looking Mercer and Georgia State every bit as much as they are actually a mere two, that’s (2) shots removed from being four places higher in the All Coaching Conference pecking order.

And yet if my Aunt Kim had nutz-n-a-bolt she’d be my Uncle, Tim.

Threeché on their 2-shot sippy hole.

Though it does make you wonder what happens if we loose wintertime traction
and end up in deep here?

 ***

Our handy-dandy friend the so-called Forum Guide of Graham Houston fame is calling for… I’m not sure? As with this much of an O&M scheduling displacement gap, these are some misguided results indeed. In recent terms (nearly the last calendar month) the Forum Guide is calling for a seemingly umpossible +40-point Gah.Tech VomiT of all things Vah.Tech here. However, when taken from stem-to-stern things normalized a bit and called for a +20-point VicTory dance or about a two-basket win when taken pro-rata. (STRANGE Forum Guide to run… which makes me wonder if the more recent digits know something more indicative or not?)

7 PM kick-off!

The annualized year-to-date vitals say that… Nobody is up +any% in shooting percentage margin (per: GT up +3% on O and with VT up +3% on D); with V.Tech up +4% in 3-point percentage margin (all of it for a stiffer D), and then with V.P.I. up a nearly astonishing +10 caroms in rebounding margin year-to-date (thanks to +5 from VT and then 5 off the glass from GT seasonally).

The most recent 5-game metrics say that… the Hokies are now up +2% in shooting percentage margin (with VT twice as good as GT marginally on D, although both teams have slipped of late); with the Gobblers now up a lucrative +9% in 3-point percentage margin (more so on D, tho’ better O&M O as well), and finally with the Blacksburg bunch up +9 in collections in rebounding margin of late (due to the Jackets getting short-shirted entirely on the fiberglass fortnight recently).

Snoops say that the other Tech (G.Tech) has been something of a 1st-half squad this season. They open up great and they tend to end at least good, or well enough. They get outta step to start and they tend to remain outta-sync. Start=finish here.

  1. Aluma became just the fifth Hokie in the A.c.c. era, which began in 2004, to pick up a double-double in three straight games with his performances against Pitt, virginia, and Notre Dame.
  2. The Yellow Jackets are coming off their largest margin of victory (27-points) in an A.c.c road game in program history!
  3. Virginia Tech leads the all-time series 2o-7.

VT is a .9oo host; whereas GT is .167 as a guest.
GeeTee is up nearly +4% at the charity stripe for the year.
Gah.Tech is running on 2-days rest with Vah.Tech gliding on 3-weeks+ off.

 The Call...

No.51 Net Ranking Georgia Tech @ no.36 Net Ranking Virginia Tech:

Observe… the downright lofty Net Ranking, R.P.I. ranking, and the 5th best in the All Coaching Conference pre-season ranking by most of my pre-season preview mag’s.

Or, in other words… does somebody(s) know something(s) that Eye, don’t?

As I did not have G.Tech pegged this high this year.
(Did you?)

Nevertheless, this is an old-WW2-school British saying that goes… “When ten men tell you you’re drunk you had better lie down!”

hic“.

And although I swear this was only a 2-beer weekend,
I’ma wondering what I missed, here?

oOo

As G.Tech is backcourt good enough, although well south of great upfront (sans Wright). And the Hokies are on 22 homesteading down-days. Schools out at least on the hardwood of late. So, is that code for freshest legs ever or for rust?

Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year watchlist member (Mike Young) and Eye would both like to know?

Guess we’ll find out come about half-past 9 o’clock Tuesday night.

Or maybe we will find out in the 2nd-half… as Georgia Tech is tough to guard when their backcourt duo of Jose Alvarado and Michael Devoe are clicking. The Jackets are 8-1 overall and 6-o in A.c.c. games when that two score in double figures. So, there’s your participatory mm’s of Hg or the Mercury for your in-game barometer right there gents.

Those two go off and the other Tech can pinch this one, even on the road.
Those two fall off and the right Tech should win @Home. Me?
I’ma gar-ron-damn-tee’ing a TECHNO win!

💯🏀💯

(57confidence interval)
Virginia Tech
=74, Georgia Tech=68

please support the VT F.C.A.!

LETS GO!

Hokies!

 bourbonstreet**

6 Responses You are logged in as Test

    1. Eye don’t know– either way… Eye mean.

      Good practice game=oxidized.
      Slow practice and then the game (suddenly) pops clean.

      9 PM or so knows…

      b.strreet

  1. Oz never gave something to the tin man; that he didn’t already have. 71 year old Sci-fi fan here? Would you like some recommendations in books?

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