I do believe I said in the preview that State simply doesn’t match up well with GT in just about every facet and that held true. I also said that it would likely come down to State’s bench playing better.
Starters:
GT: 21-50(FG), 3-10(3FG), 14-21(FT), 15+19=34(O+D=RBD), 59(PTS)
ST: 21-41(FG), 3-9(3FG), 5-11(FT), 3+11=14(O+D=RBD), 50(PTS)
Bench:
GT: 7-15(FG), 3-8(3FG), 2-2(FT), 3+3=6(O+D=RBD), 19(PTS)
ST: 11-19(FG), 2-4(3FG), 6-9(FT), 4+8=12(O+D=RBD), 30(PTS)
Now that I’m done tooting my own prediction horn here’s the biggest problem this team faces and can be fixed before the next game…DEFENSIVE REBOUNDING!!!!
Offensive Rebounding Rate:
Georgia Tech = 45.0%
NC State = 27.3%
Second Chance Pts:
Georgia Tech = 18
NC State = 12
You keep allowing at team to rebound half their missed shots then you’re going to struggle to beat anyone. Part of the problem is we have too many “shot blockers” and not enough rebounders. When so many of our “bigs” go to block shots they take themselves out of position to get a defensive rebound. If we had other players step up and fill that rebounding position, box out, then we’d limit probably half the offensive rebounds the other team gets. Problem I see is either no one slides in to fill the void left by the shot blocker or everyone goes to block the shot and no one is left to even attempt to rebound the ball. This can be fixed immediately and it would be really nice if at least one person on the court, during play, would channel their inner Richard Howell and play for the boring rebound and not the highlight reel shot block.
Of course there’s nothing we can do about our players being shoved in the back and flying across the court while the refs don’t call a foul. 🙂
