Georgia Tech Basketball: Yellow Jackets vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish Preview

All Brian Gregory needs for his team is a win. All he needs is something positive for his Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-6, 0-3 ACC) to build some confidence off of.

When Tech plays against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (15-2, 3-1 ACC) on Wednesday, they are going to be able to go into that game with some confidence, though not supreme confidence.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets /

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

When the Yellow Jackets went to South Bend and took on the Irish, that was Tech’s best conference game to date.

We can’t say that a one-point loss to Syracuse was the Yellow Jackets best game in conference play, when they could only muster five points in the final eight minutes.

Can’t say it was losing to Wake Forest in Winston-Salem either. The Notre Dame game was the game that told Georgia Tech fans that this team can play.

The 83-76 double-overtime loss in South Bend is going to be the reason why the Yellow Jackets are going to come into this game with the focus they need to grab their first ACC win this season.

Notre Dame was able to escape with the double-overtime win because of Tech allowing dribble penetration to beat their perimeter defense.

The Jackets were able to hold the Irish to 21.1% from beyond-the-arc while also enjoying their usual rebounding edge, in this case 40-29.

However, because the Yellow Jackets let the Irish create off dribble penetration, Notre Dame was allowed to shoot 56.7% from the field for the game.

That kind of thing cannot happen in the rematch on Wednesday. Georgia Tech must stop the penetration of Jerian Grant and Demetrius Jackson.

Jerian Grant was able to have an all-world performance against Tech in South Bend finishing with 24 points and six assists.

Jan 3, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Steve Vasturia (32) reaches for a loose ball as Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward Charles Mitchell (0) defends in the first half at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

He is the biggest reason why Notre Dame was able to shoot 56% for the game. His ability to drive and create for others must be held in check .

The Yellow Jackets also must figure out a way to wear down the Fighting Irish with their depth.

Notre Dame had five players play the bulk of their minutes in the first matchup. Georgia Tech’s depth should be able to wear the Irish’s short rotation down.

Marcus Georges-Hunt and Chris Bolden combined for 34 points on 12 of 28 shooting from the field and 4 of 9 from three-point land.

If the Jacket can get a similar performance out of them from the perimeter, Tech can grab themselves a win.