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Georgia Tech Basketball: Jackets set to begin important three-game stretch

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 07: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets warm up for their game against the Louisville Cardinals during their basketball game at Hank McCamish Pavilion on January 7, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 07: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets warm up for their game against the Louisville Cardinals during their basketball game at Hank McCamish Pavilion on January 7, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /
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Georgia Tech basketball should be 3-0 in ACC play but has a chance to create momentum on Wednesday against Clemson.

Through their first three conference games, the Georgia Tech men’s basketball team has looked pretty good all thins considered. The Jackets had two of their better efforts against Wake Forest and Syracuse but an ugly performance full of miscues and missed opportunities cost them against a top-10 Virginia Tech team. That being said, the Yellow Jackets all things considered should be 3-0 in ACC play following Saturday’s win over Syracuse. 

While the missed opportunity for a big win over Virginia Tech will linger for a while, the Jackets have a chance to create some serious momentum on a Wednesday against Clemson. The Tigers on Wednesday will enter the game with a 10-6 record overall and 0-3 record in conference play.

The Jackets showdown against Clemson is the beginning of a pivotal stretch early on in ACC play for the Jackets. Following Clemson, the Jackets will take on Louisville and Notre Dame. Currently, the Cardinals and the Irish have similar records to the Jackets. But for the Jackets, winning two of these three games at the least is important. Because after this three game stretch, it won’t get any easier.

Starting with Duke on January 26, the Jackets will play three ranked teams in a row with Duke, North Carolina, and Florida State lined up. Both North Carolina and FSU lost this week so they’ll drop a bit but both should be ranked when they meet the Yellow Jackets. Winning more than one game in that stretch will be hard especially considering two of those games will come on the road (at Duke, at Florida State).

That’s why creating momentum on Wednesday with another win will be so important for the Yellow Jackets. Leaving this upcoming three-game stretch with a 12-7 record, if not 13-6 can singlehandedly keep their heads above water in case they falter and go 0-3 against Duke, North Carolina, and Florida State.

The Jackets dreams of an NCAA tournament bid is surely a mountain to climb. However, a potential NIT bid is still alive. The Jackets do have a path to 20 wins in the regular season but it seems highly unlikely. With 15 games remaining, the Jackets have 7 games against ranked opponents left. It won’t easy but once again, that is why the Jackets upcoming three-game stretch and more so Wednesday is highly important in how this Georgia Tech men’s basketball season will play out.

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Head coach Josh Pastner has done a solid job this season. The Jackets can arguably be 13-3 heading into Wednesday night but at the same time they have no one to blame but themselves. If Pastner can guide the Jackets through this three game, the Jackets should have a solid amount of momentum heading into Durham on January 26th.