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Georgia Tech Basketball: Three Keys to Victory Against Miami

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 01: James Banks III #1 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts after a basket against the St. John's Red Storm during the first half of the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 01: James Banks III #1 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts after a basket against the St. John's Red Storm during the first half of the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men’s basketball team will look for win No.15 of the season on Saturday night against the Miami Hurricanes and will need to follow these three keys.

Don’t Feel the Pressure:

Georgia Tech basketball as of right now still has a SLIM shot at the NCAA Tournament and wins on Saturday and next week against Clemson could put them in a good spot but would still need to win at least a pair of ACC Tournament games. That being said, Geogria Tech on Saturday need to make sure they don’t feel that pressure too much. The Jackets need to focus on just one thing and that’s the Hurricanes.

Devoe and Alvarado Stay Hot:

One reason that Georgia Tech basketball has been playing so well as of late is due to the red hot play of sophomore guard Michael Devoe and junior guard Jose Alvarardo. If the Yellow Jackets are going to win on Saturday night, they’ll need this duo to continue playing at a high level. For the season, the two have a combined 30 points per game with Devoe’s 16 points per game and Alvarado’s 14 points per game.

Over the stretch of their last five games, Devoe has been a bit more consistent, averaging 16.4 points per game but Alvarado hasn’t been that far behind averaging 15.2 points per game despite having two games where he failed to reach double-digit points.

Take Advantage of Free Throws:

It’s an area that Georgia Tech has definitely found more consistency in but it goes without saying. The Yellow Jackets on Saturday night will have to take advantage of their free throw attempts. This season, the Yellow Jackets record when hitting 70% or more of their free throws is 8-4. Those four losses came to respectable teams in Duke, Florida State, Houston, and Louisville.

When the Jackets shoot below 70% their record becomes a bit more murky with a 6-10 record. The numbers simply speak for themselves when it comes to the Yellow Jackets overall success and their success at the free throw line.

Georgia Tech fans can watch Saturday night’s game on the ACC Network or listen to it via WRECK 91.1 FM.