Since the return of this point guard, Georgia Tech has looked like a different basketball team

The Georgia Tech men’s basketball squad has been reignited since its three guards have reunited.

Since the return of point guard Jose Alvarado from his problematic ankle injury, the Yellow Jackets have looked like a different team. Alvarado, combined with Michael Devoe and reserve Bubba Parham, has jumped Georgia Tech’s offense into gear.

In the seven games since Alvarado’s return, the Yellow Jackets are averaging 71.6 points. Over the last three games — with some of Alvarado’s rust finally knocked off — the Yellow Jackets have averaged 80 points. That’s a remarkable improvement from the team’s season average of 65.3 points.

The Yellow Jackets (8-8, 3-3 ACC) will get another idea of how far the team has come this week when it hosts Notre Dame (10-6, 1-4) on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. The game can be seen on the ACC Network.

With Alvarado moving the ball — and his ability to get it in the paint to Moses Wright and James Banks — and with Devoe and Parham able to fire from the perimeter, Georgia Tech looks like a different team. The Yellow Jackets aren’t close to resembling the team that muddled through a 47-point effort in a loss to Ball State before Alvarado was cleared to play.

“College basketball is all about guard play. Your guards have to play well,” Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner said. “Two of the three have to be exceptional if you want to have a chance. If you want to win, all three have to be really good. If only one of the three are good or none of the three are good, we’re not going to win the game.”

Georgia Tech is 4-3 since Alvarado’s return. One loss was on the road to No. 18 Florida State, another a hard-fought setback to No. 2 Duke.

Alvarado’s offensive ability certainly helps. He scored 25 at North Carolina and had 18 against Duke, prompting Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski to refer to Alvarado as a “very crafty guard.” But his floor leadership and determination can’t be underestimated. In the win over Boston College, he scored nine points, but had eight assists (matching his season high) and only one turnover.

“With Jose, I think we’re a pretty good basketball team and without Jose we were just highs and lows,” Pastner said. “Jose does a lot for us that doesn’t show up in the box score with his leadership, toughness. He helps other guys on the floor.”

The Notre Dame game will a good measuring stick. Despite being in a rebuilding mode since his arrival, Pastner’s teams have been competitive against the perennial ACC contender. Last season the two teams split during the regular season, but the Irish eliminated Georgia Tech in the first round of the ACC Tournament.

The Irish are an experienced team led by John Mooney, who has recorded a double-double in 10 straight games — one shy of matching the school record — and leads the nation with 13.9 rebounds per game. Veteran guards T.J. Gibbs and Rex Pflueger are dangerous from the field and handle the ball well.