Georgia Tech continues to show off new-found versatility
ATLANTA -- Since the season began, Georgia Tech head coach Brian Gregory has been espousing the new-found versatility of his basketball team. The Yellow Jackets have continued to show him to be correct.
In Saturday's 68-64 win over No. 4 Virginia, Gregory made a couple of critical moves to the starting lineup. He opened with James White at forward rather than Nick Jacobs, started Quinton Stephens at forward and opened with Marcus Georges-Hunt at point guard instead of Josh Heath.
It's hard to argue with the results. Georgia Tech got production from all of those players and wound up with the biggest victory in Gregory's five seasons.
White had six points and nine rebounds in 17 minutes, while Jacobs came off the bench to add 16 points and six rebounds. Georges-Hunt only scored five points but had four assists, and Heath still played 17 minutes and had three assists. And Stephens was 4-for-4 on 3-pointers and scored a season-high 16.
"One of our strengths is versatility," Gregory said. "We have to be fluid, not only who's out there but who's starting the game, according to the matchups. Everybody has to be ready to go."
The biggest change was at point, where Heath had started the first 15 games. Georges-Hunt gives the team an additional perimeter scoring threat and a larger body on the floor.
"I just feel like a basketball player," Georges-Hunt said, when asked if he felt like a point guard. "Anything they ask me, I try to do it. I know the offense. I know where people are supposed to go. I know how to read the defense. I still have a scoring mentality, and if I'm open, I'll take advantage of it."
The other big winner was Stephens, who had a breakout offensive game.
"Obviously he responded extremely well," Gregory said. "And I thought James White responded well. I think Josh Heath and Nick Jacobs responded well to coming off the bench. Maybe our starting lineup will be fluid in some situations depending on either offensive or defensive matchups and our guys have to be OK with that."
The Yellow Jackets (11-5, 1-2 ACC) will try to carry their momentum over Wednesday with a game against Notre Dame, who won the ACC tournament last year. The Fighting Irish (10-5, 1-2) are coming off a four-point home loss to No. 24 Pittsburgh.
Notre Dame is led by Demetrius Jackson, who is fifth in the ACC in scoring (17.1 points) and third in assists (5.27). Jackson has led the team in scoring in the past three games and scored 26 against Pittsburgh.
Four other players average double figures in points. Zach Auguste averages 13.3 points and ranks fifth in the conference with 9.53 rebounds. Outside threats are Steve Vasturia (12.3 points) and V.J. Beachem (11.9 points), and Bonzie Colston averages 11.3 points and 7.1 rebounds.
"There are a lot of tough matchups all the way around," Gregory said. "They're very good, and it's a tough place to play. We'll have to play extremely well for 40 minutes."
This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 9:21 PM with the headline "Georgia Tech continues to show off new-found versatility ."