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Georgia Tech Basketball: 5 reasons why the Jackets will dance in 2019-20

By Mychal Hunter

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 9: Head Coach Josh Pastner of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets speaks during a timeout against the Virginia Tech Hokies at McCamish Pivilion on January 9, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 9: Head Coach Josh Pastner of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets speaks during a timeout against the Virginia Tech Hokies at McCamish Pivilion on January 9, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 9: Head Coach Josh Pastner of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets stands at attention before the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at McCamish Pivilion on January 9, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 9: Head Coach Josh Pastner of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets stands at attention before the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at McCamish Pivilion on January 9, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Schedule

2019-20 is going to be a down year in the ACC, in my opinion. As I stated on the Busting Brackets podcast this week, I think this a seven bid league this year. However, just outside of the top-seven, I have Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets have yet to release their finalized schedule, but we do know they will have multiple opportunities to pick up some quality wins along the way. The season opener at NC State is a huge opportunity to make a statement early, while games @Georgia, Arkansas, Nebraska, and @Kentucky provide the Jackets with a chance to build a quality resume.

Josh Pastner’s bunch will also play in the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, which could provide them the opportunity to play Houston in addition to Boise State (the opening round matchup). Houston will take a step back this season, but a backcourt of Nate Hinton and Dejon Jarreau should keep them relevant in the American. Boise State, considered one of the best teams in the Mountain West, returns a nice quartet of players, including Derrick Alston, who has first-team all-Mountain West potential.

The ACC switches to a 20-game schedule this season as well. We know 11 of those games for sure. Tech will open the season in Raleigh and then host Clemson, Duke, Louisville, Pitt, Miami, NC State, Notre Dame, Syracuse, and both Virginia schools. While you can forget Duke and Louisville, the other eight games are winnable inside the friendly confines of McCamish Pavillion.

The ACC road game schedule has yet to be officially released, but things will need to change if this team is going to be taken seriously at tournament time. In Pastner’s three seasons, Tech is just 4-23 on the road in ACC play. That simply will not get it done.

The Yellow Jackets need to defeat Nebraska and Boise State in the out-of-conference schedule at the very least. Tournament-worthy teams win games like that. Surprising a team or two during the ACC season (NC State and Notre Dame at home) is also paramount. If they pull that off and avoid a letdown game (Gardner-Webb, Grambling St, Wright St. in recent years), they will be in great shape.

Now, Tech fans are no doubt screaming “Georgia is the most important game” right now. Sure, that is important to me too, but simply because Georgia would be a nice resume win. If you told me Tech lost by 30 in Athens and made the tournament…where do I sign?

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