NC State vs. Georgia Tech : Info, Preview, Keys to the game & How to Watch

NC State Wolfpack @ Georgia Tech
Gametime: 8:00 pm
TV: ACC Network (WRAL in Raleigh)
Location: Atlanta, GA

Get to know the Yellow Jackets …
The Yellow Jackets come into this game at 11-18 on the season and 4-12 in the ACC. They currently sit at 13th in the ACC and have lost 7 straight and 11 of their last 12.

This is a team that has struggled. This is also a team that has nothing to lose and that makes them dangerous.

They are led by sophomore guard Josh Okogie. He is their only true go-to guy at this point. He’s a 6’4 guard who is shooting 42% from the floor and 37% from long range. He’s not extremely quick or athletic, but he’s a competitor who finds ways to score it. Here he is dropping 35 points, 14 boards and 5 assists on FSU.

Aside from Okogie, they rely a lot on the play of senior Tadric Jackson. He is a 6’2 guard who until recently hasn’t really been much of a factor. He was shooting just 29% from beyond the arc on the season, but over the past 3 games, he’s found his rhythm. During that span, he’s scored 45 points and did it by knocking down 9 or his last 23 (40%) from 3pt range.

Inside the Jackets have 6’10 senior Ben Lammers, who has recently decided to get involved offensively. He’s averaging 11 ppg but he put up 22 on UVA two games ago.

Georgia Tech may . have had a much better season had they not lost star freshman PG (and second-leading scorer) Jose Alvarado, who is out for the season with a fractured elbow.

In the ACC ranks, Georgia Tech is 13th in FG% and dead last (32%) in 3-point percentage, which is another big stats for Keatts. They are 12th in rebounding and 9th in offensive rebounding. They are 13th in assists, however they do rank 6th in steals.

Keys to the game for NC State…

• Play your game. GT wants to play slow. NC State can’t let that happen. They have to push the pace and make the Jackets, who are without their PG, uncomfortable.
• Don’t settle for 3s. Yes, NC State has shot it really well lately, but this is a trap game for the Pack. They must establish dominance in the paint early on if they want to blow out Georgia Tech.
• Stop Okogie. NC State has done a pretty good job of defending bigger guards all season long. From Trier of Arizona to Tyus Battle of Syracuse, and then the lockdown job they did on Robinson from BC. They need to do it once again. If they do, they win this game with ease.
• Focus on today. There is so much talk about scenarios and who goes where if certain teams win certain games. NC State needs to block it out for just 2 hours tonight. Focus on destroying the Yellow Jackets and move on to the next one.
• Get Yurtseven going. GT is going to have a tough time trying to guard Yurtseven with Lammers. He’s a lumbering big who doesn’t like to extend his defense too far from the paint. With Yurtseven working the pick and pop on the high screen, NC State should have plenty of good looks.