ATLANTA- Georgia Tech has struggled with Duke for a few years and issues didn’t change with first-year coach Jon Scheyer on the helm because the Jackets received blown out 86-43 for the seventh straight loss in ACC play this season dropping Tech to 1-10 in league play for the worst begin since 2008-09. The Jackets scored solely 18 factors within the second half. It was the worst dwelling loss in Tech’s ACC historical past and the fourth worse ACC loss in Tech historical past.
The seventh straight loss is the longest ACC shedding streak for the reason that 2018-19 season when the core of Jose Alvarado and Moses Wright struggled. It was the worst loss to Duke since Pastner’s first season when the Jackets misplaced by 53, 110-57 in Durham.
Tech head coach Josh Pastner was trustworthy as common in his evaluation of the group’s efficiency on Saturday.
“That was not a superb sport and Duke kicked our rear finish and their measurement was overwhelming for us and we received in stretches the place we couldn’t rating and it spiraled on us within the final 4 minutes of the primary half and the second half’s opening. I felt like we have been actually small in a number of areas. Credit score to Duke and it wasn’t a superb sport for us,” Pastner mentioned.
The Jackets have been fully overmatched in each section of the sport.
“We regarded small on the market,” Pastner mentioned. “Even the wings are we’re small. Mark Mitchell was larger than our middle. Generally we’re not actual powerful on the ground and never so good on the ground. We’ve received good younger guys and they’re good off the ground and take that nicest on the court docket. We’ve received to get harder in some areas. We’d like guys to step up and be actually powerful on the ground.”
Scheyer was impressed together with his group’s efficiency within the win.
“I’m actually pleased with our group and energy and we had a troublesome loss on Monday night time and we had an amazing week of preparations and Georgia Tech is a extremely harmful group and to carry them to 43 and have 24 assists is superb,” Scheyer mentioned.
In a seamless pattern, Tech received killed inside with Duke outscoring the Jackets 44-12 within the paint. Star Duke huge man Kyle Flipowski solely had 18 factors after scoring 14 within the first half.
The Blue Devils had 5 gamers in double figures within the sport Jeremy Roach (12), Mark Mitchell (11), Jacob Grandison (10) and Ryan Younger (10).
Duke shot 55.7 % from the sector and 9-23 from the arc.
Georgia Tech shot 30.9 % from the sector, 5-22 from the arc and had simply 5 offensive rebounds within the sport. Duke had 13 offensive rebounds and 14 second-chance factors.
“I do know everyone seems to be annoyed with the offense. We’re looking for some methods to attain and issues that aren’t good. Eighty to 90 % of halfcourt offense comes from breakdowns and we’ve struggled with it,” Pastner mentioned.
Tristan Maxwell was the lone double-figure scorer with 10 factors in 21 minutes off the bench in his first motion after lacking a number of video games with a hip pointer.
Tech’s 5 starters mixed 25 factors on 38 shot makes an attempt hitting simply 9 photographs and 3-13 from three. Middle Rodney Howard shared his ideas on the loss and the general disappointing efficiency.
“I’m sorry with the way in which we got here out for the followers and we didn’t come out the appropriate means and Duke wished it greater than us and we didn’t get it going,” Howard mentioned. “We will’t let folks are available right here and kick our butt.”
Coleman who was visibly emotional through the post-game press convention after a 2-8 night time with simply 5 factors, mentioned one phrase encompassed the day for him.
“It’s embarrassing for us and a number of followers got here out to help us and it’s embarrassing for Tech,” Coleman mentioned.
Kyle Flipowski continued his robust play within the first half posting 14 factors on 4-6 taking pictures and 5-6 from the free line to steer all scorers on the break. Duke hit 6-13 from the arc within the first half opening up an 18-point lead whereas Tech shot simply 34.5% total and hit solely 3-9 from three whereas trying simply two free throws in comparison with Duke’s 10.
“We wished to get our bigs going as a result of Georgia Tech is form of small and we actually received going within the second half,” Jeremy Roach mentioned.
Tech travels to Louisville on Wednesday to face a winless Cardinals group in ACC play this season after which again to NC State on Saturday to begin February.
“I’m an actual optimistic man and I’m additionally a realist, now we have no margin for error and now we have deficiencies, our first 11 video games in ACC play we’ve had the hardest schedule within the league. If you happen to take a look at the backend of our schedule possibly we will get some wins,” Pastner mentioned. “Hopefully issues can loosen up and there’s possibly not a lot measurement distinction and also you aren’t taking part in two first-round picks or groups that aren’t as outdated, although Duke shouldn’t be as outdated they simply have a number of first-round guys. We’ve received alternatives and all you may ask for is that.”
Duke opened the sport by hitting on 4 of six three-point makes an attempt to take a 16-7 lead forcing Josh Pastner to burn an early timeout. Tech continued to battle offensively however they received in transition and reduce the Duke result in 19-11 with below 12 to go within the first half due to a fastbreak layup by Tristan Maxwell. Tech trimmed the result in six, however a few turnovers allowed Duke to increase the lead again to 9, 25-16 on the third media timeout with 7:47 left. Deivon Smith had a few clutch buckets together with a 3 to chop the Duke result in 30-23 with 4:21 left resulting in a timeout by Scheyer. Duke went on a 6-0 run after the timeout pounding the ball inside main to a different Tech timeout with 2:27 left and Pastner introduced in Cyril Martynov for the primary time in ACC play. Duke closed the half on a 14-2 run to steer 43-25 on the break.
Tech got here out chilly to begin the second half and Duke prolonged the result in 30 early in half due to a 3:30 scoreless stretch to open the half. Issues received worse from there.