Louisville basketball hosts Georgia Tech on Monday. Why this game makes me want to assume the fetal position.
In the preseason, I felt like Georgia Tech was a team on the Louisville basketball schedule to watch out for. After the last month, my caution level has gone from mildly concerned to full-blown panic.
Now, when the Yellow Jackets arrive at the KFC Yum! Center on Monday for a 2 PM tip-off, the Cardinals are a 3.5-point favorite. However, this feels like a pick ’em game.
I struggle to ascribe to the term “must-win”, but Louisville’s sense of urgency has to be high in this one. The Cards have lost 3 of 4, have not looked great in the process, and travel to Syracuse and Virginia later in the week.
With that in mind, having this Georgia Tech squad up next is not ideal.
Let me explain.
Georgia Tech has experienced depth
First and foremost, Louisville basketball must contend with an extremely experienced Georgia Tech squad.
The Yellow Jackets start four seniors and a junior; all of whom are familiar names. Jose Alvarado and Michael Devoe form one of the top three backcourts in the ACC. If there is a one-on-one match-up nightmare for David Johnson and Carlik Jones, this has to be it. Alvarado and Devoe combine for 31 points, 8 assists, and better than 42 percent shooting from behind the arc.
Alvarado is truly Jones’ match. He is averaging 47 percent from three point range and 67 percent inside the arc in conference play.
Devoe and Alvarado lead a squad that is shooting better than 40 percent from three in conference play.
Joining the dynamic duo are Jordan Usher and Bubba Parham. While not as efficient as their counterparts, Parham and Usher may create significant match-up issues for Louisville basketball. Usher is a USC transfer who is a bit of an undersized four for Tech. Usher can certainly fill it up, but tends to defer to his teammates. That didn’t stop him from dropping 19 at Virginia and 21 at Clemson within the last two weeks.
Moses Wright is a problem for Louisville basketball
We saw that Louisville basketball had issues early against Clemson’s Aamir Simms. Cut from a similar cloth is Georgia Tech’s Moses Wright.
While he might look undersized, Wright is a load upfront. He may be a benefactor of a sensational backcourt, but Wright’s physicality will bring serious problems for Louisville’s Jae’Lyn Withers and JJ Traynor.
Wright averages 17 points per game, brings down 7 rebounds per game, and gets to the line 5 times per game.
Withers is snagging 8.3 rebounds per game, which is 3rd in the ACC in conference play. However, Wright’s 1.7 blocks and 2.6 steals per game in conference play will be tough to contend with.
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Georgia Tech is giving opponents fits
On Monday, Louisville basketball will be facing the oldest team in the ACC. Not only that, but Georgia Tech is 10th in the nation in steals (9.4 per game) and 20th in assist-to-turnover ratio. They are the second-best three-point shooting team in the ACC.
The Yellow Jackets started off the season in rough fashion, losing to two overmatched squads. However, since then, Georgia Tech has blowout wins over Kentucky, Nebraska, Clemson, and Florida State. Their three losses are to Florida State, Duke, and a last-second loss to Virginia.
Louisville basketball has discovered lately that its tough sledding in the ACC this season. This is not a Cardinals team that can play just okay and win against anyone in the league. Louisville has to execute well and bring its A game to come out with a victory on Monday.
