GT had one of its best seasons in decades last year, riding standout seniors to an ACC Tournament title. But sustaining that success for another year is going to be difficult after losing two all-ACC performers in Moses Wright and Jose Alvarado. Are there pieces in place to effectively replace what they’ve lost?

Coach: Josh Pastner; 249–148 in 12 Seasons Overall; 82–75 (42–49) in 5 seasons at Georgia Tech

2020-21 Record: 17-9 (11-6); 4th in ACC

2020-21 KenPom Efficiency:

National: AdjO: 113.7 (22nd of 357)
AdjD: 96.2 (68th of 357)
ACC: AdjO: 106.5 (6th of 15)
AdjD: 99.9 (5th of 15)

 

Roster Roundup

Departures:

PG Jose Alvarado (Graduated)

26 G, 37.1 mpg, 15.2 ppg, 4.1 apg, 39% 3P%

F/C David Didenko (Transferred to UT Martin)

5 G, 1.8 mpg, 0 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 0% FG%

F/C Moses Wright (Graduated)

25 G, 35.3 mpg, 17.4 ppg, 8 rpg, 53% FG%

Returners:

G Bubba Parham (SR+)

25 G, 26.9 mpg, 6.7 ppg, 1.4 apg, 33% 3P%

G Kyle Sturdivant (JR)

26 G, 11.9 mpg, 3.5 ppg, 1 apg, 36% 3P%

G Tristan Maxwell (SO)

1 G, 8 mpg, 3 ppg, 0 apg, 0% 3P%

G/F Michael Devoe (SR)

26 G, 35 mpg, 15 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 40% 3P%

F Jordan Usher (SR+)

26 G, 29.5 mpg, 11.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 29% 3P%

F Khalid Moore (SR)

25 G, 23.9 mpg, 4.8 ppg, 3 rpg, 23% 3P%

PF Jordan Meka (RS SO)

1 G, 8 mpg, 0 ppg, 1 rpg, 0% FG%

C Rodney Howard (JR)

19 G, 7.6 mpg, 1.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 52% FG%

C Saba Gigiberia (SO)

8 G, 4.4 mpg, 1.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 36% FG%

Additions:

PG Deivon Smith (SO Transfer, Mississippi State)

33 G, 22.5 mpg, 5.2 ppg, 2.9 apg, 28% 3P%

G/F Dallan Coleman (4-star FR)
SF Jalen Moore (3-star FR)
SF Miles Kelly (4-star FR)

*Projected starters inΒ bold

 

Outlook

The defending ACC Tournament champs saw their two all-ACC seniors Jose Alvarado and Moses Wright elect to move on to their post-collegiate careers instead of taking a bonus season, despite both knowing they were likely going to go undrafted. Coach Pastner did get good news with the decision by veteran wing Michael Devoe to return for his 4th year rather than take his shot at the pros, so between him and modern forward Jordan Usher, the Jackets do have a pair of proven system-veteran scorers on the wings.

But the absences of Alvarado and Wright leave Georgia Tech with massive holes at the 1 and 5, and no clear answers as to who will take their places. Super-senior Bubba Parham may get the lead guard job but he’s historically been more comfortable in a complementary role, and Miss State transfer Deivon Smith was uneven in a tough SEC. Kyle Sturdivant did earn some meaningful PT off the bench last year but would need to take a big leap to reach starter-level this fall. Pastner may start both Parham and Smith together if he elects for a smaller guard-oriented lineup with Devoe at the 3. But I think he’s better served to go jumbo and bring Parham off the bench in exchange for being able to play forwards Usher and Khalid Moore together at the 3 and 4. This puts all-ACC candidate Devoe at the two which also makes room for a couple of talented freshmen in Coleman, Jalen Moore, and Kelly to compete at the 3 and small-4 spots.

While replacing Alvarado at point is a daunting question, there’s at least some combination of talent and depth to throw at reestablishing a guard rotation. But Pastner has no good options at center, as Meka, Howard, and Gigiberia are all giant question marks. Howard gets the nod as the starter here, but who knows. The Jackets brought in no big men out of either high school or the transfer pool, so one of last year’s benchwarmers is getting the nod. I just can’t see Pastner going truly small, not after getting spoiled by the play of elite big men like Wright and James Banks the last few years. But whoever he chooses, I’m betting on a big drop-off at that position.

Pastner has done a commendable job the last couple seasons with an underrated Georgia Tech team, but those teams had one of the ACC’s best point guards at the helm and all-ACC presences on the blocks. They’ll still be a tough team, especially at home, but will probably take a relative step back in a deep league. I just have a tough time seeing the pieces cleanly fit together with such big questions at the 1 and 5, meaning ultimately we probably see GT falling back into the middle of the pack and into Bubble/NIT territory come next March.