Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: Yellow Jackets @ Cardinals | Game 19
Good afternoon from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY, where the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-10, 3-5 ACC) are set to do battle against the #6 Louisville Cardinals (15-3, 6-1 ACC). The Jackets are hoping to break a pair of streaks tonight: Louisville has won 4 in a row (Miami, Notre Dame, Pitt, Duke) while Tech has dropped their last 2 (Notre Dame, Virginia). If their record is any indicator, being away from the Thrillerdome could be beneficial for them, as they are 5-4 away from home but just 3-3 at McCamish Pavilion.
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Tipoff is set for 7:00pm, and you can catch the game on Fox Sports South (link here).
PREGAME/PREVIEW
Ahead of today's tipoff, be sure to check out our preview of the Cardinals and other related readings:
What To Watch For Vs. Louisville
Tale of The Tape: Louisville Cardinals
Watch: Head Coach Josh Pastner Previews Louisville
Without Turnovers, Alvarado Thinks GT Is A Championship Team
Pastner Adamant That Georgia Tech Is Better Than 8-10 Record
Georgia Tech Dealing With Injuries Ahead Of Louisville Matchup
Probable Starters:
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
G Jose Alvarado
G Michael Devoe
F Jordan Usher
F Moses Wright
C James Banks III
- Louisville Cardinals
G Fresh Kimble
G Darius Perry
G Dwayne Sutton
F Jordan Nwora
C Steven Enoch
Personnel Update: Shooting guard Michael Devoe (foot) and forward Evan Cole (wrist) are still questionable for tonight's matchup.
Pre-Tipoff Update: Devoe remains in the starting lineup, and the rest of the lineup is unchanged since Alvarado and Usher returned.
FIRST HALF:
18:04: Jose Alvarado is on fire to begin the game. He is has all 6 of GT's point, with them all coming from beyond the perimeter.
15:58: Whatever Louisville puts up, Georgia Tech has answered. Both teams are a combined 8-12 from the field.
14:40: Georgia Tech needed to come out aggressive if they had any shot at winning, and so far they have delivered and kept themselves in the game. At the first media timeout, the Jackets have a 12-11 lead thanks 5-7 shooting from the field, while simultaneously holding the Cardinals to just 4-9. The 3 ball has been a big factor, as Tech is 2-3 and UofL is 3-5.
13:36: The first foul in the game is called. Tech is currently on a 6-0 run and UofL has made only 1 of their last 7 shots.
13:07: A vicious block from Moses Wright sets up a dunk on the other end from Jordan Usher. The Cards have not made a field goal in three and a half minutes.
11:48: GT is doing all that they need to do in order to stay competitive. So far they are 8-11 from the field while committing just 3 turnovers thus far. Jose Alvarado is leading the way with a pair of threes and a tough layup through contact. Meanwhile, UofL had a 4 minute span without making a field goal.
11:11: James Banks III picks up his 2nd foul of the game.
9:21: Between UofL and GT, the teams have committed 4 consecutive turnovers.
8:22: UofL has turned the ball over 4 times in a 4:01 minute stretch.
8:00: Tech is looking like the more poised team so far tonight. They are doing a solid job of staying concentrated on offense and finishing at the rim. GT is 10-15 from the field but have turned it over 6 times. Thankfully, their defense has held the Cards to just 6-15 from the floor.
6:52: UofL has made 4 of their last 5 field goal attempts. Tech has a 27-22 lead.
4:46: Both teams are doing a good job running their offenses whenever they are not turning the ball over. Tech is 11-17 with 7 turnovers and UofL is 9-18 with 7 turnovers as well. GT leads 30-25.
3:50: Despite turning the ball over 7 times on 24 possessions, the Jackets are doing what they did against Virginia and still finding a way to score the basketball when not turning it over. On top of that, GT has a 12-8 rebounding advantage.
3:04: A jumper from Alvarado gives him double digit points for the game.
1:49: Alvarado misses at the charity stripe, but a rebound from Usher and subsequent foul give them another go. Tech has a 36-30 lead.
1:03: Consecutive missed dunks and a drive to the rim sends Usher back to the line.
HALF: Georgia Tech 38, Louisville 32.
Stats at the Half:
SECOND HALF:
18:17: Devoe has taken all three of GT's second half shots so far, connecting on two of them including a three.
15:42: The Yellow Jackets have been held without a field goal in the last 2:35. Meanwhile on the other side, UofL is 3-6 and forced 2 quick GT turnovers. A once 11 point deficit has been cut to just 6.
15:23: A three from UofL's Samuell Williamson gives the Cards a 7-0 run and cuts the lead to just 3.
12:50: Tech has been held scoreless over the last 2:02, and are clinging to a three point lead. Momentum is starting to swing in the other direction. The Jackets are just 3-9 while UofL is 5-12 including 2 threes.
11:50: Georgia Tech has hit just 1 of their last 7 shots, and still have not scored in 3:02.
10:55: Moses Wright three point sighting.
9:51: UofL is struggling at the free throw line and helping keep GT's hopes up. The Cards are 6-13 at the charity stripe.
7:57: The second half is not as clean as the first half of the game was. Neither team is shooting over 45% and Tech is being out-rebounded 11-8 since half-time broke.
7:33: The Cards take their first lead of the second half off a layup from Fresh Kimble.
5:36: Louisville has gone on an 11-2 run and connected on their last 4 shots to take a 61-54 lead. GT has been outscored 29-16 in the second half.
3:35: A Michael Devoe three cuts the deficit to just 4 points. He now has 21 points and 12 in the second half.
2:22: UofL has not scored in 2:38.
1:52: Moses Wright draws a foul but goes 1-2 at the line. 3 point game in favor of Louisville.
1:20: A dunk from James Banks III make sit a 10-0 run from Georgia Tech, and now they trail by just 1.
0:23.2: Bubba Parham receives his 5th foul. Free throws give UofL a 2 point lead.
0:07.4: Devoe misses a three and UofL is fouled by GT.
Final: Louisville 68, Georgia Tech 64
Final Stats:
