Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: Yellow Jackets @ Wildcats | Game 8
Playing in only their third true road game so far this season, next up for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (4-3, 1-1 ACC) is a matchup with the #8 Kentucky Wildcats (7-1, 0-0 SEC) at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. It is their first showdown with Kentucky since 2000.
Tech is hoping to bounce back from a brutal loss at home to the Syracuse Orange. Jim Boeheim and company handed Tech their worst home loss since 1981 with a 97-63 shellacking at McCamish Pavilion. Although the Jackets did win in their two other contests that week against Bethune-Cookman and Nebraska.
Tipoff is set for 5:00pm, and you can catch the game on ESPN.
PREGAME/PREVIEW
Ahead of today's 5:00pm tip, be sure to check out our preview of the Wildcats and other related readings:
What To Watch For Vs. Kentucky
Tale of The Tape: Kentucky Wildcats
Can Georgia Tech Pull An Evansville?
Josh Pastner Discusses Syracuse & Previews Kentucky
Bubba Parham Talks About Previous Outing Vs. Kentucky With VMI
Probable Starters:
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
G Bubba Parham
G Michael Devoe
F Khalid Moore
F Moses Wright
F/C James Banks III
- Kentucky Wildcats
G Ashton Hagans
G Tyrese Maxey
F Nick Richards
F Johnny Juzang
F EJ Montgomery
FIRST HALF:
15:56: The Wildcats are doing a solid job of denying Georgia Tech entry into the paint, but conversely so are the Yellow Jackets. At the first media timeout, it's a 7-3 Kentucky advantage with Tech doing well on the defensive end at it pertains to getting a hand on the ball.
11:49: Georgia Tech has started to find their shooting rhythm, making their last 4 shots from the field including 3 shots from beyond the arc. First Moses Wright, then Evan Cole and finally Bubba Parham all connected from downtown. The defense has settled into groove as well, at one point forcing 4 straight Kentucky misses.
7:24: Both teams have all of a sudden found their offensive rhythm. Tech has made 9 of their last 10 shots, and Kentucky at one point made 7 straight field goals. The Jackets lead 25-21. Of note, both John Calipari and Josh Pastner each received coaches box warnings within a one minute span.
4:11: With the first half starting to come to a close, both UK and GT are still shooting above 50%. Just like his last trip to Rupp, Bubba Parham is leading the Jackets in scoring with 8 points on 3-4 from the field. Although Tech is currently on a 3:11 scoring drought and the Wildcats are on a 6-0 run. Heading into the timeout, forward Moses Wright is given a flagrant 1 foul for an aggressive block on Tyrese Maxey.
Half: Kentucky 36, Georgia Tech 30.
SECOND HALF:
15:01: Out of the gates, each team has gone on a 6-0 run. First it was Kentucky to stretch their lead out to 12 points, then Georgia Tech responded with one of their own to keep the lead at 6 points. Moses Wright leads all GT scorers with 11.
12:11: Pastner immediately call a TO following a Immanuel Quickley 3. The Tech defensive has been high quality over the last 5 and a half minutes, forcing 6 UK turnovers. However the offense is struggling, as the Cats have smothered Michael Devoe on almost every possession.
7:46: The Yellow Jackets have continued to pressure UK, forcing them to turn the ball over 8 times in the second half alone. However, they only have 7 points off those turnovers as they have gone 6-19 from the field in that time. Kentucky leads 51-43.
3:46: GT has made their last 3 shots, but it's starting to look a little too late for a run. The offensive has looked stagnant for much of the latter part of the second half, at point enduring a stretch where the Jackets went 1-12 from the field. Around the 5 minute mark, center James Banks III fouled out with 6 points and 2 rebounds.
Final: Kentucky 67, Georgia Tech 53.
Full Stats:
