Georgia Tech’s first three games have all followed a different script, and that’s been the point. Through a 3-0 start, the Yellow Jackets have had a different scoring leader, rebounding leader and assists leader in each outing, a sign that Scott Cross has plenty of options to work with in his first season in Atlanta.
That balance will be on display again Saturday, when Georgia Tech looks for its fourth straight win over a mid-major opponent and hosts UNC Asheville at home.
The Yellow Jackets haven’t exactly rolled to the finish line in any of their victories. None of the three wins has come by more than 20 points, which leaves Cross still sorting out chemistry, tightening his rotation and figuring out which players will be the most dependable as the season goes on.
Tylis Jordan was the latest to take over in Tuesday’s 85-71 win over Eastern Kentucky, pouring in 27 points. A week earlier, Nasir Whitlock delivered the big performance in a 95-83 victory over Georgia Southern, finishing with 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Georgia Tech’s supporting cast has also shown up. Colby Garland is averaging 14.7 points per game, Kam Craft is at 10.3, and Victor Valdes is contributing 8.0 after Cross brought him over from Troy.
Cross pointed to that variety when talking about what has stood out most so far.
"I don't think a team can just key on one guy for us," Cross added. "One night it's Colby, one night it's Nas, one night it's Ty, Vic, you know, we got different guys that can step up."
UNC Asheville brings its own kind of balance into Atlanta. The Bulldogs have six players averaging between 13.0 and 9.3 points per game, and they’re coming off a 73-70 win Wednesday at West Georgia.
Ja’Corey Lipkins led that victory with 16 points, while reserve Khayri Dunn added 13 and both players knocked down three 3-pointers.
Inside, the matchup should be a good one. UNC Asheville’s tallest starters are Myles Mayfield at 6-foot-8 and Daniel Thomas at 6-foot-8, and they’ll go against Georgia Tech’s Cole Kirouac, who stands 7 feet and averages 8.5 rebounds, along with Jordan, who is listed at 6-10 and is putting up 15.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
UNC Asheville went 15-17 last season and was picked to finish fifth in the nine-team Big South Conference.
Bulldogs coach Mike Morrell, now in his ninth season, said the biggest change with this year’s group is simple: they are "a little bit deeper, a little faster and hopefully better shooting than we've had in the past."
In Other News...
Georgia Tech Just Delivered The Win Fans Have Been Waiting For
Georgia Tech finally got the kind of road result that can reset a season, knocking off Clemson at Clemson Memorial Stadium and snapping a four-game losing streak. It was the Yellow Jackets first win there since 2008, and it came with a performance that looked nothing like a team searching for answers. The defense set the tone early, squeezing Clemsons run game and making the Tigers work for every inch.
Georgia Techs front and pressure package did the heavy lifting, holding Clemson to 1.6 yards per carry in the first half and piling up three sacks. Justice Haynes, Grady Adamson and Chris Corbo were among the names showing up on a night when the Jackets needed contributions across the board, while Spaulding and Tawfiq Thomas helped keep the pressure on. For a team that had been waiting for a signature response, this was the kind of win that can linger well beyond one Saturday. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Techs Clemson Win Put One Big Question On This Defense
Georgia Techs 20-6 win over Clemson was the kind of result that changes the conversation around a program, especially when it comes in Death Valley for the first time since 2008. The Yellow Jackets leaned on a strong ground game from Justice Haynes and Grady Adamson, but the bigger takeaway may have been what happened on the other side of the ball. Under interim coordinator Vinnie Sunseri, the defense looked noticeably sharper and held Clemson to just 86 rushing yards.
The performance raised a real question about whether this group has finally found something it can build on after a season of uneven stretches. Clemson never found much rhythm offensively, and Georgia Techs ability to control the line of scrimmage made the win feel less like a fluke and more like a statement. Still, one strong night is only part of the picture, and the next test will say plenty about whether this defensive surge is a short-term spark or something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Just Delivered The Reset This Season Desperately Needed
Georgia Tech walked into Clemson and left with the kind of result that can change the feel of a season. The Yellow Jackets snapped a four-game losing streak with a 20-6 road win under an interim coaching staff, leaning on a physical ground game that produced 269 rushing yards and two touchdowns while the defense kept Clemson uncomfortable throughout the afternoon.
Clemsons offense never found a rhythm, and the early exit of starting quarterback Tait Reynolds only added to a familiar frustration for a team that has struggled at home against Power Four opponents. For Georgia Tech, it was more than just a needed win. It was a reset, the sort that can steady a locker room and give a battered season a little bit of direction. [Read more 🡒]