Georgia Tech Eyes ACC Ascent Against Struggling California

ATLANTA, Ga. – Georgia Tech aims to rise in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings as they host California on Saturday at 4 p.m. This matchup marks the first of four games over the next three weeks against teams positioned lower in the standings. The Yellow Jackets, currently 10th out of 17 teams in the ACC, are looking to secure a top-nine finish for a bye in the second round of the tournament.

Head coach Damon Stoudamire emphasized the team’s focus on immediate challenges rather than broader standings. “I keep an eye on what we’re actually doing because therefore the focus can stay in the moment,” Stoudamire stated. “We talked about it a couple weeks ago; this would be the time where there’d be separation.” He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to prepare for the match against California while navigating current injuries.

The Yellow Jackets recently secured a 60-52 victory over Stanford, bringing their record to 12-13 overall and 6-8 in the ACC. Their performance was marked by notable contributions from key players, including Jaeden Mustaf, who returned to play after injury, scoring seven points in 20 minutes. However, tech will again be without guards Javian McCollum and Lance Terry, leaving the team’s lineup thin.

“Now it’s not a matter of how many players we got, it’s a matter of how mentally and physically prepared you’re gonna be in those situations,” Stoudamire said. He praised his team for their resilience while competing with a limited roster, stating, “They’re a connected group and that’s what I like.”

California arrives in Atlanta after a loss to No. 3 Duke, marking their fourth defeat in five games. The Golden Bears hold a 12-13 overall record and a 5-9 conference mark. They have struggled on the road this season, with only one win outside California against North Carolina State.

Andrej Stojakovic leads California with an average of 17.5 points per game, though he has faced a dip in form recently. “To be able to run the offense against one of the top defenses in the country in Duke, Jeremiah is a tremendous leader and a phenomenal basketball player,” noted California coach Mark Madsen, referencing rising star Jeremiah Wilkinson.

This game represents a crucial opportunity for the Jackets to improve their record against California, a team they have not defeated in their previous three encounters. Mustaf expressed the team’s mindset, saying, “I’m definitely looking at it, but not too focused on it. Just want to keep focusing on each game and winning each game.”

As the regular season nears its conclusion, Stoudamire remains optimistic about his team’s prospects. “We have seven conference games to go. We feel like each one of those is winnable,” he stated. With key matchups against teams they can capitalize on, the Jackets regard Saturday’s clash with California as pivotal while pursuing improvement in the league standings.