Georgia Tech Faces Crucial ACC Matchup Against Struggling Pittsburgh

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Georgia Tech will face Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. Tuesday, a crucial game that has significant implications for their standing in the ACC. With four regular-season games remaining, the Yellow Jackets find themselves in a four-way tie for eighth place in the conference, needing to finish in the top nine to secure an automatic berth in the second round of the upcoming ACC tournament.

Coach Damon Stoudamire emphasized the importance of the matchup during a pre-game press conference, declaring, “It is big. I’m looking forward to the next couple weeks. We have some great opportunities ahead of us, and hopefully we can seize that moment.”

Georgia Tech struggled in their last outing, suffering a disappointing 69-54 loss to Boston College, where they shot just 32% from the field. “We need to get back to being who we were,” Stoudamire said. “We can’t allow ourselves to get complacent.” He noted that the team must improve on both offense and defense to be competitive as they approach the season’s end.

The Jackets will be looking to bounce back against a Pittsburgh team that started the season 12-2 but has found themselves in a slump, losing nine of their last 13 games. Both teams now share the same 7-9 record in conference play, intensifying the stakes of the upcoming clash.

Tech’s defense will have to focus heavily on the Panthers’ backcourt duo, senior Ishmael Leggett and Jaland Lowe, who each average 16.4 points per game and have combined for 72 three-pointers this season. “We have to be physical with them,” Stoudamire said of Pittsburgh’s backcourt duo.

The upcoming match is set to take place at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, where Georgia Tech has historically struggled, winning just three times in their last seven visits. Coach Jeff Capel of Pittsburgh is also aware of the challenge posed by Georgia Tech, praising players like Nait George and Baye Ndongo. Capel stated, “George is the guy that kind of stirs everything for them. He does a great job of getting guys involved.”

Following the game against Pittsburgh, the Yellow Jackets will return home for a matchup against North Carolina State at 4 p.m. Saturday. With their postseason hopes on the line, every game now becomes pivotal for Georgia Tech.