Georgia Tech Prepares for Repeat Matchup Against Struggling Boston College

ATLANTA, Georgia — Georgia Tech‘s Yellow Jackets will face Boston College on Saturday in a pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) clash, nearly two months after their last encounter. The Yellow Jackets, with a record of 13-13 and 7-8 in the ACC, aim to build on a recent surge, having won five of their last seven games following a four-game losing streak.

Since their last meeting on January 4, where Georgia Tech defeated the Eagles 85-64, much has changed. Coach Damon Stoudamire‘s team has battled injuries, which have restricted his rotation to as few as six players at times. However, they appear to have regained their form, coming off a thrilling 90-88 overtime win against California.

In contrast, Boston College’s season has taken a downward turn. The Eagles enter this matchup with a 11-15 overall record and a disappointing 3-12 in conference play. They have lost nine of their last 11 games and currently sit in a tie for 16th place in the 17-team ACC standings. Their recent performance continues a trend of struggles, with losing streaks of five and then four games causing concern about their placement in the upcoming ACC tournament.

Despite their struggles, the Eagles have shown resilience. Coach Earl Grant’s team recently defeated Virginia Tech 54-36, representing their first victory after four consecutive losses. Earlier in the month, they pulled off an impressive comeback against Florida State, and several close matches have challenged their abilities, with three conference losses coming in overtime.

<p“They're playing hard,” Stoudamire remarked during his weekly radio show. “It’s a dangerous game, and when you’re coming off wins like we have, we have to be ready and on point.”

Georgia Tech is seeking to secure its place within the top nine in the ACC standings, which would grant them a bye in the second round of the league tournament. Stoudamire noted that their focus is on maintaining momentum and aiming for higher standings. He highlighted that the team’s seven conference victories match last season’s total, achieved under his first year at the helm.

The Yellow Jackets are also looking for their second road win of the season, having only won once in seven attempts away from Atlanta. This game marks a return for Coach Stoudamire to Boston, where he served as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics from 2021 to 2023. Reflecting on that experience, he expressed enthusiasm about returning to a city he enjoyed.

<p“It’ll be good to get back to Boston. I really enjoyed my time up there,” Stoudamire said. “It was a first-class organization, and I learned a lot.”

As for individual performances, Georgia Tech has relied on players such as Baye Ndongo and Naithan George. Ndongo averages 17.2 points and 11.6 rebounds per game this February. George contributes significantly with 22.2 points per game and nearly seven assists since February began, highlighting a solid offensive strategy.

In the upcoming matchup against Boston College, maintaining defensive pressure and exploiting scoring opportunities will be critical for the Yellow Jackets. With the stakes high for both teams, this game promises to be a crucial turn in the conference season.