Trae Young was a busy man this past weekend. The point guard for the Atlanta Hawks was in Chicago for NBA All-Star Weekend after being voted into the All-Star game as a starter in only his second year in the league. In addition to the actual game on Sunday, Young also competed in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night and the three-point contest on Saturday.

The Rising Stars game is intended to feature the future stars of the NBA, with the best first and second year players in the league divided into Team USA and Team World. 

The game is largely an exhibition filled with flashy highlights and very little defense. The game is very laid back and usually becomes an impromptu dunk contest in the final minutes. 

One memorable moment involving Young occurred right before halftime, when Dallas Mavericks star Luka Donćič was dribbling the ball up the court. Young jokingly challenged him to shoot from halfcourt. Naturally, Donćič sank the half-court shot, and the preceding laughter and hug went viral on social media. 

Donćič and Young have had a friendly rivalry literally since the start of their careers when the Mavericks and Hawks executed a draft-day trade of the two. They went on to finish 1-2 in Rookie of the Year voting last year, leading to a lot of debate over who is the better player, but they have been able to develop a friendship in spite of that, as was seen on Friday night. 

Two days later, it was Young’s turn to sink a half-court shot right before the halftime buzzer, this time in the actual All-Star game. Young finished the game with a double-double of 10 points and 10 assists, a strong performance in one of the more competitive NBA all-star games in recent years. 

Young also participated in the three-point contest on Saturday night, but struggled to find a rhythm and finished with only 15 points, leading to his elimination in the first round. 

Young’s inclusion on the All-Star team has continued an ongoing debate in the NBA regarding the representation of bad teams. The Hawks’ current record is 15-41, last in the Southeast Division and well out of the playoffs. 

Former players such as Charles Barkley have said that players from bad teams do not deserve to be all-stars, while others have argued that the team’s record does not necessarily reflect the skill of an individual player. 

Young’s numbers this season certainly speak for themselves. He is currently third in the league with an average of 29.7 points per game and second in assists with 9.2 per game. He has become known throughout the league for remarkable feats of ballhandling, viral circus shots, and most of all, long range three-point bombs. 

The Hawks have been attempting to build a competent team around him by acquiring young players like John Collins and Kevin Huerter through the draft. At their current pace, the Hawks have a good chance of getting a high draft pick, giving themselves a chance to add another weapon to the team. 

While the focus has always been on developing young talent, the club has also shown a desire to become more competitive in the immediate future, recently swinging a trade with the Houston Rockets for center Clint Capela. Young is the most dynamic and exciting player the Hawks have had in a long time. He has become the face of Hawks basketball and has begun popularizing his brand with the nickname “Ice Trae.” 

As the Hawks continue to rebuild, having a possible future superstar will hopefully serve to energize a fanbase that has one of the lower attendance rates in the NBA. The fact that the Hawks has a player at the All-Star game is definitely a sign of progress. The Hawks return from the break on Feb. 20 when they will face off against the Miami Heat.

This past week, Tech upset NC State in men’s basketball with an impressive 26-point performance by star guard Jose Alvarado. With little time on the clock, Alvarado had two huge steals to help seal the game. He ended the game with a school-record nine steals. James Banks also helped in more intense moments of the game, tipping in two shots in the final minutes. This win felt good for the team after a narrow loss to top-ten team,  Louisville. The Jackets were able to hang on throughout the entirety of the Louisville matchup  game but wound up losing 64-68. 

The Jackets, currently sitting at 9-11, have found themselves in the midst of a struggling season. In a conference with national powerhouses, the Jackets have found themselves in the lower-middle of the fray, ultimately finding some trouble in competing against top tier opponents.

 In particular, the Jackets have found themselves struggling to close out games. Saturday’s game was a glimpse into a gritty Jackets team that was able to make plays when it counted. Banks is no stranger to making clutch plays when they count. Last November, he made strong free throws to seal the game against NC State. The previous March, he made an and-one in the final seconds against NC State to  get the win. 

This Louisville victory means that the Jackets have swept the Wolfpack this season, a notable achievement for a team in one of the strongest conferences in all of NCAA college basketball. Another noteworthy takeaway is that Tech was able to secure the victory without their leading scorer — Michael Devoe. 

Devoe’s absence was caused by a sore foot. Seeing that playing would risk further aggravation, the last-minute decision forced Khalid Moore into his role. The forward, who is known for his defense, contributed five points for the offense. Devoe is looking to make his return Saturday against Notre Dame. 

Saturday was also marked by an impressive turnout of 6,794 people. While a strong turnout for Tech, it still lags far behind that of the average attendance of 18,321 fans for crowds in the ACC last year. That being said, it is still over 800 people more than last year’s average attendance. 

Tech football tickets went on sale this week. With small updates being made to Bobby Dodd and a growing team energy for the upcoming season, Tech football hopes to make an increase in the impressive number of ticket sales from last year. After  a somewhat disappointing performance from the 2019 season, any records Tech fans set will be based upon faith for next year’s team. By May of last year, Tech had already sold more tickets than the entire season of 2018. The excitement came from the arrival of Coach Collins, who brought  a new energetic addition to the Tech team. Ticket sales this season will offer a glimpse into the confidence levels Tech fans have going into the season. 

Tech has also made some interesting changes to the schedule recently, starting with a game in Mercedes Benz every year for the next four years. This year, Tech will face off against Notre Dame, whose fanbase is so strong the school has its own contract with NBC, unheard of in the college football world. Tech has also scheduled Alabama for 2030 and 2031. 

While still far off, these actions convey an overall intention for the Tech team in the upcoming years. Tech is trying to position itself into the fray of the college football arena. Tech will also be playing Clemson at home next year, a game likely to pack every seat in Bobby Dodd. Popular games against big-time opponents are huge factors when it comes to ticket sales. 

Last year, Tech experimented with trying out a fluid-price model, one in which tickets to rivalry games were sold at prices that fluctuated according to supply and demand at any given time. The goal was to get more Tech fans involved while keeping prices up for other games. Previously, the institution had sold most rivalry game tickets as packages including other games or as season tickets. 

However, this turned out to be an issue, with fans of rivalry teams buying the packages and selling the tickets included to other games on second-hand sites. This pattern ensured that tickets to games with weaker opponents were artificially cheaper, causing the institution to miss out on revenue. The reasoning behind the system was to keep rivalry fans from taking over Bobby Dodd during big-time matchups, a problem often faced by athletically average institutions. 

Using the new method should increase revenue for Tech. But at the same time, this might wind up helping invite rival fan bases into Bobby Dodd, making it easier for opponent attendees to purchase tickets. 

Another interesting match-up to look at this year is Tech’s home game against UCF. A few years ago, UCF had a perfect season and ended it by proclaiming themselves the true national champions. After being brought down to earth by LSU the following year, the team still garnishes national attention and has been on an upward trend recently. A strong demand by a UCF fanbase could help Tech’s ticket sales. 

Tech’s ticket sales generally represent an excitement felt by fans for the upcoming season. While few are expecting sales to surpass the record set the season following a Jackets Orange Bowl victory, Collins’ famous marketing strategies could eventually change that. Even still, a strong showing by the fanbase enforces the loud, colorful displays of team pride felt every Saturday across the college football landscape. 

It was an electric atmosphere in Bobby Dodd Saturday as Tech took the field against rivals UGA. Tech’s defense came out strong in the first drive, surprising many by causing UGA to go three and out. However, as the first quarter continued, Tech’s defensive strength began to wane as UGA marched down the field. A pass by Fromm setup UGA for a 3-yard run to go up 10-0. From there on, UGA never looked back. UGA’s next drive had the Tech defense on their heels, ending in a 20-yard pass by Fromm for a touchdown.

The story of the first quarter was Tech’s total inefficiency on offense. Failing to pick up a single first down, the running game was shut down early and quarterback and quarterback James Graham struggled to complete passes. Shortly into the second quarter, a fumbled punt reception by UGA put Tech inside the red zone. Tech’s offense got its first conversion of the game, punching their way through a very aggressive UGA defense into the end zone.

But any optimism the Jackets might have had going into the second half quickly died out. UGA separated themselves very quickly, going up 38-7 with four minutes left in the third. The Jackets had no response. The rivalry of hate really began to show itself in the fourth, with players from both sides having to be separated by the refs. By the fourth quarter, any hope of a miracle in Bobby Dodd was gone. The final score? UGA 52, Tech 7.

Collins brings energy despite loss
The decision by Coach Collins to go for an onside kick in the first quarter was certainly gutsy. Throughout the game, Collins continued to show his different style of coaching compared to his predecessor. Tech’s throwing game might have been off, but they continued to try it – occasionally leading to a much-needed spark. Another difference in coaching is the antics of Coach Collins on the sideline. After a botched field goal by kicker Brenton King, Coach Collins pulled him over on the sideline and hugged him, and after a successful onside kick, Collins did pushups to the joy of his players. The difference in energy levels of players is evident as well. Tech’s walk to the field is marked by speakers, screens and smoke machines. The Collins effect might not have made a difference this game, but the changes in team spirit was noted by analysts and fans alike.

Special teams coverage lacking
Tech’s special teams continue to be an issue. In the first quarter, a lack of punt coverage allowed UGA to start their drive within field goal range, and Tech missed a chip-shot field goal in the second quarter. Tech’s special team coverage was lacking, allowing for multiple big returns from UGA. The UGA offense was able to start their drives from midfield making scoring almost a certainty. Looking to next season, Tech will need to improve their coverage skills to compete at the highest level.

Graham’s bad day dooms Tech offense
James Graham struggled to throw accurately throughout the entire game. On multiple occasions, Graham missed open receivers with bad passes. He continues to struggle hitting moving targets or throwing deep. The weak passing game forced Tech to rely mostly on its running game against a formidable SEC defense. Georgia was able to break through the offensive line, causing the young quarterback to scramble out of the pocket and force plays. Graham went just 5/20 with 40 yards passing on the day, and star RB Jordan Mason was held to just 37 yards on 16 carries.

This Tuesday, the NCAA made the surprise announcement that it would allow college athletes to be paid for the use of their name and likeness. This new step came in a series of events that started with a bill allowing for this in California. This decision marked an apparent flip in the NCAA’s view of collegiate payment — when California announced a bill that also allowed players to be paid for the use of their name and likeness, the NCAA immediately took a harsh stand against it. It was made obvious that the NCAA would fight the bill in court and college athletics highest governing body  even went as far as to threaten California with a ban from NCAA postseason activities. Now, a month later, the NCAA has completely reversed its position.  

The NCAA’s decision comes at a time when multiple states have bills similar to the one from California in the works. In fact, Florida currently has a bill that would allow for the start of earned payments to begin before the next college football season, far before that of the January 2021 deadline set by the NCAA. The bill also comes during a time of mounting pressure from not only legislative, but judicial bodies — in recent years, multiple court cases challenging the NCAA’s restrictions have popped up. The NCAA’s announcement let the world know it had heard the criticism.

The organization made no specifics about how the payment system would work, instead only mentioning that it was changing its stance. By the time the system comes to fruition, whether or not it will resemble the imaginings of its supporters is still a mystery. While the statement made sure to note that the fairness of the collegiate system would still be preserved, the NCAA has many big decisions to make as to how a system like this would function. For example, could athletes in the recruitment process be shown the endorsement deals they would receive  from attending a specific university? Would there be a limit as to how many sponsors an athlete could have? The real-world implementation by the NCAA will be something unprecedented in the history of collegiate sports. For the first time since its beginnings, a college athlete can earn money from the use of their name in a video game or the use of their face in a car wash commercial. Time will tell what the NCAA’s new model looks like, but this is a promising development for fair compensation for college athletes. 

Tech volleyball fell in Athens last weekend, losing a close game to the Georgia Bulldogs. UGA took an early lead, going up 6-0 in the first set. The Jackets called a timeout to try to regain some ground, but the lead proved too large for Tech for come back as Tech fell 25-15. The second set was much closer, but Tech faded late to give the Bulldogs a 25-23 victory. For the Jackets, things never really went their way until the third set — the Jackets jumped out to a 16-5 lead early and held on for a 25-17 victory after a hard-pressed comeback attempt from UGA. Going into the fourth set down 2-1 in sets, UGA took a 15-8 lead that it would not yield, clinching the match for the Bulldogs.

The Jackets responded to the loss by defeating Syracuse 3-1 in the following match, starting their conference play with a win at O’Keefe. After taking the first set handily 25-17, Cuse kept it close early, but with Kaiser serving Tech went on a 10-0 streak to take the second set. Tech yielded the third set, 25-17, but recovered quickly and took the fourth and final set comfortably 25-12, sealing a 3-1 victory in front of a capacity home crowd.

The Jackets are currently 6-1 at home, with their sole loss coming in their most recent game against Boston College. In a heated battle, Tech lost the first and second sets 31-29 and 25-21. Tech stormed back in subsequent sets, taking the third and fourth sets 25-21 and 25-14, forcing a fifth set. The deciding set went back and forth, but the Eagles came out on top 15-11, taking the set and the match.

Tech’s strong record — 8-5 and 1-1 in conference play — comes as a result of Tech’s young talent. Sophomore phenom Matti McKissock has impressed so far, recording three double doubles on the season and a personal record 63 assists against Boston College. Freshman Julia Bergmann also has had an impressive season, also having three double doubles. The freshman recorded her first over-20 kill game against Boston College, with 23 kills. The young talents on the team show a potential for multiple NCAA tournament appearances over the next few years.

Looking ahead, the Jackets face a challenging schedule over the next few weeks as they delve deep into conference play. With teams such as Louisville, While the ACC profiles as a fairly week conference in terms of overall strength — just three ACC teams received votes in the most recent iteration of the AVCA Coaches poll — Tech faces a steep climb in the conference against the current favorite, the no. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers, whom Tech plays on the road on Nov. 8th. Other ACC teams receiving votes include no. 23 Florida State and Louisville.

Tech is off to a good start already, especially with their strong home record and individual performances from their young players, but the will need to finish strong to have an opportunity to make the NCAA tournament, kicking off in December later this year. Tech goes on the road for their next four matches against Louisville, Notre Dame, Clemson and Virginia Tech until they return to Atlanta for a home-stand against Wake Forest, Duke, Florida State and Miami. Tech’s next home-stand kicks off Oct. 18 and runs through Oct. 27.

Thursday’s game against Clemson may have been representative of a new direction for Tech football, but the game itself seemed reminiscent of the past several years. Tech’s defense gave up 632 yards of offense against a superior Clemson team, and things quickly got out of hand as the Tigers eventually won 52-14.

Reviewing this game without perspective would incorrectly give one the sense of a continuation of mediocrity. However, Clemson is simply a superior football team that has been building for over a decade. Tech was outmatched by talent and coaching; expecting anything different than the ultimate outcome would have been ill-informed at best. The game was hardly as brutal and demoralizing a loss as the scoreboard might have indicated. With a new offensive system in place, Tech’s upward trajectory remains unchanged.

An important storyline from this week was Tech’s inability to capitalize off of turnovers. In one of the first drives of the game, Clemson fumbled inside their own territory and the Jackets simply could not convert the mistake into points. When Tre Swilling intercepted Trevor Lawrence early in the first quarter, he barely missed the end-zone in returning the ball and was tackled out of bounds by the Clemson QB. From Clemson’s two-yard line, Tech still could not score — after three consecutive rushes were stifled, Clemson intercepted Tech QB Tobias Oliver on fourth-and-goal, resulting in another empty possession for the Jackets. When playing the best team in college football, mistakes like this simply make the game unwinnable.

Despite forcing a number of turnovers on the Tigers, Tech themselves struggled with fumbles and interceptions. Crucially, an early-game muffed punt return by Juanyeh Thomas greatly assisted Clemson’s momentum. Tech was also stopped on a fourth down twice in the first half. Statistics like these need to disappear from the stat sheet if Tech is going to be competitive in the ACC.

The slowness of the Tech offense was also a major story line of the evening, with most of Tech’s plays being reminiscent of the Paul Johnson era. Tech ran the ball more than twice as often as they threw, and they did so inefficiently, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. Tech had just 239 yards and 13 first downs in the game. The weak offensive performance was truly all the Tigers needed to win Thursday night.

While the damage done to Tech’s defense by Clemson’s running game may seem like a big point, it should be noted that Clemson’s running back Travis Etienne is expected to be in contention for the Heisman award this season. Etienne is a tough stop for any defense, let alone a Tech defense under a new head-coach. Etienne’s performance should not have been a surprise — against a Tech defense still finding its footing early in the season, it was an inevitability.

Tech was overmatched entering the night, and every player on the field and every coach on the sidelines knew it. Tech is now a fresh, new program, and with that comes growing pains, especially against experienced and developed programs like Dabo Swinney’s. It is just the reality for Tech.

The Clemson game left Tech with a few takeaways that should not be exaggerated into season-defining predictions. Rather, it made their simple goals all the more apparent — Tech needs to work on capitalizing on turnovers, offensive production and offensive power. Facing more equally-matched opponents over the upcoming weeks will provide Tech an opportunity to showcase their early steps forward.

Andy Ogletree defeated John Augenstein on the 35th hole at Pinehurst this past Sunday giving the Tech senior the biggest title of his life. The day started with Ogletree trailing throughout the first course. Olgetree caught up finally on the 31st hole, taking a stroke lead on the following hole that he would not yield for the remainder of the tournament.

The win opens many doors for Olgetree moving forward. Ogletree now has an invitation to next year’s U.S. Open, the Masters and next year’s Open Championship, giving the Tech golfer an opportunity to prove himself on the world’s biggest stages. Not only that, but also with the way the pairings are set up in Augusta, the young star will be able to play alongside Tiger Woods in the Masters.

Being just the third Tech player to ever win the event and the first in over 20 years, the importance of the win cannot be overstated. Some other notable champions of the tournament include Arnold Palmer, Woods, Tech alumni Bobby Jones — who won 5 times between 1924 and 1930 — and Matt Kuchar, who took home the crown in 1997. Ogletree will head to England to play in the Walker Cup, where the amateur American team and the amateur British and Irish team will face off.

The path of Ogletree’s success can be traced all the way back to Little Rock, Mississippi. Growing up with a driving range and putting green in his yard, golf was always a part of Ogletree’s life. Olgetree trained in the game from a young age and was a standout in high school, lettering six times in varsity golf and earning Mississippi High School Golfer of the Year accolades.

The senior phenom has recently attempted to better manage his time in training, with more focus being given to his short game. Ogletree has never been one to be too distraught.The calm demeanor of the champion helped secure him a very big victory after an unacceptable performance, instead choosing to focus on the next hole. In fact, Ogletree and his caddy, Tech’s new golf assistant coach Devin Stanton, were seen cracking jokes as they walked through the course. The calm demeanor of the champion helped secure him a big victory coming off of a somewhat mild year for Tech. Last fall, having played in three events, the senior finished in the top-20 in just two of them. Ogletree was ranked just no. 120 in the World Amateur rankings entering the tournament, a distant cry from Augustine at no. 38.

How did Ogletree shock the golfing world, then? Short game. Ogletree was unsatisfied with his performance on chips and putts entering last year, so with the help of Tech golf coach Bruce Heppler, the senior went to work on drilling and practicing his short game to make it the best it could be. Ogletree’s improvement continued quietly and steadily throughout the year, but it bubbled up to the surface at the Amateur, where it proved to be the difference maker on the last holes of the course, helping Ogletree put away Augustine for good.

What’s next for the reigning champ? Class. Tech’s school year started the day after the tournament finished, and like any student-athlete, Ogletree still had to show up for classes.

Ogletree will hit the links soon enough, however. While the senior will likely miss Tech’s first big tournament of the year, the Carpet Capital Collegiate, he’ll have good reason for it. Ogletree will represent the US in the Walker Cup as the team plays against the Irish/Great Britain team in England at the same time of the CCC, in addition to his further responsibilities as Amateur champion. All in a days work for a rising Tech star.

Tech football received some exciting new last week as it was announced that Tech will play an annual home game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium from 2020 to 2024.  The series will start with Notre Dame in 2020, Clemson in 2022, and Notre Dame in 2024.  Tech’s opponents in 2021 and 2023 are still to be determined.  An important thing worth noting is that all five games will be available for season ticket holders.  In fact, everyone who has season tickets will get complimentary priority parking and seating.  

This move marks a turn in Tech football. Playing in such a world-class venue will get Tech more spotlight, a necessity when it comes to recruiting. The notoriety of the Benz might also help bring in fans who do not usually come to Tech games.  With superior facilities, cheap refreshments and a good location, going to a Tech game at the Benz will appeal to more people than the usual home games.  The appeal of the Benz will help Tech find its niche in Atlanta sports culture, something that simply was not going to happen during Johnson’s tenure. Yet even in the Johnson era, when Tech’s marketing efforts lagged behind those of their rivals, playing at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game brought significant dividends. The game sold 75,107 tickets, well above Bobby Dodd’s capacity.  

Finding its place in Atlanta will help Tech increase its reach to fans and future recruits.  This opportunity is one of the reasons Collins got his job.  His charisma and energy separated him from the other qualified candidates.  This move could be the first step in increasing Tech’s notoriety, a necessity in the modern college football era.

A move such as this can only be good for recruiting. By itself, Tech playing in the Benz will not be the reason any recruit decides to commit, but it is what the team is able to do with the opportunity that matters.  The games against Notre Dame and Clemson are going to be games against two premier teams in a premier venue.  The stage could not be any bigger.  While nobody expects Tech to win — unless Tech makes a giant leap forward by 2023 or 2024 — it is the competitiveness that could give Tech more credibility in the minds of elite high school athletes.   

Primetime games such as these are hard to find in college football.  This move by Tech to utilize its proximity to one of the top stadiums in the world to challenge top-ranked opponents is nothing short of extraordinary. The game is a great marketing opportunity for Tech.  If Tech can stay competitive with its opponents and show the country its new brand, look for better recruits, attendance and viewership.  

One real concern is that in making this decision, Tech is essentially sacrificing five home games. Notre Dame fans are known for traveling well and Clemson is a recent two-time national champion whose campus is less than two hours from Atlanta. Needless to say, both programs will bring significant contingents to Atlanta. But given that those schools would have likely packed their alumni into Bobby Dodd as well, the tradeoff is worthwhile. A valiant losing effort would still sell tickets, draw television viewers and position Tech as a nationally relevant program to a degree that broadcasts on Raycom simply cannot offer.

The transition away from Tech’s archaic place with a mundane triple-option offense towards Collins energized system will be assisted by this move.  This opportunity will give Collins a stage on which to show the country Tech’s new program. Where the Jackets fall behind many football powerhouses is its dearth of “sidewalk fans” — individuals who support a college football team without any direct alumni connection. With these games, Tech can advertise its brand to fans all over the United States, and perhaps a few pick up Tech fandom. More viewers, a better venue and top-tier opponents will put Tech on the spotlight, the question is: how will they respond?  

 As the men’s basketball team heads into their final home game, they arrive embattled after a long, hard-fought season. Finding a working system has been a storyline throughout the year, with Tech having started eleven different lineups.  In fact, there is not a single player on the roster that has started every game, with ten players having started at least three games.  With few games left, Tech’s hopes of finding the right mix of players looks slim.  

Tech’s recent starting lineup has used a four-out, one-in alignment; that is, the team has placed a big man in the paint and spaced everyone around him, often behind the arc.  With James Banks III being the big man, Moses Wright and Kristian Sjolund have been starting at the forward spots.  This look is different from the previous lineup, with Sjolund having started just two times before the game against Miami.  A consistent element in Tech’s starting lineup has been sophomore point guard Jose Alvarado, who has struggled at times this season in efficiency and offensive production.

In the six games leading up to Pittsburgh, Alvarado struggled shooting, hitting just 16.9 percent from the floor. This level of inefficiency was a huge reason in creating what became a seven-game losing streak for Tech; if Alvarado, who has generally been a good shooter, could not hit his shots, the team was high and dry offensively. The Pittsburgh game was a comeback for Alvarado, with the sophomore point guard dropping 29 points.  Playing all 40 minutes, he helped lead the offense with five assists and six rebounds.  Another player who had a key impact in this game was Moses Wright.  Leading the team in rebounds, he blocked two important shots in the last minutes of the game.  Both of these performances were essential to Tech’s win.

An impressive game such as this makes one wonder if the abysmal streak is over for Alvarado.  While it is impossible to tell if his struggles over recent games were because of mental fatigue or just terrible luck, his final home game against Boston College will be a test for the sophomore.  With a productive game from Alvarado, the Jackets could finish with a conference win.    

Coming off the Pittsburgh game, Tech was handed its worst loss of the season by Miami, if not by margin then certainly in terms of disappointment. Jim Larranaga’s squad sat at 3-10 in conference play entering the game, an eminently beatable team.  Losing 80-65 made what seemed like the beginning of redemption quickly give way to defeat. Tech was never able to catch up to Miami’s hot start.  With a 30-13 lead twelve minutes into the game, Miami’s shooting efficiency helped build a substantial barrier between them and the Jackets.  However, the news from this game was not completely negative. Alvarado scored an efficient 20 points.

Tech will face Boston College in their final home game of the season, a team ranked just two spots above them.  Both teams sit near the bottom of the ACC.  Currently on a two-game losing streak, Boston College has had its own share of struggles this season.  This final game offers a chance to salvage the end of a lousy season for Tech. If players like Alvarado, Banks, Sjolund and Wright put together good performances, it bodes well for the Jackets’ 2019-20 campaign.