Purdue at Georgia Tech

Last year Purdue was met with so many injuries they were down to 7 scholarship players. They lost 3 key players to knee injuries, and yet another suspended for a DUI. The process of graduation also shows that 4 double digit scorers from last years team have now departed. Georgia Tech saw how important Jarrett Jack was to their team. Tech out-shot opponents from the field, and had their best 3-pt shooting team in 6 yrs. They also outrebounded teams by a significant 4.4 rpg. Doesn't sound like a team finishing 11-17 and 4-12 in the ACC. The problem was they had no one to run the offense, turned the ball over, and sent opponents into easy transition baskets. Leads into the second halves of games became deficits, and the season was lost. The good news comes on many fronts. The top scorers and rebounders return for this team. The better news is freshman PG Jarvais Crittenton. He was expected to be the guy to make the others get the ball in the right places, and stabilize the offense. So far he has done exactly that and more, averaging 16 ppg and 8 apg! It doesn't end there. Thaddeus Young (another top 10 recruit), is averaging 16 ppg as well. This now gives Tech the playmaker that was the difference last year, and scoring from all 5 spots on the floor. Purdue is a talented team, but the talent has not played together, or individually now for over a year, and we would expect this team will be improved, but early on may have to limit minutes to the healing, and it may take time for this group to get a feel for each other. Georgia Tech is going to make some noise in the ACC this year, and should see a vast turnabout from an 11 win season last year to a minimum of a sweet 16 appearance this year. Tech here.