02-12-2025, 09:55 AM
Another trip to the Atlantic Coast - this time to Atlanta, then Durham, NC. A win at Georgia Tech would be a big step in Stanford's quest for 20 wins and a winning ACC record. In a game in which the active/inactive lists will play a big role, the Yellow Jackets are favored by 1.5, O/U is 145.5, implied score is 73.5-72. I have heard nothing about the possible return of Jaylen Blakes &/or Benny Gealer. Tech is 11-13, 5-8 in the ACC, & 10-5 at home. They got a big boost with wins vs. Louisville and at Clemson in 2 of their last 3 games.
Tech has been beset by injury problems all season. Kowacie Reeves Jr. (6'7/205 Sr G) started the first 6 games of the season (averaging 9.3ppg), but has not played since November 27 due to an injury. Luke O'Brien (6'8/225 Sr F), who some of you might remember from his 3 years at Colorado, started 6 of the first 10 games (averaging 6.4ppg & 4.4rpg) has been out since December 18 with an injury. Neither is expected back any time soon.
Jaedan Mustaf (6'5/210 Fr G) started 7 of the 16 games he appeared in (averaging 9.1ppg) before injuring an ankle on January 14. He is expected to return to action soon, possibly today. Like Blakes, Javian McCollum (6'2/175 Sr G) is dealing with a concussion. He has started in 11 of the 19 games he played in, averaging 14.2ppg. He missed their game last Saturday and Tech fans seem to be pessimistic about him playing today.
In addition to these 4 injuries, Doryan Onwuchekwa (6'11/240 Fr C) left the team in mid-December. He had started in 8 of the first 10 games, averaging 3.5ppg & 4.9rpg.
Despite missing so many players, the Yellow Jackets played their best 2 games of the season last week. Against Louisville, They used only 6 players (McCollum was still available and played 38 minutes). The other 5 players in that game are expected to be the 5 starters today. Those 5 played the bulk of the minutes in the 3 overtime(!) win at Clemson - all playing between 43 & 55 minutes. This is the game where McCollum went out - after playing 14 minutes. Two other players were pressed into action in that game (although neither have been a regular part of the rotation for most of the season): Ryan Mutombo (7'2/255 Sr C) - yes, Dikembe's son, but apparently not the same intimidating force on the court; and Darrion Sutton (6'8/205 Fr F).
The starting 5 should be pretty predictable - the only scholarship players on the roster that I haven't mentioned yet:
#0 Lance Terry (6'3/200 Sr G) played 3 seasons at Gardner-Webb. He leads the Jackets in scoring with 14.9ppg (16th in the ACC). He is also their most prolific 3-point shooter at 49-130. Terry played with an injured wrist on Saturday at Virginia and his shooting was clearly hindered. He was 0-4 from the field and 0-2 from the free throw line. He had scored at least 7 points in each game until being shut out on Saturday. He is expected to be back in the line-up today, but the question will be how much, if any, will his shooting be affected by any lingering injury.
#1 Naithan George (6'3/185 So G) in his 2nd year as a starter. He averages 12.1ppg and leads the ACC with 6.3 assists per game.
#11 Baye Ndongo (6'9/240 So F) also a 2nd year starter. He was named to the All-ACC Rookie team last season and also to the pre-season All-ACC 2nd team prior to this season. He averages 12.0ppg & 7.8rpg (7th in the ACC).
#31 Duncan Powell (6'8 235 RJr F) averaging 10.7ppg & 5.4rpg. He played 2 seasons at North Carolina A&T and 1 at Sacramento State. He played at Maples last season, scoring 14 points and pulling down 13 rebounds as Stanford beat the Hornets 91-73.
#30 Ibrahim Souare (6'9/225 RFr F).
So the game will be greatly affected by the status of Blakes & Gealer for Stanford and Mustaf, McCollum (and possibly Terry) for the Jackets. Even if they have to go with their "Ironman 5", Tech has shown the ability to be very competitive. At least Stanford, even if they are without Blakes, should see a lot less full court pressure from a team with a short bench. It probably won't be easy, but it would be a big lift for Stanford going into Duke on Saturday to have already clinched at least a split for the road trip.
Tech has been beset by injury problems all season. Kowacie Reeves Jr. (6'7/205 Sr G) started the first 6 games of the season (averaging 9.3ppg), but has not played since November 27 due to an injury. Luke O'Brien (6'8/225 Sr F), who some of you might remember from his 3 years at Colorado, started 6 of the first 10 games (averaging 6.4ppg & 4.4rpg) has been out since December 18 with an injury. Neither is expected back any time soon.
Jaedan Mustaf (6'5/210 Fr G) started 7 of the 16 games he appeared in (averaging 9.1ppg) before injuring an ankle on January 14. He is expected to return to action soon, possibly today. Like Blakes, Javian McCollum (6'2/175 Sr G) is dealing with a concussion. He has started in 11 of the 19 games he played in, averaging 14.2ppg. He missed their game last Saturday and Tech fans seem to be pessimistic about him playing today.
In addition to these 4 injuries, Doryan Onwuchekwa (6'11/240 Fr C) left the team in mid-December. He had started in 8 of the first 10 games, averaging 3.5ppg & 4.9rpg.
Despite missing so many players, the Yellow Jackets played their best 2 games of the season last week. Against Louisville, They used only 6 players (McCollum was still available and played 38 minutes). The other 5 players in that game are expected to be the 5 starters today. Those 5 played the bulk of the minutes in the 3 overtime(!) win at Clemson - all playing between 43 & 55 minutes. This is the game where McCollum went out - after playing 14 minutes. Two other players were pressed into action in that game (although neither have been a regular part of the rotation for most of the season): Ryan Mutombo (7'2/255 Sr C) - yes, Dikembe's son, but apparently not the same intimidating force on the court; and Darrion Sutton (6'8/205 Fr F).
The starting 5 should be pretty predictable - the only scholarship players on the roster that I haven't mentioned yet:
#0 Lance Terry (6'3/200 Sr G) played 3 seasons at Gardner-Webb. He leads the Jackets in scoring with 14.9ppg (16th in the ACC). He is also their most prolific 3-point shooter at 49-130. Terry played with an injured wrist on Saturday at Virginia and his shooting was clearly hindered. He was 0-4 from the field and 0-2 from the free throw line. He had scored at least 7 points in each game until being shut out on Saturday. He is expected to be back in the line-up today, but the question will be how much, if any, will his shooting be affected by any lingering injury.
#1 Naithan George (6'3/185 So G) in his 2nd year as a starter. He averages 12.1ppg and leads the ACC with 6.3 assists per game.
#11 Baye Ndongo (6'9/240 So F) also a 2nd year starter. He was named to the All-ACC Rookie team last season and also to the pre-season All-ACC 2nd team prior to this season. He averages 12.0ppg & 7.8rpg (7th in the ACC).
#31 Duncan Powell (6'8 235 RJr F) averaging 10.7ppg & 5.4rpg. He played 2 seasons at North Carolina A&T and 1 at Sacramento State. He played at Maples last season, scoring 14 points and pulling down 13 rebounds as Stanford beat the Hornets 91-73.
#30 Ibrahim Souare (6'9/225 RFr F).
So the game will be greatly affected by the status of Blakes & Gealer for Stanford and Mustaf, McCollum (and possibly Terry) for the Jackets. Even if they have to go with their "Ironman 5", Tech has shown the ability to be very competitive. At least Stanford, even if they are without Blakes, should see a lot less full court pressure from a team with a short bench. It probably won't be easy, but it would be a big lift for Stanford going into Duke on Saturday to have already clinched at least a split for the road trip.