Coach Brian Gregory doesn't believe in moral victories.
But with such a wide talent gap between Tech and the ACC's top teams, the first-year Tech coach is looking for progress.
He saw plenty in the Jackets' 93-81 loss at North Carolina on Jan. 29.
Big men Kammeon Holsey and Daniel Miller played more aggressively, sophomore guard Jason Morris finally came alive offensively, and freshman forward Julian Royal continued his strong play off the bench.
"We did some better things," Gregory said after his team's fifth straight loss. "We just did them against a very good team on the road.
"We need to keep plugging away in the second half of this league."
The schedule doesn't get any easier, as the Jackets visit Florida State on Feb. 1. The Seminoles have won five straight, including a 33-point demolition of North Carolina.
Unless the Jackets pull off a miracle, they'll be 1-7 at the halfway point of the ACC season.
But the schedule is more forgiving after that. And that's when the progress Gregory detects could turn into some actual wins.
NOTES, QUOTES
--Leading scorer Glen Rice Jr. was dealing with a toe injury that hampered him in the Jan. 29 loss at UNC. Coach Brian Gregory said the injury wasn't serious enough to sideline Rice, but that the junior swingman "wasn't himself."
--Lacking a true point guard, the Jackets ranked 314th in assists (10.8) entering Sunday's loss at North Carolina. They had just nine assists in the 93-81 defeat, compared to UNC's 22.
--With its 93-81 loss at North Carolina, Tech fell to 5-21 all-time at the Smith Center. The loss snapped Tech's four-game win streak in the series.
--After averaging 19.3 first-half points in a four-game stretch, Tech scored 32 in the first half at UNC and still trailed by 20. Glen Rice Jr. was held scoreless in the first half before finishing with four points on 2-of-7 shooting.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"The best thing about Julian is, for a freshman, you tell him, 'You made this mistake and this is why you made it,' and he won't make it again. That's why he's playing more and playing better. He doesn't know how good he can be. He can be really good." -- Coach Brian Gregory on freshman F Julian Royal.
THIS WEEK'S GAMES
--at Florida State, Feb. 1
The Seminoles are known for their defense; they hold opponents to an ACC-low 36.8 percent shooting from the field. But this is an underrated offensive squad that ranks fourth in the ACC in scoring (72.3). The Jackets can't leave FSU G Michael Snaer open on the perimeter. He's hitting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc.
--vs. Boston College, Feb. 4
The young Eagles are 0-5 in true road games, so this is a must-win for the reeling Jackets. Freshman C Dennis Clifford and Tech sophomore C Daniel Miller will be the key matchup. Clifford averages 9.8 points and 5.2 rebounds and is 51-for-80 (64 percent) from the floor over his last 11 games. Miller is a fundamentally sound defender.
FUTURES MARKET
Sophomore G Jason Morris might have saved his starting spot with a strong second half against North Carolina. After going 0 for 7 against Miami, Morris went 0 for 4 in the first half at UNC. Then he erupted for 15 second-half points on 5 of 7 shooting, making 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. Morris (6-5, 210) is an explosive athlete who can finish on the break. This was his first double-digit night since Jan. 11 at N.C. State. The Jackets need Morris or G Brandon Reed to produce consistently, and neither has.
PLAYER NOTES
--In the Jan. 29 loss at UNC, PG Mfon Udofia scored in double figures for the fifth time in seven games. He had a team-high 16 points, 14 in the first half.
--Starting F Kammeon Holsey entered Sunday's loss at UNC shooting 61.3 percent from the field, and went 4 of 5 for eight points. However, Holsey had not taken enough shots to qualify for the ACC rankings, at that point.
--Freshman F Julian Royal continued his strong play off the bench in Sunday's loss at UNC, getting nine points, six rebounds and a block in 24 minutes. Royal is a big reason why Jackets fans believe next season will be better.
