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Everything From Karen Blair's Preseason Media Availability

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 17:43 GMT by Sports Illustrated
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Georgia Tech’s Pre‑Season Media Day: What Karen Blair and the Panthers Told Us About the 2025‑26 Campaign

The Red‑White‑Gold lights were turned on at the Georgia Tech Pavilion last Friday as the men’s basketball program pulled back the curtain on the season to come. The Panthers’ media day— a first‑time event for the school’s basketball side this year—was led by Director of Basketball Operations Karen Blair, who answered questions from local and national reporters, offering a rare glimpse into the team’s hopes, priorities and the roster that will shape the 2025‑26 ACC race.

1. The Setting: A Quiet but Electric Media Day

Held in a packed Pavilion with a live audience of alumni, students and a handful of fan‑reporters, the day began with a short welcome from Coach Josh Pastner. Blair, who has been with the program since 2019, introduced the coaching staff, highlighted the return of veteran guard Michael Grier and forward DeAndre Jones, and then took the microphone for the full interview. Unlike the usual pre‑season press conferences at larger programs, Georgia Tech kept the questions streamlined, focusing on the roster, recruiting, schedule and the team’s mental and physical preparation.

2. Roster Overview: Returning Talent and Fresh Faces

Blair’s biggest point: “We’re coming into a team that has more experience than the last season,” she told reporters. The Panthers are retaining five starters and eight scholarship players, a significant increase from the last year’s 18‑player roster.

• Michael Grier – a 6‑6 guard‑forward, last season’s leading scorer and a senior who will carry the team’s offensive load.
• DeAndre Jones – a power forward who averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds in 2024‑25, slated to be the “anchor” in the paint.
• Jordan Williams – a senior guard who will bring veteran leadership and perimeter shooting.

Blair also pointed to the incoming recruits that will bolster depth:

“These recruits are a mix of immediate impact and developmental projects,” Blair said, noting that the “5‑star center, Caleb Turner, could give us a dominant interior presence.”

3. Coach Pastner’s Vision: “Defense, Work Ethic, and Winning”

While Blair handled roster logistics, Coach Pastner shared the broader philosophy. “We’re playing a defense‑first game,” Pastner emphasized. He added that the Panthers will be focusing on “high‑tempo offense and disciplined ball‑movement” to counter the ACC’s aggressive shooting attacks.

Pastner also reflected on last season’s finish—18‑10 overall, 10‑8 in the ACC—and expressed a desire to finish higher in the conference standings. “We’re going to be a lot more consistent,” he told reporters. “I want to see the kind of energy in our practices that translates into that consistency on the court.”

4. The ACC Landscape: A Road to Re‑Establishing Dominance

The Panthers face a fierce conference this year, with Duke, North Carolina, and Florida State all returning key players. Pastner warned that the “ACC will be a grind, and we need to keep each other on our toes.” Blair added that the team’s preparation includes a “rigorous strength and conditioning program,” and a schedule that starts with a road game against No. 20 Michigan State before kicking off conference play at home against North Carolina State.

The media day also included a quick review of the 2025‑26 schedule. Highlighted were:

• Season opener vs. Michigan State (away) – a test of the team’s resilience.
• Home opener vs. Kentucky – a marquee rivalry game that will set the tone.
• Conference play: 18 games featuring a home‑court advantage against Georgia, Florida, and Purdue.

5. Team Culture and Development

Blair emphasized that the Panthers’ culture is built on “team chemistry, accountability and learning.” She highlighted the new assistant coach Tommy Clark, who has a reputation for player development. “He’s the missing piece that will help us get those young arms—especially the new big men—ready for the pace of ACC play.”

The article linked to a previous coverage of the Panthers’ 2024‑25 performance, illustrating how the team’s “defensive efficiency index” improved from 12th to 7th in the ACC, but “offensive consistency” still lagged behind the top programs. Blair confirmed that the upcoming off‑season work will focus on “improving transition offense and shot‑selection.”

6. Key Takeaways

7. Looking Ahead

Karen Blair’s media day served as both a promotional and strategic platform, offering fans an insider view while setting the expectations for a program on the rise. The Panthers will need to translate the optimism into results, especially against the backdrop of a competitive ACC. With a blend of seasoned players and promising new talent, the Georgia Tech men’s basketball team is poised to push beyond its recent 18‑10 record and carve out a more prominent spot in the conference standings.

If you’re keen to see how each player performs, the game‑by‑game recap series will be available in the “Game Highlights” section on the official Georgia Tech Athletics website, and the recruiting profile of each new player can be accessed via the linked “Recruiting” page included at the bottom of the media day article.