February 5, 2019

Georgia Tech Back Home to Host Clemson

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech begins the second half of its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule at home Wednesday evening when the Yellow Jackets host Clemson for the second of two games this season against the Tigers at 7 p.m. at McCanish Pavilion.

Tech (11-11, 3-6 ACC), in its third season under head coach Josh Pastner, has lost three straight games and five of its last six, winning only against Notre Dame at home on Jan. 22 in that stretch. The Yellow Jackets are 9-5 at home this season, 2-3 in conference play with victories over Wake Forest and the Fighting Irish.

Clemson (13-8, 3-5 ACC), in its ninth season under head coach Brad Brownell, has won its last two games against Pittsburgh and Wake Forest following a 1-5 start in conference play. The Tigers, who won the first meeting with Tech on Jan. 12 at home, are 1-4 on the road this season, including a 0-4 mark in conference play.

Wednesday’s game will be broadcast live on the ACC’s Regional Sports Network (Fox Sports South in Georgia), and will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, available through the ESPN app. Radio coverage is provided on the Georgia Tech IMG Sports Network, airing in Atlanta on 680 AM and 93.7 FM the Fan. The Tech broadcast is available on satellite radio (Sirius ch. 124, XM ch. 194, internet ch. 956).

STARTING LINEUP

Pulling rank – After facing three top-25 teams in a row, Georgia Tech plays its next two games against unranked opposition in Clemson and Notre Dame, although the Tigers were in the preseason top 25 in both the AP and coaches rankings.
Closure – Georgia Tech’s next four opponents are against teams it has already played – Clemson (L), Notre Dame (W), Virginia Tech (L) and Florida State (L).
Going away – After playing five of its first eight ACC games at home, Georgia Tech is hitting the road for three of four, hosting only Clemson in that stretch on Wednesday before visiting Notre Dame and Virginia Tech.
Old school – James Banks III and Abdoulaye Gueye have given Georgia Tech an increasingly reliable frontcourt combination in ACC play. The duo shared the floor for more than 56 minutes in wins over Syracuse and Notre Dame (Gueye was sidelined for games against Clemson and Louisville), and have shared the floor for 39.5 percent of the time in Tech’s last five games.
The Bank is open – In 21 games at Georgia Tech, James Banks III has exceeded his 46-game totals at Texas in every offensive category. His 47 blocks are three short of his total at Texas. Banks has six double-doubles this season for the Jackets, fourth most in the ACC.
Guard your yard – Georgia Tech ranks No. 4 in the ACC in scoring defense (67.1 ppg), No 2 in field goal percentage defense (39.5 pct.) and No. 2 in three-point percentage defense (28.2 pct.) against conference opponents. The Jackets rank No. 2 in steals (8.0 pg) and third in blocked shots (4.78 pg).
Below average – Georgia Tech has faced three of the nation’s top 10 teams in offensive efficiency as ranked by KenPom.com – Tennessee (2), Duke (4) and Virginia Tech (7) – and held them to an average of 61.3 points. Each posted their lowest efficiency rating of the season against the Jackets. North Carolina is No. 11, and the Jackets held the Tar Heels to their fourth-lowest rating of the season. Florida State is No. 37, and was held to their second-lowest rating this season on Saturday.
Tough at home – Tech is 14-9 against ACC teams at home under Josh Pastner, 5-5 against top-25 ACC teams.
Going deep – Georgia Tech has deployed eight different starting lineups this season, and 10 Yellow Jackets have started three or more games.
Longer bench – Tech has utilized at least eight players in all of its ACC games to date. Tech’s bench has played 33.8 percent of available minutes, No. 95 in the nation according to KenPom.com (national average is 30.7 pct.). Tech reserves are outscoring their opponents 22.3 to 16.6 per game.

Evan Cole has averaged 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in the 11 games since he returned from an ankle injury.

SERIES VS. CLEMSON

This is the oldest and longest-running series the Yellow Jackets have with an ACC member. The 135 all-time meetings are more than 30 greater than Tech has played with any other ACC opponent. The series dates back to the 1912-13 season, when John Heisman coached the Tech basketball team.
Clemson is one of two permanent home-and-away opponents on Tech’s schedule each year (Notre Dame is the other).
Clemson has won the last four meetings, including a 72-60 win in the teams’ first meeting this season at Littlejohn Coliseum.
The Yellow Jackets trail 49-35 to the Tigers since joining the ACC.
Tech has an all-time record of 43-25 against the Tigers at home, including a 27-15 record at Alexander Memorial Coliseum and a 3-3 mark at McCamish Pavilion.
Tech is 1-4 under head coach Josh Pastner against Clemson, and 4-15 vs. Tiger teams coached by Brad Brownell.
Tech is just 16-46 all-time in games played at Clemson, including an 8-39 mark in Littlejohn Coliseum. The Jackets have lost 14 straight games on the road in the series, and 13 in a row at Littlejohn, dating back to their last victory on Feb. 8, 2005 (70-62). Tech was Clemson’s first opponent in Littlejohn Coliseum back on Nov. 30, 1968. The Tigers won, 76-72.
Tech’s 111-108 win against the Tigers at Littlejohn Coliseum on Jan. 24, 2001 is the highest-scoring regulation game Tech has had with any ACC opponent. The Jackets defeated Florida State by the same score in Tallahassee (in two OTs) on Feb. 11, 1999, and lost to Wake Forest in the 2007 ACC Tournament, 114-112 in double-overtime.
The Yellow Jackets have won three of four ACC Tournament meetings with the Tigers, including a 69-61 semi-final decision on the way to the 1993 conference title in Charlotte.

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL

Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team is in its third year under head coach Josh Pastner. Tech has been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1979, won three ACC Championships (1985, 1990, 1993), played in the NCAA Tournament 16 times and played in two Final Fours (1990, 2004). Connect with Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball on social media by liking their Facebook Page, or following on Twitter (@GTMBB) and Instagram.

For more information on Tech basketball, visit Ramblinwreck.com. Tickets for men’s basketball can be purchased here.