Dec. 20, 2015
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech (7-3) returns home for a string of three games at McCamish Pavilion to finish its non-conference schedule, beginning with a 7 p.m. contest Monday night against Southeastern Louisiana (2-9).
Complete Game Notes | Purchase tickets | ESPN3 link
In the first-ever meeting between the two schools in men’s basketball, Tech looks to bounce back from a 75-61 loss at Georgia on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets have a 5-1 record at home this season, including a 13-point win over VCU last Tuesday.
Tech turns around quickly to host Colgate Wednesday night, then comes back after Christmas to host Duquesne on Dec. 29.
Southeastern Louisiana is playing its third straight road game, following a 75-58 loss at Florida State Dec. 13 and a 67-64 defeat at Florida A&M two days later. The Lions’ wins have come over Mississippi College on Nov. 18 and Loyola of New Orleans on Dec. 1.
Radio coverage of the game is provided by the Georgia Tech/IMG Sports Network, and can be heard in Atlanta on 680 the Fan (680 AM and 93.7 FM) as well as nationally on satellite radio (Sirius ch. 119). The game will be streamed live on ESPN3.
TRANSITION POINTS
• Four Georgia Tech players are scoring in double digits – Marcus Georges-Hunt (14.8 ppg), Charles Mitchell (12.8), Adam Smith (11.7) and Nick Jacobs (10.2). Tech has not finished a season with four or more players averaging in double figures since 2008-09.
• Tech is out-rebounding its opponents by 10.4 per game, which ranks 14th in the nation and No. 2 in the ACC behind Louisville (+16.9). Tech is No. 3 in the ACC and 14th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (15.2).
• Charles Mitchell’s season-opening streak of nine straight double-doubles came to an end at Georgia when he went scoreless with just four rebounds in a foul-plagued 15 minutes.
• Tech is averaging 78.6 points per game (10th-highest in the ACC), 15 points per game higher than last season, and has hit the century mark twice this season. The Yellow Jackets have connected on 45.7 percent of their field goal tries (No. 11 in the ACC).
• In a reversal from previous Brian Gregory-coached Tech teams, Tech ranks higher in offensive categories than in defensive ones, at least in the early going. The Jackets are currently 13th in scoring defense and 12th in field goal percentage defense.
• Tech’s starting lineup for the first 10 games has been Josh Heath at point guard, Marcus Georges-Hunt and Adam Smith on the wings, and Nick Jacobs and Charles Mitchell at the post positions. Only Georges-Hunt began his career at Georgia Tech.
• Tech has played at least 10 players in every game this season except VCU (Travis Jorgenson sat with an ankle injury), and played its entire 12-man roster against Cornell, Green Bay and Wofford.
• Mitchell leads the ACC in rebound average (11.9 rpg) and is fifth in field goal percentage (59.1 pct.). Mitchell ranks seventh and 39th, respectively, in the nation in those categories.
• Marcus Georges-Hunt is ninth in the ACC in free throw percentage (84.7) and is 20-for-22 in Tech;s last two games. Of the top 10 in percentage, only Grayson Allen of Duke and Anthony Barber of NC State have been to the line more than Georges-Hunt (61-of-72).
• Georges-Hunt moved up two spots to 25th place on Tech’s all-time scoring list with his 11 points at Georgia. He now has 1,275 points and needs 28 to reach 24th-place Michael Maddox (1,303 from 1994-98).
• Adam Smith is fourth in the ACC in three-point field goals made (2.67 per game). He has made at least one three in every game this season.
• Josh Heath is seventh in the ACC in assist-turnover ratio (2.62-1). Tech’s point guard tandem of Heath and Travis Jorgenson have 60 assists and 19 turnovers for a 3.16-1 ratio. Tech has a 1.23-1 team ratio (8th in the ACC).
• Tech’s top five scorers this season – Marcus Georges-Hunt, Charles Mitchell, Adam Smith, Nick Jacobs and Quinton Stephens – have hit a combined 80 percent (124-for-155) of their charity tosses this season.
• Tech had gone 38-for-43 from the line in its last two games. As a team, Tech ranks fourth in the ACC at 73.7 percent
DEFENSE COMING TO THE FORE
Much has been made of Georgia Tech’s improved offensive capabilities this season, but a common theme among the Yellow Jackets’ most recent wins has been excellent second-half defense. Tech held the opponents in their last three wins to 32.9 percent shooting from the floor in the second half.
Tech held VCU, which lost games to Duke, Wisconsin and Florida State by a total of 14 points, to 28.9-percent shooting after halftime of its 77-64 win last Tuesday night.
In Tech’s last four wins, as well as its victory over Tennessee in game two, the Yellow Jackets turned close games at the half in their favor by turning up the heat defensively. Conversely, in the Jackets’ three losses (East Tennessee State and Villanova), each team had a 50-percent-plus half.
Opponent Halftime 2nd-Half FG% Final
Tennessee 40-38 .314 (11-35) 69-67
Arkansas 41-38 .343 (12-35) 83-73
Wofford 32-30 .333 (9-27) 77-61
Tulane 39-38 .385 (10-26) 76-68
VCU 27-27 .289 (11-38) 77-64
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL
Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team is beginning its fifth year under head coach Brian Gregory. The Yellow Jackets have 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).
For more information on Tech basketball, visit Ramblinwreck.com. Tickets for men’s basketball can be purchased here.
