Dec. 29, 2014
THE FLATS – Looking to finish its non-conference schedule on a high note, Georgia Tech hosts Charlotte of the Atlantic 10 Conference at 7 p.m. Tuesday at McCamish Pavilion.
Tech is 8-3 in its fourth season under head coach Brian Gregory after dropping a 75-61 contest at Dayton last Tuesday night. The Yellow Jackets are 5-1 at home this season, and a win over Charlotte would give Tech its second-best pre-conference record under Gregory. Tech ranks among the top 60 in the RPI rankings after scoring wins over Georgia, Rhode Island, Northwestern and Vanderbilt this season.
Charlotte is 6-5 in its fifth season under head coach Alan Major. The 49ers hold a top-60 RPI ranking for much of this season after defeating Penn State and South Carolina to reach the finals of the Charleston Classic, and they have dropped a pair of three-point decisions to Miami and Georgetown.
Tuesday’s game will not be televised but will be streamed live on ESPN3. The Georgia Tech IMG Radio Network, with flagship station WCNN (680 AM/93.7 FM) will also carry the game. Tech’s radio coverage can be heard in satellite radio nationally (Sirius Ch. 113, XM Ch. 204).
Tech begins play in the Atlantic Coast Conference Saturday at 14th-ranked Notre Dame.
STARTING FIVE FOR TUESDAY’S GAME
• Georgia Tech remains in the top 50 in three of the four RPI rankings (CBS Sports, ESPN, KenPom, RealTime) despite its loss at Dayton, which was No. 33 at the time of the game.
• Tech’s non-conference strength of schedule is ranked No. 33 in CBS’ RPI rankings. Charlotte will be the sixth opponent in Tech’s non-conference schedule ranked in the top 100 in at least one of the four RPI rankings (CBS Sports, ESPN, KenPom, RealTime). The Jackets are 2-1 vs. teams currently in the top 100, having defeated Georgia and Rhode Island. Northwestern was No. 90 at the time of Tech’s win on Dec. 3.
• Tech’s best pre-conference record under Brian Gregory was a 10-2 mark in 2012-13. The Jackets can finish out its pre-conference schedule this season 9-3 with a win against Charlotte.
• Tech is 17-7 in the ACC era in its final game of December when it is not part of a tournament. Three of those losses occurred in conference games (NC State in 1979, Maryland in 2002, Florida State in 2007).
• The last four meetings between Tech and Charlotte have been decided by a TOTAL of 15 points. The last two meetings have been decided by three points each, one of those in double-overtime.
SERIES INFORMATION
• Georgia Tech is 7-1 all-time against Charlotte, including a 3-1 mark at home. This is the teams’ first meeting at McCamish Pavilion.
• Trae Golden scored a game-high 24 points, including the game-winning three-point basket with 3.6 seconds left, to lead Tech past Charlotte, 58-55, in Charlotte in the teams’ most recent meeting last December.
• Tech’s lone loss to the 49ers occurred in an 86-83, double-overtime decision at Alexander Memorial Coliseum on Jan. 2, 2011, during Alan Major’s first season as Charlotte’s head coach.
• The teams played twice in the early 1970s when Whack Hyder was Tech’s head coach, twice in the mid-1980s when Bobby Cremins led the Jackets, and three times during Paul Hewitt’s tenure as Tech’s head man.
• Georgia Tech head coach Brian Gregory was 5-4 vs. Charlotte in eight years as head coach at Dayton. Both teams were members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. Charlotte is now a member of Conference USA.
• Tech is 62-44 all-time against current members of Conference USA.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH BASKETBALL
Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team is beginning its fourth 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 (@GTMBK).
For more information on Tech basketball, visit Ramblinwreck.com. Tickets for men’s basketball can be purchased here.
