Jan. 16, 2015
Gregory interview (video) | Complete Game Notes | ACC Network Affiliates
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech continues in search of its first Atlantic Coast Conference win of the season when the Yellow Jackets make their first visit to Pittsburgh as a member of the ACC with a 4 p.m. contest at the Petersen Events Center.
Tech, in its fourth season under head coach Brian Gregory, is 9-7, 0-4 in the ACC, after suffering another close conference loss in a 62-59 decision to 12th-ranked Notre Dame Wednesday night at McCamish Pavilion. The Jackets have lost to the Irish twice, the first meeting in double-overtime, and also dropped a one-point contest to Syracuse.
Pittsburgh, 12-5 overall and 2-2 in the ACC, are coming off a 73-64 home-court win over Florida State on Wednesday night. The Panthers are 1-1 at home in conference play, having lost to Clemson last Saturday, and earned their other ACC win in overtime, 61-60, at Boston College.
Saturday’s game will be televised regionally on the ACC Network (WATL-TV in Atlanta) and 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. 92, XM Ch. 193).
Following Saturday’s game, Tech plays its fourth ACC road game in six this season with an 8 p.m. contest at No. 2 Virginia Thursday night at the John Paul Jones Arena.
STARTING FIVE FOR SATURDAY’S GAME
• Georgia Tech is making its first visit to Pittsburgh as a member of the ACC and its first-ever visit to the Petersen Events Center. The Jackets played the Panthers at their former home arena, Fitzgerald Field House, a 92-62 win in 1970.
• One of the four triple-doubles in Tech basketball history was accomplished by Kenny Anderson – 32 points, 12 rebounds and 18 assists – against Pittsburgh on Dec. 28, 1989 in the Kuppenheimer Classic at the Omni in Atlanta.
• Earlier that same month, Dennis Scott scored 42 points, the third-highest point total in Tech history, with eight threes in an ACC/Big East Challenge matchup against the Panthers in Hartford, Conn.
• Tech’s last nine ACC road trips have produced three wins, an overtime loss, a double-overtime loss, a three-point loss, a four-point loss, a seven-point loss and a 10-point loss. Tech has won six of its last 16 ACC road games after winning only three times in 36 ACC road games before that, dating back to the 2008-09 season.
• Tech has lost its four ACC games by seven, one, seven and three points (4.5-point average margin of defeat). The seven-point loss at Notre Dame was a double-overtime defeat. Only one of Tech’s five losses this season have come by more than seven points. In fact, only two of Tech’s nine wins have come by more than nine points.
SERIES NOTES VS. PITTSBURGH
Georgia Tech won the first five games in the series before the Panthers became members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Pitt earned its first win over the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta on Jan. 14, 2014, with an 81-74 victory.
•The two most entertaining games between Tech and the former Big East member played in the same month of the 1989-90 season, when the Yellow Jackets were on the way to their second ACC title and first Final Four appearance. Bobby Cremins and Paul Evans were the respective head coaches at the time.
•Tech overcame an early 26-5 deficit to win the ACC/Big East Challenge game in Hartford in early December, getting 42 points from Dennis Scott, including the game-winner with 8 seconds left. Later in the month, the Panthers came to Atlanta for a Kuppenheimer Classic game at the Omni, and Tech won the game without head coach Bobby Cremins, who was attending his father’s funeral. Kenny Anderson recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 18 assists.
•Tech scored easy wins over Pitt in the first three games of the series, all under head coach Whack Hyder, two of which were played at Alexander Memorial Coliseum on the Tech campus.
•Tech coach Brian Gregory is 1-2 all-time vs. Pittsburgh, facing the Panthers twice while he was the head coach at Dayton, including an 80-55 win over the No. 6 Pitt on Dec. 29, 2007 in Dayton.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S 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.
