Jan. 27, 2015
Interviews: Gregory (video) | Gregory (audio) | Mitchell (video)
Other links: Complete Game Notes | RSN Affiliates
THE FLATS – On the heels of another close loss in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Georgia Tech returns to the scene of one of its greatest triumphs Wednesday night when it faces 23rd-ranked Miami at 9 p.m. at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla.
Tech, in its fourth season under head coach Brian Gregory, is 9-10, 0-7 in the ACC, after sustaining a 64-62 loss at home to Boston College Sunday. Six of Tech’s ACC losses have come by seven or fewer points, one of those in double-overtime. The Jackets have lost their first seven ACC games for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
Miami (14-5, 4-2 ACC), in its fourth season under head coach Jim Larranaga, was ranked among the nation’s top 25 teams early in the season and have re-appeared this week after a five-week absence. The Hurricanes opened their ACC schedule with a double-overtime loss to Virginia and are coming off a 66-62 win at Syracuse Saturday.
Wednesday’s game will be televised regionally on the ACC’s Regional Sports Network (Fox Sports South in Georgia) 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. Miami’s radio coverage can be heard on satellite radio nationally (Sirius Ch. 136).
Tech follows up Wednesday’s game with a Saturday date at 12 noon against NC State at McCamish Pavilion.
STARTING FIVE FOR WEDNESDAY’S GAME
• Georgia Tech is playing its first game at the BankUnited Center since pulling of a major upset of the Hurricanes on March 6, 2013, when Marcus Georges-Hunt tipped in his own miss at the buzzer to lift the Yellow Jackets over No. 6 Miami, 71-69.
• The Hurricanes re-appeared in the AP and coaches polls this week at No. 23, making them the fourth top-25 opponent for Tech this month. The Yellow Jackets still have No. 4 Duke, No. 10 Louisville and No. 13 North Carolina (twice) remaining on their schedule.
• This is the only meeting between Tech and Miami during the 2014-15 regular season.
• Tech remains one of the nation’s top teams in rebound margin (10th) and offensive rebounds per game (9th).
• In 2001-02 when Tech last began 0-7 in the ACC, the Yellow Jackets won their next three (by an average of 22 points) and seven of their last nine conference games.
SERIES NOTES VS. MIAMI
• After winning the first two meetings with Miami after the Hurricanes became members of the ACC, Georgia Tech has dropped eight of the last 11, including a 56-42 victory in the teams’ only regular-season meeting of 2013-14 in Atlanta on Jan. 18.
• Miami has an 11-7 lead in the all-time series which dates back to 1953, and is 11-5 against the Yellow Jackets since joining the ACC.
• Tech’s only win in the last five meetings was a 71-69 victory over 6th-ranked Miami in Coral Gables on March 6, 2013. It was only the second win for Tech at the BankUnited Center and first since Feb. 26, 2005. It also was Tech’s first win over a top-10 team on the road since the 2003-04 season.
• Miami has won the last four meetings in Atlanta and is 2-0 at McCamish Pavilion. Miami won the only regular-season meeting between the two teams in 2011-12, as well as their ACC Tournament meeting, both games at Philips Arena.
• Miami was the opponent for Tech in its last game at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, a game the Yellow Jackets won 66-57 to close out the 2010-11 regular season, and that remains Tech’s last victory in the series. Tech won four of six games against the Hurricanes in the building.
• Eleven of the 18 meetings have been decided by 10 points or less.
• The last meeting between the two schools prior to Miami’s joining the ACC occurred in December of 1997 as part of the Orange Bowl Classic doubleheader at Miami Arena, the Hurricanes’ home court until the team moved into the on-campus Convocation Center last year. The Yellow Jackets, led that year by senior forward Matt Harpring, won that game, 69-61.
• Tech played Miami twice under former head coach Whack Hyder, losing the first-ever meeting in the series by 22 points in 1953, then taking a six-point homecourt victory in 1967. That was the only pre-ACC visit by the Hurricanes to Alexander Memorial Coliseum, and the 90-84 Tech win has been the highest scoring game in the brief series.
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.
