Feb. 12, 2011
Complete game notes
ACC Network Affiliates
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech travels for the first time in three games this weekend, visiting Virginia Tech for a 1 p.m. Atlantic Coast Conference contest Sunday at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va.
The Yellow Jackets (10-13, 3-7 ACC) are looking to snap a four-game skid in which they have lost to Maryland, Miami, Clemson and Florida State by an average of just 7.7 points. Tech also is looking for its first road win in the ACC this year and its first win at Cassell Coliseum.
A win Sunday for Tech would give the Jackets their first sweep of a season series against the Hokies, whom they defeated 72-57 on Jan. 25 in Atlanta.
Tech leads the ACC in turnovers forced in conference games (17.6 per game) and steals (9.7 per game) and ranks sixth in field goal percentage defense. But Tech has averaged just 59.8 points and shot just 34 percent during its last four games.
Head coach Paul Hewitt’s team, which returns two starters and eight letterwinners from a team that reached the championship game in last year’s ACC Tournament and won their first-round game in the NCAA Tournament, is one of the youngest in the ACC, with freshmen and sophomores making 77 of 115 possible starts and playing more than 70 percent of the minutes.
Virginia Tech (15-7, 5-4 ACC) has had the week off since dropping a 58-56 decision last Saturday at Boston College. The Hokies have won five of their last seven games, a stretch which includes the loss to the Yellow Jackets, and are tied for fifth place in the ACC standings.
This is Georgia Tech’s fourth visit to Blacksburg since Virginia Tech joined the ACC. The Jackets have lost the previous three by an average of 4.7 points, including a 76-71 loss on their last visit two Februarys ago.
Game Data
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (10-13, 3-7 ACC) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (15-7, 5-4 ACC)
Date: Sunday, February 13, 2011
Tipoff: 1 p.m. Eastern time
Site: Cassell Coliseum (capacity 10,000), Blacksburg, Va.
Television: ACC Network – Tim Brant, play-by-play; Eddie Fogler, color
Radio: Georgia Tech Sports Network from IMG College, live on flagship station WQXI-AM (790 the Zone) and WYAY-FM (106.7) – Wes Durham, play-by-play; Randy Waters, color.
Satellite Radio: Sirius Ch. 215; XM Ch. 190 (Virginia Tech broadcast) Tech Record Breakdown: 8-5 at home, 0-7 on the road, 2-1 neutral
Series History: Virginia Tech leads, 10-4 (5-0 at Cassell Coliseum)
Series History – Tech vs. Virginia Tech
> Virginia Tech has won 10 of 14 all-time meetings with Georgia Tech, including three of nine as a member of the ACC.
> Georgia Tech has lost all five previous meetings with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, including a 76-71 in 2009. The Hokies, led by future NBA star Dell Curry, held off the Jackets and their future All-Americans Mark Price and John Salley, 77-74, in the teams’ first meeting at Cassell Coliseum in 1984. It was Georgia Tech’s first post-season game in 13 years and a precursor to the ACC Championship season a year later.
> Virginia Tech has won four of six meetings at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, including the teams’ first game this year, a 72-57 Yellow Jacket win on Jan. 25 that snapped a three-game losing streak for the Jackets in the series.
> Georgia Tech won the teams’ only ACC Tournament encounter, a 73-54 victory in the first round of the 2005 tournament in Washington, D.C. Georgia Tech went on to reach the tournament finals.
> Georgia Tech’s first victory over Virginia Tech occurred on Dec. 27, 1962, a 73-72 overtime triumph at the Gator Bowl Tournament that was part of an 11-0 start for the Yellow Jackets. Tech went on to finish the season 21-5. Both teams were ranked in the UPI poll at the time, Georgia Tech at No. 18, Virginia Tech at No. 14.
> Both teams were members of the old Metro Conference, but not at the same time. Georgia Tech was a member for three seasons from 1975-76 through 1977-78 before leaving to join the ACC. Virginia Tech joined the league for the 1978-79 season.
First Meeting vs. Virginia Tech
Jan. 25 in Atlanta – Brian Oliver scored 28 points, Iman Shumpert had a triple-double and Georgia Tech continued its strong home play by beating Virginia Tech 72-57. This was the Yellow Jackets’ last victory this season.
Shumpert had 22 points with game-high totals of 12 rebounds and 11 assists. He added seven steals, another high mark for the game.
Georgia Tech (10-9, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) improved to 8-2 at home, including 3-0 in ACC games at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
Shumpert’s triple-double was the first for Georgia Tech since Kenny Anderson against Pittsburgh on Dec. 28, 1989.
Malcolm Delaney, averaging 18.9 points, scored only eight points. The Hokies relied on the inside play of Jeff Allen (18 points) and Victor Davila (13) while going without a 3 for the first 31 minutes.
Oliver answered quickly with a 3 for Georgia Tech. Oliver had four 3s, including three in the final 10 minutes when the Yellow Jackets took the lead.
Tech limited the Hokies to 18 second-half points, and one field goal over the last 8-1/2 minutes.
Tech Trifecta
Iman Shumpert is bidding to become only the seventh player in ACC history to lead his team in scoring, rebounding and assists in the same season. The Oak Park, Ill., junior is averaging 17.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists for Paul Hewitt’s Yellow Jackets. Shumpert also leads the Jackets (and the ACC) in steals, and would be the fourth player on the list below to lead his team in those four categories.
ACC Trifectas
Player, School Year Pts. Reb. Ast.
Greivis Vasquez, Jr., Md.* 2009 17.5 5.4 5.0
Julius Hodge, Sr., NCS 2005 17.0 6.6 4.8
Anthony Grundy, Sr., NCS* 2002 17.8 5.5 3.5
Tim Duncan, Sr., WF 1997 20.8 14.7 3.1
Bob Sura, Jr., FSU* 1994 21.2 7.9 4.5
Danny Ferry, So., Duke 1987 14.0 7.8 4.3 *Also led team in steals
