Jan. 24, 2011
Complete game notes
Coach Hewitt on Monday’s ACC Teleconference
ATLANTA – Looking to stay unbeaten at home in Atlantic Coast Conference play, Georgia Tech begins a two-game homestand Tuesday night with a 9 p.m. regionally-televised ACC game against Virginia Tech. The Yellow Jackets also host Maryland on Sunday.
The Yellow Jackets (9-9, 2-3 ACC) dug out from an 0-2 ACC start last week by defeating North Carolina, 78-58, on Sunday and Wake Forest, 74-39, on Wednesday. But Tech dropped a 72-64 decision at Virginia on Saturday, falling to 0-3 on the road in conference play.
Tech won its two home games on the strength of its defense, which limited the Tar Heels and Demon Deacons to 26.8-percent shooting from the floor and forced 36 turnovers. The Jackets, who are 7-2 at home overall this season, play four of their next five games at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
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 62 of 90 possible starts and playing more than 70 percent of the minutes. Tech has been picked to finish ninth in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Virginia Tech (13-5, 3-2 ACC) comes to Atlanta on a three-game winning streak, having defeated Wake Forest, Maryland and Longwood by lopsided scores last week. The Hokies defeated the Terrapins, 74-57, and are 2-2 on opponents’ home floors this season.
Saturday is the first of two meetings betwen Tech and Virginia Tech, who will play again in Blacksburg on Feb. 13. The teams met once last year, an 88-82 Hokie win at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The Jackets have beaten the Hokies only once in five tries at home.
Game Data
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-9, 2-3 ACC) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (13-5, 3-2 ACC)
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tipoff: 9 p.m. Eastern time
Site: Alexander Memorial Coliseum (capacity 9,191), Atlanta, Ga.
Television: FS South – Bob Rathbun, play-by-play; Dan Bonner, 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
Tech Tickets: 888-TECH-TIX
Tech Record Breakdown: 7-2 at home, 0-6 on the road, 2-1 neutral
Series History: Virginia Tech leads, 10-3 (VT is 4-1 at Alexander Memorial Coliseum)
At Alexander Memorial Coliseum: Georgia Tech is 553-190 in its 54th and final season in the building.
Series History – Tech vs. Virginia Tech
> Virginia Tech has won 10 of 13 all-time meetings with Georgia Tech, including six of eight as a member of the ACC. The Hokies won the first three games played in Atlanta before the Yellow Jackets captured an 81-70 decision on Jan. 19, 2008.
> 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 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.
> 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.
Last Year vs. Virginia Tech
March 6 in Atlanta – Malcolm Delaney tied a season high with 32 points and Jeff Allen had 17 points with 10 rebounds to help Virginia Tech win its second straight game with an 88-82 victory over Georgia Tech on its Senior Night.
The Hokies assured themselves a first-round bye in the ACC Tournament with the win, staying in a tie for fourth with Florida State.
A foot injury to Virginia Tech guard Dorenzo Hudson kept the Hokies’ second-leading scorer on the bench in street clothes as he missed his first game in three seasons.
Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors scored 18 apiece as the Yellow Jackets finished below .500 in the ACC regular season for the sixth straight year.
