PHOTOS: The Road to Denver

Led by the legendary “Lethal Weapon 3” group of Dennis Scott, Kenny Anderson and Brian Oliver, the 1990 Yellow Jackets won 28 games and were one of the nation’s highest scoring teams, setting Tech records for most points (3,096) and highest scoring average (88.5 points per game) in a season. Scott, a 6-8 junior forward, Oliver, a 6-4 senior guard, and Anderson, a 6-foot freshman point guard, each averaged more than 20 points per game.

Tech plowed through the ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., beating NC State, Duke and Virginia to earn its second crown in six years.

In the NCAA Tournament, the Jackets downed East Tennessee State in the opening round before encountering an LSU team that featured Shaquille O’Neal. Tech got by the Tigers, 94-91, earning a spot in the Sweet 16 in New Orleans, La., where the Jackets outlasted Michigan State in overtime, 81-80, and Minnesota, 93-91, to reach the Final Four, where they fell to eventual champion UNLV, 90-81.

Bobby Cremins, the head coach of that team, won the Naismith Coach of the Year Award in 1990, and the Naismith coach of the Year trophy will be displayed on the concourse during the game as well.

Scott was named the Naismith National Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American. Anderson was a second-team All-American in 1990, but would become a first-team member the next season.

Oliver, Scott and Anderson all made the All-ACC team that season, while Anderson and Scott made the All-Southeast Regional team in New Orleans, and Scott made the All-Final Four team.

The rest of the starting lineup included 6-10 freshman forward Malcolm Mackey, who would go on to become the Yellow Jackets’ all-time leading rebounder and win another ACC title with the Jackets in 1993, and 6-9 center Johnny McNeil. Backup point guard Karl Brown from Leicester, England, 6-9 forward Darryl Barnes and 6-11 center James Munlyn were all key contributors off the bench.

Georgia Tech’s starting five in 1989-90 on the bench toward the end of a Yellow Jackets’ victory. From left: Johnny McNeil, Dennis Scott, Kenny Anderson, Brian Oliver and Malcolm Mackey.

Kenny Anderson is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game-tying basket at the end of regulation in the regional semifinal game against Michigan State.

Dennis Scott celebrates the Yellow Jackets’ regional final victory over Minnesota.

Malcolm Mackey scores over Steve Smith in the NCAA regional semifinal victory over Michigan State.

Kenny Anderson feeds Brian Oliver for a basket in the NCAA regional championship game against Minnesota.

Dennis Scott snips his piece of the net following the Jackets’ regional championship victory over Minnesota.

Head coach Bobby Cremins and guard Karl Brown embrace following the Jackets’ regional championship victory.

Brian Oliver displays the net to the Tech fans following the Jackets’ regional championship victory over Minnesota.

Karl Brown and Johnny McNeil celebrate with the Tech fans after the Yellow Jackets’ regional championship victory over Minnesota.

Georgia Tech promotional poster for Kenny Anderson, Dennis Scott and Brian Oliver, each of whom averaged more than 20 points a game and helped the Yellow Jackets set a school scoring record for a season.

Georgia Tech’s Lethal Weapon 3 legends – Dennis Scott, Kenny Anderson and Brian Oliver.

Georgia Tech’s legendary Lethal Weapon 3 – Kenny Anderson, Dennis Scott and Brian Oliver – at the Jackets’ annual Letterwinners Game in 2008.

Georgia Tech’s legendary Lethal Weapon 3 – Dennis Scott,Kenny Anderson and Brian Oliver – in 2013.

Georgia Tech’s entire 1990 Final Four team poses with their Atlantic Coast Conference and NCAA regional championship trophies.

The 1990 Final Four team returned to campus January 18 and were honored on their 30th anniversary at halftime of the Yellow Jackets’ game against Virginia.

Kenny Anderson and the 1990 Final Four team returned to campus January 18 and were honored on their 30th anniversary at halftime of the Yellow Jackets’ game against Virginia.

Karl Brown and the 1990 Final Four team returned to campus January 18 and were honored on their 30th anniversary at halftime of the Yellow Jackets’ game against Virginia.

Head coach Bobby Cremins and the 1990 Final Four team returned to campus January 18 and were honored on their 30th anniversary at halftime of the Yellow Jackets’ game against Virginia.