Dec. 6, 2010
By Jon Cooper
Sting Daily
Georgia (5-2) @ Georgia Tech (4-3)
Tipoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Television: ESPN2
Radio: Georgia Tech/ISP Sports Network, live on flagship station WQXI-AM (790 the Zone) and WYAY-FM (106.7) – Wes Durham, play-by-play; Randy Waters, color.
Live Stats: www.Ramblinwreck.com; www.twitter/com/gtathletics; www.facebook.com/gtathletics
Georgia Tech Leading Scorer: Brian Oliver (14.0)
Georgia Leading Scorer: Trey Thompkins (16.0)
Georgia Tech Leading Rebounder: Brian Oliver (6.4)
Georgia Leading Rebounders: Leslie (8.4 rpg)
Georgia Tech Scoring: 69.7 ppg.
Opponent Scoring: 64.7 ppg.
Georgia Scoring: 69.1 ppg.
Opponent Scoring: 68.4 ppg.
Georgia Tech leads the all-time series 101-85.
Georgia Tech looks to snap a two-game losing streak when they host arch-rival Georgia. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m.
The Jackets last played a week ago, dropping a 91-71 decision to Northwestern in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Glen Rice, Jr. led the Jackets with 16 points, on 7-of-10 shooting. They will try to improve on their 3-0 home record this season.
The Bulldogs look to extend their winning streak to three. In their last game, Friday night, they squandered an 11-point halftime lead before coming back to beat the Blazers of UAB, 66-64, at Stegeman Coliseum.
Tonight’s game will be televised on ESPN2. Wes Durham and Randy Waters handle the radio broadcast on 790 the Zone and WYAY-FM (106.7). Live stats can be found on www.Ramblinwreck.com.
Here, now, the starting five for tonight’s game.
Feast or Famine: There hasn’t been a whole lot nail-biting for Georgia Tech this season, as only one of their first seven games has been decided by less than 10 points. That was the Legends Classic final in Atlantic City, an 80-76 loss to Syracuse. Their four wins have been by 13 (52-39 over Charleston Southern), 27 (78-51 over Albany), 26 (77-51 over Niagara), and 10 (71-61 over UTEP in the Legends Classic semifinals). Besides the Syracuse game, their losses have been as decisive, losing by 17 (80-63 at Kennesaw State) and by 20 (91-71 at Northwestern). Georgia has been just the opposite, as all but one of their games has been decided by nine points or less, with three of them being decided by two points and another by three — they are 4-0 in those games. The series has been close, as 20 of the last 26 meetings in the series have been decided by 10 points or fewer, 12 of those by five or fewer.
No Place Like Home: The Jackets 3-0 start at home this season continues the roll that they ended 2009-10 on at AMC. They’ve won 12 of the last 13 home games, and in the series with the Bulldogs, have won four straight meetings and six of the last seven. Home court advantage has been quite profound in the series as 12 of the last 13 games between the two teams have been won by the home team.
It’s Our Turn: One thing the Georgia Tech-Georgia series will not be accused of is being streaky. Only one time since teams started alternating home court in 1995, has one team had any kind of winning streak. Georgia did that, winning from 1999 through 2001. The Jackets would like to keep that trend going for at least one more year, having dropped a 73-66 decision in Athens last year.
The 5:00 Warning: Georgia Tech is doing its part to help fans beat the traffic, as they’re unbeaten when leading with 5:00 remaining in the game. Conversely, they are 0-3 when trailing with 5:00 to play. Halftime also has been a pretty good gauge, as the Jackets are 4-0 when leading at the half. Tech has come back when trailing after 20 minutes, edging UTEP, 71-61, on Nov. 26, after trailing, 37-31, at intermission. (It should be noted that Sting Daily does not condone leaving early to beat traffic.)
Toy Story 3: Today is the third and final event in the Annual Michael Isenhour Toy Drive. The late Michael Isenhour, who played with Yellow Jackets from 1999 through 2001 before succumbing to leukemia in 2002, came up with the idea of a toy drive to benefit families who had lost loved ones in 9/11. Ronald McDonald House, Atlanta Children’s Shelter and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Atlanta will be beneficiaries of this year’s drive.
The Sixth Man: Point Guard Mfon Udofia has scored at least five points in all seven games this season. He scored five points twice over the last season’s final 20 games.
