March 6, 2016
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech (18-13, 8-10 ACC), winner of six of its last eight games, has drawn the No. 10 seed and will face the No. 7 seed, Clemson (17-13, 10-8 ACC) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the second round in the 63rd annual New York Life ACC Tournament. The game will be televised on the ACC Network and ESPN2.
The Yellow Jackets earned a first-round bye Saturday by defeating Pittsburgh, 63-59, in their final regular-season game at McCamish Pavilion. Clemson got the No. 7 seed after defeating Boston College on the road. Tech has its highest seed since opening the 2010 tournament as the No. 9 seed in Greensboro, N.C.
Tech and Clemson, which split their two regular-season meetings, will meet in the ACC Tournament for the second time in three seasons. Clemson pulled out a 69-65 win in overtime in the second round in 2014. The Yellow Jackets are 3-1 all-time against the Tigers in the ACC Tournament.
The winner of Wednesday’s game will advance to face Virginia (24-6, 13-5), the No. 2 seed, at 7 p.m. in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
The last time the ACC Tournament was held in Washington, D.C., the Yellow Jackets defeated fourth-seeded Virginia Tech and top-seeded North Carolina to reach the finals at the Verizon Center, where Tech lost to No. 3 seed Duke, 69-64.
Regular-season champion North Carolina (25-6 overall, 14-4 ACC) will be the top-seeded team for the 25th time. The Tar Heels will receive a double-bye into Thursday’s quarterfinal round, along with No. 2 Virginia (24-6, 13-5), No. 3 Miami (24-6, 13-5) and No. 4 Notre Dame (20-10, 11-7).
The tournament’s Opening Day on Tuesday features a pair of first-round games. No. 12 NC State (15-16, 5-13) faces No. 13 Wake Forest (11-19, 2-16) at noon, followed by No. 11 Florida State (18-12, 8-10) versus No. 14 Boston College (7-24, 0-18) at 2 p.m.
Fifth-seeded Duke (22-9, 11-7), No. 6 Virginia Tech (18-13, 10-8), No. 7 Clemson (17-13, 10-8), No. 8 Pitt (20-10, 9-9), No. 9 Syracuse (19-12, 9-9) and No. 10 Georgia Tech (18-13, 8-10) will see their first tournament action on Wednesday.
For the second year in a row and the 30th time in its history, the ACC Tournament will culminate with a pair of semifinal games on Friday night and the championship game on Saturday. This year’s Saturday championship game is set for a primetime 9 p.m. tipoff.
All 13 tournament games will be nationally televised on ESPN or ESPN2 and the ACC Network.
The full schedule for the 2016 New York Life ACC Tournament:
Tuesday, March 8
First round
Noon — No. 12 NC State vs. No. 13 Wake Forest (ESPN2/ACC Network)
2 p.m. — No. 11 Florida State vs. No. 14 Boston College (ESPN2/ACC Network)
Wednesday, March 9
Second round
Noon — No. 8 Pitt vs. No. 9 Syracuse (ESPN/ACC Network)
2 p.m. — No. 5 Duke vs. Tuesday noon winner (ESPN/ACC Network)
7 p.m. — No. 7 Clemson vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech (ESPN2/ACC Network)
9 p.m. — No. 6 Virginia Tech vs. Tuesday 2 p.m. winner (ESPN2/ACC Network)
Thursday, March 10
Quarterfinals
Noon — No. 1 North Carolina vs. Wednesday noon winner (ESPN/ACC Network)
2 p.m. — No. 4 Notre Dame vs. Wednesday 2 p.m. winner (ESPN/ACC Network)
7 p.m. — No. 2 Virginia vs. Wednesday 7 p.m. winner (ESPN/ACC Network)
9 p.m. — No. 3 Miami vs. Wednesday 9 p.m. winner (ESPN/ACC Network)
Friday, March 11
Semifinals
7 p.m. — Thursday afternoon winners (ESPN/ACC Network)
9 p.m. — Thursday evening winners (ESPN/ACC Network)
Saturday, March 12
Championship
9 p.m. — Friday evening winners (ESPN/ACC Network)
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL
Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team is beginning its fifth 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 (@GTMBB).
For more information on Tech basketball, visit Ramblinwreck.com. Tickets for men’s basketball can be purchased here.
