March 7, 2015
Gregory previews ACC Tournament (video) | Complete Game Notes | Interactive Bracket
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech opens its 36th Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. against Boston College at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.
Tech, 12-18 overall and 3-15 in the ACC in its fourth season under head coach Brian Gregory, lost its last four games of the regular season, twice to North Carolina and once to Louisville, both ranked in the AP top 20. The Yellow Jackets last win came against Clemson on Feb. 16. The Yellow Jackets, the 13th seed in the tournament, had their scheduled bye on the season’s final weekend and has not played since last Tuesday’s 81-49 loss to No. 19 North Carolina.
Boston College improved to 12-18 overall and 4-14 in the ACC, locking in the 12th seed Saturday with a 79-61 home-court victory over Wake Forest. The Eagles, who defeated Tech in Atlanta, 64-62, on Jan. 31, enter the ACC Tournament on a three-game winning streak with wins over NC State, Virginia Tech and the Demon Deacons.
Tuesday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN2, but viewers in the ACC footprint will be able to watch the game on their ACC Network affiliate (WATL-TV in Atlanta). The game will be streamed live on the WatchESPN app. The Georgia Tech IMG Radio Network, with flagship station WCNN (680 AM/93.7 FM) will also carry the game. Radio coverage can be heard on satellite radio nationally (Sirius Ch. 83, XM Ch. 83).
The winner of the Tech-Boston College game Tuesday will advance to play the fifth seed (North Carolina) at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
TEN DEEP FOR TUESDAY
• Georgia Tech and Boston College are 1-1 in ACC Tournament play. Tuesday’s game marks the third straight year that Georgia Tech has faced Boston College in the opening round of the ACC Tournament. The Eagles won two years ago, 84-64, and Tech prevailed in overtime, 73-70, last year.
• Tech is 9-16 all-time in ACC Tournament games at the Greensboro Coliseum, but the Yellow Jackets have reached the finals of the tournament in Greensboro three times (1986, 1996 and 2010).
• Tech’s No. 13 seed in the ACC Tournament is its lowest ever.
• Tech will be playing without two of its starting perimeter players for the tournament, junior swingman and leading scorer Marcus Georges-Hunt, who suffered a broken foot in the Yellow Jackets’ final regular season game, and junior guard Chris Bolden, who is serving a suspension.
• Tech’s strength of schedule is ranked No. 16 in ESPN’s RPI rankings, and its non-conference strength of schedule is ranked No. 64.
• Tech ranks 16th nationally in rebound margin (+6.9), 12th in offensive rebounds per game (14.2).
• Twelve of Tech’s 15 conference losses have come by a total of 46 points (North Carolina and Virginia the exceptions, by an average of 30 points). Tech has lost three times by one point, twice by two points, once by three, once by four, once by five, once by six and three times by seven. Three of those losses went to overtime. Conversely, Tech has defeated its three conference opponents by a total of 45 points, all in double digits and all wire-to-wire.
• Tech ranks No. 30 in the nation in the adjusted defensive efficiency rating by Ken Pomeroy. The Jackets rank fourth in the ACC in scoring defense vs. conference teams.
• Tech has a minus-0.58 “Luck” rating, KenPom.com’s measure of a team’s number of close games and its success in them. The Jackets rank No. 305 in that category, or to look at it another way, the 46th unluckiest team in the country.
TECH’S ACC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Georgia Tech has played in 35 ACC Tournaments, and has a 25-32 all-time record in the event. The Yellow Jackets have won three championships, in 1985 (Atlanta), 1990 (Charlotte) and 1993 (Charlotte).
Tech has been a runner-up four times (1986, 1996, 2005, 2010). The 1986, 1996 and 2010 runs to the finals occurred in Greensboro.
Tech was 0-2 in the ACC Tournament under coach Dwane Morrison, 15-16 under Bobby Cremins (including all three titles), 9-11 under Paul Hewitt (runner-up in 2005 and 2010) and 1-3 under Brian Gregory.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL
Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team is in its fourth 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 (@GTMBK).
For more information on Tech basketball, visit Ramblinwreck.com. Tickets for men’s basketball can be purchased here.
