It was a shocker back when fourth-ranked Virginia lost at Georgia Tech in January. It’s no longer shocking when the Yellow Jackets beat a somebody.
Tech (19-13, 9-10 ACC) has won seven of its last nine games, with wins over likely NCAA Tounament teams Notre Dame and Pitt among the Ws.
The Yellow Jackets advanced to Thursday’s ACC Tournament quarterfinals with a dramatic 88-85 overtime win over Clemson, coming back from an 18-point second-half deficit.
Inside Georgia Tech
- Watch for: Marcus Georges-Hunt (16.6 ppg, 46.2% FG, 34% on threes), Adam Smith (14.6 ppg, 40.8% on threes), Nick Jacobs (10.8 ppg, 5.8 rebounds/g), Charles Mitchell (10.3 ppg, 9.9 rebs/g, 51.4% FG)
- Offense: Georgia Tech shoots 44.6 percent from the floor, 34.7 percent from three and scores 1.102 points per possession, 65th nationally.
- Defense: Opponents shoot 45.9 percent from the floor, 34.7 percent from three and score .995 points per possession, 84th nationally.
- Tempo: 68.0 possessions per game
Inside Virginia
- Malcolm Brogdon is your first-ever ACC player of the year and defensive player of the year. It’s a big burden, carrying the offense (18.4 ppg, 47.4 percent from the field, 41.1 percent on threes) and the defense (guarding the opponent’s best offensive player, night in and night out).
- Anthony Gill is back: averaging 13.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game over his last three.
- Evan Nolte might see more minutes after a solid effort on Senior Night. Nolte had his best game of the season in the regular-season finale against Louisville on Saturday, scoring six points in 16 mnutes, hitting two threes.
- Offense: UVA shoots 48.9 percent from the floor, 40.7 percent from three and scores 1.189 points per possession, ninth nationally.
- Defense: Opponents shoot 41.6 percent from the floor, 34.6 percent from three and score .923 points per possession, sixth nationally.
- Tempo: 61.6 possessions per game
– Preview by Chris Graham
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Chris Graham
