Head coach: Brian Gregory
Tenure at Georgia Tech: Third season
Career coaching record: 199-129
Home court: McCamish Pavilion
Starters: C Daniel Miller, F Robert Carter, Jr., F Marcus Georges-Hunt, G Chris Bolden, G Trae Golden
Bench: G Solomon Poole, G Stacey Poole, Jr.
Hoping to rebound after last year’s disappointing first-round ACC tournament loss to Boston College, Georgia Tech may surprise some people this year. Tennessee transfer Trae Golden was just ruled eligible to play this season by the NCAA and will be a crucial addition to the Yellow Jacket backcourt. Called a “grizzly veteran” by Gregory, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound guard who averaged 12.1 points per game last year and earned second-team All-SEC recognition will return to his home state to close out his collegiate career.
The squad will return four of its five starters, including two of its greatest assets: sophomore forwards Marcus Georges-Hunt and Robert Carter, Jr. Both attended the 2013 USA Basketball Men's U19 World Championship Team training camp last summer. Georges-Hunt led his team in scoring last season and Carter, a 6-foot-8 forward, led the team in rebounds with 6.7 per game while shoot 44.6 percent from the floor as Georgia Tech’s second-leading scorer. This tandem should only be expected to improve with Golden running the point.
One thing that needs to go right: Golden meshes with his new team and his efficiency helps spark the Georgia Tech offense.
One thing that could go wrong: An inexperienced Yellow Jacket squad lacks the star power to keep up with ACC powerhouses.
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