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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 15-16;
7-9 in ACC (6th)
Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 2001.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Lewis 10.9
Rebs: E. Nelson 6.9
Assists: Lewis 1.8
FG: E. Nelson 50.0%
3pt: Lewis 31.9%
FT: Lewis 87.5%
01-02 Stats:
Georgia Tech | ACC
KEY LOSSES
Tony Akins | 17.0 ppg
Clarence Moore | 9.4 ppg
Halston lane | 6.1 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Jarrett Jack | Fresh
G | Marvin Lewis | Junior
G | B.J. Elder | Soph
F | Ed Nelson | Soph
C | Chris Bosh | Fresh
Player to Watch
Chris Bosh
Freshman Center
In a league full of fresh talent, Bosh may be best of the bunch.
DATE TO REMEMBER
The Jackets play Syracuse at the Carrier Dome, where an ESPN audience will show the game to the country -- and to any NCAA Tournament selection committee members that choose to watch. If Georgia Tech gets beaten up in the ACC schedule, it will need quality non-conference wins to get a bid. |
GEORGIA TECH
YELLOW JACKETS
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They were young last season when they didn't qualify for the postseason, they are younger this season, and still the Jackets are an ACC team to keep an eye on in 2002-03. Like conference rivals Duke, North Carolina and Wake Forest, Georgia Tech's young talent is exceptional talent. The two most important positions on the court probably will belong to freshmen -- 6-3 point guard Jarrett Jack and 6-10 center Chris Bosh -- but they are above-average freshmen. Bosh was a McDonald's All-American, Jack was a finalist, and they will be surrounded by returning starters at every other position -- most notably shooting guard B.J. Elder (9.9 ppg) and power forward Ed Nelson (8.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg), the ACC Rookie of the Year last season. The other starting position is between junior shooter Marvin Lewis (10.9 ppg) and sophomore athlete Isma'il Muhammad (7.1 ppg). The bench will be deep, with 7-1 sophomore Luke Schenscher (4.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 6-7 junior Robert Brooks (3.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and 6-9 freshman Theodis Tarver on the inside and the backcourt bolstered by either Lewis or Muhammad, plus 6-6 combination guard Anthony McHenry (1.8 ppg).
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Bosh is one of the most heralded freshmen in a great season for ACC freshmen, a big man with the kind of skill and athletic ability that had many Georgia Tech fans afraid he'd skip college and enter the NBA draft. Bosh wasn't ready for that leap, and luckily for him -- and the Jackets -- he realized it. How long he stays in college is another matter, but this season at least Bosh will give Georgia Tech a rebounder and shot-blocker who will be a force on the offensive glass.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
For all his size and skill, Jack is a freshman point guard, and that's a cause for concern in a season with veteran ACC points like Maryland's Steve Blake, Duke's Chris Duhon, Virginia's Todd Billet and Clemson's Edward Scott. The backup to Jack is McHenry, who backed last season's starter, Tony Akins, but Elder also could be called upon to run the offense in a pinch.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
from below .500 to the NCAA Tournament, the Jackets should make a huge leap this season under rising coaching star Paul Hewitt -- and possibly contend for the ACC championship. For that to happen Jack must be steady, but if he is, the Jackets have the size, skill and depth to make for an interesting March.
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