The ACC Conference has a number of teams ranked in the Top 25 for college basketball and Georgia Tech is learning that the hard way. One of the most competitive conferences in the sport, Tech is coming off two straight games against ranked teams while preparing to face another. A trip home could do the Yellow Jackets some good as they prepare to play Virginia.
Tech fell in back-to-back games to UNC and Pittsburgh in games that were close, but not close enough. The team has renewed firepower from the offense that finished 14th in scoring in the conference last season. Adam Smith is adding some offensive shooting as he leads the ACC with 52 made 3s while shooting 56.8 from beyond the arc. In the loss the Pittsburgh, he put up 30 points while averaging 20.6 points per game in the following five games. Marcus Georges-Hunt and Charles Mitchell are the senior duo giving experience to the team. Michell is getting 11.6 rebounds per game.
The issue for Georgia Tech is their defense which is where they could meet their match against Virginia. Both UNC and Pittsburgh combined to shoot 50 percent overall. The Cavaliers are coming off an upsetting loss against the Virginia Tech Hokies which is giving Georgia Tech some hope for the matchup. Virginia went just 9 of 17 from beyond the arc while turning the ball over 16 times. The Cavaliers fell apart on defense in the second half as the Hokies put up 44 points in the final 20 minutes while shooting 57.7 percent. Anthony Gill is going to try and lead the team while averaging 15.4 points per game.
Tech has not had much success against the Cavaliers in seasons past. In their last game against one another, Georgia Tech fell 57-28 in what was an ACC regular-season record. This Virginia team is much more vulnerable than in years past as they have shown they can easily fall apart if turnovers get the best of them. Georgia Tech has dropped eight straight games to ranked teams at home. Meanwhile, Virginia has won three straight against the Yellow Jackets. This could be an interesting matchup as the Yellow Jackets aim for the upset.
