One year removed from being one of the bigger teams in the ACC, Georgia Tech will be one of the smallest. Things can change that quick in college basketball. The exit of Derrick Favors, Gani Lawal and Zachery Peacock also means the absence of 34 points and 21 rebounds a game in the Georgia Tech box score. While most everyone -- including the media and even Georgia Tech fans -- seems to be forgetting about the Yellow Jackets, Paul Hewitt enters his 11th season in Atlanta looking to push the pace and score points in bunched in 2010-2011.
Backcourt
This heading should probably be renamed "entire team" seeing as how the Yellow Jackets have just three players taller than 6'6", two of which are freshmen who have never played. The backcourt, which includes Iman Shumpert, Maurice Miller, Glen Rice Jr., Mfon Udofia and others, will be the strength of this team. The key to the success or failure of this team will likely be the play of Shumpert, especially when it comes to his decision-making in the open floor. Because the Yellow Jackets will be looking to run more often than not, Shumpert and fellow guard Maurice "Mo" Miller will have to limit turnovers whenever possible. The uptempo pace will create more possessions than last year's paint-intensive offense, but the Yellow Jackets will need to be efficient for the added possessions to evolve into wins. A player worth watching in the backcourt will be freshman guard Justin Morris. Hewitt has compared his athleticism to high-flying Isma'il Muhammad, who developed into one of the more exciting open floor players in the ACC during his time in Atlanta. Hewitt has plenty of options in the backcourt, but the interesting thing to watch will be how all those players share time and work together on the court.
Frontcourt
For better or worse, Georgia Tech fans and others should get to know Daniel Miller and Kammeon Holsey, two redshirt freshmen who will be featured prominently in the Yellow Jackets' frontcourt. Miller redshirted in 2009-2010 because of the other big men in the program and will enter 2010-2011 as one of Georgia Tech's key defensive players. Holsey, who tore his ACL in pre-season camp prior to last season, is a 6'8" athletic forward who Paul Hewitt envisions as Georgia Tech's top inside scoring threat. Hewitt said Holsey has returned to his pre-injury form and is the second most athletic player on the team behind true freshman Morris. The other addition to the frontcourt is a familiar name in a not so familiar position. Brian Oliver, Tech's best three-point shooter (38 percent) last season, moves from the wing to the paint after bulking up to 220 lbs. during the offseason. The 6'6" Oliver will certainly face bigger opponents on most nights, but his athleticism and versatility should cause power forwards problems defensively. Georgia Tech will have to employ the team rebounding mentality to be successful, but the Jackets do seem athletic enough to get the job done.
Schedule
This is one area where Hewitt has to like his chances. The non-conference schedule only looks to have two tough games, a Nov. 30 trip to Northwestern and a Dec. 22 matchup with Siena, and includes several games where the Yellow Jackets will be able to gain some confidence. In ACC play, Georgia Tech has just give games against teams picked to finish in the top four by the media, including just one meeting with UNC, Duke and NC State. The Jackets do face Virginia Tech twice and Florida State, but it would certainly be tough to call the schedule tough.
Prediction
While the backcourt will be one of the more athletic and talented groups in the ACC, it's unclear yet how they will all play together. Couple that with the fact that Georgia Tech will have no frontcourt experience or depth, it's hard to see this team making the NCAA Tournament. Hewitt has been quietly confident during the pre-season, but that could also be restrained fear. If Shumpert and Mo MIller can score consistently and not turn the ball over the Jackets will be competitive most nights, but the lack of any experience up front will become more of an issue as the year goes on. Look for Georgia Tech to be a middle of the road ACC team (the Jackets were picked ninth pre-season), but don't expect greatness, or an NCAA Tournament birth.
Iman Shumpert will have to score the ball more than he did last season for Georgia Tech to win games. Look for his 2009-2010 average of 10 points a night to go up, significantly.
