After last Saturday’s big Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets’ gridiron win over bitter in state rival, the Georgia Bulldogs, the atmosphere on campus at Georgia Tech is electric. Along with a whole year of bragging rights the football program has secured, the men’s Yellow Jacket basketball squad is making noise of it’s own in downtown Atlanta as well! Led by Head Coach Brian Gregory, who won the NIT championship in 2010 at the helm of the Dayton Flyers program,the Tech program finally seems to be running on all cylinders! The 2014-2015 basketball season has displayed a Georgia Tech squad that has been quite dominate, winning 5 out of 6 contests, with a notable win over the University of Georgia. Coach Gregory squad’s only loss came by way of the perennial powerhouse Marquette.
Tech’s 6’ 5’’ 214 pound forward, Junior Marcus George- Hunt has been impactful in the paint for the Yellow Jackets, averaging 12 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game. Hunt has reached double digit scoring in all but one contest thus far this season. Hunt has a counterpart on this inside in Tech Senior center Demarco Cox, who stands at 6’8’’. Cox has been a vital key to Tech’s success, averaging 11 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game. Cox like Hunt, has entered into the double digit scoring in all but one game. One can’t help but notice that Coach Gregory’s squad is not lacking in the size department. In addition to Cox and Hunt, the Yellow Jackets have the 6’9’’ Sophomore forward Quinton Stephens, who’s averaging 10.2 points per game and 5 rebounds per game. Tech also has another physical presence inside through the 6’8’’ Junior forward Charles Mitchell. Mitchell is averaging 10.8 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game. With most of these men pushing 200 plus pounds, it’s quite apparent why the Yellow Jackets have been very consistent scoring inside the paint.
Be that as it may, Coach Gregory’s squad is far from one dimensional. With explosive guards like Junior Chris Bolden, who has been a spark for the Yellow Jackets from the perimeter with 6 three pointers thus far on the season, and Freshman Tadric Jackson, out of Tifton, Georgia, who has averaged 7.3 points per game the Yellow Jackets all around attack can be difficult to game plan for. Jackson’s best game came in a losing effort as he dropped 17 on Marquette. With great size inside the post and dynamic guards running the charge, this Yellow Jacket squad is truly dynamic. Coach Gregory’s squad is presently on a two game winning streak, after defeating Rider and Rhode Islands both at home. The Jackets must go on the road as they seek their third consecutive win. The men’s Yellow Jackets will travel to Evanston, Illinois for their matchup against the Northwestern Wildcats who at 5-1 are presently atop the Big 10 conference.
Georgia Tech will enter tomorrow’s, Wednesday December 3, 2014, matchup in first place atop of the ACC thanks to their 5-1 record as well. The Jackets must contend with the Wildcats Junior guard Tre Demps, who is averaging 10.3 points per game. Demp’s season high is 21 points which he scored against Elon. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:15pm Est. at Welsh Ryan arena. Though this is an early regular season matchup, the implications of this contest cannot be ignored. With both teams focusing on a winning a conference championship title, and a possible a trip to the big dance in March, Coach Gregory’s Yellow Jackets will definitely be aware of this game’s significance and attempt to keep the Yellow Jacket campus buzzing with yet another big win.
Generro D. Walker
