The lowdown
2000-01 record: 17-13; 8-8 in ACC (5th)
Final Ranking: NR
Postseason: Lost to St. Joesph's 66-62 in first round of NCAA Tournament
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. How do the Yellow Jackets replace Alvin Jones' presence in the middle? Jones blocked and altered shots. Coach Paul Hewitt might not be able to duplicate Jones' interior presence, but he needs to find someone who can at least cause similar problems.
2. The Yellow Jackets didn't lose a slew of NBA-type players, but lost solid college players like Shaun Fein and Jon Babul. The lack of experience could prove costly when Georgia Tech faces the top teams like Duke and Maryland.
3. Georgia Tech released troubled recruit Michael Southall from his letter of intent, making them even smaller without Jones, too. The Yellow Jackets will have to be quicker to make up for the lack of size.
Three Key Facts
1. Tony Akins will return for his final season as one of the ACC's premier point guards, but the Yellow Jackets must replace five seniors, all among their top eight scorers.
2. Paul Hewitt inked a five-year contract extension after earning ACC Coach of the Year honors.
3. Swingman Marvin Lewis made last season's ACC All-Freshman team after averaging 8.7 points and 4.5 rebounds a game.
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: Georgia Tech becomes a sleeper team and ends up in the top five in the ACC and on the NCAA bubble again.
Worst case: The Yellow Jackets drop back into the pack, hover around sixth and hope for an NIT berth.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Tony Akins
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Sr.
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G
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5-11/182
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PTS: 14.5 | REB: 3.5 | AST: 4.3
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Marvin Lewis
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So.
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G
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6-3/195
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PTS: 8.7 | REB: 4.5 | AST: 1.5
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Halston Lane
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So.
|
G
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6-6/200
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PTS: 6.8 | REB: 2.4 | AST: 1.0
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Key Losses
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|
Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Alvin Jones
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C
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6-11/265
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PTS: 13.4 | REB: 10.4 | AST: 1.5
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Darryl LaBarrie
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G
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6-3/196
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PTS: 5.6 | REB: 1.7 | AST: 1.3
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Shaun Fein
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G
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6-3/205
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PTS: 13.3 | REB: 2.9 | AST: 2.2
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Jon Babul
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F
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6-7/232
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PTS: 5.6 | REB: 3.4 | AST: 1.2
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Georgia Tech Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Ed Nelson
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F
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6-7
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Fort Lauderdale (Fla.)
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Barry Elder
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G
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6-4
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Madison (Ga.)
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Isma'il Muhammad
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F
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6-6
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Atlanta/W.D. Muhammad (Ga.)
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