Georgia Tech (12-18) Vs. (22) Florida State (23-8)
GAME NOTES: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets shook up the ACC Tournament picture yesterday and they now take on the 22nd-ranked Florida State Seminoles in quarterfinal-round action at the Georgia Dome. The survivor of this bout will earn the right to clash with top-ranked North Carolina or Virginia Tech in the semifinals on Saturday.
The Jackets earned the 12th and final seed in this tourney, as they finished the regular-season a poor 2-14 within the conference. GT though, put those struggles behind it and pulled off the tourney's first upset, knocking off 17th-ranked and fifth-seeded Clemson, 86-81, in the opening round on Thursday. It was certainly a stunning result for the Jackets, who are now 21-26 all-time in this tourney.
As for FSU, it went 10-6 within the league and finished in fourth place after being picked 10th in the preseason poll. The Seminoles earned their first-ever bye in this tourney thanks to the finish, which ranks as the third best for the program. FSU's 23 victories are its most since the 1992-93 campaign, and Leonard Hamilton was recently recognized for his hard work by being named the ACC Coach of the Year. The Seminoles are just 7-17 all-time in the ACC Tournament, but they are only one victory away from moving on to the semifinals for the first time since 1992.
FSU leads the head-to-head series with GT, 31-27, and it captured a 62-58 victory in the lone meeting during the regular season.
Lewis Clinch poured in a career-high 32 points and made a pair of clinching free throws with seven seconds left, as GT upended Clemson on Thursday. Clinch finished 5-of-12 from long range and had six boards for the Jackets, who shot an efficient 55.7 percent from the field. Gani Lawal notched a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Alade Aminu and Iman Shumpert posted 12 and 11 points, respectively. On the season, Lawal has been terrific for GT and he almost averages a double-double with team highs of 15.2 ppg and 9.6 rpg. Clinch delivers 15.1 ppg and 3.1 apg, and Aminu puts forth 12.0 ppg and 8.1 rpg. Shumpert chips in with 10.6 ppg and he has been in charge of running the offense, handing out a team-high 5.1 apg.
The Seminoles' success can be attributed to their tenacious defense, as they are holding opponents to 64.5 ppg and a measly 38.6 percent shooting from the floor. Toney Douglas paces FSU with 60 steals and his play at this side of the court landed him the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. A First-Team All- ACC selection as well, Douglas has also shouldered the load offensively for FSU and he ranks second in the league in scoring at 20.8 ppg. He also adds 4.1 rpg and 3.0 apg to the mix and is shooting 37.4 percent from three-point range. Uche Echefu is a distant second with 8.9 ppg and he pulls in 5.3 rpg for FSU, while Solomon Alabi contributes 8.2 ppg and a team-high 5.7 rpg.
Behind their stingy defense and terrific play of Douglas, expect the Seminoles to prevail over a GT club that exerted a lot of energy in yesterday's upset win.
Predicted OutcomeFlorida State 69, Georgia Tech 60Copyright 2009 Courtesy of The Sports Network.
