Georgia Tech basketball 2015-16 preview

Overview: After finishing 14^th in the ACC in 2014-15, Georgia Tech is predicted to finish 13^th in the conference in this year’s preseason media poll, but a new-look roster makes the Yellow Jackets a team that could surprise people this year. Although Georgia Tech only has one freshman, it still enters this season with several unfamiliar faces, with three major expected contributors coming via the transfer route.

Nick Jacobs is eligible to play after starting 57 games in his first three seasons at Alabama and sitting out last season with the Yellow Jackets due to NCAA transfer regulations. Adam Smith led the ACC in three-point shooting last year at Virginia Tech—knocking down 42.4 percent of his long-range attempts—and is eligible to play right away as a graduate transfer. James White also averaged double-digit points during his last two campaigns at Arkansas-Little Rock before graduating last May and transferring to Georgia Tech as a graduate student.

These three newcomers already boast hundreds of games of college experience and will provide a dramatic talent boost right away, and they join a roster that returns last year’s top two scorers—Marcus Georges-Hunt and Charles Mitchell. These five could form a starting lineup of all seniors and graduate students, although Georges-Hunt is the only player in the group that started his career with the Yellow Jackets. Redshirt sophomore Travis Jorgenson started at point guard in 27 games as a freshman last year, but may come off the bench this season to provide some valuable depth in the backcourt

One thing that needs to go right:  Smith stretches the floor with his pure shooting ability, opening driving lanes for Georges-Hunt and the new, athletic wings to get to the rim and score. Georgia Tech’s offense improves on its abysmal 63 points per game from last year and leads the team to a surprising finish in the top half of the ACC.