Hoping to improve upon last year's 15-17 record, Georgia Tech has already suffered a potentially devastating blow.
Diving for a loose ball in practice Oct. 10, senior guard D'Andre Bell collided with a teammate's leg. While lying on the ground, Bell's extremities felt numb, eventually leading to the discovery that Bell suffers from a condition known as spinal stenosis.
Head coach Paul Hewitt announced Oct. 22 that Bell would be out for the season because of imminent surgery.
"It hurts not to be able to play," Bell said. "But I know God has a plan for me, and I need to do what is best for my future."
The injury is an early setback for a team that hopes to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last year. Georgia Tech will be forced to look for defense and leadership without its would-be captain, who played in all 32 games last season.
Not everyone is convinced that replacing Bell will be an easy task, and the Yellow Jackets were picked to finish eighth in the ACC this year.
Still, Georgia Tech has reason to hold onto some hope. The team returns four players with starter experience and Iman Shumpert was named to the preseason All-ACC freshman team.
"I think we will overachieve," senior guard Lewis Clinch said. "People doubt us because we have lost players, but we have been working very hard and are close as a team. This is the closest we have ever been as a team, and I think it will help us down the road."
Hewitt went even further, claiming that his team's strengths will be enough to keep the team playing into March.
"I think we have a very talented team," Hewitt said. "If we have to point to two areas that are really strong, I would have to say the point guard position, because of Moe [Miller] and [Shumpert], and our big guys. We have five big guys that can really run and contribute.
"Now in terms of depth at the perimeter, with the loss of D'Andre Bell, it certainly is not where we would like it to be. But I think it's a talented group that should be capable of getting back to the NCAA Tournament."
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