Georgia Tech

After a disappointing 2008-2009 season, the No. 22 Yellow Jackets will be looking to bounce back in a big way. Last year, Georgia Tech finished with just two conference wins, but there is reason to believe that this year will be a substantial improvement.

Despite losing two of its top three scorers, Georgia Tech looks to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007. Much of this task will fall on the shoulders of its freshman class, the fourth-best class in the nation according to Rivals.com.

The spotlight will be on 6-foot-10 center Derrick Favors.

Favors, the No. 3 prospect in the country, chose Georgia Tech over Georgia and N.C. State. But the Yellow Jackets would not boast the best recruiting class in the ACC without point guard Mfon Udofia. Udofia looks to be the starting point guard, replacing Lewis Clinch, Georgia Tech’s leading scorer last season.

The freshmen will join a talented young core that remains from last season. In the post, Favors will be joined by two returning starters, Gani Lawal and Zachery Peacock. Lawal earned third-team All-ACC honors last season while averaging 15.1 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game.

And though Udofia might handle much of the ball-handling responsibilities, Iman Shumpert will take some of the pressure off of his freshman teammate.  

Shumpert is a dynamic ball handler who can play either guard position. He also can pass and defend very well, as shown by his 5.0 assists per game and 2.1 steals per game last season. Both of those numbers were the best in the country among freshmen.

The pressure is on Hewitt this season. His team is coming off back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in his career, and the last time Georgia Tech won a game in the NCAA Tournament was 2005. The only obstacles standing between the Yellow Jackets and the NCAA Tournament are inexperience and perhaps a lack of chemistry, but the talent is there and this could be a dangerous team come March.