ACC Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2019-20 season

By Brian Rauf | Sep 25, 2019

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 05: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils drives past Jordan Chatman #25 of the Boston College Eagles during the second half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 05, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 80-55. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – FEBRUARY 27: Michael Devoe #0 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets shoots over Ty Jerome #11 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

. Yellow Jackets . 9. team. 436. . Last Year: 14-18 (6-12)

Georgia Tech is another team that, quite frankly, was not very good last year. Heck, they really haven’t been in what has felt like a long while.

But the Yellow Jackets at least have legitimate hope that this season will be different.

Jose Alvarado and Michael Devoe are a solid backcourt and both should be better in their second year playing together. James Banks proved to be an excellent player down low as well, especially as a rebounder and rim protector.

That trio at least gives head coach Josh Pastner’s squad a solid core. If USC grad transfer Jordan Usher can give them quality play on the wing as well, then Georgia Tech will have a ceiling much higher than this.

All the question marks with this group come offensively. Defensively, they’re fine – they ranked in the top 50 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency and in the top 15 in both effective field goal defense and three-point defense thanks to their zone. But, on the other end, they ranked 228th nationally in efficiency and didn’t have a single player average at least 13 points. They were also one of the worst shooting teams in the country.

If Georgia Tech can find a spark on that end, there’s a real chance they’ll find themselves on the NCAA Tournament bubble – but that is much easier said than done.