ACC Countdown to Tipoff: Georgia Tech

Countdown to Tipoff: Georgia Tech

Last season: 11-20 overall, 4-12 in the ACC, tied for 9th

Preseason ACC picks: 9th by the coaches, 9th by the media

Schedule Notes: After opening its new arena with home games against Tulane and Presbyterian, the Yellow Jackets will play Rice in the opening round of the four-game Anaheim Classic. Other pre-ACC highlights include games at Illinois and at home against Georgia.

Coach Brian Gregory

Brian Gregory, who led the University of Dayton to 97 victories over the last four years and worked under Tom Izzo at Michigan State when the Spartans won the 2000 NCAA championship, is set to enter his second year at the Georgia Tech helm ... Gregory is the 13th head coach in Yellow Jacket history ... Gregory coached eight seasons at Dayton where he compiled a record of 172-94 and participated in the NCAA Tournament or NIT five times ... his 2003-04 and 2008-09 teams earned NCAA Tournament berths and last season the Flyers captured the NIT crown after beating North Carolina in the championship game ... the 1990 Oakland (Mich.) University graduate won 150 games faster (seven seasons) than any coach in Dayton history ... over the last four seasons combined, his teams went 13-4 against BCS-level teams ... Every senior who played for Gregory at Dayton graduated (30-of-30) ... Prior to becoming the head coach at Dayton, Gregory spent the second of two highly-successful stints at Michigan State, where he was an assistant coach for two years before being promoted to associate head coach under Izzo for the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons. During those four years, the Spartans won one NCAA championship (2000), made three Elite Eight appearances, two Final Fours and claimed two Big Ten Conference championships ... A native of Mount Prospect, Ill., Gregory's first coaching job came during his first association with Michigan State in 1990 as a graduate assistant to head coach Jud Heathcote. In all, Gregory arrived at Dayton with 15 years of coaching experience, including 12 seasons in the Big Ten Conference.

Returning players

Mfon Udofia, Sr., Guard

Played point guard full time for the first time in his career in 2011-12 ... team's leading-returning scorer (9.9) ... started all but one game as a junior, leading the team in minutes (31.8) and assists (2.8) ... played 35 minutes or more 11 times ... led, or tied for the team lead, in assists on 14 occasions a year ago, including seven times over the last eight games ... team's lone senior on the 2012-13 roster ... has 719 points, 258 rebounds and 192 assists in his first four years on the Flats.

Kammeon Holsey, Jr., Forward

One of two Yellow Jackets to start all 31 games a year ago ... led Tech in scoring eight times in the final 17 games ... finished third on the team in scoring (9.4) and third in rebounds (4.9) while shooting .590 the floor ... scored in double figures 15 times a year ago, including a career-high 21 against Delaware State (9-10 FG) in 25 minutes ... seven points shy of 400 for his career.

Daniel Miller, Jr., Center

Averaged career-bests in points (8.1), rebounds (6.5), blocked shots (75) and minutes played (30.0) as a sophomore in 2011-12 ... finished second in the ACC and 21st nationally in blocked shots (2.1) ... has blocked at least one shot in 56 of his 62 career games ... has started in each of his 62 career games ... led the Yellow Jackets in rebounding 13 times last year.

Jason Morris, Jr., Guard

Started the last six games of the year ... closed out the regular season with a career-high 22 points against Wake Forest ... played in all 31 games, leading the team in scoring four times ... had 11 games with 10-or-more points, ... finished fifth on the team in scoring (7.8), rebounding (3.3) and third in blocked shots with 15.

Brandon Reed, Jr., Guard

Averaged 7.5 points and 3.2 rebounds while starting 29 games a year ago after transferring from Arkansas State ... averaged 9.4 points per game in eight games in February, including four in double figures ... had a season-high 18 points at Florida State (F1) ... made 18 straight free throws over a five-week period (J15-F25).

Julian Royal, So., Forward

Played in 30 games as Georgia Tech's lone freshman in 2011-12, averaging 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game ... averaged 5.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and shot .455 (10-22) from 3-point range in 16 ACC regular season games ... scored a career-high 11 pts (5-7 FG) in a career-high 29 minutes versus Miami (J24).