The transitive national championship is easier for Georgia Tech to achieve this year than most. The Yellow Jackets are one of only seven teams that can claim to have beaten the eventual national champions by virtue of their 75-63 win over the Tar Heels at McCamish Pavilion on New Year’s Eve, a result that UNC players said helped drive them throughout the season.
By margin of defeat, it was the second worst loss that North Carolina suffered this season. It was one of just a handful of wins over eventual national champions that Tech can claim, although it’s won two of its past three games against teams that went on to win the NCAA title. The Jackets beat Duke in Jan. 2010 before the Blue Devils went on to beat Butler for their fourth national title.
Over the past 50 years, Tech is 5-30 against teams that would go on to win the national championship, with three of the wins at the hands of the Tar Heels.
Credit: Ken Sugiura
Credit: Ken Sugiura
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