Georgia Tech’s ACC schedule released

FILE PHOTO: Head coach Josh Pastner of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts to a play in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 21, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)

Credit: Ryan M. Kelly

Credit: Ryan M. Kelly

FILE PHOTO: Head coach Josh Pastner of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts to a play in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 21, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)

After one league game in November and one in early December, the front end of the bulk of Georgia Tech’s ACC conference schedule will be unmerciful.

In a nine-day period, the Yellow Jackets will play at Florida State, at North Carolina and home against Duke. That’s two teams that figure to start the season in the top 10 (North Carolina and Duke) and a third that was a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament last year (FSU).

As the Yellow Jackets aim to earn an NCAA tournament berth for the first time since 2010, they’ll have their opportunity to get attention early on in the league schedule.

The heavy start does trade off with a lighter closing run. The Jackets’ last six league games are at Wake Forest, at Syracuse, home against Clemson, Miami and Pittsburgh and at Clemson. Of those six games, five are against teams that did not make the NCAA tournament last season, with Syracuse the exception.

Notably, nine of Tech’s 20 league games will be broadcast on the ACC Network, including seven of the first eight ACC games. It’s possible another two more could be on the newly launched network, as well.

Tech will also fill one of its open dates with a Jan. 28 home game against Morehouse, following coach Josh Pastner’s to have games during open dates to keep the team’s rhythm.

Tech’s 2019-20 schedule

Nov. 5 at N.C. State

Nov. 11 Elon

Nov. 20 at Georgia

Nov. 25 Arkansas

Dec. 1 Bethune-Cookman

Dec. 4 Nebraska

Dec. 8 Syracuse

Dec. 14 at Kentucky

Dec. 18 *Ball State

Dec. 22 *Boise State (Honolulu)

Dec. 23 *Houston or Portland (Honolulu)

Dec. 25 *TBD (Honolulu)

Dec. 31 at Florida State

Jan. 4 at North Carolina

Jan. 8 Duke

Jan. 11 at Boston College

Jan. 15 Notre Dame

Jan. 18 Virginia

Jan. 22 at Louisville

Jan. 25 N.C. State

Jan. 28 Morehouse

Feb. 1 at Notre Dame

Feb. 4 Virginia Tech

Feb. 8 at Pittsburgh

Feb. 12 Louisville

Feb. 19 at Wake Forest

Feb. 22 at Syracuse

Feb. 25 Clemson

Feb. 29 Miami

March 4 Pittsburgh

March 6 at Clemson

*Diamond Head Classic. The game against Ball State is part of that tournament, but played at McCamish Pavilion.