Based on the results of the ACC’s annual preseason poll, Georgia Tech looks like it’s in in for another rough season at McCamish Pavilion. In a poll of 121 media members, the Yellow Jackets were picked to finish 13th in the 15-team ACC at the league’s Operation Basketball event on Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C.
It’s hardly an unreasonable projection. Tech finished last season in 13th place with a 6-12 record and then lost three of its top players from that team, guards Josh Okogie and Tadric Jackson and center Ben Lammers.
Duke was projected to finish first, receiving 52 of the 121 first-place votes.
Prior to the 2016-17 season, Pastner’s first, the Jackets were picked 14th before completing the season in 11th place with wins over North Carolina, Florida State and Notre Dame, performance that earned Pastner honors as the conference’s coach of the year. Ahead of last season, the Jackets were projected to finish ninth before ending the season in 13th place.
No Tech players were chosen for the 10-player preseason all-conference team or received votes for preseason player of the year or freshman of the year.
ACC Operation Basketball 2018-19 Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1-Duke (52) - 1709
2-Virginia (47) - 1699
3-North Carolina (20) - 1641
4-Syracuse (1) - 1268
5-Virginia Tech - 1187
6-Clemson (1) -1148
7-Florida State - 1127
8-NC State - 885
9-Notre Dame - 859
10-Miami - 816
11-Louisville - 735
12-Boston College - 568
13-Georgia Tech - 324
14-Wake Forest - 313
15-Pitt - 241
Preseason All-ACC
First Team
Luke Maye, North Carolina (111)
Tyus Battle, Syracuse (86)
RJ Barrett, Duke (76)
Kyle Guy, Virginia (62)
Ky Bowman, Boston College (58)
Second Team
Zion Williamson, Duke (55)
De'Andre Hunter, Virginia (32)
Justin Robinson, Virginia Tech (29)
Ty Jerome, Virginia (17)
Marcquise Reed, Clemson (16)
ACC Preseason Player of the Year
Luke Maye, North Carolina (50)
RJ Barrett, Duke (22)
Zion Williamson, Duke (15)
Tyus Battle, Syracuse (11)
Ky Bowman, Boston College (7)
Kyle Guy, Virginia (5)
De'Andre Hunter, Virginia (4)
Ty Jerome, Virginia (2)
Justin Robinson, Virginia Tech (2)
Cam Reddish, Duke (1)
T.J. Gibbs, Notre Dame (1)
Jaylen Hoard, Wake Forest (1)
ACC Preseason Freshman of the Year
RJ Barrett, Duke (66)
Zion Williamson, Duke (43)
Cam Reddish, Duke (4)
Jaylen Hoard, Wake Forest (3)
Coby White, North Carolina (2)
Jalen Carey, Syracuse (1)
Nate Laszewski, Notre Dame (1)
Jairus Hamilton, Boston College (1)
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