Tech slots McGuire for start vs. GSU

"I absolutely want to get this tourney started off on the right foot," said McGuire, who is 10-1 with a 3.15 ERA this season.

McGuire didn't face Georgia State in either of their two meeting this season -- a 10-1 win by State in March and Tech's 18-2 win in April.

In 2008, he had mixed success in two appearances against the Panthers, giving up three runs in two innings in his first start but picking up a win in his second start after allowing three runs in 5.2 innings.

McGuire could not have pitched better in the Miami game, and then he could not have pitched much worse. He had a no-hitter through five inning before the Hurricanes tagged him for seven runs in sixth. Pitching coach Tom Kinkelaar said McGuire uncharacteristically was over-throwing, which disprupted his mechanics and lessened his control.

"One of those innings where it seemed like everything I threw toward the plate, they smoked it," McGuire said. "They didn't miss a pitch. I've never been through anything like that. They didn't pop any up, they didn't ground any balls to somebody. Everything they hit they hit hard and they found a hole."

It was the worst inning of McGuire's career: seven earned runs, four doubles, two singles, one walk and a wild pitch.

The good news, as pointed by teammate Jason Haniger, is he got a bad game out of his system.

"He's right. Better in the ACC tournament than the NCAA tournament," McGuire said.

Fresh off being named first-team All-America by Collegiate Baseball, McGuire gets his fresh start Friday at home, where he's won six times this season.

Georgia State coach Greg Frady said McGuire has his team's respect, but that he hopes his players don't get too caught up in matchup. After a relaxed Thursday practice, Frady said his team shouldn't be nervous.

"This is a mature, older team," Frady said. "There's 11 seniors on this team. Tomorrow night at 7 p.m. you're going to see our competitive juices. I think these guys will be ready to go. They have been all year."