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ACC Basketball Previews: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Is Brian Gregory's job in jeopardy heading into the Jackets' 2014-15 campaign?

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Spor

Last year: 16-17 (6-12 ACC), KenPom #109, RPI #156

Projected Starters
Corey Heyward, G - 6'1, 214, redshirt sophomore
Chris Bolden, G - 6'3, 223, junior
Marcus Georges Hunt, F - 6'5, 214, junior
Charles Mitchell, F - 6'8, 269, junior
Demarco Cox, C - 6'8, 276, senior

Expected Contributors
Robert Sampson, F - 6'8, 224, redshirt senior
Tadric Jackson, G - 6'2, 215, freshman
Quinton Stephens, F - 6'9, 187, sophomore
Josh Heath, G - 6'2, 172, sophomore
Abdoulaye Gaeye, F - 6'9, 208, freshman

Live by the transfer, die by the transfer.

Gone from Atlanta via transfer is productive big man Robert Carter, Jr., a double-double machine over the past two seasons. Into Atlanta via transfer come Charles Mitchell (Maryland, where Carter, Jr. transferred to); Demarco Cox (Ole Miss); Robert Sampson (East Carolina, and son of UVa great Ralph); and Nick Jacobs (Alabama). And out of Brian Gregory's new toys, all but Jacobs are eligible to play immediately.

They'll be needed, especially Mitchell and Cox. The Jackets lost big men Daniel Miller and Kammeon Holsey to graduation. When Carter Jr. flew the coop as well, it was starting to look like lean times in the frontcourt. But Mitchell and Cox are both bangers under the glass who both shot over 50 percent from the field in 2014. Their presence underneath should free things up for talented swingman Marcus Georges-Hunt, the leading returning scorer for Georgia Tech.

If these Jackets are going to save their coach's job, though, someone will have to emerge as a perimeter shooting threat. Georgia Tech's 3-point percentage in 2014 was among the worst in the nation. Guard Chris Bolden shot 30 percent from deep ... but 29 percent from two. Gregory will need his talent to mesh together quickly if he hopes to be coaching in Atlanta by this time next year.

Georgia Tech lost its only game against Virginia last year, a 64-45 UVa win in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets come to Charlottesville on January 22nd for their only regular-season matchup with the Hoos.