A Look Ahead: Georgia Tech

Off to it's best start in five years, 20th-ranked Georgia Tech (10-2) comes to Halton Arena for one of it's last non-conference game of the regular season Saturdyy night at 7:00 p.m.(FOX SportSouth TV: Mike Hogewood, Mike Gminski; WFNZ Radio, 610 AM - Matt Swierad, Charlie Frederick). The Yellow Jackets have won their last two games against Kennesaw State and Winston-Salem State since dropping their ACC opener against Florida State on Dec. 20. The Jackets have played only one "true" road game this season, a 31-point win at Chattanooga.

Georgia Tech and Charlotte are following similar paths this season. The Niners are off to their best start since the 2004-05 season at 10-2, Georgia Tech also got off to a fast start that season, coming out of the gates at 11-2 before dropping three straight games.

Georgia Tech has had trouble scoring the ball lately, averaging just over 70 points over the last four games. While the Jackets have struggled with scoring, their scoring defense is among the best in the land, holding their last seven opponents to 56.4 points per game. The Yellow Jackets' last seven opponents have been held to just 33 percent shooting and have turned the ball over at least 17 times per game. Charlotte has struggled shooting the ball lately, shooting just 38 and 33 percent from the field in recent road games against Winthrop and Old Dominion, respectively.

Sophomore Jackets guard Iman Shumpert will make his return after missing the last six games due to a damaged meniscus in his right knee.

This game will be a battle of the bigs. Charlotte's front line of Shamari Spears and Chris Braswell are looking to be one of the top tandems in the A-10, while Tech's Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors have been tabbed as the best front line in the ACC. Lawal, a 6-9 junior and Favors, a 6-10 freshman are Tech's top two scorers and rebounders and are ranked in the top five in the ACC in rebound average and field goal percentage. Spears, a somewhat undersized 6-6 junior is Charlotte's leading scorer with 17.8 points per game and is averaging five rebounds. Braswell, the A-10's top freshman forward has five double-doubles this season and is averaging 8.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

Charlotte has struggled scoring the ball lately and will have to play better if they want a chance to knock off yet another nationally-ranked team. Charlotte's key to victory is to maintain a balanced attack, much like the effort they put together on the road against Louisville.