Tigers Picked Fourth in ACC Preseason Poll

Jan. 29, 2003

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference’s nine head coaches selected Georgia Tech as the top pick to win the conference championship in 2003 with six first place votes and a total of 77 points. The Yellow Jackets return 22 of the 28 letterwinner from their 2002 squad that finished the season with a 52-16 record, including a 14-9 league mark and a trip to the NCAA College World Series. On the toes of the Yellow Jackets is Florida State who finished a close second with 73 points and two first place votes after finishing the 2002 season as the regular season and ACC Tournament Champions.

Wake Forest finishes in third place tallying 65 points and one first place vote. The Demon Deacons finished last season with a 47-13-1 overall record and were the second seed at the ACC Tournament with a 17-6 conference record.

The Clemson Tigers fill the fourth place slot with 54 points, while North Carolina placed fifth in the balloting with 41 points. The Tar Heels were followed by NC State who finished with 30 points and then Virginia with 29 points. Duke was selected to finish eighth with 19 points and Maryland ninth with 17 points.

2003 ACC Coaches Preseason Predicted Order of Finish

School                   Points       2002 Record/Finish

1. Georgia Tech (6)……. 77……….. 52-16, 14-9 ACC

2. Florida State (2)…… 73……….. 60-14, 18-6 ACC

3. Wake Forest (1)…….. 65…….. 47-13-1, 17-6 ACC

4. Clemson……………. 54……….. 54-17, 16-8 ACC

5. North Carolina……… 41……….. 43-21, 17-7 ACC

6. NC State…………… 30……….. 33-26, 7-17 ACC

7. Virginia…………… 29……….. 25-32, 8-16 ACC

8. Duke………………. 19……….. 24-34, 4-20 ACC

9. Maryland…………… 17……….. 34-23, 6-18 ACC

(#) denotes first place votes