2000-01 record: 20-9; 9-7 in ACC (4th) Final Ranking: No. 21 ESPN/USA Today Postseason: Lost to Gonzaga, 86-85 in first round of NCAA Tournament. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Akins 14.5 ppg | Rebounds: Lewis 4.5 rpg | Assists: Akins 4.3 apg | FG %: Akins 44.0% | 3pt %: Akins 41.9% | FT %: Lewis 86.8% 00-01 Stats: Georgia Tech | ACC

		Wed., Oct. 31 The single biggest key for Georgia Tech is rebounding and interior defense. The Yellow Jackets will still press and shoot opportunistic 3s, but need to rebound collectively to have a chance. Paul Hewitt is an outstanding coach, and he has some very good newcomers. Georgia Tech has a great future, and if they clean some glass, a pretty darn good present.

Outlook
The Jackets are rebuilding, but last year's mortar and brick is being replaced by gold and silver. Or something close.

Second-year coach Paul Hewitt has brought in a fabulous freshman class, one of the best in the country, and while the inexperience factor will hurt the Jackets early in the season, the additional talent could bail them out late. The losses were heavy, though.

The four-year starter at center (Alvin Jones) is gone. So is the starting power forward (Jon Babul) and shooting guard (Shaun Fein). The frontcourt players coming back aren't necessarily going to be the players getting the most minutes, although 6-9 sophomore Robert Brooks (2.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg) has promise. Look for 6-foot-8 freshman Ed Nelson, one of the country's top schoolboy power forwards last year, and 6-4 sophomore Clarence Moore (redshirted last season) to get serious minutes.

In the backcourt, Tony Akins (14.5 ppg, 4.3 apg) returns for his fourth year as the team's starting point guard. Akins has improved with each season, going from an out-of-control freshman to a shooting-happy sophomore to a solid junior. An All-ACC season isn't out of the question, though the competition will be stiff. Sophomore Marvin Lewis (8.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg) is an underrated scorer, and sophomore Halston Lane (6.8 ppg) is as dangerous a streak shooter as there is in the ACC. Also, freshmen Barry Elder and Isma'il Muhammad could make their mark right away.

What we like: Hewitt. He plays an exciting style, and brings in great athletes to execute it, and this season has a senior point guard to direct the flow. He turned around the program in one year, giving hope where there was none, and with his stellar recruiting, the Jackets have even more hope for this season, and down the road.

What we don't like: Massive inexperience in the frontcourt will make the non-conference schedule an adventure, and if the situation doesn't sort itself out, the first few ACC games could be tougher than needed, too.

The bottom line: The Jackets again will contend for an NCAA berth, and it probably will come down to the play of freshmen in February -- a scary thought.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Tony Akins	Sr.	G	5-11/182	PTS: 14.5 | REB: 3.5 | AST: 4.3
Marvin Lewis	So.	G	6-3/195	PTS: 8.7 | REB: 4.5 | AST: 1.5
Halston Lane	So.	G	6-6/200	PTS: 6.8 | REB: 2.4 | AST: 1.0

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Alvin Jones	C	6-11/265	PTS: 13.4 | REB: 10.4 | AST: 1.5
Darryl LaBarrie	G	6-3/196	PTS: 5.6 | REB: 1.7 | AST: 1.3
Shaun Fein	G	6-3/205	PTS: 13.3 | REB: 2.9 | AST: 2.2
Jon Babul	F	6-7/232	PTS: 5.6 | REB: 3.4 | AST: 1.2

Georgia Tech Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Ed Nelson	F	6-7	Fort Lauderdale (Fla.)
Barry Elder	G	6-4	Madison (Ga.)
Isma'il Muhammad	F	6-6	Atlanta/W.D. Muhammad (Ga.)
Luke Schensher	C	7-0	Australia
Anthony McHenry	G/F	6-6	Birmingham/Woodlawn (Ala.)