Since reaching the Final Four and losing to Connecticut in the 2004 national championship game, Georgia Tech has gone only 27-37 in ACC play and twice has had losing overall records, including last season when the Yellow Jackets were 15-17.

Early defections of Javaris Crittenton and Thad Young after just one year on campus wrecked last season's hopes, and another defection could have an impact -- though much smaller -- this season. Ra'Sean Dickey, a 6-10 center who redshirted last season -- decided in July to skip his senior year and signed a contract to play professionally in the Ukraine.

Dickey could have added muscle to a frontline headed now by junior Zack Peacock. Dickey averaged five rebounds a game over his career. That's one more a game than Tech's leading returner rebounder, senior Alade Aminu, averaged last season.

Tech does return three starters, including point guard Moe Miller. Miller finished strong his freshman season and had 96 assists against 59 turnovers. Senior De'Andre Bell also returns in the backcourt, and sophomore Gani Lawal returns at forward.

Senior guard Lewis Clinch could be a difference maker for the Jackets if he regains the form he showed as a sophomore. He was Tech's leading scorer through the first 10 games of the 2006-07 season before being suspended for "violation of school policy."

Clinch returned and was one of Tech's top two scorers early last season before slumping in ACC play. If he can regain his shooting touch, that should relieve some of the pain felt by the loss of three-point specialist and top scorer Anthony Morrow.

In addition to Morrow, Tech also lost seniors Jeremis Smith, the leading rebounder, and guard Matt Causey, who was a big factor with the intangibles he brought to the floor. Mouhammad Faye, a 6-10 forward who could have been a nice addition up front, transferred to SMU.

The Jackets brought in only newcomer, Iman Shumpert, a 6-4 guard who could start in Tech's three-guard set.

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