Duke's Daniel Ewing (left) tries to shoot over Georgia Tech's Anthony McHenry during the first half of the ACC Tournament title game. Associated Press

Jackets' ACC play improves seeding

WASHINGTON - Georgia Tech's march through the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament marched the Yellow Jackets up the NCAA Tournament bracket.

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The Yellow Jackets, considered a bubble team and a potential No. 8 or 9 seed coming into the ACC tourney, were seeded No. 5 after advancing to the tourney title game.

"We're playing well. I guess based on the way things have gone this year, you could say we're peaking at this time," Jackets coach Paul Hewitt said.

They'll face George Washington, the Atlantic 10 champion, Friday in a first-round game in Nashville, Tenn. The Colonials' record is 22-7.

Georgia Tech hasn't played George Washington since the 1988 season. The Jackets are 2-0 all-time against the Colonials.

"George Washington is an outstanding team. Karl Hobbs has done a great job resurrecting that program," Hewitt said.

Should they beat the Colonials on Friday, the Yellow Jackets would face the winner of No. 4 Louisville and No. 13 Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Jackets were placed in the Albuquerque Regional, along with No. 1 seed Washington and ACC rival Wake Forest.

Hewitt said more than 25 teams can be considered legitimate Final Four contenders. He said his team is among them, but faces a big challenge in the coming weeks.

"Can we make it to the Final Four? Yeah," he said. "But I wouldn't make us a favorite. There are a lot of teams."

Reach Adam Van Brimmer at 404-589-8424 or adam.vanbrimmer@morris.com.

--From the Monday, March 14, 2005 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle