What To Watch For Vs. Elon

Georgia Tech got their 2019-20 basketball season off to a riveting start, as the Yellow Jackets earned a thrilling come from behind road conference win over NC State in overtime. Now Tech prepares to get their home schedule underway, welcoming the Elon Phoenix to McCamish Pavilion this Monday at 7:30pm on ACC Network Extra. Here are a couple of the more significant storylines to follow ahead of Monday's matchup.

Departure Of Leading Players

Heading into the 2019-20 season, Elon finds themselves in the unfortunate situation of having lost their 4 best players from the season prior. Forward Tyler Sebring, and guards Steven Santa Ana, Sheldon Eberhardt and Nathan Priddy, who were the top 4 players in minutes played last season, all graduated or left basketball entirely.

With 1,794 career points, Sebring graduated from Elon at 6th on their all-time scoring list, as well as 10th on their all-time rebounding list with 779 boards. Not too far behind him was Santa Ana, who landed at 16th all-time in scoring upon graduation, as well as 6th all-time in made three pointers with 237. Eberhardt's career at Elon wasn't as decorated as his previous two teammates, but his final season saw his point averages double from his junior season, helping him earn the Colonial Athletic Association's 2018-19 Sixth Man of the Year award. Priddy, who would have been Elon's leading returning scorer, saw his departure from basketball as whole. Head coach Mike Schrage said that Priddy decided to "at least for right now, retire from basketball and retire from school."

Elon began their 2019-20 campaign having lost from the season before:

- 67.6% of made field goals

- 68.7% of made three pointers

- 51.7% of rebounds

- 66% of assists

- 60% of steals

Because of the loss of so many key contributors, in CBS Sports' preseason ranking of all 353 Division 1 programs, Elon was listed at #329. This was the lowest of all D1 opponents that Georgia Tech will face this season. Hoping to supplant all the talent lost, the Phoenix will most likely be looking towards G/F Marcus Sheffield II to lead the way this season. A graduate transfer from Stanford, he was 3rd on the team in made three pointers and finished in his senior season in Palo Alto having shot 35.7% from beyond the arc. In Elon's season debut vs. Mars Hill, Sheffield led the way for the Phoenix with 24 points in 34 minutes, both of which were team highs.

A New Era of Phoenix Basketball

Not only did Elon begin their season having lost a vast pool of talent from the year before, they also did so under the guidance of a new coach. Following an 11-21 season that saw three players enter their names in the transfer portal, Elon chose to fire head coach Matt Matheny and opted to bring in Ohio State assistant coach Mike Schrage.

Schrage begins his head coaching career having been under the tutelage of some of the greatest basketball minds in collegiate history. He graduated from Indiana University in 1998, having spent all 4 years at IU as a student assistant under then head coach Bob Knight. After a season as the Director of Basketball Operations at Ole Miss following graduation, he then spent the next 9 years of his career working under Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. From 1999 to 2002, he served as Duke's Academic & Recruiting Coordinator, then from 2002 to 2008 served as their Director of Basketball Operations. During his 9 year span in Durham, the Blue Devils saw two Finals Fours and 1 National Championship.

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top righthand corner of the page. Also be sure to like us on Facebook & follow us on Twitter at @GeorgiaTechSI and Matthew McGavic at @GeneralWasp

Add us as a preferred source on Google