FACTS & STATS: Site: Charlotte Bobcats Arena (20,200) -- Charlotte, North Carolina. Television: Local. Home Record: Georgia Tech 6-7, Duke 15-1. Away Record: Georgia Tech 6-8, Duke 8-2. Neutral Record: Georgia Tech 3-1, Duke 3-1. Conference Record: Georgia Tech 7-9, Duke 13-3. Series Record: Duke leads, 59-22.

GAME NOTES: The second-seeded Duke Blue Devils will collide with the seventh- seeded Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets this evening in the quarterfinal round of the ACC Tournament. Georgia Tech was extremely impressive in last night's 94-76 opening-round romp over Virginia. The Yellow Jackets have now won four of their last five games, and the lone loss during that span came over the same group of Cavaliers that they destroyed on Thursday. Tech has won this tournament three times, but the most recent championship came back in 1993. Duke has won this tournament 16 times, tied with North Carolina for the most titles among current league members. The Blue Devils own a stellar 80-38 all- time record at the event, and they have won seven of the last nine titles. They are 26-4 overall this season, including 13-3 against ACC competition, but a loss to North Carolina in the season's final game cost the squad the regular season title. Duke beat Georgia Tech by a 71-58 final in the only regular season meeting, and the Blue Devils own a commanding 59-22 advantage in the all-time series.

Five players scored in double figures for Georgia Tech last night in the victory over Virginia. Anthony Morrow and Jeremis Smith had 18 points apiece, while Maurice Miller and Zack Peacock both finished with 14 points. As for Alade Aminu, he had 11 points off the bench. The Yellow Jackets connected on 56.9 percent of their field goal attempts in the contest, including a stellar 13-of-24 effort from three-point range. Defensively, they limited the Cavs to 39 percent field goal efficiency. Morrow closed out the regular season averaging 14.2 ppg, and Smith was netting 10.4 ppg. While neither player can be considered a star, both are capable of big performances.

Heading into this season, many wondered who would be the go-to guy at the offensive end for Duke. The fact is that the Blue Devils do not have one player that they turn to every time they need a big bucket, but rather there are a number of capable contributors. Senior DeMarcus Nelson was recently named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and he is also Duke's leading scorer with 15.2 ppg. Kyle Singler, the ACC Freshman of the Year, adds 14.2 ppg to the mix, and Gerald Henderson is posting 12.5 ppg. Jon Scheyer provides 11.3 ppg off the bench, and point guard Greg Paulus adds 11.0 ppg. Duke is scoring 84.5 ppg while allowing 69.0 ppg to the opposition. The Blue Devils are shooting 38.7 percent from three-point range, and perimeter shooting is key to the success of the club.

Everyone knows that Duke is exceptionally well coached, and while there are no true stars on the roster this season, there is still plenty of talent present. Expect another outstanding team effort by the Blue Devils in what will be a solid quarterfinal win.

Predicted Outcome

Duke 84, Georgia Tech 68