ATLANTA - Dotted with tough non-conference games against Wisconsin, Syracuse, Georgia and St. Louis, plus a trip to Las Vegas, Georgia Tech's 2001-02 men's basketball schedule features a minimum of 13 games against teams in last year's NCAA field and a total of 22 televised games.

Tech's 30-game slate, announced Wednesday by the Atlantic Coast Conference office, could include as many as 16 games against NCAA teams if the right matchups take place in the Nov. 22-24 Las Vegas Invitational. The eight-team field in Las Vegas includes regional finalist Illinois (27-8) and Eastern Illinois (21-10), both in Tech's half of the bracket, and Iowa State (25-6, first in the Big 12).

"Last year, we had one of the most difficult schedules in the country, and it worked in our favor at the end when the NCAA bids came out," said head coach Paul Hewitt, beginning his second season at Tech after guiding the Yellow Jackets to a 17-13 finish last year with an 8-8 ACC record. "We hope this year's schedule will be as well-respected."

The Jackets finished fifth in the ACC and earned their first NCAA Tournament bid since 1996 on the strength of five wins over ranked teams and six games against teams ranked No. 1 at some point during the season.

Tech hosts Wisconsin (18-11, 9-7 Big Ten) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Nov. 28 at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, visits Georgia (16-15, 9-7 SEC) on Dec. 9 and faces Syracuse (25-9, 10-6 Big East) on Dec. 16 at Philips Arena in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Classic for Kids. The Jackets also visit Saint Louis (17-14, 8-8 Conference USA) on Feb. 16.

The Vegas event features Olympic-style pool play, with the finals pitting the first place teams against each other. Other teams in the field include Pennsylvania, which visits Tech on Nov. 19, Eastern Illinois, Saint Louis, Hartford and Southern Illinois.

The ACC slate, which includes national champion Duke and Final Four participant Maryland twice each, starts early with a Dec. 2 visit to North Carolina.

"As always, the ACC schedule will be very challenging," said Hewitt, named ACC Coach of the Year in his first season at Tech. "We have a non-conference schedule that should prepare us well."

Hewitt welcomes back two starters in 5-11 senior point guard Tony Akins (Lilburn, Ga.), and 6-3 sophomore guard Marvin Lewis (Germantown, Md.), as well as four other letterwinners in 6-8 senior center Michael Isenhour (Lawrenceville, Ga.), 6-5 sophomore forward Clarence Moore (Norco, La.), 6-4 sophomore forward Halston Lane (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) and 6-7 sophomore forward Robert Brooks (Saginaw, Mich.).

Tech adds four freshmen in 6-4 guard Barry Elder (Madison, Ga.), 6-6 guard Anthony McHenry (Birmingham, Md.), 6-6 forward Isma'il Muhammad (Atlanta, Ga.) and 6-8 forward Ed Nelson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).

Among the 22 televised games are three network TV dates, Feb. 2 against North Carolina on CBS, Feb. 9 against Duke on ABC, and Feb. 16 at Saint Louis, also on ABC. Tech appears on ESPN or ESPN2 a total of six times, and is on the new Fox Sports Net Sunday night national game three times.

Tech hosts two exhibition games, Nov. 8 against Nike Elite and Nov. 12 against the E.A. All-Stars before opening the regular season Nov. 16 against Florida A&M at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

2001-02 GEORGIA TECH BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Home games in ALL CAPS at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, All times Eastern
TV designations (RJregional syndication check local listings, FSNSFox Sports
Net South)
(as of 81501)