Scott Cross isn’t wasting time with a slow-build message at Georgia Tech. As his first season with the Yellow Jackets gets ready to begin next month, the new coach made it clear at ACC tipoff in Charlotte that the program’s turnaround starts with the day-to-day stuff.
That was the heartbeat of his opening message: “championships are won today” at the end of every practice, at the beginning of every practice. Cross said Georgia Tech has to treat every workout, every rep, and every practice like it matters, because nothing good happens in March and April unless the habits are built long before then.
He laid out the basics he wants from his team - getting in the gym, taking extra shots, working in the weight room, building defensive habits, and developing a stronger voice. Cross also pointed to chemistry as a major piece of the puzzle, saying that when a team likes each other and plays together, it can overachieve and do “some great things.” He said he believes Georgia Tech has built “very good team chemistry” so far, but he also stressed that adversity is where a team finds out what it really is.
That’s part of why the Yellow Jackets are spending three preseason games in difficult road settings. Georgia Tech will face Maryland in an exhibition on the road, play Providence on the road, and have a close scrimmage against Oklahoma. Cross said those environments will expose areas that need work and help his team keep improving.
The roster around him looks different, with experienced transfers and talented freshmen giving Georgia Tech a fresh mix. The hope is obvious: get the Yellow Jackets back into the ACC conversation after years of falling short of that standard. Georgia Tech has only reached the NCAA Tournament four times since making the national championship game in 2004, and Cross was asked about restoring the program’s place.
His answer tied back to the process, not the destination. He said turning programs around is something he’s done before at UT-Arlington and Troy, where he helped build NCAA Tournament teams and conference contenders. But he was also clear that the ACC is a different level of challenge.
Cross said coaching is a constant learning process, even after years in the business. He talked about the humility that comes with becoming a head coach, the lessons that come from losing games you thought you should win, and the value of watching other coaches work. He specifically mentioned his year at TCU with Coach Dixon as “invaluable,” saying it gave him a better look at how a successful program is run and what gets emphasized.
After coaching since 1998, Cross said he would like to think he’s better now than he was then - and better than he was last year, too. That growth matters even more now, because Georgia Tech is stepping into a league full of accomplished coaches. Cross said he’s looking forward to matching up with “some of these great coaches in the ACC.”
In Other News...
Georgia Tech Faces A Brutal ACC Test In The Trenches
Georgia Tech comes out of its bye week staring at one of the ACCs more demanding measuring sticks, with undefeated Duke waiting in a matchup that should say plenty about where both teams stand in the conference race. The Blue Devils have leaned into a strong running game, while Georgia Techs recent defensive issues make the trenches a particularly important battleground for this one.
There is also some familiar history working in the Yellow Jackets favor, as Georgia Tech has handled Duke well over the years, but the current version of this game feels a little less about tradition and a lot more about health and matchups. Injury uncertainty for Georgia Tech adds another layer of concern, and with both teams coming off a week off, the first few series may tell the story of whether the Jackets can hold up against a physical challenge that has been building for days. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Title Surge Now Faces The One Test Fans Care About
After five weeks of the season, the national title picture has already started to blur, and Kirk Herbstreit is among the voices moving away from his original pick. The ESPN analyst had Notre Dame as his preseason choice, but he now says the Irish may not be the best team in the country after the early stretch, pointing instead to a group that also includes Miami, Georgia and Alabama based on what those teams have shown on the field and in the efficiency numbers.
For followers around the SEC and beyond, the next few weeks should help sort out whether Alabamas surge is real or just early-season momentum. Georgia is part of that conversation too, with the looming Georgia-Alabama matchup standing out as the kind of test that can reshape the race at the top. If the Crimson Tide want to keep climbing in the national debate, they are headed toward the sort of game that tends to answer a lot of questions in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Karen Blair Is Betting On One Edge For Georgia Techs Next Step
Georgia Tech womens basketball is leaning into continuity as it heads toward the new season, and that message came through clearly at ACC Tipoff with coach Karen Blair and players LaNya Foster and Talayah Walker. Blair pointed to a roster that brings back seven players from last year, giving the Yellow Jackets a base of familiarity as they try to build on what was established a season ago. The emphasis, at least for now, is less on reinvention and more on sharpening the connections that can make a good team more reliable.
Blair also stressed how much the program values the homecourt edge it created last season, a sign that Georgia Tech wants its building to matter beyond just the box score. The staff has also spent time working to engage more with the community and fans, another piece of the programs push to make the atmosphere around the team feel stronger and more connected. If the Yellow Jackets are going to take the next step, they appear convinced it will start with chemistry, familiarity and a crowd that feels invested. [Read more 🡒]