UGA players ‘jumped around like 7-year-olds that just won a Little League championship’ after NCAA bid
(Updated 9:30 p.m.)
ATHENS — After days of debate about whether Georgia would reach the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the verdict came quickly Sunday night: The Bulldogs are in.
Georgia will open against Pac-10 tournament champion Washington on Friday in an East Region game in Charlotte. Game time will be approximately 9:45 p.m.
Georgia’s selection was announced early in the hour-long, nationally televised bracket unveiling, and the Bulldogs’ No. 10 seed revealed that they were not as close of a call as many analysts had projected. The Georgia players got the news while watching the selection show in the team’s locker room.
“They jumped around like 7-year-olds that just won a Little League championship,” coach Mark Fox said.
“I don’t think I’ve been that happy in a long time,” forward Trey Thompkins said, “just seeing our whole team jump around and throw stuff in the locker room and hug each other as much as we did. That was a blessing, just to be able to see our name as in the tournament.”
Said guard Dustin Ware: “It was incredible. There is no other feeling like it, just knowing you’re in and all your hard work really paid off this year. . . . We went crazy. Some guys – I know I was one of them – were real emotional.”
Georgia is in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008, when the Bulldogs received an automatic bid after unexpectedly winning the SEC tournament, and for the first time as an at-large team since 2002.
The Bulldogs (21-11) drew an interesting opening opponent. Fox’s first assistant-coaching job was in 1991-93 at Washington, where he met his wife, Cindy, who worked at the time as the Huskies’ director of marketing and promotions.
Friday’s game will be the first-ever meeting in basketball between Georgia and Washington.
Washington, a No. 7 seed, has a 23-10 record and won the Pac-10 tournament with an overtime victory over Arizona. The Huskies’ best player is 5-foot-9 junior point guard Isaiah Thomas, whose dramatic last-second jumper won the title game. Thomas is averaging 16.8 points per game.
The Georgia-Washington winner will play again in Charlotte on Sunday against the winner of Friday’s North Carolina-Long Island game.
Debate had raged about Georgia’s NCAA prospects in the 48 hours following the team’s loss to Alabama in the SEC tournament quarterfinals, the Bulldogs’ second loss to the Crimson Tide in seven days. But as it turned out, Georgia made the NCAA field with room to spare and Alabama was left out.
On the selection show, committee chairman Gene Smith basically said head-to-head results are not the decisive determinant.
“A lot of people put head-to-head as a high priority in their criteria for different situations, [but] there were things with Alabama that didn’t stack up compared to the other teams,” said Smith, the Ohio State athletic director.
Fox was excited, but not surprised, by the Bulldogs’ selection. He had argued for a couple of weeks that the team’s season-long resume merited a bid.
“When you compared our body of work to some other teams that were supposedly on the bubble,” Fox said Sunday night, “I felt confident in our body of work. This is about a four-month marathon, not a four-day postseason tournament, and I think sometimes people forget that. I did have a good feeling, but you never know for sure.”
When the Bulldogs found out for sure, “the way we were jumping around, it seemed like we won the national championship,” guard Travis Leslie said. He and other players admitted to developing doubts about whether they’d get into the tournament as they listened to analysts debate the bubble over the weekend.
Among the factors in Georgia’s favor with the selection committee, though, were a solid RPI (although it slipped from 39 to 47 in the past few days), a 7-4 road record and only two losses against teams that rank below 35 in the RPI (both to No. 80 Alabama).
The selection ended a stressful wait for the Bulldogs and their fans and families.
“At four o’clock [Sunday] morning, my 8-year-old daughter woke me up, and she asked if we were in the Big Dance yet,” Fox said. “I said, ‘Honey, you need to go back to bed.’ She said, ‘Daddy, it’s Sunday. You said we’d know on Sunday if we’d be in the Big Dance.’”
Said Thompkins: “I was at home with my family [Saturday], and they were asking me, ‘Do you think we’ll be in?’ And I really had no answer for them. I lost a little sleep about it, but I can sleep real good tonight.”
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282 comments Add your comment
NOBODYYOUKNOW
March 13th, 2011
8:42 pm
I’m no dog fan nor basketball fan. However after watching the dogs kick Auburns butt I’m glad they are in it. I missed the Bama game. The Ga. team is capable of surprising somebody. And I hope they do.
AntidepressedDawg
March 13th, 2011
8:46 pm
Respect to Washington, and much respect to Alabama. To you non Georgia fans on here – get a life. To you “Georgia fans” on here whining about one and done and bags on the head and embarrassing – ES&D – you are worse than pathetic….choose another team to bring down As a Georgia fan – congrats Dawgs and Coach Fox! Go get ‘em!!!! Tourney time is so much better with a Dawg in the race!
Woodstock Dawg
March 13th, 2011
8:46 pm
It only took UGA 9 years. It happened a year earlier than I expected. We can offically close the door on the damage that Jim Harrick and Tony Cole did to this basketball program. Thank you Coach Fox, for bringing us back. GO Dawgs!
SE Dawg Fan
March 13th, 2011
8:47 pm
Wow! It sounds like all the bloggers are disgruntled Tech and Alabama fans. So sorry, Honey, but it’s our turn to make it to the deb ball, or “Big Dance.” Why do all the losers, sorry – teams that didn’t make it to the ball, call us such bad names??? I love the fact that the game will be in Charlotte. FYI, NC has more UGA fans and alumni than any state other than Georgia. Go Dawgs…make us proud, once again!!
Sugar Hill Dawg
March 13th, 2011
8:49 pm
My oldest son (Auburn class of 2011) ans I watched the selection show together. All he had to say was “14 – 0!” I was a bit shocked to see the Dawgs get a 10th seed, but I’ll take it! My best birthday present of the day! (58 years young today!) UAB/VCU/Clempson rather than Bama or VA Tech???
sdwilkins
March 13th, 2011
8:53 pm
Oh, right.. Any of you remember 28 years ago? GA made it to the final four…
Good luck DAWGS!!!
oj da juice man
March 13th, 2011
8:54 pm
I would never say losing to Alabama in the SEC tourney was a good thing, but i’m starting to think that maybe having our tournament life in question before it even starts might be enough to light a spark under the dawgs to at least get a win over Washington.
BobDawg
March 13th, 2011
8:57 pm
This is big for recruiting also and exposure to the school….Glad to be back Dancin!!!!
Taylor
March 13th, 2011
9:00 pm
Go Huskies, Dawgs dont deserve to make it past the first round.
Big Bad Bob
March 13th, 2011
9:01 pm
Bama fans, it’s ok. Maybe you will get invited to the NIT. Tech and Auburn fans, you can both watch us from your TVs at home.
tlkdawg
March 13th, 2011
9:05 pm
I don’t care about any of the negativity surrounding the team’s performance the last week. The fact is, the tourney committee thinks they are good enough to be in the top 64 and that is all that matters. In fact, I’ll wager anyone who dares that Georgia will be playing in the 2nd round this year!! he-he
RambleOn84
March 13th, 2011
9:08 pm
Congrats from this Tech fan, but I can’t help but think that Bama got hosed.
No hard feelings here as we also had a great weekend!
Joesnopy
March 13th, 2011
9:11 pm
The Dawgs have a good team. The last game against Bama was coaching. He did not rest the starters and he made that bad decision at the end of the game. UGA should have won the game. They missed a lot of free throws because they were tired. It is not easy because he has so many young players but if he manage the game I bet he can get past Washington without a sweat. Most of the good teams play a lot of players. He has the players to go deep. Need to put it together man.
LakeDawg
March 13th, 2011
9:15 pm
Buck up Bama. You can win the NIT if you try real hard.
A Dawg In Minnesota
March 13th, 2011
9:20 pm
All of these rants and rave about why Georgia shouldn’t have gotten and and why they should…..it make me laugh!!
Look, bottom line……..Your University of Georgia Bulldawgs (and mine as well) are the number 10 seed in the East Regional and you should be DAMN PROUD OF IT!
Yes……I have watched them melt down in PLENTY of games…..enough to make me throw and destroy my remote control from comcast across the room……
But…..as I said in an earlier post…….there are 68 teams going after the same thing that Georgia is going for and this is a new day now. I am sure Coach Fox and the rest of the team know what’s at stake and I am sure they will play like there is no tomorrow, because if they lose there won’t BE a tomorrow!! So, if they lose in the 1st round (I should say 2nd round now with the new format) or should they make a deep run, be PROUD that a team from Georgia is doing something positive!!
And yes Techies……I was there when you guys were at the Alamo Dome for your National Championship Game and I was in full support of you….you should be in full support of your rivals too!! It’s good for your school and your recruiting too if Georgia does well cause we can draw more of them to this state (not Minnesota, but Georgia!)
UGA Over Rated
March 13th, 2011
9:25 pm
Choke! The Offical Drink Of The Georgia Bulldawgs!
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 13th, 2011
9:27 pm
Guess where are the GT’s dancing? On their lab tables. HAHAHAHAHAHA
King Gators
March 13th, 2011
9:28 pm
Congrats Dawgs, hope it turns out better than the Liberty Bowl. Go Gators!
Lester Miles
March 13th, 2011
9:28 pm
If the situation arises let’s hope the coaches use better judgment at the end of the game about when to use a timeout. Theri brain freeze at the end of the Alabama game probably cost UGA the game, We have suffered a few frustated losses this year but this one was our own lack of good judgment that resulted in my temper tantrum. It was plain stupidity or temporary insanity that no coach or player called timeout and we took a desperation shot. It would have been better to bounce the ball off one of the Ala players than to heave a wild shot at the basket. Pray for better results in the big tournament. Have a great day.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 13th, 2011
9:31 pm
GUESS where both the Buma and Aubum fans are dancing. On the Toomer’s Corner enjoying their piece of work.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 13th, 2011
9:35 pm
What does Jockitch, Buma, and Aubums have in common tonight?????? DEPRESSION.
Coooold-Blooded "Husky" Fan
March 13th, 2011
9:35 pm
Congrats on the berth Bulldogs, from a “Husky”, not a “Dawg” Fan. But check this out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEGP6nBiub8
^^^^You ready for 35+ minutes of that on friday???
28 points, 7 asts, 5 rebounds.
Averaged 19 points, 10 asts, 5 boards for the PAC-10 tourney. Good luck on friday, but nothing is stopping Isaiah!
AdMan
March 13th, 2011
9:37 pm
You Bama fans have no one to blame except your coach and athletic director for putting together such a weak schedule outside the SEC……who cares if you beat Georgia twice….you lost to St. Peters…St.Peters….you need to grow up and admit that the world of sports doesn’t revolve around Alabama…have fun watching the big dance from the outside…..hope it hurts.
sports
March 13th, 2011
9:40 pm
Makes you wonder what the boosters think of blowing $7,200,000.00
What a JOKE!
LakeDawg
March 13th, 2011
9:41 pm
Coooold-Blooded “Husky” Fan
March 13th, 2011
9:35 pm
Congrats on the berth Bulldogs, from a “Husky”, not a “Dawg” Fan. But check this out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEGP6nBiub8
^^^^You ready for 35+ minutes of that on friday???
28 points, 7 asts, 5 rebounds.
Averaged 19 points, 10 asts, 5 boards for the PAC-10 tourney. Good luck on friday, but nothing is stopping Isaiah!
Except maybe good defense?
Timmy Dog
March 13th, 2011
9:42 pm
I hate to say this but we don’t deserve to be in the Dance if ‘Bama ain’t going.
Coooold-Blooded "Husky" Fan
March 13th, 2011
9:46 pm
maybe that will slow I.T. down, but remember he did this while playing in basically 125 straight minutes. His will to win is what’s so unstoppable. He benches 275. What Georgia needs to do is clog the middle so I.T. cant drive. thats what will slow him down. but if he plays like he did in the PAC-10 tourney, i dont think anyones stopping him, period!
REMinds me
March 13th, 2011
9:57 pm
I like UGA to win a National Championship
sports
March 13th, 2011
9:58 pm
What’s the latest news from the Auburn Correctional Institute? Are the cons gonna have enouch players next year.
GIVE ME A BREAK
March 13th, 2011
10:00 pm
Take your time-outs early so they won’t be a problem late in the game.
CHUCK UGA
March 13th, 2011
10:19 pm
Very proud of the Dawgs team members. Congrats, especially to you seniors. You deserve this moment for enduring the challenges and hard work these past four years. Now make sure you play hard and smart on Thursday. Get that first round win!
LakeDawg
March 13th, 2011
10:39 pm
Coooold-Blooded “Husky” Fan
March 13th, 2011
9:46 pm
maybe that will slow I.T. down, but remember he did this while playing in basically 125 straight minutes. His will to win is what’s so unstoppable. He benches 275. What Georgia needs to do is clog the middle so I.T. cant drive. thats what will slow him down. but if he plays like he did in the PAC-10 tourney, i dont think anyones stopping him, period!
Granted, if he is on his game he will be tough to stop. However, all UGA needs to do is slow him down, take away his timing, to win. Can they do that. We will see Friday night.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 13th, 2011
10:40 pm
It is better to choke while dancing rather than just watching and sobbing. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
MississippiDawg
March 13th, 2011
10:41 pm
Hey – this just in…Bama is in…oh thats Alabama B’ham…as a Dawg Fan in C-USA country (Memphis area) I was glad to see Memphis and UAB get in, but mostly proud of our DAWGS!!! Screw the haters on ESPN and Yahoo sports slamming the Dawgs’ seeding and UAB’s selection….these Teams are are talented and deserve to be there…sorry for Colorado, Bama and VT, but I’d say comittee got it right. ESPN was especially tough on the UAB pick…lost a lot of respect for the BIg East Loving Pundits on ESPN tonight – whata bunch of CRYBABIES…and Lunardi? What a douche…
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 13th, 2011
10:44 pm
Wow, no SEC West Team picked.
RealDawgsWearPurple
March 13th, 2011
10:46 pm
Wow, you guys seem to be putting the cart ahead of the horse here. You guys should really make weekend plans to go hiking or something
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 13th, 2011
10:46 pm
Lunardi should be a GT alumni. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
ThePro
March 13th, 2011
10:47 pm
Yeah and don’t forget ’bout John Kincade from 680 the fan who preached all last week about how Georgia wouldn’t get in if they didn’t beat Alabama in the SEC tourney….Screw him and Joe Lunardi who both act like know-it-alls…As the committee chairman stated its about a team’s overall body of work…Let’s not kid ourselves Alabama’s RPI and SOS sucked which is why they didn’t get in.
RealDawgsWearPurple
March 13th, 2011
10:54 pm
“Let’s not kid ourselves Alabama’s RPI and SOS sucked which is why they didn’t get in.”
I can’t help but notice that Alabama beat Georgia twice…no wonder Alabama’s SOS was so low…
UWFan27
March 13th, 2011
11:01 pm
I wish the best to you follow dawgs, a UW dawg here myself. It will be a good game come Friday but I’m hoping Washington prevails! But no matter who wins, NC in Charlotte is going to be a task… Let’s get it done, no matter who wins our game!!!
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 13th, 2011
11:04 pm
I guess Lunardi’s and Kinkade’s bubbles burst tonight.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 13th, 2011
11:06 pm
Hey UW Hackers, let the dance do the talking.
Patrick
March 13th, 2011
11:12 pm
Looks like we have some jealous tech fans on here. Sorry nerds but stop complaining we made the dance and you did not! 30-24!!!
headley lamar
March 13th, 2011
11:17 pm
I can’t help but notice that Alabama beat Georgia twice…no wonder Alabama’s SOS was so low…’
Playing UGA only improved their SOS and RPI. Fortunately for UGA the NCAA looks at all 30 or so games. Not just 2.
Enjoy the 3,000 mile plane ride and time change. Good luck Friday.
Tim Dawg
March 13th, 2011
11:22 pm
Gooooo Dawgs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hooping it up
March 13th, 2011
11:25 pm
Congrats to Coach Fox and the ‘Dogs . . . now let’s do some damage in this tournament and prove we belong. No more game ending collapses — we’ve had a lifetime of those in one season already. Alabama needs to focus less on what happened vs. Georgia and more on what happened vs teams that beat them — and by significant margins. Georgia was never blown out of a game this season the way Alabama was on several occasions against lesser opponents and, arguably, UGA really won the tournament game on the last shot in regulation after leading by as many as 14 . . . while Bama trailed throughout most of regulation. I know, final score, but . . . Alabama lucked out on the timeout call just as they lucked out playing Tennessee without UT’s leading scorer. UA barely squeaked by Kentucky at home; got blown out by Florida, Kentucky and others + lowest RPI of all the wannabes. I do like ‘Bama’s Coach Grant, though. UGA “shoulda, woulda, coulda” beat Florida in Athens, ditto Tennessee. I believe our fan base would have been much more energized had we won those two games in Athens vs. Florida and Tennessee.
Husky Fan
March 13th, 2011
11:34 pm
Let’s see what you got UGA. Go DaWgs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEGP6nBiub8&feature=player_embedded#at=0
Dawg Days of Summer
March 13th, 2011
11:42 pm
Hey guys,
Husky fan here. It will be an interesting match up on Friday. Don’t let the hype fool you. UW is much more than just Isaiah Thomas. We are a balanced team that usually has 4-5 guys in double figures each game. We have the 2nd highest scoring offense in college basketball. Our weakness is that the team is a bit of a head case. They’ve lost to teams they should crush. Make no mistake, when they play they way they’re capable, few teams can stay with them. Should be a fun game and good luck!
May the best Dawg win!
BTW here’s our blog site if you’re interested: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskymensbasketballblog/
Alpha Dawg
March 13th, 2011
11:44 pm
It sounds like Washington St. vs Alabama might be a good NIT final.
Alpha Dawg
March 13th, 2011
11:50 pm
The UG fans may also want to know who the real Dancin’ Dawgs are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b97TRvZqgsY