Georgia Bulldogs men's basketball
Encyclopedia
The Georgia Bulldogs basketball program is the men's college basketball
team representing the University of Georgia
in Athens, Georgia
. Established in 1891, the team has competed in the Southeastern Conference
since its inception in 1932. Though it has been historically overshadowed by the school's football program
, the Bulldogs' basketball squad has had its share of successes, including a trip to the NCAA Final Four
in 1983 under head coach Hugh Durham
. The school has also produced a number of basketball greats, notably Basketball Hall of Fame
r Dominique Wilkins
.
The team's current head coach is Mark Fox. In just his second season, Fox coached the Bulldogs to a 21-11 record, including a 9-7 record in conference play, and their first at-large NCAA Tournament bid
since 2002
.
, the first collegiate athletic conference formed in the United States. Georgia participated in the SIAA from its establishment in 1895 until 1921. In 1921, the Bulldogs, along with 12 other teams, left the SIAA and formed the Southern Conference
. In 1932, the Georgia Bulldogs left the Southern Conference to form and join the Southeastern Conference (SEC)
.
is considered the greatest player in school history. However, in one of the great coincidences of college basketball history, Wilkins never played in the NCAA tournament
; the Bulldogs made their first NCAA appearance in 1983
—which would have been Wilkins' senior year had he not opted for the NBA. The 1983 team made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Championship
before being eliminated by eventual champion North Carolina State
.
with a 13-16 overall record and a 4-12 conference mark. At one point, the team sustained two five-game losing streaks during a 2-of-12 stretch in conference play. In the first round of the tournament, Georgia was slated to play Ole Miss
, who had beaten the Bulldogs in the season-closer, securing the Rebels' only road SEC win of the season. The game went into overtime after Rebel David Huertas hit all three free throws after a three-point shooting foul, and looked to go into a second extra period after Chris Warren did the same. However, with 0.4 seconds left in overtime, Georgia senior Dave Bliss banked in the game-winner to shock the Rebels and send Georgia into a second-round matchup with Kentucky.
On the night of March 14, 2008, tornadoes hit Atlanta, in whose Georgia Dome
the SEC Tournament was housed. The Georgia-Kentucky matchup was rescheduled for the early afternoon of March 15, 2008, with the winner advancing to play the SEC West's #1 seed, Mississippi State
, later that evening. The remaining games in the tournament would be played at Alexander Memorial Coliseum
, the basketball complex of Georgia Tech
, UGA's in-state rival. Again playing an overtime game in which Georgia star Sundiata Gaines fouled out, Georgia freshman Zac Swansey hit a turnaround three-point jumper with 1.4 seconds left to give the Bulldogs the team's first ever win over Kentucky in the SEC Tournament. That night, Georgia defeated Mississippi State 64-60 to become the first team since Kentucky in 1952 to win two tournament games in one day, and the first-ever #6 seed to advance to the modern (post-1992) SEC tournament finals.
In the finals, Georgia faced Arkansas, which had lost to Georgia 82–69 in the regular season. Georgia prevailed again, at one point leading the Razorbacks by nineteen points en route to winning its first tournament championship in 25 years. Sundiata Gaines and Terrance Woodbury were both named to the All-Tournament Team, with Gaines winning the tournament's MVP. The improbable list of achievements—winning the tournament as a 6-seed, playing two games in one day to reach the finals, playing two games (against Kentucky and Mississippi State) in which Gaines fouled out with a substantial amount of time to play, doing it on a rival's home court, and winning four consecutive elimination games following a season during which their longest winning streak stood at three—earned the 2007-2008 team the nickname of Dream Dawgs.
With the victory, Georgia secured itself an automatic bid in the 2008 NCAA Tournament
. Georgia's appearance in the tournament was the tenth overall in team history and the first since the 2002 NCAA Basketball Tournament
. After their SEC Championship run, the Bulldogs were seeded 14th in the NCAA Tournament, playing against the #3 seeded Xavier Musketeers. After developing a lead early in the 2nd half, the Bulldogs could not hold on, as Xavier went on to win 73-61.
Coach Dennis Felton
failed to follow up the surprise successes of 2008 with victories in 2008-09, and he was fired on January 29, 2009.
).
Conference Affiliations:
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
team representing the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
. Established in 1891, the team has competed in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
since its inception in 1932. Though it has been historically overshadowed by the school's football program
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
, the Bulldogs' basketball squad has had its share of successes, including a trip to the NCAA Final Four
1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 52 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 2, 1983, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at The Pit, then officially known...
in 1983 under head coach Hugh Durham
Hugh Durham
Hugh Durham is the first and only coach in the history of NCAA Division I basketball to lead two different schools to the NCAA Final Four for the first and only time in each school's history...
. The school has also produced a number of basketball greats, notably Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
r Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins
Jacques Dominique Wilkins is a retired American professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA...
.
The team's current head coach is Mark Fox. In just his second season, Fox coached the Bulldogs to a 21-11 record, including a 9-7 record in conference play, and their first at-large NCAA Tournament bid
2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The following sites were selected to host each round of the 2011 tournament:First Four*March 15 and 16**University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OhioSecond and third rounds*March 17 and 19**Verizon Center, Washington, D.C....
since 2002
2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 2002, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Atlanta, Georgia...
.
Conference Affiliations
Georgia was a founding member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA)Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association was one of the first collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. Twenty-seven of the current Division I FBS football programs were members of this conference at some point, as were at least 19 other schools...
, the first collegiate athletic conference formed in the United States. Georgia participated in the SIAA from its establishment in 1895 until 1921. In 1921, the Bulldogs, along with 12 other teams, left the SIAA and formed the Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
. In 1932, the Georgia Bulldogs left the Southern Conference to form and join the Southeastern Conference (SEC)
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
.
1983
Former NBA star Dominique WilkinsDominique Wilkins
Jacques Dominique Wilkins is a retired American professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA...
is considered the greatest player in school history. However, in one of the great coincidences of college basketball history, Wilkins never played in the NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
; the Bulldogs made their first NCAA appearance in 1983
1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 52 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 2, 1983, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at The Pit, then officially known...
—which would have been Wilkins' senior year had he not opted for the NBA. The 1983 team made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
before being eliminated by eventual champion North Carolina State
NC State Wolfpack men's basketball
The NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Wolfpack currently competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member....
.
2008 SEC Tournament: The Dream Dawgs
In the 2007-2008 season, Georgia's men's basketball team came into the 2008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament2008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament took place on March 13–16, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first, quarterfinal, and semifinal rounds were televised by Raycom/LF Sports, and the SEC Championship Game was produced by CBS and televised by ESPN2...
with a 13-16 overall record and a 4-12 conference mark. At one point, the team sustained two five-game losing streaks during a 2-of-12 stretch in conference play. In the first round of the tournament, Georgia was slated to play Ole Miss
Ole Miss Rebels
University of Mississippi sports teams, originally known as the "Mississippi Flood" , were re-named the Rebels in 1936 and compete in the twelve-member Southeastern Conference of the NCAA's Division I. The school's colors are cardinal red and navy blue , purposely chosen to mirror the school...
, who had beaten the Bulldogs in the season-closer, securing the Rebels' only road SEC win of the season. The game went into overtime after Rebel David Huertas hit all three free throws after a three-point shooting foul, and looked to go into a second extra period after Chris Warren did the same. However, with 0.4 seconds left in overtime, Georgia senior Dave Bliss banked in the game-winner to shock the Rebels and send Georgia into a second-round matchup with Kentucky.
On the night of March 14, 2008, tornadoes hit Atlanta, in whose Georgia Dome
Georgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
the SEC Tournament was housed. The Georgia-Kentucky matchup was rescheduled for the early afternoon of March 15, 2008, with the winner advancing to play the SEC West's #1 seed, Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Mississippi State University. They participate in NCAA's Division I in the competitive 12-member Southeastern Conference under the mascot Bulldogs and the school colors of maroon and white...
, later that evening. The remaining games in the tournament would be played at Alexander Memorial Coliseum
Alexander Memorial Coliseum
The Alexander Memorial Coliseum is an indoor arena located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is the home of the basketball teams of Georgia Tech and hosted the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA from 1968–1972 and again from 1997–1999...
, the basketball complex of Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, UGA's in-state rival. Again playing an overtime game in which Georgia star Sundiata Gaines fouled out, Georgia freshman Zac Swansey hit a turnaround three-point jumper with 1.4 seconds left to give the Bulldogs the team's first ever win over Kentucky in the SEC Tournament. That night, Georgia defeated Mississippi State 64-60 to become the first team since Kentucky in 1952 to win two tournament games in one day, and the first-ever #6 seed to advance to the modern (post-1992) SEC tournament finals.
In the finals, Georgia faced Arkansas, which had lost to Georgia 82–69 in the regular season. Georgia prevailed again, at one point leading the Razorbacks by nineteen points en route to winning its first tournament championship in 25 years. Sundiata Gaines and Terrance Woodbury were both named to the All-Tournament Team, with Gaines winning the tournament's MVP. The improbable list of achievements—winning the tournament as a 6-seed, playing two games in one day to reach the finals, playing two games (against Kentucky and Mississippi State) in which Gaines fouled out with a substantial amount of time to play, doing it on a rival's home court, and winning four consecutive elimination games following a season during which their longest winning streak stood at three—earned the 2007-2008 team the nickname of Dream Dawgs.
With the victory, Georgia secured itself an automatic bid in the 2008 NCAA Tournament
2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season...
. Georgia's appearance in the tournament was the tenth overall in team history and the first since the 2002 NCAA Basketball Tournament
2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 2002, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Atlanta, Georgia...
. After their SEC Championship run, the Bulldogs were seeded 14th in the NCAA Tournament, playing against the #3 seeded Xavier Musketeers. After developing a lead early in the 2nd half, the Bulldogs could not hold on, as Xavier went on to win 73-61.
Coach Dennis Felton
Dennis Felton
Dennis Felton is an American basketball coach for the National Basketball Association New Jersey Nets. He is the former head men's basketball coach at the University of Georgia....
failed to follow up the surprise successes of 2008 with victories in 2008-09, and he was fired on January 29, 2009.
Conference championships
Georgia has won one regular-season conference championship (1990) and two conference tournament championships (1983 and 20082008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament took place on March 13–16, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first, quarterfinal, and semifinal rounds were televised by Raycom/LF Sports, and the SEC Championship Game was produced by CBS and televised by ESPN2...
).
Conference Affiliations:
- 1891-95, IndependentNCAA Division I-A independent schoolsNCAA Football Bowl Subdivision independent schools are four-year institutions whose football programs are not part of an NCAA-affiliated conference. This means that FBS independents are not required to schedule each other for competition like conference schools do...
- 1896-1920, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationThe Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association was one of the first collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. Twenty-seven of the current Division I FBS football programs were members of this conference at some point, as were at least 19 other schools...
- 1921-32, Southern ConferenceSouthern ConferenceThe Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
- 1933–present, Southeastern ConferenceSoutheastern ConferenceThe Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Current roster
| Name | Position | Year | No. | Height | Weight | Hometown | Prep School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Barnes | F | Sr. | 4 | 6–8 | 240 | Riverdale, GA. | Riverdale |
| Sherrard Brantley | G | So. | 23 | 6-2 | 190 | Dublin, GA | Dublin |
| Matt Bucklin | G | Jr. | 12 | 6–0 | 170 | Marietta, GA. | Pope |
| Travis Leslie | G | Jr. | 1 | 6–4 | 202 | Decatur, GA. | Columbia |
| Connor Nolte | F | Sr. | 20 | 6–7 | 200 | Alpharetta, GA. | Milton |
| Jeremy Price | F | Sr. | 50 | 6–8 | 264 | Decatur, GA. | Columbia |
| Gerald Robinson | G | Jr. | 22 | 6–1 | 165 | Nashville, TN. | Martin Luther King |
| Trey Thompkins | F | Jr. | 33 | 6-10 | 247 | Lithonia, GA. | Wesleyan |
| Marcus J. Thornton Marcus J. Thornton Marcus Thornton is an American college basketball player. He is a 6' 8" small/power forward. Thornton is considered one of the top high school seniors in the class of 2010, earning both Parade Magazine All-American and ESPN RISE All-American honors, along with being named Mr... |
F | Fr. | 2 | 6-8 | 225 | Atlanta, GA | Westlake |
| Dustin Ware | G | Jr. | 3 | 5–11 | 182 | Powder Springs, GA. | North Cobb Christian |
| Donte Williams | F | Fr. | 15 | 6-9 | 200 | Ellenwood, GA. | Miller Grove |
| Vincent Williams | G | So. | 11 | 6-0 | 160 | Homestead, FL. | South Dade |
| Mark Fox | Head Coach | ||||||
| Kwanza Johnson | Assistant Coach | ||||||
| Philip Pearson Philip Pearson Philip James Pearson is an American assistant basketball coach for the University of Georgia Bulldogs men's basketball team... |
Assistant Coach | ||||||
| Stacey Palmore | Assistant Coach |
Notable former players
- Bob LienhardBob LienhardBob Lienhard is a former basketball player at the University of Georgia.He became the school's all time leading rebounder with 1,116 career rebounds...
- Vern FlemingVern FlemingVern Fleming is a former professional basketball player in the NBA who played twelve seasons from 1984 until 1996...
- Willie AndersonWillie Anderson (basketball)Willie Lloyd Anderson, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association....
- Alec KesslerAlec KesslerAlec Christopher Kessler was an American college basketball player for the University of Georgia and later, as a professional, for the Miami Heat in the NBA...
- Jarvis HayesJarvis HayesJarvis James Hayes is an American professional basketball player. A 6'8", 220 lbs. small forward from the University of Georgia and Western Carolina University, Hayes was selected by the Washington Wizards with the 10th overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft. Throughout his NBA career, Hayes has...
- Sundiata GainesSundiata GainesSundiata Kofi Gaines is an American professional basketball player.-Pro career:A 6'1" point guard, Gaines was signed by the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association on January 5, 2010. Before joining the Jazz, he had averaged 23.9 points and 6.9 assists in 14 games with the Idaho Stampede...
- Damien WilkinsDamien WilkinsDamien Lamont Wilkins is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Atlanta Hawks. He attended Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Florida and then enrolled at North Carolina State University. After two years at NCSU he transferred to the University of Georgia...
- Jumaine JonesJumaine JonesJumaine Lanard Jones is an American professional basketball forward. An NBA player from 1999 to 2007 drafted from the University of Georgia, he has played in the small forward and power forward positions...
- Shandon AndersonShandon AndersonShandon Rodriguez Anderson is an American former professional basketball forward and guard who played in the National Basketball Association from 1996 to 2006...
- Litterial GreenLitterial GreenLitterial Maurice Green is a former American professional basketball player, in the point guard position.Green played college basketball at the University of Georgia, where he became their all-time leading scorer...
See also
- Georgia BulldogsGeorgia BulldogsThe Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference...
- Uga (mascot)Uga (mascot)Uga is the name of a lineage of English Bulldogs owned by Frank W. "Sonny" Seiler, which have served as the mascot of the University of Georgia since 1956...
- Clean, Old-Fashioned HateClean, Old-Fashioned HateClean, Old-Fashioned Hate is the nickname given to an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team of the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Georgia Bulldogs football team of the University of Georgia. The two Georgia universities are...
- Southeastern ConferenceSoutheastern ConferenceThe Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
- College basketballCollege basketballCollege basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....