Previously, I provided a brief glance at the latest bracketology by Blogging the Bracket’s Chris Dobbertean. Chris since has offered a more thorough examination of the field of sixtysomething, and he sees the Georgia Bulldogs as the fifth and final SEC entrant into the NCAA Tournament.
The Fox Hounds are projected to be a nine seed after negotiating a slate including the third-seeded Florida Gators and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the fifth-seeded Kentucky Wildcats, the sixth-seeded Xavier Musketeers, the seventh-seeded Temple Owls and Vanderbilt Commodores, and the eighth-seeded Tennessee Volunteers. The Red and Black are expected to open the tourney in the Tulsa Pod of the West Region against the WAC champion Utah State Aggies. For the record, the last time a Georgia team took on the Aggies in the postseason, it turned out pretty well for the Bulldogs, and Utah State’s basketball program is best known for buying cheap backboards.
In short, it’s looking good for the Classic City Canines, but, if you’re hoping to see the Red and Black improve their situation, you can start by turning on your television tonight. At 7:00, the Mississippi Rebels take on the South Carolina Gamecocks on ESPNU, and, at 9:00, Tennessee tangles with Vanderbilt on ESPN. We are rooting for the Palmetto State Poultry and the Music City Mariners.
Why? South Carolina is in last place in the division with a 4-8 conference record, so it is unlikely the Gamecocks will catch the Bulldogs in the league standings. However, since South Carolina competes in the East and Ole Miss plays in the West, we’re better off at this point having the bad team we play twice in the regular season beat the bad team we play once in the regular season.
Regarding the game in Nashville, the Commodores are all alone in second place in the division at 8-4 and the Volunteers are all alone in fifth place in the division at 6-6. Georgia is tied with Kentucky for third place in the East at 7-5, a game behind Vanderbilt and a game ahead of Tennessee. We want the Big Orange to remain in fifth place so the Red and Black can finish in the top four in the division, thus assuring Georgia of a first-round SEC tournament game against one or the other of the West’s two sets of fainting felines, the Auburn Tigers and the LSU Tigers. A top four finish in the East provides the Hoop Hounds with the closest thing possible to a sure win in the first round of the conference tourney, thereby allowing Georgia to boost its resume for Selection Sunday with an additional victory.
As always, I am new to paying this level of attention to basketball, so, if I got any of that wrong, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you to correct me in the comments.
Go ‘Dawgs!