Georgia Basketball: Improvements to Stegeman Coliseum
By Mike Stowe
The Georgia Basketball home is going to be getting some improvements.
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Good news, Georgia Basketball fans. Stegeman Coliseum is set to have some serious renovations done. A new center scoreboard will be installed and all seats will be redone in black which should give a really nice sleek look to the inside.
Dawgnation.com’s Seth Emerson reported that the improvements will cost $6 million and will be done in several phases. The first one was competed this past season and featured a large mural on one side of the arena. Georgia Athletic Director Greg Mcgarity is quoted as saying:
"“And so the next step in a two-phase project was to take care of the interior as a next step. By doing that I think we’re able to accomplish a total retrofit of a facility that has served us well. Everybody knows that when you have a full house and fans engaged in the game it’s a venue that has a lot of character. And now will have a new energy to the building due to these enhancements.”"
This should be welcome news to the ears of fans who are still sore from a 19 win season that seen the Dawgs lose in the 1st round of the NIT at home to Belmont. Not the results you would expect from an SEC basketball program with players like Yante Maten and J.J. Frazier. With only 2 NCAA tournament appearances and no tournament wins the past 8 seasons, this is definitely a step in the right direction to getting the basketball program where it should be.
The Effect?
Mcgarity needed to make a statement showing that the athletic department is serious about putting a quality product on the hardwood . While there is still plenty of work left to be done, facilities are absolutely essential to the success of an SEC basketball school…….especially for recruiting.
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It’s encouraging for the immediate future of Georgia basketball that the higher ups recognize that. It’s even more encouraging that they are taking the steps necessary to improve the Coliseum . Better facilities = better recruits. Better recruits= more wins, at least that’s the plan!