Georgia Basketball: A Ten Seed Facing Michigan State in Charlotte
The Bulldogs get their big chance in the big dance Friday, traveling to Charlotte as a ten seed to face the seventh seeded Michigan State Spartans.
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Awarded a 10 seed for it’s season long efforts, the Georgia basketball team will face the seventh seeded Michigan State Spartans Friday in Charlotte.
As a number three seed last year, the Spartans fell to eventual National Champion UConn in the Elite Eight. Michigan State beat Virginia in last year’s Sweet 16, 61-59. The winner of the Dawg – Spartan contest can expect to play this year’s second seeded Virginia to get to the Sweet 16. Belmont a 15 seed, will challenge A.P. and USA Today number three Virginia in hopes of disrupting that story line.
There are a few interesting story lines aside from the on court matchup.
Storyline: Georgia operations coordinator and former walk-on Matt Bucklin is the nephew of Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.
— Marc Weiszer (@marcweiszer) March 15, 2015
Fox was an assistant when number 10 seed Nevada upset number three seed Michigan State, so expect Bucklin and Fox to compare notes just a little more than usual. Whether Bucklin claims his customary seat next to Coach Fox on the bench will be interesting to note.
Besides the family connection, Georgia freshman Yante Maten held a scholarship offer from Michigan State when he accepted an offer from Georgia.
Looks like a regular Dallas Wedding episode.
The Spartans are playing well, forcing sixth ranked Wisconsin to overtime before losing the Big Ten Tournament Championship game. Georgia, on the other hand, appears to be sputtering after suffering another injury, this time an ankle sprain to Kenny Gaines. The Bulldogs used a long week of rest to prepare for and beat South Carolina. This week’s task is tougher.
Three starter’s return from last years Michigan State team, Brandon Dawson (forward, 12 points per game), Travis Trice (guard, 15 points per game) and Denzel Valentine (guard, 14.5 points per game) . The trio combined for over half of the minutes played in the Spartans overtime loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game.
The Dawgs lost in last years NIT second round to Louisiana Tech. Georgia makes its second NCAA Tourney appearance under Head Coach Mark Fox. Fox took Nevada to the Big Dance three times from 2005-2007.
This is Michigan States eighteenth consecutive NCAA Tourney appearance and its twentieth overall.