The Blue Workhorse

University of Georgia seniors Sundiata Gaines and Dave Bliss watched as there once 11-point lead slowly slipped away to the #3 seeded Xavier Musketeers in the first round of the NCAA national tournament. The Bulldogs fell 73-61 but the score was not indicative of just how well UGA played throughout the game. They led by 7 with less than 10 minutes remaining and trailed by only 3 with just over a minute remaining before Xavier ended the game on a 9-0 free throw run.

The game was the culmination of the season and a span of over a week that saw UGA go from basketball obscurity to miracle run. It was also the culmination of Dennis Felton’s first five years at the helm of the Georgia Bulldogs men’s basketball program and four years of struggles that included trials, tribulations, transfers, and tragedies for Bliss and Gaines.

At about 9:30, a foul was called and suddenly everyone started looking up towards the roof of Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, where the SEC tournament is held, as a roaring noise scared many out of their seats. The fabric on the roof of the dome was harshly rippling, the catwalk/standard above the court was swaying back and forth, and in at least three areas (according to one of the broadcasters) the fabric was torn and debris fluttered down to the floor.

The players cleared the floor and many fans rushed into the concourse area. It appears very severe winds struck the dome, possibly even what could be classified as a tornado.

“Psycho T,” as his teammates call him, is 10th in the country in scoring at 23.1 point per game and 13th in the nation with 10.5 rebounds per game.

Those numbers, along with tremendous hustle, intensity, and effort and UNC being ranked near the top of the polls throughout the season have made Hansbrough a top candidate for Player of the Year. While the other main candidate for the award, freshman Michael Beasley of Kansas State, has better numbers (26.5 ppg, 12.5 rpg), Freeman claims Hansbrough is getting all the love because Psycho T is white, and “America loves a tough white guy.”

…news of Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson being involved (ONCE AGAIN!) for recruiting violations may have flown somewhat under the radar.

But with the recent allegations against Sampson, the question of ‘What is really valued in college athletics?’ is raised.

After two months, Dick Vitale will return to calling college basketball from his courtside seat. Vitale, who had throat surgery, will return for the Tobacco Road rivalry between #2 Duke & #3 North Carolina.