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ATLANTA — Georgia coach Dennis Felton said his team’s weather-delayed SEC tournament quarterfinal game was no time to worry about having enough energy for a semifinal game about six hours later.
Zac Swansey scored five points in overtime, including an unlikely turnaround 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left, and Georgia upset Kentucky to 60-56 on Saturday to continue its surprising SEC tournament run.
The game was originally scheduled for late Friday night at the Georgia Dome. It was postponed after a tornado damaged the facility during Mississippi State’s overtime win over Alabama Friday night. More
The tournament shifted to Alexander Memorial Coliseum on the campus of Georgia Tech — Georgia’s in-state rival. The game was played before an estimated crowd of 1,500, as only a limited number of friends, family and school officials will be allowed to attend the rest of the tournament schedule in the smaller facility.
SEC officials were forced to devise a new schedule that called for the Georgia-Kentucky winner to play two games on Saturday.
Georgia (15-16) advanced to Saturday night’s semifinal against Mississippi State. Mississippi State beat Alabama in a Friday night quarterfinal.
Felton said he warned his players at halftime that they shouldn’t think about saving their energy for a second game in one day.
“I wanted to be certain that we didn’t get caught up trying to pace ourselves,” Felton said.
“I just reminded all of them that if they wanted to pace themselves, if they wanted to try to be solid, then they were going to have a whole lot of time to rest. And so we have to leave it all out there on the floor.”
Kentucky (18-12) is left with a nervous wait for Sunday’s NCAA tournament show.
When asked if the loss has implications on his team’s NCAA hopes, Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie gave a short answer.
“It doesn’t,” Gillispie said.
Terrance Woodbury scored 17 points and Sundiata Gaines had 16 as Georgia took its first SEC tournament victory over Kentucky in nine tries.
Swansey, a freshmen who averages 4.2 points per game, was guarded by Ramon Harris as he drove the court before stopping, spinning and launching the 3-pointer in front of the Georgia bench, giving the Bulldogs a 57-56 lead.
Swansey, who did not score in regulation, had his chance after Gaines, a senior, fouled out with 1:33 left in regulation.
“It’s something I dream for,” Swansey said. “With Sundiata out of the game, it was an opportunity for me to come in the game and show what I could so. I told Sundiata I wasn’t going to let his career end like this.”
Said Gillispie: “Give Swansey credit. He made a big-time play.”
Georgia added to the lead with three free throws. Kentucky’s Perry Stevenson was called for a technical foul for blocking Corey Butler’s second free throw.
Gillispie said he directed Stevenson to block the free throw.
“I didn’t know the rule,” Gillispie said. “I didn’t know it was an automatic technical. So that’s my fault.”
Ramel Bradley’s jumper with 8.8 seconds left in overtime bounced around the rim before finally falling to give Kentucky a 56-54 lead.
It was the third overtime of the tournament and the second for Georgia, which needed the extra period to beat Mississippi 97-95 on Thursday night.
Joe Crawford led the Wildcats with 24 points. Bradley added 12.
Bliss made two free throws with 59.4 seconds left for a 50-50 tie. Bradley had three misses on Kentucky’s final possession in regulation.
The SEC announced early Saturday morning attendance would be limited because Alexander Memorial’s capacity is only 9,191 and a crowd of at least 20,000 was expected for the semifinals at the Georgia Dome.
Approximately 1,000 Kentucky fans and about 100 Georgia fans were joined by each team’s pep band, cheerleaders and dance teams in the unusually intimate postseason setting.
Friday night’s tornado also caused damage to other hotels and buildings in downtown Atlanta. One Kentucky fan held a sign “Send car. Mine is crushed.”
Jessica Rogers of New Haven, Ky., said even though some fans found tickets, many others in Atlanta were frustrated by the events.
“You think a tornado is bad,” Rogers said. “Wait until you get 15,000 Kentucky fans who came down to Atlanta who are not going to be able to watch the game.”
Gillispie said he couldn’t blame the loss on the distraction of having the game postponed and moved to another site.
“We’re built to handle any situation and they beat us today, bottom line, period,” he said.
Kentucky made only one of its first nine shots as Georgia took early leads of 8-0 and 14-3.
Kentucky’s man-to-man defense began to wear on the Bulldogs, who committed eight turnovers in the half as the Wildcats rallied.
Kentucky closed the half with a 21-6 run to lead 25-22 at the break.
© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Posted by TommyJack on March 15, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Boo-hoo big blew
Posted by cdonsbach on March 15, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted by Titan on March 15, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
(pardon the double post - it belongs on this thread instead of my original posting site)
AFOne: wouldn't appear that your co coach of the year would allow his team to lose to the lowly Bulldogs - especially when their best player fouled out and sits on the bench for the last few minutes of the game. How did that happen? And in front of a KY "home" crowd no less? Maybe he's setting the stage so Kentucky can win the championship and he can get a "coach of the tournament" award for the big turnaround.
Posted by VolCane7979 on March 15, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kentucky doesn't deserve to be in at 18-12. Last time I checked, the season existed prior to the last 12 games.
AirForceOne:
See blue, go home.
Posted by pdhuff on March 15, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dang AF1 dang, I hate it for you. lst Gardener-Webb, then Ga? Keep the faith.
But with Gaines fouled out for Ga?
Vols may get it next.
Posted by TommyJack on March 15, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
PD: You need to knock out the rest of those shrubs before watching anymore bball.
Posted by rwolfen984 on March 15, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To the blue fan that said you own the SEC, you forgot to tell that great coach Billy boy! He he he
Posted by jimr07 on March 15, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you mean the sec coach of the year lost to mighty georgia. i am surprised they played the game because the talking heads had them winning it all.
Posted by yemmusdarb on March 15, 2008 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WHY IS NOONE TALKING ABOUT THE BLOCKED FREE THROW!! hahahaha, that was one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen. Why do you just jump up and SWAT a free throw!?!?!?!? Some say he "stumbled into the lane and was going to get a lane violation anyway, so he swatted it thinking they'd make them shoot another FT" and some are saying the coach told him to. Either way, that was hilarious and had he not done that, they'd have at LEAST been able to get a shot up with 1.2 seconds left rather than being down 4 with no hope!!! Freakin' genius.
Posted by pdhuff on March 15, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TJ, shrubs are done, watching the rain. Fed the tomcat in the barn, Lab's asleep and Ma's relatively happy. Saw NC pull it out. Dang!
Sounds too good , probably another storm on the way.
Son called to say he's probably going to be promoted to head of ME division. I'm wearing bibbed overall awaiting the Vols' game. Things a little too in line right now.
How is Boerne? Any loose carts being blown down the street?
true jim07, if one had the nerve, a litle gouging on forums.kentucky.com would bring a rain of spears.
Posted by tigervol9802 on March 15, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
After this, I'm not so sure the mildkittens are a lock to get in anymore.
Luckily for Jessica Rogers of New Haven, KY, she won't have to worry about watching the little blue play anymore -
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?g...
Posted by pdhuff on March 15, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry-litle was worng. LOL
Posted by Basketball_Jones on March 15, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I still think Kentucky is in. There early season woes were due to injuries. Other than that I think its funny as **** that they lost. We shouldn't throw stone though cause we haven't won anything yet. GO VOLS
Posted by Ironcity on March 15, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They should take Gillespie's coach of the year award away just for that stupid play at the end.
Posted by schymtz on March 15, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Also on the wrong thread for the most part:
This sort of thing just does not happen...does not happen...does not happen...does not happen...does not happen...does not happen...does not happen toKENTUCKY...'TUCKY...'tucky...
GEORGIA???GEORGIA???GEORGIA??? Puts the Gardner Webb loss in a whole new light. Nah, that's too mean. Coach of the year made the right call on the last Georgia inbounds. It was a charge...Shoulda been called...wasn't. Sorry, AF1, from the ancient past, we know what this feels like! Yuck!
pdhuff , I agree with your assessment of the UT -Ark game! We need attitude and energy. Beat 'em, Vols! Beat 'em, Beat 'em, Beat 'em BAD! Statement Time!
What do you think of Va Tech is givin' NC all they wanted? All this while Dicky V. led cheers for Duke, says NC is a lock for the overall #1 no matter what, and Duke is battling it out with Kansas and TENNESSEE for the last #1. Clemson is currently ahead of Duke and He's still jabberin' about his beloved Dukies.
Posted by schymtz on March 15, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
An offered explanation for the blocked free throw is that goal tending and/or a lane violation used to be legal and would result in getting a shot at a desperation 3 to win or tie with no time off. Recent rules change makes it a T. Nevertheless, seemed futile. Would have had that anyway without the T, I think.
Posted by VolCane7979 on March 15, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the selection committee should watch this before deciding:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IwI-b...
Posted by cjraney on March 15, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NCAA, please snub this KY team. Bad enough Billy Clyde stole 1/2 the coaching award. Would have rather seen Rick Stansbury win the award outright rather than Pearl share it with B. Clyde. MSU exceeded expectations whereas I believe KY was picked 2nd in the East, right where they finished.
Posted by jweaver3 on March 15, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As I told you earlier AirForceOne, UK will not win another game and the only way the Vols see them is if the buy NIT tickets!!!
Mildcats suck
GO VOLS
TXVOLSFAN
Posted by schymtz on March 15, 2008 at 6:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Duke just went down to CLEMSON
Posted by ClockworkOrange on March 15, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Vitale how about those awesome blue devils....1 seed? what a joke get your head out of your culo
Posted by UKfan on March 15, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like some of the fans should have spent less time on here making fun of UK losing, and more time praying for their team to win. They didn't lose to UK, but they lost to former Wildcat John Pelphrey. I do wish UT, and more specifically Lofton luck in the NCAA tournament. He is an excellent player.
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