Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois-Georgia Preview
03/16/2002 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
March 16, 2002
GAME: No. 11 Southern Illinois (22-9) vs. No. 3 Georgia (22-9).
REGIONAL: East, Second Round.
TIME: Sunday, 4:45 p.m. EST.
SITE: United Center, Chicago.
Georgia coach Jim Harrick believes a good point guard can lead a team far in the NCAA tournament, and he may have just the player to do it.
Harrick and the third-seeded Bulldogs hope Rashad Wright can build off an outstanding first-round performance as they take on Southern Illinois for the right to advance to the round of 16.
Wright, Georgia's starting point guard, played stifling defense and did an excellent job of orchestrating the team's offense in an 85-68 victory over Murray State in the first round Friday.
Wright shut down Murray State's hot-shooting Justine Burdine, who hit four 3-pointers in the first 7 minutes of the game but had only seven second-half points. Wright finished with 16 points and 10 assists.
"Point guards help you in the NCAA tournament, believe me," Harrick said. "They can take you a long way if they continue to play that way."
Jarvis Hayes, the Bulldogs' leading scorer and the SEC newcomer of the year, had a career-high 31 points to help his team rally from an early 14-point deficit.
Jonas Hayes, Jarvis' brother, scored 14 and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Georgia, which lost in the opening round last season, notched its first NCAA tournament victory since 1996.
"There's nothing like winning an NCAA tournament game," Harrick said. "That is so very, very special in your life and your career."
The 11th-seeded Salukis upset No. 6 seed Texas Tech 76-68 in the first round Friday, ruining Bob Knight's first tournament game with the Red Raiders.
It was only the second NCAA tournament win for Southern Illinois.
"Our goal is to make the Sweet Sixteen," Salukis coach Bruce Webber said, "and we think we can."
Kent Williams had 17 points for the Salukis, who have won a school-record 27 games. Williams, the team's top scorer, is averaging 18 points over his last three games.
Southern Illinois, despite its top defenders starting the game on the bench, was able to hold Texas Tech to 39 percent shooting. Jermaine Dearman and Rolan Roberts were late to a practice and were taken out of the starting lineup for the first time all season.
The winner faces either No. 2 seed Connecticut or seventh-seeded North Carolina State in the regional semifinals Friday.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Southern Illinois - F Dearman (11.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg), C Roberts (13.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg), G Williams (16.2 ppg, 3.0 apg), G Marcus Belcher (6.2 ppg, 3.3 apg), G Stetson Hairston (7.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Georgia - F Jarvis Hayes (18.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg), F Chris Daniels (8.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg), F Steve Thomas (8.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg), G Ezra Williams (16.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg), G Wright (8.6 ppg, 4.7 apg).
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Southern Illinois - at-large bid, Missouri Valley Conference, defeated No. 6 Texas Tech 76-68, first round. Georgia - at-large bid, Southeastern Conference, defeated No. 14 Murray State 85-68, first round.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Southern Illinois - 2-4, 4 years. Georgia - 7-8, 8 years.
