Seton Hall, Georgia Battle for Spot in the NIT Final

Georgia Basketball Mike White, Noah Thomasson, Russel Tchewa talk NIT semifinals vs. Seton Hall

Georgia Basketball: Mike White, Noah Thomasson, Russel Tchewa talk NIT semifinals vs. Seton Hall | Image: Georgia Bulldogs Football on Dawgs/YouTube

Despite the heartbreak of narrowly falling short of the NCAA Tournament, Seton Hall has managed to navigate a successful deep postseason journey.

Conversely, Georgia has utilized its fortunate NIT selection to craft its own impressive tournament run.

The semifinal clash in Indianapolis on Tuesday will determine which of the top-seeded Pirates (23-12) or the fourth-seeded Bulldogs (20-16) advances to the NIT championship, where they will face either Utah or Indiana State in the final showdown on Thursday.

Seton Hall, like a few other schools, received an NIT bid after narrowly missing out on the major tournament. Some institutions declined the NIT invitation, but guard Al-Amir Dawes emphasized that the Pirates were eager to prolong their season and conclude it on a strong note.

“If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it to win it all,” added fellow guard Kadary Richmond after Seton Hall thrashed visiting UNLV 91-68 in Wednesday’s quarterfinal in South Orange, N.J.

Throughout the NIT, Richmond has maintained an average of 11 points, 8.3 rebounds, and seven assists, while Dawes has been the leading scorer for the Pirates, averaging 20.3 points per game.

Seton Hall may not have achieved the success they initially aimed for, but they have embraced the opportunity to compete for a championship with open arms.

“Basketball is basketball at this time of year,” coach Shaheen Holloway said. “You gotta be really appreciative of being out there.”

Originally, Georgia’s spot in the NIT was designated for Ole Miss, who chose to forgo the postseason. The Bulldogs have proven their worth in the NIT by stringing together three consecutive wins, setting them only one win away from their first-ever NIT championship game appearance.

Their triumph against Ohio State last Tuesday secured Georgia’s first NIT semifinal presence since 1998.

“Our resiliency, our toughness, our willingness to want to continue to compete and keep fighting for one another was on full display,” Bulldogs coach Mike White said on Tuesday. “Just really proud of this group.”

Senior guard Noah Thomasson has been instrumental for Georgia, averaging 17.3 points per game in the tournament and showcasing unwavering confidence, according to White.

“He can miss eight in a row and (still) thinks his next eight are going in,” White said.

Thomasson’s 21-point performance led the Bulldogs to victory in the previous Tuesday’s match.

  1. College Sports News

    WCC to Add Grand Canyon and Seattle in 2025

    WCC adding Seattle U and Grand Canyon University

    WCC adding Seattle U and Grand Canyon University

    Seattle and Grand Canyon will be leaving the Western Athletic Conference and moving to the West Coast Conference starting July 2025.

    The nine current members of the conference are private universities with a religious affiliation. Seattle is a Jesuit institution, while Grand Canyon, situated in Phoenix, is a Christian college.

    Grand Canyon’s basketball achievements were a significant factor in attracting WCC commissioner Stu Jackson. The team has participated in the last two NCAA Tournaments and three of the previous four under the leadership of coach Bryce Drew.

    As the 12th-seeded Antelopes defeated fifth-seeded Saint Mary’s before losing to Alabama in the tournament this season.

    Saint Mary’s is currently a member of the West Coast Conference.

    The WCC, while also integrating Oregon State and Washington State this autumn (excluding football), will expand from 11 to 13 members by the 2025-26 season.

    The future beyond 2026 looks uncertain, with Oregon State and Washington State appearing unlikely to continue with the WCC.

    The former Pac-12 schools are under a two-year contract, expiring on June 30, 2026. Sources from CBS Sports suggest that the odds of the two Pacific Northwest institutions staying are slim, with a move to the Mountain West or a new conference formation being more probable.

    Following the departures of Sam Houston and New Mexico State last year, Seattle and Grand Canyon’s exit from the WAC will reduce the conference’s membership to just eight by July 2025.

    Continue Reading
  2. College Sports News

    Ex-Cal State Fullerton G Max Jones Commits to Kansas State

    Kansas State adds athletic wing in left-handed shooter Max Jones

    Kansas State adds athletic wing in left-handed shooter Max Jones

    Former guard of Cal State Fullerton Max Jones has made a decision to join Kansas State for his upcoming collegiate season, according to reports.

    Notable alternatives that Jones purportedly pondered were New Mexico, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Florida Atlantic, and Loyola Chicago.

    During the previous season with the Titans, Jones maintained an average of 15.3 points and 3.0 rebounds across 24 games, in which he started 21. He secured the second-highest scoring position within the team, alongside being the second in 3-pointers with 42 baskets and 41 steals.

    In the season prior, Jones held an average of 12.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 32 games, amassing 34 three-pointers and 30 steals.

    Before making his way to Cal State Fullerton post the 2021-22 season, Jones spent two years at Division II Tampa, where he managed to achieve an average of 21.9 points across 21 games during his sophomore year with the Spartans.

    In the recent offseason, Kansas State acquired Dug McDaniel, a former player from Michigan recognized as one of the premier point guards available in this year’s transfer portal.

    Continue Reading
  3. College Sports News

    Stanford Names Basketball Court in Honor of Tara VanDerveer

    View From The Top with Tara VanDerveer, Former Coach of Stanford Women’s Basketball

    View From The Top with Tara VanDerveer, Former Coach of Stanford Women’s Basketball

    Tara VanDerveer’s legacy at Stanford will now be visibly acknowledged, with the school revealing on Thursday that the basketball arena’s floor will bear the name of the esteemed Hall of Fame coach.

    At the age of 70, VanDerveer stepped down following her 38th season at the helm of the Cardinal.

    She steered Stanford to 14 Final Fours and secured three national championships (1990, 1992, 2021). VanDerveer embarked on her coaching journey at Idaho (1978-80) and later coached at Ohio State (1980-85).

    In January, she surpassed Mike Krzyzewski to clinch the title of the most successful college basketball coach in history, across both men’s and women’s teams. VanDerveer concluded with a remarkable 1,216-271 record, boasting a 1,064-220 tally with the Cardinal.

    Alongside the unveiling of the Tara VanDerveer Court at Maples Pavilion this November, Stanford also established an endowed position in women’s basketball for an assistant coach in VanDerveer’s honor.

    VanDerveer said in a statement, “This endowment will go a long way to strengthening the future of Stanford women’s basketball. I have many wonderful memories of leading the women’s basketball program at Maples Pavilion.”

    “It’s an honor, and a little surreal, to know that my name will be linked to both in these ways, and I look forward to celebrating with all our fans this fall.”

    Last month, Stanford appointed Kate Paye, one of VanDerveer’s longtime assistant coaches who played for the Cardinal from 1991-95 and began coaching under VanDerveer in 2007, as the new head coach.

    Continue Reading