By Chris Gay
Staff Writer, Augusta Chronicle
For the first time in Augusta State men's basketball history,
players sat in a computer lab at the Augusta State University
athletic complex and watched the NCAA Division II Tournament
selection show via the Internet.
Because they defeated Armstrong Atlantic State in the Peach Belt
Tournament championship game, the Jaguars already knew they were in
the ``Big Dance.'' Augusta's main concern was its seeding and
opponent.
A few groans were let out when Augusta grabbed the sixth, and
final, seed in the South Atlantic Regional. The Jaguars will face
No. 3 seed Catawba (25-4) on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., with the
time to be determined. The winner of that game will play No. 2 seed
Winston-Salem State (24-4) on Friday.
``We weren't given a whole lot of respect in this thing,'' Tuell
told his players. ``I look at it as a challenge. They didn't give
you any respect.''
Johnson C. Smith (25-4), winner of the Central Intercollegiate
Athletic Association, will play host to the regional as the No. 1
seed. No. 4 seed Wingate (24-4) will play No. 5 seed Armstrong
Atlantic State (25-7) in Thursday's other game.
``I've played Wingate and I've played Winston-Salem, but I've never
heard of Catawba,'' Jaguars guard Gary Boodnikoff said. ``It
doesn't matter what their team's record is. If we play our best,
we're going to win.''
Last year, Georgia College & State won the South Atlantic
Regional as the No. 6 seed. Two years ago, Lander won the
regional.
The Division II Tournament consists of 48 teams from eight regions.
The winners of those regional six-team tournaments advance to the
Elite Eight in Bakersfield, Ca., on March 21-24.
In past years, the NCAA Division II selection show has been
available by phone or satellite feed. But this year, the NCAA did
away with the satellite feed and used the Internet.
``I thought it was nice,'' Jaguars guard Jayme Johnson said. ``It
brought us all together and made us feel like a real basketball
team.''
When Augusta takes the floor Thursday it will make just its second
Division II tournament appearance in the school's history. In the
1977-78 season, the Jaguars lost to both Central Florida and
Livingston in the NCAA South Regional.
Augusta has made two other postseason appearances in the NAIA
National Tournament. In 1970, the Jaguars defeated Monmouth before
losing to Stephen F. Austin, 74-71. In 1971, the Jaguars lost to
Great Falls 75-71.