WASHINGTON, D.C. -- OK, I'm going to make this simple: Were the Georgia Bulldogs finally stopped by Xavier or overzealous officials?
It's the obvious question after Georgia -- which a week ago overcame two overtimes, a hurricane, two games in one day and the Arkansas Razorbacks -- blew an 11-point second-half lead and bowed out of the NCAA tournament.
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| Not many calls went Georgia's way on Thursday. (AP) |
"I did feel like our team played awfully well for maybe the majority of the game and had good control of the game," losing coach Dennis Felton said after the 73-61 loss. "But when things got tough and physical we did everything we could to pound it in the paint and get to the free-throw line. But it seemed that, no matter what we did, we couldn't get there."
Xavier could. The Musketeers sank 27 of 33 free throws, including 25 of 29 in the second half. Georgia was 3-for-5, all in the second half.
So let me pose the question again: What in the name of Ed Hightower happened?
All I know is Xavier's last 12 points were free throws, including eight after Georgia closed to within 64-61 with 1:24 left. OK, so some of the fouls were deliberate. But there is nothing that jumps out about this game as clearly as the disparity at the foul line.
You eliminate the free throws, and Georgia wins 56-46. You include them, and, suddenly, Georgia's on the defensive.
"What did you think of the officiating?" senior center Dave Bliss was asked.
He hesitated before answering, as if to make sure he said just the right thing. Which, of course, he did.
"Um ... I don't want to comment on that," he said.
I think he just did.
Look, I'm not trying to suggest that Xavier didn't deserve to win this game. The Musketeers shook off their first-half jitters to make the plays -- and the shots -- down the stretch that Georgia could not. They had a nice 17-2 run in the second half that decided the game, too, and they didn't miss free throws when they had them.
