Georgia’s basketball season lives on. Saturday’s loss to Kentucky ended hopes of an NCAA bid, but the Bulldogs learned Sunday night that they had earned a spot in the 2014 postseason NIT. Georgia’s strong conference record and solid play down the stretch earned them a #2 seed in their 8-team group.

The Dawgs will host #7 seed Vermont in the opening round on Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. in Athens (ESPNU will televise). The Catamounts are 22-10 this season and won the regular season America East championship with a 15-1 conference record. They fell to eventual tournament champion Albany in the semifinals of the America East tournament and earned an automatic bid to the NIT by virtue of their regular season title.

Vermont starts four seniors who have been a part of 90 wins over four seasons. The Catamounts have been to the postseason each year, participating in 2 NITs, the CBI last year, and the 2012 NCAA Tournament as a #16 seed. They’re a capable team from behind the arc – they still drilled 9 of 20 three-pointers in their loss to Albany. They’re not terribly effective inside, so Georgia should press its advantage on the boards on both ends of the court.

If Georgia advances, they’ll face the winner of #3 Louisiana Tech and #6 Iona on a date to be determined (between March 20-24), and Georgia could host that game as well. FSU and Georgetown round out the top four seeds in Georgia’s region.

The Bulldogs have one strong tie to the Vermont program. Tom Brennan played for the Dawgs and graduated in 1971. He became Vermont’s head coach in 1986 and stayed on until 2005. Brennan stepped down at the high point of his career after Vermont upset Syracuse in the 2005 NCAA Tournament, and he’s done national TV and radio work since. He’ll be making the trip down with the Vermont team.

Tickets

General admission tickets are $15 and can be ordered starting 9:00 a.m. Monday online at www.georgiadogs.com or by calling the Athletic Association ticket office 1-877-542-1231 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Seating will be general admission for the first round of the National Invitational Tournament and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Basketball Enhancement Fund contributors will receive the number of tickets requested to the first round of the National Invitational Tournament during the pre-order process and priority on seating in Sections D, E, F.

The first 500 UGA students will receive free admission to the game and must show their valid UGA ID Card at Stegeman Coliseum ticket windows to claim their free ticket. Once the free student tickets have been distributed, additional student tickets will be sold $4 each to all UGA students presenting their valid UGA ID Card at the Stegeman Coliseum ticket windows. UGA students can purchase their tickets with cash only.

The Bracket

Click here for the 2014 NIT Bracket