Georgia State has a first-round bye at stake against in-state rival Georgia Southern on Saturday.
The Panthers are tied for second place in the Sun Belt conference, with Arkansas State and Georgia Southern. The top four seeds in the conference tournament get a first-round bye.
The Panthers can finish anywhere from the second seed to the sixth seed, depending on the outcome of the games Saturday. With a win the Panthers will get a first-round bye, but the seeding won’t be determined until the other teams finish playing. If the Panthers lose, their seed would be no higher than third.
A first-round bye can be very important in such a long basketball season, but to coach Ron Hunter it’s not that big of an advantage.
“It’s just one extra game,” Hunter said. “Even if you’re the fifth, sixth or seventh seed, you play on Wednesday, then you get a day off, and then you turn around and play Friday and you’re just as rested as the other teams. I don’t think it really matters, I think it’s more about matchups.
“Especially in the Sun Belt this year because we’ve all beaten each other up. So, it’s really about matchups more than anything else.”
Just because it may not be that important to Hunter, doesn’t mean he won’t use the extra days to his liking.
“We’re going to use the bye just like we have in the past,” Hunter said. “We’ve been very fortunate that we’ve had the double-bye (which no longer exists in the Sun Belt) and got to the championship two of the past three years. We’ll use it in kind of the same way, we’ll take two days off and then we’ll get ready to go on Tuesday and prepare for the tournament. Our practice will be short crisp and we’ll do the same thing we’ve done the last couple of year’s that’s gotten us to the finals.”
First, though, the Panthers must take care of Georgia Southern, who defeated the Panthers 88-65 on New Year’s Eve.
“I think both teams are different than they were in December,” Hunter said. “They’re talented from the guards, they can really score the ball and we gotta defend them. I’m glad we’re playing them here, they were really good at home.”
With a lot at stake in this rivalry game, there will added pressure for the players. However, Hunter knows what it takes to prepare them for the challenge.
“I think a lot of the guys and young coaches put too much into it,” Hunter said. “I think less practice, again you are who you are. I think it’s about having the kids relax. I think the group who can have their group more relaxed to play will win this thing.”
“We’re getting there, I think that’s the part of the head coach,” Hunter said when asked if his team was relaxed. “Especially when you go into conference play and start doing things you aren’t accustomed to doing, practicing longer and those type of things, I think it makes guys more antsy and more nervous in that regard.”
After their final practice before the game Saturday, Hunter believes his team is ready for the big game.
“I thought yesterday we were a little tight, but I thought today we were back to normal gain,” Hunter said Friday. “I felt like today the guys are really really ready to play. Matter of fact I know they wish the game was tonight instead of tomorrow night. They are ready to get it going and so am I.”
Jeremy Hollowell, the Panthers’ leading scorer, is pumped up for his final home game.
“I’m real excited man. It’s Senior Day, and there’s a lot were playing for,” Hollowell said. “I just want to go out and perform my best and come out with a win.”
“Just trying to get my teammates more involved first,” Hollowell said about what he thinks he can do to help the Panthers win. “I know I can get going at any time on the court, I just want to make sure I get them going. We just gotta lock in and continue to focus on Georgia State and what we do good. Play within ourselves and play together and we’ll come out just fine.”
The Panthers will play Georgia Southern in a sold-out GSU Sports Arena at 2:15 p.m. Saturday.
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