NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Profiling the UGA basketball team
Meet Ajax, Dolla Bill, Z and Yata


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/18/08

Toward the end of the regular season, attendance at Georgia's home basketball games went from poor to embarrassing. The Bulldogs were on network television three times all season, including this past Sunday when they won the unlikliest of SEC Tournament championships.

So there are probably a lot of you who may not know a lot about Georgia's players. Don't worry, we're here to help.

Rich Addicks / AJC
Sundiata Gaines has started every game of his UGA career -- which until now has been largely in obscurity.
 
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Following are thumbnail sketches of the nine Bulldogs you'll see when they take on No. 3 seed Xavier in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Washington D.C.

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The starters

DAVE BLISS

No. Pos. Ht., wt. Class

44 C 6-10, 255 Sr.

A fan favorite because, what he lacks for athletically he makes up for with hustle and smarts. Graduated in three years with an honors degree in political science and will get a second one in real estate at the end of this semester.

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SUNDIATA GAINES

No. Pos. Ht., wt. Class

2 PG 6-1, 210 Sr.

Nickname: Yata. Named by his father after an African war king, he plays like it. The co-captain is the Bulldogs' on-court commander and leads the team in points, assists, rebounds, steals and minutes played. SEC Tournament MVP is also Team MVP.

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BILLY HUMPHREY

No. Pos. Ht., wt. Class

31 G 6-2, 190 Jr.

Nickname: Dolla Bill. Leads the team in tattoos and big shots. At one time he was carrying the Bulldogs on offense, he struggled to score in the tournament but still made the game-winning shots in the last two contests.

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ALBERT JACKSON

No. Pos. Ht., wt. Class

34 F 6-10, 250 So.

Nickname: Ajax. Georgia's coaches have always said it was just a matter of Jackson carrying his offensive game — and confidence — from the practice gym to the arena. He failed to score against Kentucky but averaged 9.6 in the other three games.

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TERRANCE WOODBURY

No. Pos. Ht., wt. Class

30 G 6-7, 220 Jr.

Nickname: T-Wood and Woodshop. The Virginia Beach native was a big key to Georgia's late run. After shooting 27 percent from 3-point range in the regular season, he caught fire in the tournament, scoring 25 points against Ole Miss and a team-best 16 in the title game to earn all-tourney honors.

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THE BENCH

TROY BREWER

No. Pos. Ht., wt. Class

20 G 6-5, 170 Fr.

Nicknamed: T-Roy. This sharp-shooting wing projects as a future star but his role late in the season was to provide a deep-shooting threat in halves and to relieve starters in foul trouble.

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COREY BUTLER

No. Pos. Ht., wt. Class

23 G 6-3, 190 Jr.

Nickname: "Senator" (because he's so polished and articulate). This microbiology major is a walk-on but has developed into the Bulldogs' most valuable reserve as a defensive specialist.

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JEREMY PRICE

No. Pos. Ht., wt. Class

50 F 6-8, 270 Fr.

Nickname: J.P. A big, bruising power forward who was thrust into a starting role after Takais Brown was dismissed from team. Now backs up Albert Jackson by providing instant low-post offense off the bench.

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ZAC SWANSEY

No. Pos. Ht., wt. Class

5 PG 6-1, 175 Fr.

Nickname: "Z." One of the most pleasant surprises this season, the Dunwoody High graduate was thrust into early duty and twice filled the role of hero in the conference tourney after Gaines fouled out.


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