ATHENS – Georgia's Anne Marie Armstrong doesn't profess to know much about "bracketology" and NCAA tournament history and the like. But she's informed enough to realize that seedings and rankings all go out the window when the ball goes up in the opening round.
The Lady Dogs (22-8), who finished third in the SEC, were awarded a No. 4 seed in the Raleigh Region during the NCAA's selection show Monday night. They will draw Marist (25-7), champions of the MAAC conference, in a first-round game in Tallahassee on Sunday at 12:05 p.m.
"I think that's where we were predicted to be, so I don't think we were surprised about it," said Armstrong, who watched the show with her teammates in the Taylor Room at the Stegeman Practice Facility. "But I think we were happy to be a 4 seed and I think that's what we deserved after the season."
The truth is, Georgia came out pretty well, especially after losing to South Carolina in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament.
Coach Andy Landers' 33rd Georgia team avoided the brackets of No. 1 overall seed and undefeated Baylor and multi-time national champion UConn. The Lady Dogs also managed to avoid having to play an opponent on its home court.
"The neutral court is always a good thing," said Landers, who secured a NCAA tournament for the 29th time, second only to Tennessee's Pat Summitt (31). "But other than that, [people] look way ahead of where I look. I'm sitting here thinking about playing Marist four or five years ago and they're hard to beat. It's a good basketball team. That's really about as far as I care to look."
If Georgia can get past Marist, it will face the winner of St. Bonaventure (29-3) and Florida Gulf Coast University (29-3), each of which is making its NCAA debut. No. 4-ranked Notre Dame (30-3) is on the top line of the region.
"I think anyone's initial response is to look at who's in your bracket and assess your chances and stuff," Armstrong said. "But Coach Landers always focuses on one game at a time and that's the mentality that we need to have. You can't overlook any team in the tournament. Everyone's coming to win and play their hardest because any game can be your last."
Of course, the NCAA tournament has been Georgia's playground under Landers. Only Tennessee (29) has reached the Sweet 16 more times than the Lady Dogs (19) and they've made five Final Fours.
"It's a tradition at Georgia," junior forward Jasmine Hassell said. "It's something you've wanted to do since you're a little kid, to go to the tournament and play in the Big Dance. There's not any pressure. You just have to make sure when you go you do your very best."
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