FACTS & STATS: Site: Verizon Center (20,674) -- Washington, D. C.. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Georgia 7-9, Xavier 12-18. Series Record: Xavier leads, 1-0.

GAME NOTES: After their incredible run through the SEC Tournament, the 14th- seeded Georgia Bulldogs will battle the third-seeded Xavier Musketeers in West Regional first round action of the NCAA Tournament at the Verizon Center. The Bulldogs are coming off one of the most amazing conference tournament runs in college basketball history. Georgia finished just 4-12 in league play, but caught fire in the SEC tourney, opening with a 97-95 overtime win over Ole Miss. After having to switch venues due to dangerous tornadoes, the Bulldogs went on to win three straight games in less than two days. This is the first NCAA Tournament appearance for Georgia since 2002 and the team's eighth overall. In the seven previous appearances in the "Big Dance" the Bulldogs are just a mere 7-9. As for the Musketeers, this will be their third consecutive trip to this event, and the team's seventh in the last eight seasons. Overall this will be the 19th appearance for Xavier at the tournament, and is the previous trips the team has accumulated a 12-18 ledger. This year the Musketeers were clearly the top team in the Atlantic 10, finishing the regular season with a 14-2 mark, and although the squad did not win the A-10 tournament, Xavier's outstanding 27-6 record was more then enough to get the team into the third spot of the West Region. This will be just the second ever meeting between the two schools on the court. In the only other matchup, the Musketeers grabbed a solid, 73-70 victory over the Bulldogs. The winner of this contest will move on to battle the victor of the Purdue/Baylor meeting.

The Bulldogs had trouble throughout most of the season, but usually the team was able to fall back on its defensive play. Georgia is limiting the opposition to just 67.2 ppg, and a mediocre 42.7 percent from the floor. Georgia has also done a strong job on the glass, outrebounding the competition by 4.1 rpg. At the other end of the court the team has had to rely heavily on the play of Sundiata Gaines. Gaines has done everything for the Bulldogs, and is currently pacing the squad with 14.8 ppg. Gaines also has team-highs in rebounds (6.1 rpg), assists (137) and steals (59). Billy Humphrey is contributing 12.2 ppg on the season, despite shooting just 38.6 percent from the floor. Terrance Woodbury rounds out the double-figure scorers with 10.8 ppg, but has more turnovers (73) than assists (45) on the season. As a team, the Bulldogs have been mediocre offensively, producing 68.3 ppg, while shooting 42.8 percent from the field.

The Musketeers are the epitome of a well-balanced team. Xavier has six different players producing double figures, beginning with Josh Duncan, who is averaging 11.7 ppg to go along with 4.6 rpg. In the paint Derrick Brown has been outstanding, contributing 10.7 ppg to go along with a team-high 6.6 rpg. Drew Lavender is also posting 10.7 ppg, but the guard has also distributed the ball well, dishing out a team-best 138 assists. C.J. Anderson has given Duncan some help down low and is currently netting 10.6 ppg, while B.J. Raymond has helped with 10.3 ppg. Stanley Burrell, who has 126 assists on the season is chipping in 10.0 ppg, despite shooting 39.3 percent from the field. Each player have been a strong contributor to the team's impressive 75.3 ppg. However, not to be overlooked is the Musketeers' efforts defensively, as the squad is limiting the opposition to just 62.3 ppg.

It is hard to go against the Bulldogs, but after the team's tremendous surge through the SEC the team is bound for a let down. Even at their highest, the Bulldogs will likely struggle against a very balanced Xavier team here.

Predicted Outcome

Xavier 74, Georgia 55