Helena Frye
The 2008 SEC men's basketball tournament was held in Atlanta, Georgia, from March 13 to March 16. The tournament was won by the University of Georgia, who earned the Southeastern Conference's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA tournament. The championship game was originally scheduled to be televised by CBS but was moved to ESPN2. The tournament was notable for a tornado that struck downtown Atlanta, causing the site of the tournament to be moved to Georgia Tech.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Winner of the 2008 SEC Basketball Tournament | The University of Georgia |
| Tournament dates | March 13-16, 2008 |
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Venue | Georgia Dome (until March 14); Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Georgia Tech (from March 15) |
| MVP | Sundiata Gaines, Georgia |
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What You'll Learn
The University of Georgia won the tournament
The University of Georgia won the 2008 SEC men's basketball tournament, which took place from March 13–16, 2008, in Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia's victory came as a surprise to many, as they were one of the two lowest seeds in the tournament, entering with a 13-16 record.
The tournament was marked by a tornado that struck downtown Atlanta on the night of March 14, during overtime of the quarterfinal game between Mississippi State and Alabama. The storm caused severe damage to the Georgia Dome, tearing open a panel on the north side of the dome and sending bolts and insulation falling into the arena. As a result, the remainder of the tournament was moved to the smaller Alexander Memorial Coliseum on the campus of Georgia Tech, a former SEC member. Due to the reduced capacity, only players' families, friends, bands, cheerleaders, and persons with working credentials were admitted to the games.
Georgia's road to the championship included victories over Ole Miss, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Arkansas. They won the last three games in a span of just 30 hours, an impressive feat. The team was led by coach Dennis Felton, and their victory earned them the Southeastern Conference's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA tournament.
The SEC Championship Game was produced by CBS but aired on ESPN2, with announcers Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery. Georgia's Sundiata Gaines was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, with Terrance Woodbury and Charles Thomas also recognised for their contributions to the team's success.
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The tournament was relocated
The 2008 SEC men's basketball tournament was scheduled to take place at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, from March 13 to 16, 2008. However, the tournament was disrupted by a tornado that struck downtown Atlanta on the night of March 14, while the third of four quarterfinal games was in overtime. The storm tore a panel on the north side of the dome, and bolts and insulation fell into the arena.
Due to the severe damage suffered by the Georgia Dome, SEC officials decided to relocate the tournament to Georgia Tech's Alexander Memorial Coliseum (now known as the McCamish Pavilion), a school in the Atlantic Coast Conference and a former SEC member. The decision was made to prioritize the safety of the players, fans, and staff. The quarterfinal game between the University of Kentucky and the University of Georgia, which was originally scheduled for Friday night, was postponed and rescheduled for Saturday at noon.
The remainder of the tournament, including the semifinals and finals, was played at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The move to a smaller arena meant that attendance had to be limited. Only the players' families, credentialed media, school officials, and a limited number of fans from each school were allowed to attend. The SEC lost a significant amount of money due to ticket refunds, and the tournament incurred additional costs associated with the relocation.
The University of Georgia emerged as the unexpected winner of the 2008 SEC men's basketball tournament, earning the Southeastern Conference's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA tournament. This was Georgia's first SEC men's basketball tournament championship since 1983, and they achieved it by winning three games in 30 hours, including two games on Saturday. They defeated Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Arkansas in quick succession to claim the title.
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Georgia was the lowest seed to qualify
The 2008 SEC men's basketball tournament was held in Atlanta, Georgia, from March 13 to 16. The tournament was originally scheduled to be played at the Georgia Dome, but a tornado struck downtown Atlanta on the night of March 14, while the third of four quarterfinal games was in overtime. The storm tore open a panel on the north side of the dome, and bolts and insulation fell into the arena.
The quarterfinal between the University of Kentucky and the University of Georgia was postponed until Saturday morning and played at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum on the campus of Georgia Tech, along with all subsequent games. Due to the smaller capacity, only the players' families, credentialed media, school officials, and 400 fans from each school were allowed to attend.
Georgia, one of the two lowest seeds, won the tournament, earning the Southeastern Conference's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA tournament. Georgia had entered the tournament with a 13-16 record. The Bulldogs upset Ole Miss by two points in the first round, then defeated Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Arkansas in the last three games over two days (30 hours).
The 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship involved 65 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball national champion for the 2007-08 season. The tournament began on March 18, 2008, and concluded with the championship game on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
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Kansas won the 2008 NCAA tournament
The 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game saw Kansas beat Memphis 75-68 in an overtime thriller. This was Kansas's third national championship, their first since 1988.
Kansas had a strong start, with Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers helping the team to a 22-15 lead. However, Memphis fought back, and the game was tied 28-28. Kansas pulled ahead again, leading 33-28 at halftime. The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with Memphis taking a narrow lead at one point. In the final minutes, Kansas made a comeback, with Arthur and Sherron Collins making key shots to cut Memphis's lead. With just seconds left, Mario Chalmers tied the game with a 3-pointer, forcing overtime. In the extra period, Kansas pulled away, with Brandon Rush, Arthur, and Darnell Jackson making key baskets. The game ended with a score of 75-68 for Kansas, securing their victory.
The road to the championship game for Kansas began with a strong performance in the Elite Eight, where they beat Davidson 59-57, overcoming Stephen Curry's impressive 25 points. In the Final Four, Kansas faced North Carolina, coached by former Kansas coach Roy Williams. Kansas emerged victorious with a score of 84-66, thanks in part to Brandon Rush's 25 points. This set up the thrilling final against Memphis, who entered the tournament as the #1 seed in the South Regional and had an impressive 38-win season (later vacated).
The 2008 NCAA tournament was notable for being the eighth tournament with a 65-team bracket. It was also the first time that all four No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four: Kansas, Memphis, North Carolina, and UCLA. The tournament featured several exciting games and memorable performances, but in the end, it was Kansas who lifted the trophy, etching their name in the history books.
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The championship game was televised by ESPN2
The 2008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament was held in Atlanta, Georgia, from March 13 to March 16. The championship game was originally scheduled to be televised by CBS but was aired on ESPN2 instead. This change was due to the SEC's decision to move the tip time to 3:30 p.m. (EDT), which conflicted with CBS's telecast of the Big Ten tournament final. Despite the change, CBS still produced the game, with announcers Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery.
The tournament was marked by a tornado that struck downtown Atlanta on March 14, causing damage to the Georgia Dome where the games were being played. As a result, the remaining games were moved to the smaller Alexander Memorial Coliseum on the campus of Georgia Tech. Only players' families, friends, bands, cheerleaders, and persons with working credentials were admitted to the new venue due to its reduced capacity.
The University of Georgia emerged as the unexpected winner of the tournament, earning the Southeastern Conference's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA tournament. Georgia's victory was particularly notable given their low seeding and previous record of 13-16. They defeated Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Arkansas in their final three games, capping off a remarkable run of wins.
The 2008 SEC tournament was filled with upsets, contrasting the relatively stable 2007 tournament. Georgia's victory exemplified this trend, as they became the lowest-seeded major conference team in the tournament with a #14 seed. The move to ESPN2 for the championship game added to the unique circumstances surrounding the tournament, making it one of the most memorable in SEC history.
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Frequently asked questions
The University of Georgia won the 2008 SEC basketball tournament.
The 2008 SEC basketball tournament is often referred to as the "weirdest SEC basketball tournament on record" because a tornado ripped through downtown Atlanta during a Mississippi State-Alabama game, resulting in the relocation of the tournament to Georgia Tech.
The University of Georgia was playing against the University of Kentucky when the tornado struck the Georgia Dome on the night of March 14, 2008.
Kansas won the 2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, defeating Memphis 75-68 in overtime.
