Felton not feeling heat


ATLANTA -- If the Southeastern Conference tournament was supposed to represent a referendum on the future of Georgia basketball coach Dennis Felton, then the opening round merely served to muddy the issue.

A Georgia team that came to Atlanta with 11 losses in its last 13 games and nothing to play for put together an extraordinary effort to outlast Ole Miss 97-95 in overtime.

Center Dave Bliss, the least appealing offensive option at the end of the game, hit a 6-foot bank shot as the clock expired to send the Bulldogs (14-16) into Friday night’s second round matchup against Kentucky. In doing so, Bliss may have provided a temporary stay for Felton, who has yet to receive a vote of confidence from athletic director Damon Evans.

When asked after the game whether he felt Thursday night’s victory answered his critics, Felton was non-plussed.

"I didn't know I had any critics,'' Felton said. "They just haven't surfaced as far as I'm concerned. How could I possibly sit here and do Damon Evans' thinking for him? That's a question that's suited for Damon.''

Evans' decision will certainly be guided by Felton's overall body of work rather than what happens in Atlanta, but Thursday night should have been seen as a positive.

Georgia played with intensity that belied a team with a 4-12 conference record. The Bulldogs nearly fumbled the game away by committing fouls on last-ditch 3-point shots, once at the end of regulation and once at the end of overtime, enabling the Rebels to force ties. At the same time, they finally finished off a game against a quality opponent.

"For our team to actually finish up the game, which we hadn't done in a long time, I think that is real special,'' said point guard Sundiata Gaines, who converted 11-of-13 free throws and finished with 22 points.