UGA hoops makes plans for November tournament

Georgia will take part in the Global Sports Invitational during the 2020-21 basketball season, with the Bulldogs serving as “host” for the multi-team event that will also feature Charleston Southern, SMU and Wofford.

Georgia will entertain Wofford and Charleston Southern at Stegeman Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 16 and Sunday, Nov. 22, respectively, and round out the tourney with a trip to SMU on Wed. Nov. 25. The Bulldogs’ trip to SMU will complete a home-and-home series with the Mustangs. A complete schedule for the round-robin event is listed below.

All three of Georgia’s games will have “homecoming” implications. Wofford head coach Jay McAuley was a four-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs from 2003-06. Charleston Southern senior Phlandrous “Phlan” Fleming, Jr., is an Athens native who starred at Cedar Shoals High School. Georgia sophomores Sahvir Wheeler and Tyron McMillan played high school basketball in Texas.

McAuley, a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, helped the Bulldogs secure postseason bids to the NIT as a freshman in 2004 and a senior in 2006. He played in 46 games during his career, including a pair of starts as a junior. McAuley’s best two games came during his junior season against Clemson – when he played all 40 minutes, scored six points and handed out five assists – and at Kentucky – when he scored a career-high eight points. He served as a team co-captain for the Bulldogs as a senior and was awarded the team’s “Heart and Hustle” Award. McAuley is in his second season as the Terriers’ head coach.

Fleming led Cedar Shoals’ Jaguars to a runner-up finish in the Georgia Class 5A State Tournament as a senior in 2017. He also was named the Class 5A Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal Constitution that season and also was a two-time all-state honoree. Last season, Fleming was the Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Big South after averaging 17.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game for the Buccaneers. Fleming already is just the second player in Charleston Southern history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 steals and 50 blocks.

Wheeler, who was a consensus top-100 prospect in the Class of 2019, led Houston Christian High School to back-to-back Southwest Prep state titles in 2018 and 2019. He was named the Houston Private School Most Valuable Player by the Houston Chronicle as a senior. McMillan will join the Bulldogs as a sophomore after playing at Kilgore (Texas) College last season. He averaged 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season en route to earning All-Region 14 honors.

Wheeler propelled the Bulldogs to an 87-85 win over SMU in double-overtime last season at Stegeman Coliseum. He scored with four seconds left in the first overtime to tie the score and extend the game and split two defenders and scored with 1.9 seconds remaining in second OT to secure the victory. Wheeler started 17 of 31 games played as a freshman and broke the Bulldogs’ freshman assists record with 139 on the season.

The Georgia Bulldog Club's 2020-21 Basketball Enhancement Fund (BEF) campaign is now underway. Donors who are interested in renewing their support, as well as fans looking to make their first contribution toward Georgia Men's Basketball, can visit georgiadogs.com/donate or contact The Georgia Bulldog Club by phone at 877-423-2947. Flexible payment plans are available by credit card only through completion of a 2020 BEF membership form or by contacting TGBC by phone with payment information. Personalized renewal packages will also be mailed to 2019 BEF contributors. The minimum donation requirement to qualify for renewable season tickets is $150 per seat. All donations must be made by August 14th to receive a season ticket application, which is due September 15th. 

BEF contributions help provide essential support for student-athlete scholarships, academic support, training and nutrition, travel assistance, recruiting and equipment upgrades. BEF donors enjoy access to exclusive men's basketball benefits including renewable season tickets, game day parking and hospitality and postseason ticket request opportunities. 

Digital tickets will be implemented for the 2020-21 basketball season. Digital tickets, in collaboration with new pedestal scanners, will provide fans a contactless entry to all games. Fans will no longer receive printed tickets in the mail but will have the option to have mobile delivery or print at home. More information on digital tickets will be announced leading up to the season.

Global Sports Invitational Schedule

Mon.       Nov. 16  Wofford at Georgia

                                Charleston Southern at SMU

Fri.          Nov. 20  Charleston Southern at Wofford

Sun.        Nov. 22  Charleston Southern at Georgia

                                Wofford at SMU

Wed.       Nov. 25  Georgia at SMU

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