Mercer women set for big stage against Georgia in NCAA Tournament
The stage is one Susie Gardner has been on as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.
It's one Mercer has watched from afar, on TV. Now, the Bears are on it.
Mercer makes its NCAA Tournament Division I debut on ESPN 2 Saturday at 1 at Georgia, wit the natural wonder about not letting the moment get too big.
The Bears got over a major hump by winning the Southern Conference tournament, and have won 27 straight games.
But this is the NCAA Tournament, Division I style.
Contrary to assorted reports, this isn't Mercer's NCAA Tournament debut. The Bears were a strong small-school program in the early years, and reached the NCAA Division II Final four in 1984-85.
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The Bears lost 94-78 to Georgia that year.
It'll be quite the day for Mercer head coach Susie Gardner.
She's playing her alma mater, and the ESPN2 analyst is Amanda Butler, her former boss at Florida. Gardner was a Gator assistant when she was hired at Mercer back in June of 2010.
“I’ll tell you right now, I’ve been there and this is my 14th time but I’m so excited that these guys can finally experience wheat we’re experiencing,” Gardner said. “It’s been an amazing season and we’re just really thankful and happy to be in the NCAA tournament.”
There's a feeling of confidence around Mercer, which hasn't lost since falling to Georgia and Western Kentucky way back in November.
But Georgia is nearing its heyday of the Andy Landers days. The Bulldogs losses this year are only to ranked teams, although three have been by 28 (to Texas), 24 (to Mississipi State), and 22 to South Carolina. The first two were at home, the latter was Georgia's last game, in the SEC Tournament.
Georgia is 25-6, its best regular-season record since 2006-07, and is hosting for the first time since 2003.
So there could be some wide eyes for the Bulldogs, having such a good year.
Or not.
"They're too naive to be nervous," Georgia head coach Joni Taylor said. "They have no idea what they're walking into, which has made them great all year long, which continues to make them great.
"And our freshmen have done a tremendous job all year long of following the lead of our upperclassmen and our more experienced players. When they're steady, our freshmen are steady. But no, they have not shown any nerves at all."
Of course, that was before game day, and what's likely to be a sizable Mercer crowd thrilled to be in the tournament and to be playing only 90 miles from home.
Both teams are different than the ones that played at Hawkins Arena so long ago.
"I think their guard play is what stands out the most," Georgia guard Haley Clark said. "We have to lock in and defend their guards as well as we did the first time. Having a challenge on the defensive end is always something exciting and that I take pride in."
Southern Conference player of the year Kahlia Lawrence struggled through a 6-of-20 shooting day in the first game, had only one rebound, and no assists. And was the Bears' lone double-figure scorer.
"It's super exciting because (Lawrence) she has very quick pull up and jump shot so I'm up to the challenge and I'm looking forward to it," Clark said.
KeKe Calloway, Mercer's prime deep perimeter threat, was 1-for-5 from the floor in that game, and Mercer shot 35.1 percent.
The Bears led 12-7 after one, but the Bulldogs took control with a 25-12 second quarter, and then sealed it with a 27-17 fourth quarter.
Mercer as a road underdog can’t afford to get too far behind or dig any holes. But it’s a veteran team.
“When you look at the seniors and juniors she’s had, they’ve been in this moment many times,” Taylor said. “Mercer has won the regular season conference the last two or three years, they just didn’t win their conference championship, which would allow them to go to the tournament. You’re looking at a team that just executes well, they know each other, they know where each individual’s going to be, and who needs to get the ball and win.”