Bulldogs, Jackets eye bragging rights tonight

Backyard bragging rights will be on the line today when Georgia and Georgia Tech renew their basketball rivalry.

Most of Georgia's roster hails from Atlanta and many players from both sides have squared off against their opponents tonight well before they became Yellow Jackets and Bulldogs.

"I've got a lot of family there and I'm kind of cool with all their players," said Georgia's Travis Leslie, a Decatur native. "If we get the win, I can talk a lot of trash."

Georgia (5-2) will play Georgia Tech (4-3) at 7 p.m. at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

Of Georgia's 12 players on its roster, 10 come from the greater Atlanta area and are familiar with several of the Yellow Jackets after playing high school, summer league and pickup ball.

"We're all friends with each other," said Georgia forward and College Park native Chris Barnes. "In the summer we all hang out. We hang out during the year. So just to win the game, you've got those bragging rights throughout the year until the next game comes up. So whoever wins can hold it over the persons' heads the whole year."

The home team has won all but one game since the rivalry moved to its current home-and-home format after the 1995 season. Georgia scored the lone road victory with a 75-70 decision in 2000 at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Last season, Georgia beat then-No. 20 Georgia Tech 73-66 in Athens.

"It's a big thing because when you're in Atlanta, all you hear is Georgia Tech this and Georgia Tech that," Barnes said. "I went to Georgia so I've got to represent my school. If we get this win, it's going to be pretty big and I can go back and start bragging about how we beat them in their gym."

Georgia freshman Donte' Williams and Georgia Tech sophomore Mfon Udofia played together at Miller Grove. Georgia Tech redshirt freshman Daniel Miller originally signed with Georgia but opted out and joined the Yellow Jackets.

"It's big, we all know those guys," said Georgia guard Dustin Ware of Powder Springs. "It's been a big rivalry for a long time. Now we're just focusing on playing well. We know a lot of those guys. Georgia Tech's had a great program, they've had a great history in the ACC."

"But we're not really focused on the history of it. We're just trying to get another win."

Today's game is a bit of a departure from recent scheduling. The game will take place while school is still in session. In the last four years, the game was played during the semester break.

"We think it's healthy for us to play Tech," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "I kind of spearheaded the movement to have the game when the students are in session. That's one thing I was pretty publically adamant about last year. We should play when the students are in session and maybe make it a more hostile environment than if you have the game at Christmas time."

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