With dinner, cupcakes, and confetti, the Georgetown Hoyas gathered to watch the NCAA selection show. With them were friends, family, coaches, the pep band, cheerleaders, and even Jack the mascot.
As balloons adorned the tables at the Faculty Club, smiles in the crowd reflected the festive mood Monday night.
“Everyone’s healthy, we’ve got fresh legs, let’s go,” coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said.
The selection show revealed a No. 5 seed for Georgetown, matching its highest in program history. The Hoyas (22-8) will meet Fresno State (28-5) on Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Should they advance, they’ll play either No. 4 seed Georgia Tech or No. 13 Sacred Heart on Tuesday.
“I told them from day one and as soon as we started practice today, we didn’t really care where we were going, who we were playing,” Williams-Flournoy said. “At this point, we’ve been off for almost a week-and-a-half, and we just want to play.”
As “Georgetown” flashed across the big screen, cameras flashed and people stood to cheer. It was a celebration.
Unlike her first selection show and trip to the NCAA tournament, senior Tia Magee was able to enjoy the celebrating this time around and called it a night of excitement.
“My sophomore year, it was my first time, so it was a really, really nervous feeling,” Magee said. “You didn’t really know what to expect. Now I’m a senior, and this will be our third time going, I’m a little more experienced. There’s still a little nervous feeling because it’s my last time. It’s kind of an anxious excitement.”
This feeling however, is fuel for the senior.
“I love it. You know, this is what you work for. All of the games, and the practices … this is your time to shine. It’s really exciting. I love this feeling,” Magee said.
The Hoyas are veterans to postseason play and confident that they can perform on college basketball’s most prestigious stage.
“Everybody knows what it’s like to be in a tournament,” senior point guard Rubylee Wright said. “Everybody knows what its going to take, and the different type of level to get into the Sweet 16, the energy and everything. Everybody just knows what it’s like, so I think everybody’s prepared.”
The Hoyas will be making their third NCAA trip in four years; it will be the fifth straight appearance for Fresno State.
“[Our seniors] brought us,” Williams-Flournoy said. “They started it, taking us to the NCAA tournament. So, what better way for them to go out, taking us all back to the NCAA tournament. I think they’re excited. I think they’re extremely pumped, and I think they’re ready to go.”
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