Judge denies UGA restraining order

Georgia/ Jim Harrick Timeline Feb. 27, 2003 Ex-player Cole accuses Georgia of fixing grades, paying bills Feb. 28, 2003 UGA suspends assistant coach Jim Harrick Jr. after allegations March 1, 2003 Cole: I used Harrick Sr.'s credit card to buy 28-inch TV March 3, 2003 More trouble? Rhode Island launches investigation into Harricks March 4, 2003 NCAA, Georgia question current Bulldog players Wright, Daniels March 4, 2003 Harrick denies all of Cole's heavy allegations in TV interview March 5, 2003 Georgia fires assistant Harrick Jr. March 5, 2003 Mandel: Party could end early for Harrick, Georgia March 7, 2003 Layden: UGA, others mire college hoops in hypocrisy March 8, 2003 Arrest warrant issued for Ex-Bulldog Cole for bad check March 8, 2003 Harrick accused of tampering with grades at Rhode Island March 10, 2003 UGA suspends Harrick, bans itself from postseason play March 10, 2003 Mandel: Harrick will always be remembered as a cheater March 12, 2003 Judge denies UGA players' restraining order request March 12, 2003 Mandel: No quick fix for college basketball's problems March 27, 2003 Harrick resigns from UGA job, retires from coaching

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Two Georgia basketball players sued Wednesday for the right to play in the conference and NCAA tournaments, but a judge quickly denied their request for a temporary restraining order.

The university pulled out of the tournaments Monday after an investigation showed evidence of academic fraud by players.

Starters Ezra Williams and Steven Thomas -- who were not accused of wrongdoing -- asked that the school be compelled to try to play in the tournaments. The suit names the school, the board of regents and the university athletics association.

Judge David Sweat denied the temporary restraining order, but scheduled a hearing for Monday, according to his clerk, Sophia Tooten. That would be too late for Georgia, since the Southeastern Conference tournament will be over Sunday and the NCAA tournament field will be announced later that day.

When asked whether there was any possibility of having an alternate team selected based on how the lawsuit turns out, selection committee chairman Jim Livengood said it would be "impossible to speculate."

"The bracket we put out Sunday night is the bracket we intend to play Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the next week," he said.

The NIT also selects its field Sunday night, so it's unlikely the Bulldogs would have that option.

"If we reserved a spot for them depending on how the hearing goes, that's not fair to the other teams who brought their players back to practice," NIT executive director Jack Powers said. "I do feel bad for the Georgia kids. It's ridiculous."

UGA fans rally Select a link to launch a video clip Students and fans question why the Georgia basketball team is being punished. Jonas Hayes appreciates the support fans have shown during Georgia's troubled times. Video Plus Visit Video Plus for all the latest video and audio.

Williams, a senior, and Thomas, a junior, claim that their ability to get NBA contracts will be hurt if they are denied the chance to play in the postseason. They also say the team was not given proper notice before the school withdrew from the tournaments, and by taking such action Georgia breached the terms of the players' scholarships.

More than 300 Georgia basketball fans dressed in red and black rallied outside the university's administration building Wednesday afternoon to support the basketball players.

"When I first came in and saw all the people, it almost brought tears to my eyes," junior guard Jarvis Hayes said after the rally.

Hayes, along with his brother Jonas and guard Damien Wilkins, showed up about 30 minutes after the rally began. Fans have proposed for the team to play in an exhibition game after spring break.

The Bulldogs were supposed to meet Arkansas on Thursday in the SEC tournament at New Orleans. Instead, the conference rearranged its brackets, giving Tennessee a first-round bye and scheduling only three games instead of four on the opening day.

SEC spokesman Charles Bloom said it would have been difficult to juggle the brackets again. Under the new seedings, Tennessee has a first-round bye and is not scheduled to arrive in New Orleans until Thursday. If Georgia were in the tournament, the Volunteers would have to play that day.

Georgia (19-8, 11-5 SEC) was certain to receive a third straight invitation to the NCAA tournament, which would have been the longest such streak in school history.

On Monday, school president Michael Adams and athletic director Vince Dooley announced that the No. 21 Bulldogs' season was over because two players committed academic fraud in a class taught by coach Jim Harrick's son.

Dooley said the school has found no evidence that Harrick was directly involved. Jim Harrick Jr., an assistant coach, was fired last week.

The investigation was sparked by former player Tony Cole, who was kicked off the team last year. He accused Harrick Jr. of paying his bills, doing schoolwork and teaching the sham class on coaching.

Cole said he never attended the coaching class but received an A. Two other players -- starters Chris Daniels and Rashad Wright -- were also in the class and got As. They were declared ineligible Monday for academic fraud and unethical conduct.

 

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