George Washington University Athletics
T.J.'s Take
3/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 17, 2005
Senior co-captain T.J. Thompson, who has played in 116 games in his career at George Washington, recently helped lead the Colonials to their first Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Thompson will be providing his unique insight and inside perspective into his experiences with his teammates as 12th-seeded GW prepares for its first round match-up with fifth-seeded Georgia Tech Friday night at the Gaylord Center in Nashville, TN.
It's been a few days since our Atlantic 10 Championship victory on Saturday, March 12, and after the game it was a great feeling because we knew we finally made the (NCAA) Tournament. We didn't have to wait and see if we were going to get in because we had clinched. There was no need to sweat out whether we were going to receive an at-large bid. On Sunday, when we finally saw GW on the screen it was just the greatest feeling. When I first came here, we were the worst team in the Atlantic 10 and to leave on top is no greater feeling.
Earlier on Sunday it was exciting when we got back in the morning because people knew we had won the A-10 Championship and were going to the `Big Dance.' Later in the day we had a great time when we went to coach Hobbs' house to watch the selection show, but one of the best things about the whole deal was when I walked in and saw all the media, TV cameras and the attention we are getting. People don't really notice us too much throughout the year because we are competing for local exposure with schools like Maryland and Georgetown, so to finally get all the attention on us felt good.
The send-off we had on Tuesday at Smith Center was great. The rally for our team began actually in Cincinnati when we went to the bus for our semifinal game. The band and the cheerleaders were both out there cheering and rooting for us, so it kind of gave us a little taste of what was coming. But the send-off was great on Tuesday because to have alumni, GW staff and employees, the band, fans and the media all there to watch us get on the bus for our flight to Nashville was a really great scene.
We were able to get back to practice on Wednesday and I thought the session was good. I'm glad we came down here early because now we are able to get away from the hype a little bit and people pumping us up because this is our first tournament. We can't allow those kind of things to go to our heads, so I felt that was important. But, practice today was great. Guys were focused and they came to play. We know the game is still a couple of days away, but we feel as if we are ready to go now and can't wait to go out and play.
The mood at practice was definitely focused, and a little anxious, because this time last year we were focusing on playing Virginia in the NIT. It was just a different mentality. Now, we know we are playing on national TV, everybody is going to watch and thousands of fans will be in attendance, so I am just excited and thankful for the opportunity.
After practice we were able to spend a couple of hours at the mall, which was relaxing. Following all the media attention we've received the past few days, we just needed some time to get away to have some time to ourselves. Alex (Kireev) and I played miniature golf in the mall and that relaxed us out. It was good down time. Later on for dinner, we went out as a team and we don't usually get to go out. To finally have a team meal at a restaurant, and not in the hotel, felt really good. To have a steak instead of chicken fingers every night was something special.
I'm looking forward to our open practice at the Gaylord Center Thursday night. I've never been around such a big deal just for practice and our press conferences will be interesting as well. I'm used to watching other people go on press conferences and praying it would be me one day. Well, tomorrow it's finally happening. I can't wait and I'm also anxious for the open practice so people can actually see how good and talented our team is because I feel like we have not been getting the respect we deserve.
- T.J.
Log on Thursday for T.J.'s continuing diary from Nashville at the NCAA Tournament...
