History of the Early Southern Conference Atlanta Basketball Tournament
- 1928 -

Results

First Round: (Friday, February 24, 1928)

Quarterfinals: (Saturday, February 25, 1928)

Semifinals: (Monday, February 27, 1928)

Finals: (Tuesday, February 28, 1928)

Preview

Original pairings. Note that Virginia later was slotted to face Alabama
Originally 15 teams were slotted to paricipate in the tournament, with Virginia receiving a bye in the first round. However by the time the tournament was played, Alabama joined the field late and was slotted into the open spot.

Four teams entered the tournament with one loss in the regular season: Auburn (12-1), Mississippi A.& M. (10-1), North Carolina (8-1) and Kentucky (8-1). These four teams received seeds in the field. Maryland was also 8-1 in the regular season but did not participate in the tournament. Defending champion Vanderbilt did not submit an application.

The prices for the tournament were set to be $1.00 downstairs and 50 cents for the upper level for Friday's games. The prices for the Saturday games were raised to $2.00 and $1.00 respectively.

Members of the committee included chairman W.A. Alexander (Georgia Tech), Al Doonan (Atlanta Athletic Club), H.J. Stegeman (Georgia), Dan McGugin (Vanderbilt), R.A. Smith (Washington & Lee) and Wilbur Smith (Tulane).

These, boys and girls, are they. Meaning, of course, a few of the many stars who cavorted Saturday afternoon and night upon the especially constructed court at the city auditorium where the southern conference basketball tournament is holding forth. Each of the lads pictured herewith represents a different team and each of the lads pictured herewith is of immeasurable value to his team. At the left is none other than Fob James, brother of Ebb James, and star guard on the Auburn quint. Next is Slim Drew, who centers for the University of Georgia. And then, there's Hank Heeke, of Tech, just getting ready to flip one in for two points. Hank is good at that. Combs, one of the Kentucky Wildcats, and a good basketball player, is posed next to Heeke. The determined looking lad in the dark uniform is DeWitt Laird, a smooth working, steady guard if there ever was one. Laird is on the Ole Miss team, which has caused trouble and consternation aplenty in this man's tournament. Standing down there under his arm is Mr. Fayonsky, guard for the University of Virginia. The crouching figure coming up next is McElveen, center for the Mississippi Aggies. The figure on the right jumping up for he ball is Gershan, Louisiana State University center. - Atlanta Constitution, February 26, 1928.

Individual Games

Friday, February 24, 1928 - First Round

"Seeing a basketball game from what might be termed an inverted bird's eye view does not give one a particularly good impression of the games. By standing on tiptoe on the press bench alongside the platform we were able to get a very passable view of a lot of very masculine basketball limbs tied to a lot of vari-colored undies, racing back and forth from one end of the platform to the other without any apparent reason.

Yes, on second thought, there was a reason for all of it. Somebody was trying to win something and according to the big fellows who could see over the edge of the platform all of the time, several teams did win something. Just what good it did to win is a question. Just take for example the case of Georgia Tech. The Jackets beat Florida - we are told on very good authority - and now they must play again today while the 'Gators can rest. Now is that Justice?" - ("Hawk-eye-ing Sports" by Dick Hawkins, Atlanta Constitution, February 25, 1928.)

Saturday, February 25, 1928 - Quarterfinals

Tournament Bracket of 1928 after Friday's games

Monday, February 27, 1928 - Semifinals

Tuesday, February 28, 1928 - Finals

Postscript

1928 All-Tournament Team

All will agree that the southern conference tournament was a success. That is to say, all except the Atlanta Athletic Club, under whose supervision the tourney was staged.

A careful check by Al Doonan, athletic director of the club, shows that the tournament this year realized a gross gate of $9,818 as against $9,100 received through the same channels last year when the club realized some profit on the venture for the first time.

But this year they must take care of two more teams and one more official with other expenses at least as large if not larger. It is still too early to compile all the expenses, but it is the opinion of Mr. Doonan that the expenses this year will run about $1,000 more than they did last year. By this figuring it is evident that the club will not be able to pay off their indebtedness on the profeit of the tournament.

It does not take a mathematician to figure that with something like $800 more receipts and $1,000 more expenses, the net profit willnot increase materially this year.

But fortunately the public does not have to share the anxiety of the club on this score. All the public has to worry about this year is past the worrying stage. The tournament was a great success from every angle involving the public. And that is probably that.
("Hawk-eye-ing Sports" by Dick Hawkins, Atlanta Constitution, March 1, 1928.)

1927Main1929

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