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Tennis Live:
Alright Harry, it’s all complete. It’s all done the NCAA Championships, we’ve been breaking it down, round by round, week by week, and that is it. We’ve reached the end of the road, and we will start with the men. We talked about it last week just before the match was played, and it was Georgia vs. Texas. Georgia goes back-to-back, they won this one 4-2. What are your thoughts?
Harry Cicma:
Well, I think the Bulldogs, I mean finally we made a prediction that held true here on Tennis Live College Corner. You know we did say that Manuel Diaz, Luis Flores and their squad was the stronger, more experienced program going into that final match. Texas really gave a valiant effort. A fantastic tournament for the Longhorns, tip your hat to them. I mean it’s unbelievable that The University Virginia was not in the final of this tournament, but the Bulls beat the Cavs, and they were able to go through and win back-to-back titles.
Tennis Live:
Harry the thing was they were down 0-2 in this one and managed to battle back, and they haven’t found themselves down I believe at all throughout the whole tournament. So they were faced with some adversities in the final with the pressure on them as the favorites, and they still came through.
Harry Cicma:
Well that is the experience, that’s the heart, that’s the dedication, and really that’s what a champion does. This is why they are defending champs. I mean it really was all experience. That’s what pulled the Bulldogs through and I’m sure they would agree with you. Actually, I will be speaking to Luis Flores next week. I hope to get that on Tennis Live, if not I will definitely report as to what he said. I mean these guys have a lot of experience. Many of them played in the Junior US Open. Obviously they did it last year. When your down 2-0 in the final of the NCAA National Tournament on national TV, ESPN News only the champion survive and Georgia Bulldogs again 2008 hold the crown…well deserved.
Tennis Live:
Luis Flores, he was one of three Bull Dogs to be named to the All Tournament Team. He went 7-0 throughout the tournament. Schnugg was 9-0, and Jamie Hunt, the sophomore which we talked about last week, he was 4-0. So those three guys an excellent tournament team as well, but the three of them made the All Tournament Team.
Harry Cicma:
Absolutely! I mean Hunt, you have to 'tip your hat' to. Here is the guy who is a sophomore clinching matches in the round of 4…. so really the youth movement there is also on the rise. I mean they lose Isner last year. Flores is obviously up in the ranks now, upper classman, but they have the youth moving in there. I think Georgia is here to stay for a long time. I heard a report from a few of my friends that used to play for the University Virginia, the team is still very demoralized that they didn’t make the finals and their undefeated season ended. I mean it’s still a pretty tough experience to them because I also have been in a situation like that when I was in high school. I was undefeated and beat everyone twice in singles, a heavy favorite. It was a dream of mine to win the state tournament here in Rhode Island, and I actually didn’t do that. But I mean things like that... the Patriots and you’re a heavy favorite to beat everyone, and then you lose, it is something you will never forget. But it definitely does make you stronger, and guys like Somdev Devvarman, the singles champion, he went on to win the singles 6-3, 6-2 over John-Patrick Smith of Tennessee. Repeating the singles title that’s just going to make him stronger. The fact that the team lost is something that’s going to keep him humble when his pro career begins...and you better believe Devvarman is going to have a great pro career like his colleague John Isner.
**For the complete interview, go to http://www.tennisliveradio.com/CollegeCorner.aspx**
