Georgia State Basketball: 3 keys for Round of 64 matchup against Gonzaga

Embrace the Moment

This should be a key for every single team playing in the NCAA tournament. This week will be like anything that Georgia State has experienced all season. There are going to be TV cameras everywhere, meet and greets, mandatory team activities related to the tournament, and perhaps most important fans.

The GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta only seats a little over 3,800 fans. The Moda Center in Portland which is the site of the first-round game seats just a little under 20,000. That is going to be a drastic change and it is safe to say this will be the most fans that the Panthers have played in front of all year.

While it can be overwhelming to play in that many fans in this environment, it is also something that makes other players thrive. Coach Lanier is going to preach to his guys to just go out and have fun and embrace the atmosphere because it is as good as it gets in the sport. 16 seed or not this is going to be a lot of fun for Georgia State.

Emotions are always going to run high in this environment because of what is at stake. Enjoy it, embrace it and take it all in. The game is important, but the experience is something that will last a lifetime.

I have talked to many players who have played in an NCAA tournament and whether those players were on a winning team or a losing team, they have all said that the experience and the atmosphere of the tournament were next to none. It was like nothing they had ever experienced in their career. Enjoy it Panthers, you earned it!