Georgia men's basketball players voted Sunday afternoon to decline an invitation to the NIT, one day after Bulldogs coach Mark Fox was fired after nine seasons.
Fox held a news conference Sunday after giving his players the option of continuing their 18-15 season. He offered to coach in the NIT, but the players decided to call it a year.
Georgia's postseason tally under Fox wound up consisting of two NCAA tournament trips (2011, '15), three NIT journeys (2014, '16, '17) and four years in which its season ended in the Southeastern Conference tournament. The Bulldogs went 0-2 in NCAA tournament games under Fox and 2-3 in NIT games.
Fox has been a head coach for 14 seasons, having spent five years at Nevada before coming to Athens, and is planning to add many more.
"I still want to coach and coach at a place where we can have some success," Fox said Sunday. "I've had some calls already."
Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said in a release Saturday night that he would conduct a search national in scope and that he would move as quickly as possible. ESPN reported Sunday that Georgia is scheduled to meet with former Ohio State coach Thad Matta today.
Matta, who guided the Buckeyes to NCAA Final Four appearances in 2007 and 2012, met with Ole Miss officials earlier this month.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.