Peach State Native Leads His Team to 2013 NCAA Sweet 16

The strongest tie Georgia has to the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is, of course, the Final Four being played in the Georgia Dome on April 6 and 8.

But, despite having no local teams included on the March Madness brackets, Georgia has another strong tie-in — courtesy of Florida Gulf Coast's remarkable run to the Sweet 16.

FGSU, the first No. 15 seed to reach the Sweet Sixteen, plays Florida Friday in Dallas.

In the Eagles' upsets of Georgetown and San Diego State, Peach State native Bernard Thompson has been one of the biggest reasons for victory.

The 6-foot-6 sophomore from Conyers, Ga. (Rockdale County High) scored 23 points in each the 78-68 win over Georgetown and 81-71 win over San Diego State last week.

Thompson averages 14.5 points for the season.

Three other Georgia natives also made the Sweet 16: Rion Brown (Hinesville, Ga./Liberty County High), Miami; Shannon Scott (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton High), Ohio State, Tony Woods (Rome, Ga./Rome High), Oregon.

Brown scored 21 points in Miami's 63-59 win over Illinois, Scott scored 13 points total in wins over Iona and Iowa State, and Woods chipped in six points in wins over Oklahoma State and St. Louis.

Las Vegas oddsmakers still have Louisville favored to win the NCAA tournament.

Your Sweet Sixteen:

Louisville v. Oregon

Kansas v. Michigan

Florida v. Florida Gulf Coast

Indiana v. Syracuse

Marquette v. Miam

Michigan State v. Duke

Witchita State v. La Salle

Arizona v. Ohio State