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UGA players decide not to play in NIT Tournament after coach fired

Credit: Andy Lyons
ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 08: Mark Fox the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs talks with William Jackson II #0 during the 62-60 win over the Missouri Tigers during the second round of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 8, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Georgia Bulldogs won't accept an invitation to the NIT Postseason Tournament, former head coach Mark Fox said at a press conference on Sunday.

Fox was let go by the Bulldogs on Saturday after Georgia was eliminated from the SEC Tournament in the quarterfinals. Fox, speaking to the media in Athens, said the Georgia "players have elected that they will not participate in that."

Fox left the decision up to the players, and they voted on whether or not they wanted to play in the tournament, which is made up of teams that fell short of making it to the NCAA Tournament. It's not rare for teams to pass on participating in the NIT Tournament, but it's obvious the team did not want to continue a season marred by disappointment and the firing of a coach that's been at the helm for nine seasons.

Now Georgia will not need to name an interim and can continue its search for a replacement.

The Athletics Administration is currently searching for a replacement for Fox. Rumors have been swirling about free agent coaches such as Tom Crean and Thad Matta. Multiple reports state Matta will visit Athens on Monday.

Other names have surfaced such as former Louisville coach Rick Pitino and Witchita State coach Gregg Marshall.

Georgia played in the NIT Tournament the last two seasons under Fox, never getting past the second round.

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