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Saturday, the Bulldogs enjoyed dinner at Banzai Japanese Restaurant in Hamilton Township.
Yesterday, P.J.’s Pancakes in Princeton attracted the Peach State visitors before the team strolled the streets of Old Nassau.
Standing in the way of Georgia players and a Round of 16 appearance in Bridgeport (Conn.) may be a stack of flapjacks topped with whipped cream, not a Hartford team itching for a next round in its own backyard.
Georgia meets 11th seeded Hartford tonight at 7 p.m. at the Sovereign Bank Arena while another 11 seed, TCU plays fan favorite No. 3 seed Rutgers at 9 p.m.
While Georgia may be here for a basketball tournament, Bulldogs’ players have already achieved gastrointestinal success.
"The restaurants and traveling around the Trenton area, that’s one of the best things about going on the road for a basketball tournament. Very rarely do you get an opportunity like this,’’ said Bulldogs sophomore forward, Tasha Humphrey, a finalist for women’s national player of the year.
"Everything we eat will probably we worked off or run off during practice,’’ she said.
Humphrey resides in Gainesville, Ga. not famous for Italian cuisine.
In fact, the town located 35 miles northeast of Atlanta is known as "The Chicken Capital of the World,’’ said a woman named Jill in the Gainesville municipal office.
"Everything and anything that can be made from chicken we eat here,’’ she said.
Humphrey called Bannon a great host who has made everyday interesting since Georgia arrived for first and second round NCAA play.
Bannon admitted that his bathroom scale is under siege.
"I’ve put on a few pounds the last few days,’’ he joked.
Georgia went directly from the airport to Marsilio’s on Friday.
"And they loved the food and atmosphere there. Banzai was crowded but the players were patient until we got seated. I used to bring recruits there when I coached at Rider, so I knew that it would be a nice experience,’’ said Bannon.
While Bannon searched for a steak house for last night’s dinner, the Texas Christian University squad enjoyed homecooking and not the kind that many Dartmouth fans alleged Rutgers received in a first-round win against the Green Wave.
Beth Ardery Fitzpatrick last night treated TCU players to a meal of appetizers, baked ziti, pencil points and desserts.
"I figured the team might be tired of restaurants,’’ said Fitzpatrick, a Lady Frogs host.
Still, TCU players received an ultimate food experience after they defeated Texas A&M, 69-65.
Ten years after their last meeting, Asheley Davis scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for a victory.
The Lady Frogs worked up an appetite following a win against their former Southwest Conference rival.
"It was late,’’ said Fitzpatrick, "but the TCU players were hungry.’’
Fitzpatrick guided the Lady Frogs to Mastoris in Bordentown, a popular restaurant approximately 15 minutes south of Trenton.
"They loved it. They all took the bread home,’’ said Fitzpatrick, regarding Mastoris’ famous cheesebread and cinnamon bread served with most meals.
Fitzpatrick said most TCU players consider chicken fried steak, fried chicken, tacos and burritos as favorite meals.
Georgia senior guard Sherill Baker of Stone Mountain (Ga.) said she occasionally dines at the Olive Garden but nothing like Marsilios.
"We had a great time,’’ said the Southeastern Conference’s all-time steals leader who stole nine balls against Marist in a 75-60 first-round victory.
Tonight it’s lose and go home or better yet, win and move onto Bridgeport for another run through a deck of menus or households.
Alert NCAA officials, Georgia and TCU may play and eat their way all the way to the Final Four in Boston.
Anybody want New England clam chowder?
