TAMPA – Former Georgia coach Dennis Felton was relieved of his duties Jan. 29, following an 83-57 loss to Florida, but his interest in the Georgia men’s basketball team still exists.

Interim coach Pete Herrmann, who came to Georgia from Western Kentucky with Felton, indicated the former coach still follows the team closely, and hopes for success.

“I talk to Dennis a lot,” Herrmann said. “We still talk all the time about how we’re preparing and what we’re going to do in regards to the next opponent.”

The season has been difficult for Herrmann and players alike, having to cope with the mid-season change.

“You know, it’s a very emotional roller coaster when you go through this,” Herrmann said. “I was with Dennis Felton every day in practice and games for 11 years in a row. And to take over as the head coach was very difficult.”

Felton was let go following a seven-game skid, which included a 0-5 start in the SEC. Herrmann took over a team who could have packed it in, but instead the team displayed heart and fire.

The Bulldogs got their first win under Herrmann, ironically over Florida, on Valentine’s Day. Georgia went 3-4 over its final seven games to finish the season on a positive note.

“Coach Herrmann stepped in, did an excellent job getting the guys together, playing together, and just playing more freely,” said senior Corey Butler. “You have to give credit to coach Herrmann stepping into an awkward or weird situation and doing the job that he’s done thus far. Hopefully he can continue to lead us until Sunday.”

Felton also contacted senior Terrance Woodbury, instructing the 4-year starter to step up, and help lead. Woodbury has reached 19 or more points five times since Felton’s firing.

“I mean, it was very tough,” Woodbury said. “I’m sure it was tough for me and tough for everybody else on the team. But as I talked to Coach Felton later in the weeks, he just told me keep my head up. Try to keep the team together and lead with Coach Herrmann.”

Herrmann spoke to Felton after Georgia’s 90-85 win in Kentucky.

“I just talked to him before we came down,” Herrmann said. “I think it was Thursday or Friday before the last game with South Carolina. Dennis called me and congratulated us on the win at Lexington.. I know he’s been so complimentary and so congratulatory about what the kids have accomplished in the last couple of weeks that it feels good, because we’re still very close.”

Butler has yet to speak with Felton, but said he knows what the message would be, and it still resonates.

I haven’t talked to Coach Felton, I was going to wait until after the season,” Butler said. “I’m sure he wants us to be focused on what we’re doing, but he’s not going to change. He would be saying the same thing, to get after it.”

Thursday’s first round match-up with Mississippi State could be Herrmann’s last time manning the sidelines for Georgia. A loss ends the season, and careers of Woodbury, Butler and possibly the entire coaching staff.

“I feel like it’s a tough situation for everybody,” Woodbury said. “But we’ve kind of got to get over it and just play through it. And I feel Coach Herrmann’s done a great job. We’ve been playing a lot better as a team. It’s just we’ve got to finish strong on the court.”