In the past few decades, Georgia Southern basketball has experienced little to no success in the postseason.

This is only the fifth time in 22 years that the Eagles have found themselves in the semifinals of a conference tournament – and they got there this year by virtue of a double-bye.

They reached the NIT in 2006, but were ousted by Charlotte 77-61 in the first round.

The best postseason that GS has had in recent memory was last year. The Eagles made an improbable run that ended with a loss in the semifinals to the eventual SoCon champions, Wofford. Before that, GS has been sent home from every tournament before the semi’s since 2005 when it lost to UNCG.

2001 and 1993 are the only other two years that the Eagles made it past the quarterfinals.

As fate would have it, the last time that Georgia Southern won a conference tournament (and made it to the NCAA tournament) was in 1992 when they won the TAAC Championship against…wait for it…Georgia State.

“It’s been that long since Georgia Southern has been there. It’s a little surprising because there’s been some good teams here,” head coach Mark Byington said.

The Eagles haven’t found themselves with this much talent on their team, and in this good of a position, in a long time. They are two wins away from punching their ticket to the big dance.