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-- 10 minutes with no field goals doom Dawgs - AJC
From the AJC:
It wasn't just the 67-49 final score. It was the way the Bulldogs went nearly 10 minutes without a field goal. They shot 19 percent and scored only 17 points in the second half and settled for 3-point shots over and over and over again (5 of 22). They were manhandled on the defensive boards and got and out-hustled for virtually every loose ball.The other team wanting it more than us when we're on the road is a tired refrain. See also Vandy, Tennessee and Bama's 2nd half.
When they were down 16, then 18, then 19 points in the second half, Georgia never went into desperation mode and tried to foul and stop the clock or set some plays to get off some 3s.
Felton did not call for his team to go to the full-court press until it was down 19 with only 1:45 to play.
The Dogs just kind of let it happen.
"They just wanted it more than we did," Georgia guard Sundiata Gaines said. "They played like they wanted to get into the NCAA tournament and we didn't."
PWD
13 comments:
Our guards must have missed the memo about needing them to step up in the absence of Mercer. Billy took 15 shots and had 5 points? Levi took 18 shots and had 8 points?
As starved as I am for NCAA-Tourney quality basketball, this team is just not it, yet. We're good enough to beat the bad teams, some of the good teams, and none of the real good teams. Oh well, the NIT this year is still improvement - oh so slow improvement.
Oops, my math was a little off there, as Billy was 2-9 and Levi was 3-12.
This is being written by a fan who believes Felton is the best thing to happen to Georgia basketball since Tubby Smith. That said, at what point can we lay this disturbing trend at Felton's feet? We've lost so many games the EXACT same way:
1. We either run the clock all the way down without moving the ball, or take a wild 3-pointer 10 seconds into the possession.
2. We fail to penetrate the ball into the post, thus neither taking advantage of T-Brown's scoring ability nor creating good outside looks for our shooters.
3. We take absurd amounts of 3-pointers, even when they aren't falling, and have no alternate game plan when it fails.
We make these errors even in games we win - sometimes for a half, sometimes for a few minutes - but it's our mode of failure.
Felton has said more than once that this team is immature. That may be true. But I am worried that I see a coach who's settling for that, rather than a disciplinarian who's committed to coaching up players to avoid such repetitive and costly mistakes.
Although I've been unable to see all but one game this year due to the SEC's craptacular television package, it seems that the common thread throughout most of our losses is a failure to take smart shots. Someone on a message board early in the season said this team has one of the lowest basketball IQs they'd ever seen, and that may be fairly accurate. You can tell there is talent. But they just make bad decisions about the shots they're taking. I was really hoping that an NCAA berth was in the works this season, though I didn't expect it at the beginning of the season. Between Mercer's injury, and the inability to beat the mediocre teams on our schedule on the road, I'm thinking the berth is less and less likely. We may still get in due to the conference's high RPI, but I'm not having much faith. Paul, you and I have discussed the need for better scheduling, and hopefully we can return to the philosophy from the Harrick days on scheduling and avoid those RPI killers like KSU and Southern in the future.
Criticizing our road performances is a little silly. On the flip side of that, don't you think LSU and UK say the same thing about their trips to Athens? With two wins on the road in conference, we are about par for the course in the SEC.
As for the quality of our shots, it has more to do with our personnel than anything. With Mercer gone for the year, Gaines is the only guy who can break an opponent down off the dribble. Humphrey and Stukes are spot up jump shooters, though Levi will occasionally drive to the hole. Unfortunately, when the other teams collapses on Brown and keys on Gaines on the perimeter, all we have left is the jumper or throwing it down low to Singleton, Bliss or Newman and praying something good will happen. If we're making a decent percentage of our jumpers, we look like a pretty good team. If we're not, we look beyond inept. We're not the only ones - UK has gone through the same thing due to their lack of scoring options. They are very similar to UGA in that they only have two real scoring options(Crawford on the perimeter and Morris down low). The key for them is getting a 3rd player, usually Ramel Bradley, to shoot well from the perimeter....just like we need Stukes, Woodbury or Humphrey.
What UGA desperately needs is someone about Woodbury's size who can hit the outside shot, slash to the basket, play solid defense and mix it up on the boards. Hopefully, Jeremy Jacob will provide that next year.
I guess what gets me is the SGaines' quote about "them wanting it more" - I thought CDF's whole mantra was developing a military like toughness in his guys. To play like that last night, when you've got UT & UK starting you in the face, is mind-boggling. You're right Paul, no shame in losing to Ole Miss - but they way we did....
Regardless, it's the Bama & WKU losses that will haunt us in two weeks.....
Unless this team shows a lot of heart and pride, and improved execution, for the next 3 games, looks like NIT here we come. Maybe we can at least host a couple games.
If last night shows anything, it's that this program, staff, and team as a whole, still have a LONG long ways to get to the level where some fans think this thing is capable of going.
The jury is still out on Felton.
Metro Atlanta produces three or four big-time recruits every year and Felton has brought in one.
He can't recruit and he can't coach offense. I've never seen a veteran team look so confused in half-court sets. These guys have been playing together for a couple years, but you'd never know it.
Georgia either jacks up a shot on the secondary break or jacks up a desperation shot at the end of the shot clock
I disagree that he can't recruit.
Given the situation he came in with, I'd say he's recruited better than expected. The first recruiting class was full of kids no one else wanted through no fault of his own.
It wasn't his fault Abukar, Howell, etc bolted. Hell, we had 1 UGA booster own up to talking with Howell's family and telling them NOT to come here.
The second class still has the sanctions hanging over us before they were all lifted. In that class he signed:
-- Gaines - a guy that'll finish his career as 2nd Team All-SEC caliber. A good pickup.
-- Dozier - who is putting up solid numbers for Memphis. He's not at UGA through no fault of Felton's. Top 10 player in state.
-- Bliss - a numbers sign. We needed warm bodies.
-- Toney - a Top 10 player in state who wasn't happy and split.
In his 2nd class he signed Mercer (a top 3 guy in state), Johnson (beat out Bobby Knight for him but injuries and academics got him), and Humphrey among others.
In his 3rd class, Michigan State, Cincy and UK were all recruiting Albert Jackson. Everybody recruited Takais Jackson out of JUCO. He was a top flight Juco All-American.
Jacob and Price are both highly recruited for next year's class. Granted many got away...but damn. What do you guys expect given where we have been?
Recruiting ain't his problem.
The next coach (if Felton turns it around and splits OR if he doesn't turn it around) will inherit a MUCH better roster situation for the mid and long term than Felton found.
That's for damn sure.
He's not a "great" recruiter like Hewitt. But Hewitt ain't recruiting with a series of anchors around his neck either.
pwd
come on, its Georgia and its hoops, nobody is dying to come here. we'll always be what we've always been, mediocre with some good years here and there. the problem is that any good coach who has succes here will leave. period. so we always have to bring in some unsung hero.
build a new arena and things may change, but i dont see that happening, its all about winning FB CHAMPIONSHIPS..... and I'm ok with that : )
Dixie - That's BS.
People said the same thing about the Gators.
PWD
Dixie - That's BS.
People said the same thing about the Gators.
PWD
Sorry to throw out stereotypes, but Dixie Hound is probably from South Georgia... anyway, I would be shocked if we get a sellout this weekend and even more shocked if I don't see over 1,000 fans decked out in orange singing Rocky Top for Levi and Steve's senior night... most of our fanbase gave up, and it's sad, and as far as I'm concerned those are fans that can go cheer for Joakim Noah. The awful towels say it best, I'm Georgia, it doesn't say "I'm Georgia Football." Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas all embrace many sports very well and it is a modern trend... our fan base has a one track mind that is stuck in the 20th century, more specifically the 1980s. Now I'm off to watch Georgia pound Purdue...
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