Thompkins was Freshman All-SEC while averaging 12.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. With better conditioning, two working legs, and a better offensive scheme, he could easily develop into a 15-16 points per game type of player next year.
Ware averaged 7.4 points and 3.3 assists per game, and he could grow into a 10-11 pts and 4 assist per game kid. As a point of comparison, Rashad Wright lead the SEC in assists in 2002 with 4.74 per game. Both players must reduce their turnovers and play consistently hard at both ends going forward.
A wild card next year is Jeremy Price. Price averaged over 8 points a game as a freshman but saw his productivity fall to 5.2 points per game. If he can get his confidence back, he could be a 10 points and 7 rebounds a night type of guy. Right now, he's a shell of the player he was last year.
Regardless, the next coach has his work cut out for him. As there appears to be no SEC caliber starters on the roster at shooting guard or small forward. The team will need Demario Mayfield (incoming FR) or Ebuka Anyaorah (redshirted due to injury) to contribute at a freshman All-SEC level to open up the offense in a meaningful way.
The first step in stabilizing the roster is finding 5 starters who can do one thing really well. The next step is finding 5 who can do two things really well. Right now, we have several guys who don't do much of anything really well.
This and that:
- -- Dumb rumor of the day in Tampa - Someone tried to tell me that Rick Pitino is interested in coming here. As if. Rick has $7.2 million in longevity bonuses scheduled to hit over the next 4 years plus $2.25 - $2.5 million in base pay. We'd have to pay him $4 million a year to get him. Silliest rumor yet.
-- Interesting rumor of the day. Saw a regularly-credible message board poster say that Tubby might be interested. I think it's a bad fit right now. Two years ago? Who knows. I know that I'd crawl over broken glass to get him back, and I know this guy is often in possession of great info.
-- Insane Name thrown out - The Orlando Paper mentioned Bill Self of Kansas as a candidate in Athens. I wish, but that won't happen. What is interesting about the Orlando article is this line:
Armed with a $60 million budget surplus, word out of Athens is Evans isn't going to search for a coach, he's going to buy one from another program. A big-timer.I love that mentality.
PWD
26 comments:
I know we're not in a position to be choosy, but the prospect of Tubby Smith returning does nothing for me. We've been there before. Lets throw our millions elsewhere.
We have been there before and it was awesome! If you ever went to see a game at "The Tub" you saw what UGA basketball could be. If he is interested we should persue.
Why has nobody mentioned Bobby Cremins?
Here's a link to a Red & Black story. Apparently Swansey wants out.
http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2009/03/13/Sports/Swanseys.Future.With.Bulldogs.Uncertain-3671075.shtml
Have fun at USC-Upstate, Zac.
Not putting up a financial fight to keep Tubby was Vince Dooley's greatest error.
I don't know if that means bringing Tubby back would be the best move we could make, but it would generate a lot of positive national buzz, is a great story for the narratively-challenged at ESPN, and would be a nod to what tradition Georgia has.
Besides, now that we get six inches of snow a year, the Smiths wouldn't even be leaving winter behind in the twin cities!
2.8 Mill for Capel...just watch & see. Your last line sums it.
Positive national buzz does nothing to win games. I would perfer not to go to the past to hire a coach. And as much as I love my Dawgs, keep your mitts off of Rick Pitino!!
I hope we get a Bill Self type coach but I think slowly we are building our hopes up way too high
a few things.....
Tubby had just gotten a huge raise (based on Ohio State's interest), and in fact was temporarily making more than Donnan. He had also been told that we weren't running back to the trough everytime someone else called.
There is some truth to the Pitino story....his agent floated his name last year as he was having some sort of disagreement with his AD. Nothing more than a leverage ploy.
If we decide to pay 2.8 million, it will be a better coach than Capel.
As for atmosphere....the Tubby years were not even close to the last year of the Harrick era. Hey, Jim is available.
I like it. Damon's apparent attitude is the same as those of DeLoss Dodds at Texas when he did what it took to hire who he saw as the right guy for his program in Rick Barnes, and Jeremy Foley's when he did the same with Lon Kruger and then Billy Donovan. There is virtually no difference in where our program is now versus where those two giants were then. If anything, our resources are at least equal, likely greater, at least from a talent-base standpoint.
It just takes a leader looking at those resources at his disposal, the historic under-achievement of a program versus its potential, and saying, "Enough."
I get the feeling we have reached that point at long last, and have the appropriate leader in place, and it fires me up. Bring on the future of GA hoops.
Swansey quote from aforementioned article:
"I want to be with a program that wins. Im not sure Georgia is that program"
Jesus, man! I really liked you until you did that. He says he's not 100% sure yet but I'm pretty sure saying that is gonna get him taken out with the trash when a new coach comes in and cleans house...so giving that quote is pretty much 100% making the decision to leave.
By the way Swansey, Georgia has a better chance of being that program next year and the year after than it ever did when YOU decided to sign with Felton.
I understand the frustration (particularly with losing all the playing time to Ware - which is what this is really about) and I know that Georgia basketball has not had a whole lot o good things happen since the Harrick fiasco...but you don't need to come out and bash your own program in the student paper.
/rant
Yeah it looks like Swansey is getting a little too big for his britches. He isn't as good as he apparently thinks he is. I'd like to see what scool would take him.
Guys, I am not that concerned about Swansey. In the grand scheme of things, his comments are probably due to frustration and uncertainty.
If he does not want to be in Athens, then he should go plain and simple.
I am more concerned with the comments of Tompkins's Dad. It sounds like they want some "approval" power in the coach selection.
I am speechless...read Swansey's quote, look at Swansey's stats, read Swansey's quote, think about every game I've seen him play...not computing.
I'm pretty sure if they were ok with him playing for Felton that they'll approve of Capel, Miller, Kruger, or whoever DE decides to buy with that badass warchest of his (Thanks for that by the way ESPN...for once you help UGA out).
To all those in the world who don't think we care about basketball:
We're the Georgia Bulldogs and we're coming to take your coach.
I am 68 years old and I guarantee I can shoot better than Swansey. Saw him play in HS and at Ga and he is just not a shooter. Maybe a wonderful kid but should not be playing college BB. There are hundreds of kids as good as he is.
louisville born and louisville bred, Pitino is the best coach in the NCAA. He would be worth every penny for UGA. Too bad, that will NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER happen....
GO CARDS!!!!!!!!
I just lost all respect I had for Swansey
Swansey and Brewer are two players that the next coach needs to tell to leave to clear up some ships because they cant play at this level. So swansey please leave, you too brewer.
Well Vincent I can see your point since Louisville has won several NCAA championships under Pitino.
Anyone thinking we'll go anywhere near Tubby hasn't been paying attention to what Damon has been saying.
someone told me that capel got ripped by jason whitlock on msn today, haven't seen the article, but something about choking when it comes to tournament time
Belue reported his "nugget" that Chapel had told the seach firm he was not interested, making Grant the frontrunner. I do not feel this has any more legs than some of the other stories circulating but I do like any story which has a coach of Bill Self's calibre sounding interested. GO Dogs.
I would be dissapointed if we got a coach from a mid-major and it wasnt Miller from xavier.
If/when Ky. fires their coach,UGA should jump at him.We have been down the Tubby rd.Swansey is a "big boy", give him what he wants.
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