A Whole New World

I know I'm in for Tom Crean for many reasons, but one of them is his vision for what Georgia Basketball should and can be.

Go listen to his interview this morning on 960 The Ref.  No hedging. No qualifiers. No excuses. The way it should be. It is a whole different world in terms of tone, vision, and approach.

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Hell No I Ain't Happy

Fine, SEC basketball is a thing. That doesn't mean I need to be happy with it.

Though, I get what Marc is saying: UGA was close. I've been saying that for a month. We were. Still 1-9 against NCAA tourney teams is why you get left out.

If anything, South Carolina's Final Four run will make it harder for Coach Fox. Not to mention there is now a blue print example of a middle tier SEC team getting from around 20 wins and a questionable 7 seed to the National Semi-Finals.

So, if it is the same with you, I'll stick with the other Bulldogs and hope Gonzaga wins next weekend, because Lord knows Gamecock fans will be insufferable enough with this.

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Emerson on Georgia's Basketball Program

Excellent read. Pay particular attention to the parts about fans and recruiting.

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ED NOTE: After re-reading the article, there is one bone I have to pick, Jeff Goodman's assessment:

“To me, I think if you’re going to the tournament twice every four years at Georgia, that’s pretty good,” said Jeff Goodman, a national basketball writer for ESPN.

Look, I get that looking at past performance is a way to assess such a thing, but there is no way Goodman would say that about, say...Florida. Prior to Billy Donovan, Florida had been to three NCAA tourneys. All of those were in the late 80s, immediately before Lon Kruger's hiring, which kicked off the rise of Florida basketball as a national power more than an SEC schedule filler. I'll grant hiring Donovan was a game changer, as Florida made 14 NCAA tourney in 19 years (and won it twice), putting them in the National Power category. However,the availability of talent, facilities, and overall funding available within the athletic department at Georgia is at least equal to Florida. It remains my view that Georgia can and should be going to the NCAA tournament more than half the time.

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Marquette is a must win for Georgia hoops

If UGA is to get to the NCAA tournament, we need to have a win tomorrow. Even if Marquette turns out to be a bottom tier Big East team, beating a Big East team will get Georgia noticed. Steve Wojciechowski, former Duke standout and Associate Head Coach, is their head coach. By the way, they are projected to be a bubble NCAA team. In that regard, this game is a must win for the Golden Eagles, too.

To date, they've gone 5-2, with a close loss to Pitt and a blowout loss to Michigan in the 2K classic at Madison Square Garden. They beat Howard by 32 at home. Coming into the game they are currently at 38th in KenPom. Georgia is 60th, being held down by adjusted offensive numbers and tempo (which is an adjusted measure of successful offensive possessions).

Marquette loves to get up and down the court. They have strong guard play, with Jujuan Johnson and Haanif Cheatam averaging double digit ppg. Center Luke Fischer is also averaging double digit ppg. Fox loves defensive basketball and this game will test our ability to handle an offense that can score inside and outside. In both of Marquette's loses, they were held to fewer possessions and got fewer good looks, forcing the ball into the hands of players other than Johnson, Cheatam, and Fischer.

Speaking of, when you look over Marquette's stats, there is one guy to keep an eye on: Kaitin Reinhardt. He's a graduate transfer from Southern Cal. While he's fourth on the team in points per game at 8.8 coming off the bench, there is something else that stands out: he's third on the team in shots taken, and second in 3pt attempts. Combine that with his being 8th on the team at 3pt% at 25% (and only 27.6% total), and you can see place that Mark Fox would want to force Marquette into. If Reinhardt is jacking long range jumpers with abandon, that is good sign that Fox's game plan is working.

Tip is 2pm tomorrow on ESPNU.

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Basketball news

Two things:

• Georgia tips off tonight at Clemson. I haven't talked much about hoops here or on the podcast, but that has much more to do with work, kids stuff, body clock, bourbon consumption, and/or travel as it does with where I am on Georgia basketball. I'm actually excited and optimistic. I do not wish to jinx that by making broad pronouncements about impending second weekend runs in March.
• Basketball recruiting is looking up.

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SEC Pre-Season Media Picks

The pick UGA to finish fourth. JJ Frazier gets first team guard selection. Yante Maten gets second team nod at forward

I'd take that.

SEC Media picks:

Preseason Media Poll

1. Kentucky
2. Florida
3. Texas A&M
4. Georgia
5. Arkansas
6. Vanderbilt
7. Alabama
8. South Carolina
9. Ole Miss
10. Mississippi State
11. Auburn
12. LSU
13. Tennessee
14. Missouri

First Team All‐SEC
Moses Kingsley - Arkansas, F, 6‐10, 230, Sr., Abuja, Nigeria
J.J. Frazier - Georgia, G, 5‐10, 155, Sr., Glennville, Ga.
Edrice "Bam" Adebayo - Kentucky, F, 6‐10, 260, Fr., Little Washington, N.C.
De'Aaron Fox - Kentucky, G, 6‐3, 187, Fr., Houston, Texas
Tyler Davis - Texas A&M, C, 6‐10, 270, So., Plano, Texas

Second Team All‐SEC
KeVaughn Allen - Florida, G, 6‐2, 183, So., Little Rock, Ark.
Yante Maten - Georgia, F, 6‐8, 240, Jr., Pontiac, Mich.
Isaiah Briscoe - Kentucky, G, 6‐3, 210, So., Newark, N.J.
Malik Monk - Kentucky, G, 6‐3, 200, Fr., Lepanto, Ark.
Antonio Blakeney - LSU, G, 6‐4, 190, So., Sarasota, Fla.
Quinndary Weatherspoon - Mississippi State, G, 6‐4, 202, So., Canton, Miss.
Luke Kornet - Vanderbilt, F, 7‐1, 250, Sr., Lantana, Texas

SEC Player of the Year: Moses Kingsley, Arkansas

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UGA's SEC Basketball Schedule released

Go 12-6 here and we'll dance.

Thursday, Dec. 29, at Auburn (ESPNU) at 7:00
Wednesday, Jan. 4, South Carolina (ESPNU) at 7:00
Saturday, Jan. 7, Missouri (SEC Network) at 1:00
Wednesday, Jan. 11, at Ole Miss (ESPNU) at 7:00
Saturday, Jan. 14 , at Florida (ESPN/2) at Noon
Tuesday, Jan. 17, Vanderbilt (ESPNU) at 9:00
Saturday, Jan. 21, at Texas A&M (ESPN/2) at Noon
Wednesday, Jan. 25, Alabama (ESPNU) at 9:00
Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Kentucky (ESPN) at 9:00
Saturday, Feb. 4, at South Carolina (ESPN/2) at 2:00
Tuesday, Feb. 7, Florida (ESPN2) at 7:00
Saturday, Feb. 11, at Tennessee (ESPNU) at 4:00
Tuesday, Feb. 14, Mississippi State (ESPNU) at 9:00
Saturday, Feb. 18, Kentucky (ESPN/2) at 4:00 or 8:00
Thursday, Feb. 23, at Alabama (ESPN/2) at7:00
Saturday, Feb. 25, LSU (SEC Network) at 6:00
Wednesday, March 1, Auburn (SEC Network) at 6:30
Saturday, March 4, at Arkansas (ESPN/2) at 4:00

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Hoops Scheduling News for the CBE Hall of Fame Classic

CBE Hall Of Fame Classic Games Set. #GoDawgs

>> https://t.co/FkwbGNEeNN pic.twitter.com/rEQe8VWydG

— Georgia Basketball (@UGABasketball) July 13, 2016

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Georgia is "kind of far out there in Athens"

Very cool read from Kevin Ware, former Louisville and Georgia State basketball player, on his decision to transfer to Georgia State from Louisville. Most interesting to me, the Georgia basketball fan:

Going home to the Atlanta area, I didn’t have a lot of choices. Georgia Tech wasn’t an option because Louisville had just moved to the ACC, and I’d have had to sit out a year if I transferred within the conference. Georgia was an option, but it was kind of far out there in Athens, and I wanted to be closer to my mom. I even entertained the idea of going to Auburn because of coach Bruce Pearl.

Georgia is "kind of far out there," while Auburn isn't. He was committed to Tennessee under Pearl, so they had that prior connection over telephone calls and cook outs at Pearl's house, but still. Georgia is kind of far out there.

And keep in mind, Ware is from Conyers. It is only 16 miles further to Stegeman from Conyers than it is from GSU Sports arena to Conyers.

Georgia is kind of out there in Athens.

Fix that attitude within ATL AAU culture, and you are on to something.
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Parker to return to full basketball activities

Georgia's 2016-17 prospects looking up with this news. Parker's planned role will be as a two beside Frazier, but his ability to get open looks is better than Frazier's.

Juwan Parker could return to bball practice this June with 'zero limitations': https://t.co/oOCoWHBaFN

— Jason Butt (@JasonHButt) March 31, 2016

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SEC getting serious about men's hoops

Interesting....

Tranghese is latest doctor asked to cure what ails SEC basketball https://t.co/AngWWJ4ubN

— Herald-Leader Sports (@KentuckySports) March 19, 2016

Now, I can see the upside, but if the problem is on a conference level, I'd be interested to know what Tranghese plans to do about this:

Tranghese isn't going to fix SEC hoops. It's all about getting better coaches, more talented players, keeping them and legit officiating.

— RazorHawgWPS (@RazorHawgWPS) March 21, 2016

Until the individual school's fans decide it is worth it, really worth it, that won't change. Coaching has gotten better with the addition of Barnes and Howland, but the biggest issue with SEC hoops is that outside of Florida, and maybe Texas A&M, no one fan base really thinks they can challenge Kentucky for SEC supremacy.

In effect, we are all playing for second place, mentally and emotionally. Maybe most importantly, the fans of SEC programs are ok with this.

Contrast that with football, where every program, save Vandy, thinks they could conceivably challenge Alabama.

I'll consider it a success if Tranghese can improve officiating and convince programs that there is money to be made by being better at basketball, especially if you can get 5+ teams into the NCAA tournament. Georgia is a team that will greatly benefit from an improved SEC. We've just posted our third 20 win season in a row, just the second time in school history. Mark Fox moved to third in wins behind Hugh Durham and Herman Stegeman. Outside of teams that can run athlete to athlete with Kentucky, Georgia gave Kentucky one of their toughest game of the season in the SEC tourney.
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Dawgs in the NIT

Like I said last week, if we'd got to around 50 in the RPI, we'd be a close call for an at-large bid, probably playing in Dayton tomorrow night. We only got to 64.

Instead, Vandy got there with an RPI of 61. We were beating Kentucky away from the tourney.

And give Mark Fox credit, that Kentucky game was his best coached game of the season, both in game and strategy. Regretfully, you can't coach around your best shooter/point guard spraining his ankle. If Frazier doesn't get hurt, I believe the game turns out differently.

As it is we'll host Belmont on Wednesday at 6pm in the first round of the NIT. You can get tickets, which are general admission, through UGA's ticket office for $15.

BTW, we are doing a bracket, but I'm waiting to get the link. I'll get it out as soon as I have it.
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SEC Tourney - Georgia's NCAA tourney chances

The only sure fire way Georgia gets in the tourney is to win the SEC tourney in Nashville.

But what if Georgia wins three, including South Carolina and Kentucky but loses to A&M in the championship? Then what?

For my money, we'll still be outside looking it, mainly due to mid-majors that dominated their conferences, and to some extent the big OOC games they had, but failed to win their conference tourney. I'm thinking Wichita State, St. Mary's, Monmouth, Valparaiso, St. Mary's, Hofstra.  At least two of these teams are in (Wichita State and St. Mary's, for my money). Would the selection committee pick one or more of these?

NCAA tourney is grading on curve, but without an objective test. The selection committee will pick 36 teams for at large spots to fill out the tourney after the 32 automatic bids are in. For argument sake, you can draw a line at RPI top 30 and say any team above that without an auto bid is in. That'll be around 23 teams. You are hoping conferences with multiple teams in that group are won by a team in that group. Let's say George Washington wins the A-10 tourney; that takes another spot away from the 12-13 that the 'bubble' teams are fighting for. After W-L records, the selection committee is making fine line distinctions about 30 teams to get to that 12-13 left.

Right now, Georgia probably isn't above the cut line for the 30 teams the committed is talking about.

All that is to say it is likely three wins at the SEC tourney probably isn't enough to get them into the NCAA tourney. Maybe...MAYBE...if we get Kentucky in the semi's and house them on national TV with the committee watching, we are in the at large discussion. The problem is our RPI is pretty low (71 right now), so there is only so much better we can get with just two wins. Making an SEC tourney run will help, though, as we'll have won six of seven (assuming we lose the championship).

We get the RPI to 50 and play A&M tough? We are still sweating out other conference tourneys and rooting for them to be won by the favorites. Play Texas A&M very tight in the championship, we could slip to the last four in and play as an 11 seed in Dayton next Tuesday.
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Dawgs earn 6th seed in SEC basketball tourney

It is set.

The official 2016 #SEC Tournament Bracket: pic.twitter.com/EYXZvsNdy2

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) March 6, 2016

The path to the semis is much easier, but getting Kentucky in the semis on national TV is big. If things break the right way, meaning no surprise upsets in mid-major tourneys, get to the semis and UGA probably plays in Dayton on Tuesday.

Win the whole thing and Georgia plays as a ten seed.
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Hoops update

No news, just a couple of thoughts as UGA goes 1-1 to start the SEC slate.

• The Florida game, which Georgia lost by 14, was a good example of what happens when UGA doesn't play fundamentally sound defense against a good inside out team. Egbunu and Robinson ate Georgia's lunch. Part of that was the officiating, which is what happens on the road. The Dawgs got out rebounded by 10+, took too many lazy jack it up three opportunities, and went to the foul line 15 fewer times. That's a recipe for a loss against any team with a pulse. I'm also looking at you Chattanooga.
• The upside is the only reason this wasn't a 20+ point loss is UGA shot 70% from the free throw line, compared to UF's 57%. I'd like to see that number closer to 80%, as I'm sure Coach Fox would, but considering Mike Edwards went 1-4, that isn't terrible. Edwards missed a couple of front end 1 and 1's. He'll improve as his conditioning/college game play awareness improves.
• By the way, Tennessee watched the game film from the Georgia game and did the opposite of Georgia. They beat the Gators by 14 at home. Isolate Egbunu, get good mid range and 3pt looks. Win rebounding. 
• The Mizzou game was a great example of how well Georgia can play. How well they played scares me a little bit . Mark Fox has a job ahead convincing the players that part of that success was opponent as they head on the road to face Ole Miss this weekend.
• That being said, the more I watch Maten and Ogbeide play, the more excited I get about what this team could be. If we could ever get one more big man in the rotation to allow Fox to play two true bigs at a time, we'd be dangerous. I'm looking at you Mike Edwards. Ogbeide is young and still plays young, but his game is improving. Maten is a step above where he was last year.
• I continue to be impressed with Geno and Kessler. Neither will be team stars, but both are playing better basketball. Geno's shot selection is in a different universe that it was last year. Both look like they've benefited from the S&C program.

I still think UGA needs to go at least 14-4 in the conference regular season to be assured of making the NCAA tournament. We win the right 13 and not lose to the dregs of the conference, we might still be a safe at-large pick. So we have to win road games, especially against teams we have similar profiles as. Winning this weekend in Oxford is a big next step towards making the tourney.

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UGA Hoops Update

UGA is starting to play like the top 40 RPI team we were hoping they would be. After winning a tough game Saturday against Georgia Tech, they manhandled Clemson last night.

DAWGS WIN! UGA defeats Clemson 71-48 in the final game before Christmas! UGA moves to 6-3 on the year! #RaiseTheFlag pic.twitter.com/LTnkIvquv5

— Georgia Basketball (@UGABasketball) December 23, 2015

While the win over Tech was a great win, as Tech is a top 100 or so RPI team, the Clemson win was more illustrative. Clemson came into the game in the 200s in RPI. This is the first team UGA has faced below the 150s (UTC, Oakland, Kansas State, and Seton Hall are all top 100). I was looking for a win like this versus an over matched team, because early on, we hadn't shown we could control a game against a team we should beat going away. I'm looking at you High Point game.

Those are the types of games you mess around and lose that get you seeded 11th or on the outside looking in in March.

On the Waitin' Since Last Saturday Podcast, Will Leitch said he thought 7-3 was the low end of the OOC, while I thought it was the high end. Turns out, absent a terrible loss against Robert Morris on December 29th, we were both right.

One last thing, Stegeman was packed last night. With the students gone. If you haven't been to a game in a while, come out. It's fun to win.
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Hoops start tonight

If you listened to this week's podcast, you heard us preview UGA basketball a bit. We hope to continue the podcast during hoops season.

I think we'll be a bubble team, but look bad early. There are lots of reasons for my early pessimism, but most of that centers on two key factors: we are going to play a lot of young guys off the bench, and Coach Fox's teams have looked offensively stifled during the beginning of the season in each year he's been here.

The offensive scheme Coach Fox runs has been well debated here and other places. It requires precision passing and floor awareness to give perimeter mismatches. The upside is we have the perimeter players to run the offense, with Gaines and Mann. That kind of offense, especially when you have a couple of capable shooters, can yield dividends.

That said, tonight is a tough tip off game. UTC is the heavy favorite to win the SoCon. They are experienced. The good news is they have a new coach in Matt McCall, who was Billy Donovan's top assistant at Florida.

Tip off is 7pm at Stegeman. SEC Network + will have coverage on the WatchESPN app (and possibly on SEC Network Alternate channels).
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Fox's Hounds picked to finish 5th by media

I can see that. Charles Mann also garners 2nd team All-SEC team honors.

Predicted Order of Finish

PLACE	SCHOOL	POINTS
1.	Kentucky	406
2.	Vanderbilt	357
3.	Texas A&M	344
4.	LSU	333
5.	Georgia	266
6.	Florida	258
7.	South Carolina	204
8.	Mississippi State	203
9.	Ole Miss	184
10.	Auburn	168
11.	Arkansas	118
12.	Tennessee	86
13.	Alabama	85
14.	Missouri	33

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UGA Basketball Schedule Finalized

Pretty strong slate. Four super Tuesday games. I hate that we miss Kentucky at home, but glad we don't get them on a Saturday. Here's hoping for a massive ice storm in Lexington that keeps all but the bluest of the BBN away from Rupp.

Here is our 2016 SEC schedule! #CommitToTheG >> http://t.co/RSt54gGART pic.twitter.com/XJ4lVwRlRf

— Georgia Basketball (@UGABasketball) August 19, 2015

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Basketball Enhancement Fund deadline is approaching

I'm trending positive....for now....on hoops. I think we have the opportunity to build on some of last year's successes.

Anyway, the deadline to make your BEF contribution is August 1st, if you are so inclined.
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