Andy Landers has retired

This year has to have been one of the hardest of his career, with the injuries and promise that was lost due to them.

He ends his career with 944 total wins, 862 of them at UGA. He's taken teams to eight final fours, been in the Sweet 16 in 20 of his 36 season. We are one of only three programs to have never posted a losing season in women's basketball since it became an NCAA sport.

Georgia Sports Blog thanks Coach Landers for all he's done for UGA athletics. He's a Damn Good Dawg that has given his heart and soul to the Bulldogs.

TD

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Lady Dawgs Fall in Regional Final

They gave Cal all they could handle. The 2-3 zone stiffled Cal and worked to perfection. Regretfully, we just didn't hit shots when we needed to. I could nit pick us letting them play instead of fouling with a minute left in OT, especially considering how poorly Cal did (and has) shot FTs, but Landers was playing percentages in trying to get a stop.

I've got to admit, Coach Landers showed us he's still got it. We were a couple of bounces from going to the final four, instead of crapping ourselves against an opponent with a better record and losing by 25 in the Sweet 16. Cal is a very good basketball team and we went toe to toe with them.

Congrats to a group of Damn Good Dawgs.

TD

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Giving Due - Andy Landers

I've been fairly critical of Coach Landers' teams performances in the post season, and rightly so. Now, it is time to take that back.

As I tweeted the other night, the job Coach Landers did adjusting the tempo and physicality of the Lady Dawgs defense to counter Stanford's ability to find open lanes was the best coaching I've seen out of him this season. Understand, I am no basketball expert, but it was easy to see an example of that when Stanford inbounded the ball down 4 with 23 seconds on the clock. It looked like Stanford really wanted to quickly drive the lane to get back within two, forcing Georgia handle their pressure on the inbounds or hit free throws to win.

Instead, the Lady Dawgs kept Stanford's guards from getting within a foot of the three point arc for two possessions and 18 seconds. When Stanford hit a three with 5.3 seconds left, the Lady Dawgs were prepared for the pressure, with James breaking long and catching a perfect 3/4 court pass. By the time Stanford got back down to foul, there was only .8 second left.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted that the Elite 8 was as far as Georgia could go, and would need the right matchups to get there. I was wrong. Coach Landers and his team did a great job handling a team that had only lost two games, one to UConn and one to the Cal team that Georgia will face tonight. The did so despite a particularly bad match up (strong guard play coupled with a talented and quick post player). 

Can the Lady Dawgs beat Cal?

Georgia's strength is their physical play. They fight for every ball, every rebound and contest every shot. Tonight, we'll face a team that loves to play transition, which is a good match up for us if we score a little. Cal looks like Kentucky, the way they try to push the pace. We split with Kentucky, winning in Rupp in the regular season, but absolutely getting run out of the gym, only scoring 14 second half points, in the SEC tourney.

We won the other night despite going on scoring droughts of 5 minutes to open the game and two of four minutes in the middle of the second half. We did that because we had the defense to lock down Stanford (it was just 9-0 when we got on the board and Stanford only scored three points during the same 4 minute droughts). If we play the kind of defense we did in Rupp or the first half of the SEC tourney match up with Kentucky, we'll be in the ball game. If we don't, we'll likely head home.

For the first time in a while, I have confidence Coach Landers can have the Lady Dawgs ready to get it done.

TD

Tip is 9:40 pm on ESPN. 

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Lady Dawgs advance to Sweet 16

Beat Iowa State 65-60. It wasn't easy, as the Lady Dawgs allowed a 19-1 run late in the second half, eventually resulting in a four point deficit with 2 minutes to play. Barbee and Armstrong scored 13 of the final 17 points scored in the game to advance.

They take on one seed Stanford or eight seed Michigan in the Sweet 16, still in Spokane this weekend.

TD

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Lady Dawgs...are the Lady Dawgs

Lady Dawgs lead Kentucky at halftime 24-19, then get shut down in the second half. Outscored 36-19 in the second half when Kentucky sells out to stop Jasmine Hassell.  It worked to perfection as Hassell only scored 4 second half points with two and sometimes three Wildcats covering her when she has the ball.

This is why I think the Lady Dawgs will pull a five seed, then lose in the Sweet 16 to whichever of the one seeds they end up against.

TD

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Lady Dawgs' head to SEC tourney

Someone was giving me grief the other day for not posting much on Coach Landers' Lady Dawgs. I have several reasons for not doing so, but chief among them is that we've been here before. A lot.

For several seasons, we've seen Coach Landers' teams do really well, only to fade down the stretch. It has been nine seasons since the Lady Dawgs have played in a Regional Semi-final and 14 since a Final Four Trip. That isn't to say Georgia hasn't prospered, as Landers has won nearly 75% of his games since then, and that is factoring in the worst season of his career in 2009. We've been to the Sweet 16 six times and the Elite 8 twice in that time.

Still, Georgia hasn't looked competitive once the Lady Dawgs get to March in a number of years, culminating with a soul crushing upset loss to Marist as a 3 seed last year.

I'm not quite ready to say that this team is different (although until their head scratching and listless performance at Mississippi State last week, I would have been). They do, however, have a physicality going for them that I haven't seen from a Landers team in a few years. While they aren't as polished, and are prone to the crazy lapses in focus that have been hallmark of Landers' teams all Georgia basketball recently, they don't ever stop playing hard.

The last minute against Vandy, when the Lady Commodores were trying to make a furious comeback, is a good example. Inexplicably, Georgia lost all composure with about one minute to play. Two turnovers and two missed free throws were mixed in with two great defensive plays and a stunning feed from Armstrong to James for a layup that I'm sure Vandy had to watch the tape on to see what actually happened.

That layup was the killer. With the win, the Lady Dawgs earned a double bye and don't play until Friday in Duluth.

How far can this team go?
They have shown they can go and play with any team in the country. They beat Kentucky on the road, the only team to beat the Lady Cats in Lexington this season. They have played solid fundamental games and have bought into Landers defense. They gave Tennessee all they could handle in Knoxville before falling apart late in the second half.

However, Texas A&M came to Athens and handled them pretty well. They lost on the road to LSU. They only shot 18% against Mississippi State in that loss. They tried to give away the game to Vandy.

Georgia will end up with a 4-6 seed in the NCAA tourney. They could get a three if they play to Sunday and a two if they win the SEC tourney. I don't see them losing in the first round to a 14 seed again (of course, who does?). I also don't see them progressing past the Elite 8, absent a very good match-up or solving the riddle of who is supposed to go where with the ball during the last five minutes of the game.

Can they get to the Final Four? Possible, but not likely. However, if they go to Duluth and win the SEC, I'd like them going that far, as it will show they can handle a team with more talent in a gym that isn't Stegeman.

TD

Lady Dawgs tip at 8:30 on Friday against the winner of LSU and Auburn at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. That game is on Sports South. The Semi-Finals will be on ESPNU and the Finals on ESPN2.

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Lady Dawgs earn All-SEC honors

Congrats to Jasmine Hassell who was named First Team All-SEC yesterday. Jasmine James was named second team.

Freshman Shacobia Barbee was named to both the All-Defensive team and All-Freshman team.

TD

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KCP named Men's SEC Player of the Week; Miller wins Women's Player of the Week

Caldwell-Pope averaged over 19 ppg and 8 rpg over the last week, leading the Dawgs to a three game conference win streak. Khaalidah Miller led the Lady Dawgs to a road win over #8 Kentucky, scoring 17 second half points to help Coach Landers' team over come a 10 point deficit.

Congrats to a couple of DGDs.

TD

- SEC Women Players of the Week
- SEC Men Players of the Week

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Women's Basektball Update

I follow Georgia's WBB team fairly closely, but I don't write much about them anymore for the simple reason that I'm afraid of getting burned again.  The past few seasons have seen Coach Lander's teams do well early and show promise into the NCAA, only to get a couple of games in and have very bad games at bad times (and in the case last year of folding up in the second half of their first round game against Marist).

We've had good players, but injuries and such have hampered those teams. Now the Lady Dawgs are in a very familiar position of being one of the top teams in the conference. Much of that is thanks to Jasmine Hassell, who was named player of the week by the SEC for her performances against Alabama and South Carolina.

What is more heartening to me is that we have three players who are scoring threats in Hassell, Jasmine James and Kaalidah Miller. You add in Shacobia Barbee and Anne Marie Armstrong's defense and you have a pretty good team working. More importantly, they have shown the ability to play the slow down grind it out (South Carolina) and the quick paced transition vs. transition games.

They still have a hump to get over, as their two losses have been...interesting. They looked woefully unready to play a mediocre Illinois team and played hard on the road against a Tennessee team that they match up well against. Fixing those kind of let downs will help lead to a deep run than the Sweet 16 this year.

TD

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Bubba Watson, Guest Coach

Bubba Watson, Guest Coach (Photo: AJC)

If you were at the victory over Florida on Saturday, you saw Bubba Watson and his wife Angie, a former Lady Dawg basketball player, featured on the insidious kisscam in the second half. I just noticed the above picture of Bubba calling a time out for the Lady Dawgs in their win over LSU this weekend.

Cool stuff while Bubba and Angie get some Athens time in.
TD

UPDATE: Apparently this was a bet between Bubba and Coach Landers:

Word is when he drove it out of Sanford--if he did, he could assist Andy--if not, Andy could be on the bag for prac rd at Aug @TylerDawgden
— Blake Davis (@BDavis5) February 28, 2012

I think Landers should have bet him he couldn't hit it out of the state from Sanford, personally.

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Huge win for Landers and the Lady Dawgs

The Lady Dawgs used a stifling defense to overcome an ugly offensive effort in toppling the #3 ranked Lady Vols. For all that Andy Landers has accomplished professionally, he has been cursed with the incredible misfortune of having the greatest coach in his sport's history as his in conference nemesis.

I've always compared Landers to Dean Smith...only imagine if Smith had been forced to play John Wooden 2, 3 or even 4 times per season...for 30 straight years. What would Smith's record and achievement list have looked like in that scenario?

What other Hall of Fame coach in any sport has faced such a burden? Regardless, Landers and his girls knocked down Summit and her boys for the big win. As David Ching said, they are back on the map.

If the Lady Dawgs take care of business against Ole Miss on Sunday, they should enter the Top 5. With a defense this tough, they could make a quality run in March.

PWD

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Early Signing Day Update

Today is the beginning of the early signing period, which is like Signing Day for football without the stupid hat tricks and unwarranted pomp afforded high school football players.  Coach Fox is expected to sign Florida forward Cady Lalanne, the nation's No. 142 overall prospect according to Rivals.  The fact that Coach Fox's first 2010 signee is a top 150 guy is promising, considering UGA has been largely absent from that list in prior years.  The bad news is that there are seven Georgia players on that list and we have signed none of them.  Only Jelan Kendrick, a national top 10 prospect and the top guy in state, remains uncommitted at this point.

Coach Landers also expects a good day.  Point guard Ronika Ransford, guard Khaalidah Miller, and center Ariel Johnson are supposed to sign with the Lady Dawgs.  Both guards are top 40 prospects.  It's another top 15 class to add to last year's stellar group.  It's nice to see the girls program getting a bit more recruiting attention.

In sports only I care about, blue chipper Kate Fuller signed with the women's tennis team.  Fuller was the 2008 Georgia Junior Tennis Player of the Year and is a top national recruit.  Alpharetta's Rachael Hart is also expected to sign with UGA.

Manny Diaz and the men's tennis program has commitments from two national recruits, but I don't know if they were signing today or not.  Garrett Brasseaux of Covington, Louisiana and Californian Campbell Johnson are both top 20 prospects and are committed to the Dawgs. 

Quinton

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It's a little thing to you, but it matters to me

I'm a fan of Andy Landers. The results the past few years haven't been overwhelming, and he should've done more with the twins and Nolan. I get all of that. But he's a Dawg from his head to his toes, and built the program from nothing with little organizational and cultural support. Frankly, his only real problem is Pat Summit.

For instance, I'm pretty sure he beat Pat three times in 1995 only to lose the NCAA Title game to her. That's the kind of luck Andy has when it comes to Pat. She basically owns him. Imagine the frustration Dean Smith would've felt if he had coached in the Pac 10 at the same time as John Wooden. That's basically what Landers deals with.

I only say all of that to say this. Tonight, Pat Summit goes for 1,000 wins vs. #2 ranked Oklahoma on the road. If she should lose, she'll face Andy and Lady Dogs on Thursday. Andy's girls are improving, but this is one of his weaker teams in a very long time. I don't think this squad has it in them to stop Summit from getting 1,000 wins at home, and you can be sure he wouldn't get any help from the officials in that scenario either. It would be a gigantic kick in the balls to see her get that record at his expense.

Conversely, it would be one of the sweetest wins of his life. I just don't think he's got the horses to pull it off.

PWD

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Last night I was in Athens for the UGA Women's Game vs. North Carolina Central University. When the Dawgs were up 69-8 mid-second half, my dad and I tried to split...but the driver (mom) would have no part of it.

Anyway, we saw it through to the bitter, glorious end. UGA won so big that Andy Landers played the walk-ons, trainers, score keepers and a couple of injured alumni just to keep the score to a more presentable 85-31. It's rare that you see a scoreboard show 69-8 and think, "It's really not that close."

From Georgiadogs.com:

After leading 4-2, the Lady Bulldogs embarked on 11-0, 20-0 and 14-0 runs before entering the locker room [at the half]. At the break, five different Georgia players had as many points individually as N.C. Central had as a team.

So today, I am thankful that I'm not a women's basketball game.

Happy Turkey Day to All.

PWD


(Image: Dreamtime.com)

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Meanwhile ... Don't Pitch to Gordon Beckham

All the buzz surrounding Georgia athletics right now is justifiably on the ridiculous run the basketball team went on this weekend. But, Gordon Beckham is just as hot. After the Dawgs series win over Arkansas, a series in which he hit .563 with eight RBIs and two homers, Beckham was named SEC Player of the Week. For the season, Beckham is hitting .507 with nine round trippers in 15 games. He's in the top six in every major offensive catagory in the league. Dude can mash.

The Diamond Dawgs are 8-7, but they've played arguably the most difficult schedule in the country. The weakness so far has been the bullpen, which has blown a number of close leads in the late innings. Josh Fields, however, has returned to form, giving up one hit over 6 and 2/3rds. One freakin' hit.

If the bullpen can stabilize, the Dawgs should have a good case for the post season. The starters have been solid. Beckham, Rich Poythress, and Ryan Peisel are providing enough offense to win games. We just need to hold leads. The Vols visit Foley Field this weekend.

ALSO: The girls got their bid for the NCAAs today and got a tough draw. They're an eight seed, facing Iowa on Sunday. If they get by Iowa, they face North Carolina, one of the best teams in the country. That's what happens when you seem to lack any desire or urgency in your season play. Assuming the team doesn't get past Carolina, this has been a hugely disappointing season for the Lady Dawgs. If Andy has any tricks left, he better play them.

Quinton

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What the Girls Need: Animal Killing Tenacity

The women's basketball team bowed out of the SEC tournament tonight after a 57-50 loss to Kentucky. For the first time in five years, the girls won't make it to the semifinals of the tournament.

What happened to our team? Going into the year it looked like we were stacked. A talented backcourt, an experienced frontline, and a seasoned star in Tasha Humphrey should have added up to a deep run in the NCAAs. The team can still pull it together for the big dance, but it looks like Andy Landers will have to cast a spell on them and turn them into a team that gives a damn. We've got talent, we just don't have the want.

Pat Summitt, meanwhile, walks her dog with more intensity than anything our team's done all year. No, seriously. She dislocated her shoulder attacking a raccoon who dared to look at her dog sideways. This is both the greatest Tennessee sports story ever and the scariest women's basketball story ever. If your coach is willing to attack a raccoon to protect her dog, imagine how she'd treat you if you don't box out against UConn.

"Bring it, Summitt."

Maybe Andy should fight a opossum who's trying to get into his pomade to show the girls what desire looks like.

Quinton

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Soccer Update

In case you haven't noticed, and I bet you haven't, Georgia's soccer team is having its best season ever. The team plays Ole Miss today in the opening round of the SEC tournament as the two seed. Head coach Patrick Baker was named SEC Coach of the Year for leading the Bulldogs to a narrow second place finish in the SEC East, behind a Gator team that we beat. If not for a bad loss at home to Mississippi State, the team could have gone undefeated in the conference. In the latest polls, we are the highest rated SEC team in the country.

Coach Baker has recruited hard the past three years and the results are beginning to show up. The Dawgs had three All-SEC selections and three All-SEC Freshman team picks, including SEC Freshman of the Year, Kelli Corless. Congrats on the accomplishments and Go Dawgs!

Quinton

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Hey Ladies!

We don't usually cover the soccer program much here at the Georgia Sports Blog, but the team had a big victory tonight. For the first time ever, Georgia soccer beat the Gators, two goals to one. Head coach Patrick Baker was, by his own admission, hired from Florida State to help remedy Georgia's 0-16-1 record against Florida, among other reasons. Baker has the soccer team off to their best start since 1999. Congrats to the team and keep up the good work.

They don't get to enjoy the win, though. No. 12 South Carolina comes to Athens Sunday.

(Image: Georgia Sports Information Dept.)

Quinton

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Andy Landers' Son Leaves Grady Hospital

According to News Channel 32 in North Georgia, Drew Landers has returned home to finish up his recovery process. Drew is the son of Hall of Fame UGA women's basketball coach Andy Landers.

He was apparently released early this week. Great news for their family.

PWD

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Drew Landers Update

As we discussed earlier today, the son of Georgia women's basketball coach Andy Landers was in the intensive care unit of Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta on Monday after sustaining head trauma Sunday evening in a car-truck collision in Alabama. Here are updates from the Athens Banner Herald and the AJC on Drew's condition.

Per the AJC:

"Drew sustained a head injury in the collision as well as a bruised lung. Other than that, there does not appear to be any additional injuries of consequence," Andy Landers said in a statement issued through the athletics association. "There has been no surgery and none scheduled at this point. The doctors and medical personnel at Grady Health System have been outstanding and from conversations with them we are very optimistic about his prognosis for recovery."

Per the Athens Banner Herald:

"Things are good; he's stable," Andy Landers said Monday afternoon from the hospital. "There aren't really any indicators that there is going to be anything permanent or sustained from it. I'll feel a lot better saying that (tomorrow) than I do today."

Drew Landers is being kept sedated and breathing with the help of oxygen tubes, his father said. Andy Landers said he expected his son to spend about a week at Grady. There is a risk with head injuries of seizures for seven to 10 days, Landers said.

Landers was one of three North Oconee High School students injured in a crash in Oxford, Ala., that killed junior varsity basketball coach Shawn Smith. The other two students were released from the hospital. The driver/assistant coach passed away. No word on funeral arrangements yet for Smith.

PWD

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