Keep Your Head Up, Chuck

Okay.  The Georgia Tech game was not Charles Mann's finest effort. He went 1 for 6 from the floor and 2 for 4 from the line.

Even still, Mann had that critical hustle play in the second half, where he split the double team, briefly lost possession, then somehow came up with the ball in the scrum, and from his knees fired a pass to a teammate (Kessler?) for a lay-in.

Mann has to adjust to how the referees are going to call the game.  As he does so, he will get more trips to the line, and his field goal percentage will go up.  As it stands, the hard work that Mann has put in is showing itself.  His form at the free throw line is much better.  He even has more arc on his outside shot.  He now has to trust his skill.  Make a couple of mid-range shots, Chuck, and the drives will become easier.

Keep playing hard.  Looking for a big game from you against Clemson.

More on Marcus Thornton

He is considering requesting a release from his letter of intent to Clemson, now that Coach Purnell has bolted to DePaul.

Wouldn't that be interesting if Thornton somehow lands in UGA's lap. You'd have to think that we would want Polee, too, if we could find a way to have both of them. Would be an almost embarassment of riches for Fox, although we would suddenly have a log jam at the 4-position.

I would think that Thornton would likely move up to the wing.

It's a long shot, and the most likely scenario is that Thornton will stick with Clemson-- but who thought Purnell would leave? As they say, anything can happen. Thornton's family is apparently thinking along the lines of staying close to home, and Georgia has at least one 'ship to give.

Purnell to DePaul

Interesting decision.

Purnell will make more money, but I'm not convinced it's a better opportunity. DePaul may not be good for some time. Will Purnell be able to recruit at a high level in Chicago? And what about the weather?

From all I know, Purnell was happy at Clemson and Clemson was happy with him. He had signed a two-year extension.

Clemson should be okay for the short term. They have Tanner Smith and Andre Young at the guard position, plus Noel Johnson, a potentially high-scoring wing player. They're all from Georgia to boot.

Trevor Booker is graduating, but his little brother is going into his sophomore year, if memory serves me, and the younger Booker will be a tough player. Perhaps Purnell figured he had risen about as high as he was going to go in the ACC, or he might have been disappointed with the two-year extension he received.

What will it mean for recruiting now and in the future? Recruits aren't likely to feel as enthusiastic about an interim coach. What about Josh Langford? Will he end up at Georgia or decide to stay at home and play at Alabama or Auburn? Will there be any changes for the other players who had committed to play for Clemson for 2010/2011? Marcus Thornton?

Since Georgia and Clemson have targeted the same kinds of players in the recent past, the Purnell decision would have to be considered a net positive for Mark Fox and Georgia.

Clemson is Stocked

Oliver Purnell is getting it done over at Clemson. He recruits at a high level. His team is starting to play pretty well in the ACC. And now, Purnell is adding a little bit of "show" to his pre-season by swooping down from the rafters during Clemson's midnight madness.

As the attached indicates, Clemson has not done well at the end of the season. But all that could change.

Just his front line will give the rest of the ACC fits. The Booker brothers (sounds like a jazz band), Milt Jennings, Noel Johnson... And from the link from Scout.com, it looks like Tanner Smith and Andre Young will help out a lot on the perimeter.

I don't know how Georgia's scrimmage against Clemson went, but if UGA played well against that bunch, there's hope for our season.

Anybody ready for basketball?

Purnell

Scout Article

Noel Johnson to Clemson

Could be a good fit for Johnson with Clemson coach Oliver Purnell.

Mark Fox made a run at Johnson, but it wasn't to be.

Clemson now has Georgia products, Noel Johnson, Andre Young and Tanner Smith on their roster.

Clemson-Georgia Scrimmage: If we held

our own against Clemson, we're probably a bit farther along than I thought.

Clemson has a talented squad. Here's an overview, not from our scrimmage against them, but from their scrimmage against themselves (intra-squad).

Clemson Intra-squad

Clemson's players shot over 40% from behind the arc, and their big guys scored the ball very well.

In addition to Booker, their powerful post player, they also have Rivers, a skilled shooter, and a couple of other wing players, not to mention the newbies-- Tanner Smith, Andre Young and the 7-foot Euro.

Oliver Purnell Announces Cancer Benefit

Oliver Purnell, basketball coach for the Clemson Tigers, will host a benefit celebration to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

http://www.scnow.com/scp/sports/college/clemson/article/clemson_coach_announces_fundraiser/10968/

I have often remarked at how similar is Clemson's basketball program to Georgia's. Purnell was brought in right about the time that Felton was hired.

Purnell and Felton are good friends, and both of them appear to run the same offense. Clemson has had better talent, but hopefully that disparity has started to be diminished.

Both programs emphasize defense first. And Clemson made it to the ACC Tournament Finals last year and then to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years. Of course, Georgia won the SEC Tournament and played in the NCAA Tournament.

This is more of a stretch, but I can see Chris Barnes becoming a Trevor Booker-type player in the next year or so.

Purnell got a few 3-stars coming in as recruits, including Tanner Smith and Andre Young from the Atlanta and Albany areas, respectively. Those two remind me of Drazen Zlovaric and Dustin Ware, incoming Georgia recruits.

I hope that the Oliver and Vicky Purnell fundraiser turns out well.