I don't see it.
Nothing against Edwards, but why go up to Michigan for a guy when we can find a back-up center from somewhere in-state? Georgia high school coaches have long memories.
From the looks of his (?) YouTube channel, it appears that Edwards considers himself a member of our 2015 signing class. I guess we beat out Ball State and Northern Illinois for his services. Of course if Edwards does end up at Georgia, I will support him and hope he turns into an absolute beast.
However, for now, the Edwards recruitment has me totally unconvinced. Reminds me of other Fox recruiting efforts. John Florveus. John Cannon. Tim Dixon. Good kids. Guys who contributed, but weren't the high level athletes that UGA needs to challenge the elite teams. Have my fingers crossed that Iduwe and Kessler will make a big leap next year.
This far along in the Mark Fox tenure I had hoped we were past getting a 2-star/project big man/role player late after the difference-maker goes elsewhere.
I liked the Yante Maten signing last year. Derek Ogbeide will definitely help this year. SMH on this one.
If Jaylen Brown turns us down, please get an in-state guy or save the ship until next year.
Showing posts with label John Florveus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Florveus. Show all posts
Friday, March 13, 2015
Friday, January 18, 2013
Dave Bliss
I was informed that one of the basketball message boards responded to my mentioning of Dave Bliss as part of a good haul of big men for UGA during the Felton years. Bear in mind that I said that Dave was part of the mix. In any case, a more detailed look at Dave's individual production may help explain my reasoning.
It's been a while, given that Bliss graduated five years ago. Let's review the stats to refresh our memories.
In his senior year Dave averaged 8 points and 6 boards, shooting 54 percent from the field and 71 percent from the line.
Bliss vs. UGA Current Posts
Sad to say, but UGA's current team doesn't have a big man anywhere near Dave's stats. Here are the averages, scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage, for our post players. I include this year's partial season and full season production from last year to capture the impact of SEC competition.
Dave Bliss: 8 and 6 (54 percent)
John Florveus: 3 and 3 (57 percent). 2 and 2 last year (43 percent).
Tim Dixon: 2 and 2. 0 and 1 last year (43 percent).
Donte Williams: 5 and 5 (47 percent). 40 percent from the line. 8 and 5 last year (47 percent).
John Cannon: 4 and 2 this year. 1 and 1 last year (38 percent).
Nemanja Djurisic: 8 and 4 (37 percent). 7 and 4 last year (40 percent).
Marcus Thornton: 4 and 4 (36 percent). 3 and 5 last year (28 percent).
Out of our six post players, the guy wirh production closest to Dave's is Nemi. Keep in mind that Nemi shoots a lot poorer percentage and and does not defend as well. For example, Nemi had 7 blocks for the full year last year. Dave had five times as many (34).
Bliss vs. Today's SEC Bigs
To not make the post too long, I'll spare readers the details, but suffice it to say that if you examined Dave's production against the 25 or so other post players in the SEC today, Dave would arguably be somewhere near the top five. He would trail Nerlens Noel and Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky), Robert Chubb (Auburn), Reginald Buckner (Ole Miss) and Patric Young (Florida),-- but not by much.
For example, compare Patric Young, starting center for an elite Florida team. Young gets 11.5 and 6 so far in this young season. He averaged 10 and 6 for the full season last year. That's just one bucket more per game than Dave.
Bottom Line
Was Dave as skilled as Trey Thompkins? No. Thompkins would get you 17 points and 8 rebounds a game, while shooting close to 50 percent. Thompkins not only scored twice as much, he also was more versatile. Trey hit 79 3-pointers in three years, shooting 36 percent from behind the arc. Dave didn't shoot any. Thompkins and Jeremy Price were better finishers and rebounders. Was Bliss the best post player that Felton recruited? The answer is obviously, no.
However, when you look at Dave's production and compare it to the other guys on our team now and around the league this season, it's clear that Dave was a quality big. Especially so when you add in the fact that Dave achieved his production while battling chronic back issues (herniated disc) that limited him to around 20 minutes a night. Throw in the intangibles (co-captain, graduated with honors in three years) and his leadership when UGA was coming off of NCAA sanctions, hitting key buckets to help UGA win the SEC Tournament championship, and you have yourself one heck of a player.
It's been a while, given that Bliss graduated five years ago. Let's review the stats to refresh our memories.
In his senior year Dave averaged 8 points and 6 boards, shooting 54 percent from the field and 71 percent from the line.
Bliss vs. UGA Current Posts
Sad to say, but UGA's current team doesn't have a big man anywhere near Dave's stats. Here are the averages, scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage, for our post players. I include this year's partial season and full season production from last year to capture the impact of SEC competition.
Dave Bliss: 8 and 6 (54 percent)
John Florveus: 3 and 3 (57 percent). 2 and 2 last year (43 percent).
Tim Dixon: 2 and 2. 0 and 1 last year (43 percent).
Donte Williams: 5 and 5 (47 percent). 40 percent from the line. 8 and 5 last year (47 percent).
John Cannon: 4 and 2 this year. 1 and 1 last year (38 percent).
Nemanja Djurisic: 8 and 4 (37 percent). 7 and 4 last year (40 percent).
Marcus Thornton: 4 and 4 (36 percent). 3 and 5 last year (28 percent).
Out of our six post players, the guy wirh production closest to Dave's is Nemi. Keep in mind that Nemi shoots a lot poorer percentage and and does not defend as well. For example, Nemi had 7 blocks for the full year last year. Dave had five times as many (34).
Bliss vs. Today's SEC Bigs
To not make the post too long, I'll spare readers the details, but suffice it to say that if you examined Dave's production against the 25 or so other post players in the SEC today, Dave would arguably be somewhere near the top five. He would trail Nerlens Noel and Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky), Robert Chubb (Auburn), Reginald Buckner (Ole Miss) and Patric Young (Florida),-- but not by much.
For example, compare Patric Young, starting center for an elite Florida team. Young gets 11.5 and 6 so far in this young season. He averaged 10 and 6 for the full season last year. That's just one bucket more per game than Dave.
Bottom Line
Was Dave as skilled as Trey Thompkins? No. Thompkins would get you 17 points and 8 rebounds a game, while shooting close to 50 percent. Thompkins not only scored twice as much, he also was more versatile. Trey hit 79 3-pointers in three years, shooting 36 percent from behind the arc. Dave didn't shoot any. Thompkins and Jeremy Price were better finishers and rebounders. Was Bliss the best post player that Felton recruited? The answer is obviously, no.
However, when you look at Dave's production and compare it to the other guys on our team now and around the league this season, it's clear that Dave was a quality big. Especially so when you add in the fact that Dave achieved his production while battling chronic back issues (herniated disc) that limited him to around 20 minutes a night. Throw in the intangibles (co-captain, graduated with honors in three years) and his leadership when UGA was coming off of NCAA sanctions, hitting key buckets to help UGA win the SEC Tournament championship, and you have yourself one heck of a player.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Hoops Getting Started
Dawgs play exhibition game tonight against Young Harris. Pete Herrmann has those guys playing good basketball, but I expect it to be an easy win for Georgia.
The Red and Black article below talks about Coach Fox experimenting with different line-ups. I expect early in the year he will go with upper-classmen as his starters, which would be Donte Williams at center, Nemi Djurisic at power forward, Marcus Thornton at small forward, KCP at the two-guard, and Vincent Williams at the point.
Either way, the change of pace second team would be a good one, with Charles Mann, Kenny Gaines, Brandon Morris, Florveus and John Cannon.
The game will be broadcast live at 7:00 p.m. on georgiadogs.com. Admission to the game is free.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Thoughts on Juwan Parker, Recruiting
I like the commitment of Juwan Parker. He's not a flashy guy, but he's solid. Averages 20 points per game and almost 10 rebounds.
ESPN has him at just two stars. Rivals and Scout give him a three-star rating. He's not a top-fifty type of recruit, but I think he has enough up-side to help UGA's hoops squad. He could grow an inch from his 6' 4" height and with strength & conditioning, boost his leaping ability.
I looked at the available videos on YouTube. Parker seems to have good fundamentals. Not great lift, but he does have good release on his shot. Appears to be able to go to his left or to his right, but from all I saw is more apt to shoot the ball rather than take it strong to the rim.
Some followers of the basketball program think that Parker's commitment clearly gets the train rolling for Georgia recruiting. Others are disappointed. I'm in the middle.
The challenge for Coach Fox is really the nature of hoops recruiting. UGA football coach Mark Richt is set to bring in a 2013 class of somewhere around 30 guys. With that many upcoming signees, Richt can take a chance on a few guys and see what happens. In basketball, obviously, the situation is different. Most years a basketball coach can bring in three, possibly four players.
Fox has to move the program forward with little room for error. Georgia fans would like to see him bring in the big-splash recruits. However, if Fox can't get them right now, then all is not lost. The key is to make sure he brings in the right players for his system. Guys who can help the Dawgs win. Recruits with the mix of skill and academics appropriate for Georgia.
The basketball team has three seniors, being Vincent Williams, Sherrard Brantley, and John Florveus-- a point guard, shooting guard and center. To address the impending departures, Fox first secured a commitment from J.J. Frazier, a 5' 10" point guard. How would he handle his other two spots? Well, now we know half of the answer. Bring in Juwan Parker. Shooting guard, 4.0 gpa, good pick-up.
What about the center slot? Is there another John Egbunu out there? Followers of the Blog from last year know that I was high on the 6' 10" center from right in our backyard. Egbunu has a bit of Shaquille O'Neal in his game. Can't get 'em all, but since we didn't get Tony Parker for 2012 or Egbunu for 2013, I'd like to see Fox find and bring in a power player with the last 2013 scholarship.
Bottom line on 2013 recruiting? Juwan Parker and J.J. Frazier are not the five-star players that gravitate to Kentucky, but they will help Georgia get better over time. I like the Parker commitment. We're heading in a positive direction and I think the 2012 class of Brandon Morris, Charles Mann and Kenny Gaines will propel Georgia toward the top of the SEC. Wins and the resulting increase in fan support will help Fox recruit for 2013 and 2014.
Go Dawgs!
ESPN has him at just two stars. Rivals and Scout give him a three-star rating. He's not a top-fifty type of recruit, but I think he has enough up-side to help UGA's hoops squad. He could grow an inch from his 6' 4" height and with strength & conditioning, boost his leaping ability.
I looked at the available videos on YouTube. Parker seems to have good fundamentals. Not great lift, but he does have good release on his shot. Appears to be able to go to his left or to his right, but from all I saw is more apt to shoot the ball rather than take it strong to the rim.
Some followers of the basketball program think that Parker's commitment clearly gets the train rolling for Georgia recruiting. Others are disappointed. I'm in the middle.
The challenge for Coach Fox is really the nature of hoops recruiting. UGA football coach Mark Richt is set to bring in a 2013 class of somewhere around 30 guys. With that many upcoming signees, Richt can take a chance on a few guys and see what happens. In basketball, obviously, the situation is different. Most years a basketball coach can bring in three, possibly four players.
Fox has to move the program forward with little room for error. Georgia fans would like to see him bring in the big-splash recruits. However, if Fox can't get them right now, then all is not lost. The key is to make sure he brings in the right players for his system. Guys who can help the Dawgs win. Recruits with the mix of skill and academics appropriate for Georgia.
The basketball team has three seniors, being Vincent Williams, Sherrard Brantley, and John Florveus-- a point guard, shooting guard and center. To address the impending departures, Fox first secured a commitment from J.J. Frazier, a 5' 10" point guard. How would he handle his other two spots? Well, now we know half of the answer. Bring in Juwan Parker. Shooting guard, 4.0 gpa, good pick-up.
What about the center slot? Is there another John Egbunu out there? Followers of the Blog from last year know that I was high on the 6' 10" center from right in our backyard. Egbunu has a bit of Shaquille O'Neal in his game. Can't get 'em all, but since we didn't get Tony Parker for 2012 or Egbunu for 2013, I'd like to see Fox find and bring in a power player with the last 2013 scholarship.
Bottom line on 2013 recruiting? Juwan Parker and J.J. Frazier are not the five-star players that gravitate to Kentucky, but they will help Georgia get better over time. I like the Parker commitment. We're heading in a positive direction and I think the 2012 class of Brandon Morris, Charles Mann and Kenny Gaines will propel Georgia toward the top of the SEC. Wins and the resulting increase in fan support will help Fox recruit for 2013 and 2014.
Go Dawgs!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
John Florveus
I mentioned last week that John Florveus looked a good bit bigger in the practice session video. Coach Fox underscored that point yesterday when he commented in a Scout.com interview that Florveus has added 18 pounds.
Interview
I chuckled about the fact that Scout needs some editing help, but I'm really happy about having some positive news from the hoops squad. Fox has reason to be more optimistic this season than last, and a big part of it ties to the development of Florveus.
Florveus already has skills that a lot of other bigs don't. He has good hands and he can run the floor. The issue last season was that Florveus didn't have the strength and post moves to gain more minutes or get more than two shot attempts per game.
I missed the georgiadogs.com video on Florveus from back in March, so I'm posting the link to it in the blog. The video has clips from last season that show what Florveus can do, and it also details his commitment to work during the off-season.
Florveus
If Florveus can keep lifting weights and maintain his athleticism, he'll be much more effective in the post. As it stands he can occasionally hit a jump-hook with either hand and catch the ball cleanly to finish at the rim. He also has decent form on his shot.
Fox was quoted by the Athens Banner Herald as saying that "Florveus has been the most dominant in the paint" during the five summer practices held to date. I hope the Italy trip gives Florveus a chance to showcase his improvement. Will he have the core strength to establish position and maintain it on the block? Will Florveus have the attitude to go after every rebound and protect the basket on defense? Will he run the floor so that he can get easy baskets? If so, his "no excuses" approach to training may make a big contribution to more UGA wins in the upcoming 2012/2013 season.
Interview
I chuckled about the fact that Scout needs some editing help, but I'm really happy about having some positive news from the hoops squad. Fox has reason to be more optimistic this season than last, and a big part of it ties to the development of Florveus.
Florveus already has skills that a lot of other bigs don't. He has good hands and he can run the floor. The issue last season was that Florveus didn't have the strength and post moves to gain more minutes or get more than two shot attempts per game.
I missed the georgiadogs.com video on Florveus from back in March, so I'm posting the link to it in the blog. The video has clips from last season that show what Florveus can do, and it also details his commitment to work during the off-season.
Florveus
If Florveus can keep lifting weights and maintain his athleticism, he'll be much more effective in the post. As it stands he can occasionally hit a jump-hook with either hand and catch the ball cleanly to finish at the rim. He also has decent form on his shot.
Fox was quoted by the Athens Banner Herald as saying that "Florveus has been the most dominant in the paint" during the five summer practices held to date. I hope the Italy trip gives Florveus a chance to showcase his improvement. Will he have the core strength to establish position and maintain it on the block? Will Florveus have the attitude to go after every rebound and protect the basket on defense? Will he run the floor so that he can get easy baskets? If so, his "no excuses" approach to training may make a big contribution to more UGA wins in the upcoming 2012/2013 season.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Impressions from Mic'd Up Segment
First off, thanks to UGA basketball for giving the fans a glimpse of how practice is going.
A few things stuck out to me:
1) John Florveus looks Bigger
Perhaps he'll make a big step forward this year.
2) Kenny Gaines Is Ready to Play
Doesn't quite have the hops that Travis Leslie does, but Gaines has some athleticism in his game. Will be fun to watch him play as he learns the system.
3) Marcus Thornton Still a Question Mark
He was at practice. Didn't see him participating in any drills, though. Will he be able to approach 90% of where he was physically when he was in high school? Man, I hope so.
4) Sure Could have used Tony Parker
Sigh. The big man by committee approach will have to work.
A few things stuck out to me:
1) John Florveus looks Bigger
Perhaps he'll make a big step forward this year.
2) Kenny Gaines Is Ready to Play
Doesn't quite have the hops that Travis Leslie does, but Gaines has some athleticism in his game. Will be fun to watch him play as he learns the system.
3) Marcus Thornton Still a Question Mark
He was at practice. Didn't see him participating in any drills, though. Will he be able to approach 90% of where he was physically when he was in high school? Man, I hope so.
4) Sure Could have used Tony Parker
Sigh. The big man by committee approach will have to work.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
8 Reasons for Optimism
Okay, Dawg fans. We're heading into the fourth year of the Mark Fox regime. During the Fox era, the Dawgs are a combined 50 and 46 overall (.520) and 19 and 29 in the SEC (.395). We had a great season last year, going 21 and 12, but this year has to be considered a disappointment.
I'm not happy that we had a losing season and we finished 11th out of 12 teams in the SEC. Next year Texas A&M and Missouri will join the league. Had the expansion occurred this year, we would have been 13th out of 14 teams (Texas A&M is arguably better than we are and Missouri is currently 30 and 4 on the year).
I know people say that we have never been successful in basketball, but does it really have to remain that way? We just have to step up in basketball and mine the talent in the Atlanta area. I hope we can do it without another sea change in our coaching ranks.
Please, no more woulda' coulda's. Our focus has to be playing with the guys we have, not those we don't. I understand that Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie left early. I'm tired of hearing that excuse. The key point is that Thompkins and Leslie were Felton's recruits. The way to guard against a downturn because of inherited players going to the pro's is
a) Convince the inherited players to commit to the program and stay in school, or, even better,
b) Recruit your own talented players.
We failed at convincing them to stay, if we ever attempted to do so, and we also failed to bring in a low post scorer. We own it, so let's move on.
The bottom line is as disappointed as I am with this year's 15 and 17 season, I do have some cautious optimism for the future. Here's why:
1) Recruiting has improved
KCP is a player. He'll be better next year. We didn't get a bunch of the players we wanted this year, but we're getting closer. Charles Mann is a tall point guard who although was not in the Rivals 150 was the best at his position in the state. Kenny Gaines is a powerful two-guard who has a great shot and fantastic leaping ability. Brandon Morris is not really a shooter, but he is a tall, lean player who can compete in the SEC. Morris defends well, gets buckets in transition, passes well for a big man and can handle the ball against the press. All three of those guys were on high school teams which won the state championship in their division. Good to recruit winners.
2) Georgia will Rely Less on the Three-Point Shot
I don't mind shooting threes if we can make'em. The problem was that we would hoist up shot after shot from behind the arc while hitting a low percentage. And it seemed as though Fox didn't know how to adjust. We only had one guy this year who could consistently create his own shot-- Gerald Robinson. We didn't press, we didn't change the offense to post up our guards, we didn't go to the 1-3-1 to get more steals in the half-court.
Next year, things should be better. Even though we were unable to recruit a pure shooter (Evan Nolte was a guy we went after, but he ended up at UVA), perhaps that's for the best. Each of our three signees can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, which should result in making Georgia harder to defend. We should also get more free throws.
3) The SEC next year will be Kentucky and Everybody Else
Kentucky will lose some guys to the NBA this year. Calipari is unconcerned. They will bring in their normal haul of 5-star guys to replace them and they'll keep truckin'. I will refrain from making a detailed analysis, but my point in short is that although Kentucky will continue to have elite talent, the jury is out on some of the other teams.
Vandy will be down next year. Ezeli, Goulbourne, Taylor, Tchiengang and Tinsley will all graduate this summer. Dai-Jon Parker, Kedren Johnson and John Jenkins are likely to be there for the 2012/2013 season, but Vanderbilt didn't do much in recruiting for 2012. Who knows? Jenkins may bolt for the pro ranks. This year they both out-shot us and out-athleted us. Not so, next year. Florida has some talent, but we beat them this year. Next year, they are bringing in guards. As long as we can play them relatively even in the post, Georgia should have a decent shot against Billy Donovan's squad.
South Carolina was last place in the league and they will still struggle. Mississippi and Mississippi State will be tough, but not significantly better than Georgia. Alabama and Auburn are on their way up, but the Crimson Tide will lose JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell may not come back. Auburn will lose Kenny Gabriel and although Barbee has recruited quite well, they finished this year one spot ahead of Georgia during the regular season, so they have a ways to go. Besides, who knows where this Varez Ward point-shaving situation will take them?
So even though Georgia wasn't a barn-burner in recruiting for 2012, in my opinion we did about as well as the other SEC teams that do not have blue grass.
4) Marcus Thornton may get better
Not sure about this one, but anyone who has followed his career knows that Marcus Thornton is hurting. Can he come back and be the explosive player he was in high school? Who knows. How good would Blake Griffin be if he couldn't jump? It makes a big difference when a player has knee problems. Let's give Thornton the summer and fall for his surgery and rehabilitation. If he does recover his leaping ability, he will be a significant boost to the team's performance.
5) Georgia has height
As they say, you can't teach 7-feet. Call them projects if you will, but John Florveus and John Cannon are listed as 7' and 6' 11" respectively. Even if the roster listed on Yahoo exaggerates things just a tad, Florveus and Cannon are in that 6' 10" range and reasonably athletic. They're not elite scorers by any stretch of the imagination, but they can run the floor and catch the basketball. Put 20 pounds of muscle each on Florveus, Cannon and Donte Williams during the off-season, and all of the sudden Georgia has a formidable-looking post rotation.
6) Two and Out
Coach Fox develops his bench. I don't much care for the two fouls and you're out rule for the first half, but as we saw in the Vanderbilt game in the SEC Tournament, utilization of the rule forces guys to be ready to play and in fact leads them to get minutes on the floor in key situations. Florveus and Cannon have had playing time this year. That experience can only give them confidence for future seasons.
7) No Flame-Outs
There is little margin for error on a basketball roster. For the most part, the football team can survive and adjust without missing a beat if two or more of their players flame out, or are lost due to suspension or academic reasons. Not true for basketball. If a couple of guys flame out in hoops, the entire trajectory of the season can change. Mark Fox has a roster of good guys. No arrests, drug issues, suspensions for not going to class, etc. While they did not win a lot of games, they did not lose them either for non-basketball reasons.
8) Tony Parker
Georgia is still in the discussion for Parker's recruitment. That's a great sign. We could very well have an all-Miller Grove starting front line next year. I've got my fingers crossed. If Tony Parker suits up in the red and black, Georgia becomes a projected top-tier team in the SEC.
Hope springs eternal. Maybe the hope I have for Georgia's basketball program will all be for naught and next year we will still be in the lower half of the SEC. Let's pull for the guys. Bear with me and tell me what you think will happen next year...
I'm not happy that we had a losing season and we finished 11th out of 12 teams in the SEC. Next year Texas A&M and Missouri will join the league. Had the expansion occurred this year, we would have been 13th out of 14 teams (Texas A&M is arguably better than we are and Missouri is currently 30 and 4 on the year).
I know people say that we have never been successful in basketball, but does it really have to remain that way? We just have to step up in basketball and mine the talent in the Atlanta area. I hope we can do it without another sea change in our coaching ranks.
Please, no more woulda' coulda's. Our focus has to be playing with the guys we have, not those we don't. I understand that Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie left early. I'm tired of hearing that excuse. The key point is that Thompkins and Leslie were Felton's recruits. The way to guard against a downturn because of inherited players going to the pro's is
a) Convince the inherited players to commit to the program and stay in school, or, even better,
b) Recruit your own talented players.
We failed at convincing them to stay, if we ever attempted to do so, and we also failed to bring in a low post scorer. We own it, so let's move on.
The bottom line is as disappointed as I am with this year's 15 and 17 season, I do have some cautious optimism for the future. Here's why:
1) Recruiting has improved
KCP is a player. He'll be better next year. We didn't get a bunch of the players we wanted this year, but we're getting closer. Charles Mann is a tall point guard who although was not in the Rivals 150 was the best at his position in the state. Kenny Gaines is a powerful two-guard who has a great shot and fantastic leaping ability. Brandon Morris is not really a shooter, but he is a tall, lean player who can compete in the SEC. Morris defends well, gets buckets in transition, passes well for a big man and can handle the ball against the press. All three of those guys were on high school teams which won the state championship in their division. Good to recruit winners.
2) Georgia will Rely Less on the Three-Point Shot
I don't mind shooting threes if we can make'em. The problem was that we would hoist up shot after shot from behind the arc while hitting a low percentage. And it seemed as though Fox didn't know how to adjust. We only had one guy this year who could consistently create his own shot-- Gerald Robinson. We didn't press, we didn't change the offense to post up our guards, we didn't go to the 1-3-1 to get more steals in the half-court.
Next year, things should be better. Even though we were unable to recruit a pure shooter (Evan Nolte was a guy we went after, but he ended up at UVA), perhaps that's for the best. Each of our three signees can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, which should result in making Georgia harder to defend. We should also get more free throws.
3) The SEC next year will be Kentucky and Everybody Else
Kentucky will lose some guys to the NBA this year. Calipari is unconcerned. They will bring in their normal haul of 5-star guys to replace them and they'll keep truckin'. I will refrain from making a detailed analysis, but my point in short is that although Kentucky will continue to have elite talent, the jury is out on some of the other teams.
Vandy will be down next year. Ezeli, Goulbourne, Taylor, Tchiengang and Tinsley will all graduate this summer. Dai-Jon Parker, Kedren Johnson and John Jenkins are likely to be there for the 2012/2013 season, but Vanderbilt didn't do much in recruiting for 2012. Who knows? Jenkins may bolt for the pro ranks. This year they both out-shot us and out-athleted us. Not so, next year. Florida has some talent, but we beat them this year. Next year, they are bringing in guards. As long as we can play them relatively even in the post, Georgia should have a decent shot against Billy Donovan's squad.
South Carolina was last place in the league and they will still struggle. Mississippi and Mississippi State will be tough, but not significantly better than Georgia. Alabama and Auburn are on their way up, but the Crimson Tide will lose JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell may not come back. Auburn will lose Kenny Gabriel and although Barbee has recruited quite well, they finished this year one spot ahead of Georgia during the regular season, so they have a ways to go. Besides, who knows where this Varez Ward point-shaving situation will take them?
So even though Georgia wasn't a barn-burner in recruiting for 2012, in my opinion we did about as well as the other SEC teams that do not have blue grass.
4) Marcus Thornton may get better
Not sure about this one, but anyone who has followed his career knows that Marcus Thornton is hurting. Can he come back and be the explosive player he was in high school? Who knows. How good would Blake Griffin be if he couldn't jump? It makes a big difference when a player has knee problems. Let's give Thornton the summer and fall for his surgery and rehabilitation. If he does recover his leaping ability, he will be a significant boost to the team's performance.
5) Georgia has height
As they say, you can't teach 7-feet. Call them projects if you will, but John Florveus and John Cannon are listed as 7' and 6' 11" respectively. Even if the roster listed on Yahoo exaggerates things just a tad, Florveus and Cannon are in that 6' 10" range and reasonably athletic. They're not elite scorers by any stretch of the imagination, but they can run the floor and catch the basketball. Put 20 pounds of muscle each on Florveus, Cannon and Donte Williams during the off-season, and all of the sudden Georgia has a formidable-looking post rotation.
6) Two and Out
Coach Fox develops his bench. I don't much care for the two fouls and you're out rule for the first half, but as we saw in the Vanderbilt game in the SEC Tournament, utilization of the rule forces guys to be ready to play and in fact leads them to get minutes on the floor in key situations. Florveus and Cannon have had playing time this year. That experience can only give them confidence for future seasons.
7) No Flame-Outs
There is little margin for error on a basketball roster. For the most part, the football team can survive and adjust without missing a beat if two or more of their players flame out, or are lost due to suspension or academic reasons. Not true for basketball. If a couple of guys flame out in hoops, the entire trajectory of the season can change. Mark Fox has a roster of good guys. No arrests, drug issues, suspensions for not going to class, etc. While they did not win a lot of games, they did not lose them either for non-basketball reasons.
8) Tony Parker
Georgia is still in the discussion for Parker's recruitment. That's a great sign. We could very well have an all-Miller Grove starting front line next year. I've got my fingers crossed. If Tony Parker suits up in the red and black, Georgia becomes a projected top-tier team in the SEC.
Hope springs eternal. Maybe the hope I have for Georgia's basketball program will all be for naught and next year we will still be in the lower half of the SEC. Let's pull for the guys. Bear with me and tell me what you think will happen next year...
Friday, February 24, 2012
AJC article on Donte Williams
Donte has definitely stepped up his game this year. He didn't get many minutes last year, but Georgia probably wouldn't have won any SEC games this year without him.
Can he pick up 20 pounds in the off-season? Absolutely. He needs the weight room and so do Florveus and Cannon. Good to see Williams pick up some press.
Williams
If we get a low post scorer, UGA could have a decent squad next year. Here's hoping that Tony Parker develops keen interest in playing with other Miller Grove grads (Williams and Brandon Morris) and having his family come see him in action.
Can he pick up 20 pounds in the off-season? Absolutely. He needs the weight room and so do Florveus and Cannon. Good to see Williams pick up some press.
Williams
If we get a low post scorer, UGA could have a decent squad next year. Here's hoping that Tony Parker develops keen interest in playing with other Miller Grove grads (Williams and Brandon Morris) and having his family come see him in action.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Dawgs Lose to Auburn
Final score: 59 to 51.
Awful display for the Dawgs. Scored 15 points in the first half. Been watching a lot of Georgia basketball over the years. Don't remember any game that bad.
We shot 22% from the field. KCP, 1 for 8; Marcus Thornton, 0 for 3; Nemi, 0 for 4; Vincent Williams, 0 for 3; Dustin Ware, 2 for 13 (all three-pointers). Total futility. No way to make the performance pretty.
Box Score
To play that pitifully after a bye week... To lose to Auburn. My one hope is that Donte Williams and John Florveus go into the weight room next year and emerge looking like Takais Brown.
We are in sole possession of last place. This year will get worse.
Awful display for the Dawgs. Scored 15 points in the first half. Been watching a lot of Georgia basketball over the years. Don't remember any game that bad.
We shot 22% from the field. KCP, 1 for 8; Marcus Thornton, 0 for 3; Nemi, 0 for 4; Vincent Williams, 0 for 3; Dustin Ware, 2 for 13 (all three-pointers). Total futility. No way to make the performance pretty.
Box Score
To play that pitifully after a bye week... To lose to Auburn. My one hope is that Donte Williams and John Florveus go into the weight room next year and emerge looking like Takais Brown.
We are in sole possession of last place. This year will get worse.
Kenny Gaines Goes Off
Had an explosive 37 points, 12 boards, 5 steals and 3 blocks against Southwest Atlanta Christian.
Gaines
Gaines is as athletic a 2 guard as UGA has had in a while. Georgia should be better on the perimeter next year, with Charles Mann and Kenny Gaines playing at the 1 and 2 spots and KCP at the three.
The question is whether one of our posts will step up to complement Donte Williams. If Florveus or Cannon really improve their skill levels and add 20 pounds of muscle in the off-season, then Georgia might be okay. It would be nice to add Tony Parker or Charles Mitchell underneath, but if they are unavailable, then I think we should sign Tevin Glass, who reminds me a bit of Terrance Woodbury.
The goal here should be to get as deep and talented a roster as possible. Those guys we don't get, we miss out on. We have to live to fight another day. Georgia would go two-deep on the wing, with Glass and Brandon Morris, two-deep at shooting guard with KCP and Gaines, and then Vincent Williams and Charles Mann would handle the point.
Gaines
Gaines is as athletic a 2 guard as UGA has had in a while. Georgia should be better on the perimeter next year, with Charles Mann and Kenny Gaines playing at the 1 and 2 spots and KCP at the three.
The question is whether one of our posts will step up to complement Donte Williams. If Florveus or Cannon really improve their skill levels and add 20 pounds of muscle in the off-season, then Georgia might be okay. It would be nice to add Tony Parker or Charles Mitchell underneath, but if they are unavailable, then I think we should sign Tevin Glass, who reminds me a bit of Terrance Woodbury.
The goal here should be to get as deep and talented a roster as possible. Those guys we don't get, we miss out on. We have to live to fight another day. Georgia would go two-deep on the wing, with Glass and Brandon Morris, two-deep at shooting guard with KCP and Gaines, and then Vincent Williams and Charles Mann would handle the point.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Dawgs Win! Finish Winthrop in OT
I'm not that excited about having to go to overtime to beat Winthrop, but I'll take it. Georgia can't afford a loss during this stretch of the season.
I wouldn't call Winthrop a "cupcake." They have some players. But they don't have the depth and physicality that Georgia will face during the SEC portion of the schedule. Wins now are critical.
Proud of Nemi. Great game. Seventeen points, nine boards. That's the kind of production we need from one of the bigs. Of course, I would like to see more scoring from in the paint, because we can't get it done relying on behind the arc shooting. But if Nemi is hot, let him shoot it and see what happens.
By the way, I'm not down on our post players. They are not ready for big production right now, but they can run the floor, and key to their future progress, they can catch the ball. A lot of big men never get to score because they can't make clean catches. By the time you fumble the ball, recover and get your feet set, it's too late.
So if Georgia's post players take their current skills and get physical enough to grab some rebounds and score off of put-backs, then that would be a huge contribution. Joakim Noah made it to the pro's doing just that, beating other players down the floor and getting easy baskets. John Cannon, Donte Williams and John Florveus should take a page from Noah, get in absolute top physical condition, and take advantage of the rotation that Fox will use now that Marcus Thornton is out with an injury.
By the time next year rolls around, Georgia could have a stable of big guys to insert into the game when needed.
As for the Winthrop contest, we got balanced scoring, clutch shots and escaped with a win. Let's build some momentum.
Dawgs Over Winthrop
I wouldn't call Winthrop a "cupcake." They have some players. But they don't have the depth and physicality that Georgia will face during the SEC portion of the schedule. Wins now are critical.
Proud of Nemi. Great game. Seventeen points, nine boards. That's the kind of production we need from one of the bigs. Of course, I would like to see more scoring from in the paint, because we can't get it done relying on behind the arc shooting. But if Nemi is hot, let him shoot it and see what happens.
By the way, I'm not down on our post players. They are not ready for big production right now, but they can run the floor, and key to their future progress, they can catch the ball. A lot of big men never get to score because they can't make clean catches. By the time you fumble the ball, recover and get your feet set, it's too late.
So if Georgia's post players take their current skills and get physical enough to grab some rebounds and score off of put-backs, then that would be a huge contribution. Joakim Noah made it to the pro's doing just that, beating other players down the floor and getting easy baskets. John Cannon, Donte Williams and John Florveus should take a page from Noah, get in absolute top physical condition, and take advantage of the rotation that Fox will use now that Marcus Thornton is out with an injury.
By the time next year rolls around, Georgia could have a stable of big guys to insert into the game when needed.
As for the Winthrop contest, we got balanced scoring, clutch shots and escaped with a win. Let's build some momentum.
Dawgs Over Winthrop
Monday, November 14, 2011
Dawgs Beat Bowling Green
We got outrebounded by a huge margin. A better team would have blown us out.
However, there were still a number of positives about the game. We won, and we are now 2 and 0 on the season. We shot well from the free throw line when we needed to.
Marcus Thornton needs some help on his shot. It's too much of a two-handed cast. I think he went 1 for 6 from the foul line. The key is that he was aggressive, and that will only help him get his conditioning and explosiveness back. May take until mid-season, or maybe even next year, but at some point he may be able to put up Trey Thompkins-like numbers.
Very pleased with John Florveus. He runs the floor well and has great hands for a big man. Put some weight on him and he might become the Dawgs' version of Vandy's Festus Ezeli.
Vincent Williams looks like he's more committed to pushing the ball. He has to be ready to help this year.
Caldwell-Pope looked pretty good, too. If he locks his elbow in tight and follows through correctly, he will be a fantastic shooter.
Let's win the CBE tournament and beat Tech. That will be a great start to the season.
However, there were still a number of positives about the game. We won, and we are now 2 and 0 on the season. We shot well from the free throw line when we needed to.
Marcus Thornton needs some help on his shot. It's too much of a two-handed cast. I think he went 1 for 6 from the foul line. The key is that he was aggressive, and that will only help him get his conditioning and explosiveness back. May take until mid-season, or maybe even next year, but at some point he may be able to put up Trey Thompkins-like numbers.
Very pleased with John Florveus. He runs the floor well and has great hands for a big man. Put some weight on him and he might become the Dawgs' version of Vandy's Festus Ezeli.
Vincent Williams looks like he's more committed to pushing the ball. He has to be ready to help this year.
Caldwell-Pope looked pretty good, too. If he locks his elbow in tight and follows through correctly, he will be a fantastic shooter.
Let's win the CBE tournament and beat Tech. That will be a great start to the season.
Friday, November 4, 2011
R&B Article about the Dawgs, Schedule, Etc.
It was encouraging to read that Fox thinks Cannon and Florveus have some potential to help in the front court. I have no idea what the Dawgs have in those guys. I think Florveus can give us minutes on the defensive end, but I'm really not expecting much from Cannon, Dixon and the other post. Would love to be wrong, though.
Red and Black
Red and Black
Friday, October 14, 2011
Mark Fox Video
Sounds pretty positive overall.
My take is that if Donte Williams and Marcus Thornton play well, Georgia will have a chance. Williams has good fundamentals and just has to get more playing time. Picking up over twenty pounds will help. Thornton has to get his feet underneath him and recover the leaping ability he had in high school. He'll have to push himself to play hard all the time.
Certainly good news that Coach Fox thinks that John Florveus has the skill set to play SEC basketball.
Vincent Williams and Dustin Ware have increased their vertical jump. Not sure how much playing time Vincent will get. Dustin Ware needs to drive the ball and get fouled. In order for the team to play at its best, he needs to put some pressure on the defense.
Starting line-up come November 4 will probably be Ware, Robinson, Pope, Thornton and Williams. Florveus should be the first front line sub and Sherrard should be the designated shooter off the bench.
Video
My take is that if Donte Williams and Marcus Thornton play well, Georgia will have a chance. Williams has good fundamentals and just has to get more playing time. Picking up over twenty pounds will help. Thornton has to get his feet underneath him and recover the leaping ability he had in high school. He'll have to push himself to play hard all the time.
Certainly good news that Coach Fox thinks that John Florveus has the skill set to play SEC basketball.
Vincent Williams and Dustin Ware have increased their vertical jump. Not sure how much playing time Vincent will get. Dustin Ware needs to drive the ball and get fouled. In order for the team to play at its best, he needs to put some pressure on the defense.
Starting line-up come November 4 will probably be Ware, Robinson, Pope, Thornton and Williams. Florveus should be the first front line sub and Sherrard should be the designated shooter off the bench.
Video
Monday, March 21, 2011
Ten Questions for the 2012 Hoop Dawgs
Questions, questions.
1) Will Fox Become a Wolf?
Apparently N.C. State wants to talk to Mark Fox. If I'm Fox, I listen. Why? State can pay a lot more than UGA, and to be honest, that's why coaches have agents. The coaches can offer up polite denials, saying that they haven't spoken with anyone from such and such college, while they and their representatives are discussing details several times a day. The rep's try to get things lined up so that if the offer does have the kinds of terms that an up and coming coach wants, the coach can sign quickly.
2) Will Trey and Travis Test the Waters?
My best guess is that Trey is gone, but Travis will stay. Thompkins ended the season with a 26 and 9 game, in which he shot almost 80 percent from the floor, 100 percent from behind the arc, and 100 percent from the free throw line. He also showed that he had great hands and could even bring the ball up against the press.
With the injuries that Thompkins suffered this year, he might want to protect himself and his family. Travis, on the other hand, went 4 of 14 from the floor against Washington. If I'm not mistaken, all of his made shots were right at the basket, and he didn't hit a single jump-shot. He has enough to work on that the smart money says that he will take one more year to improve his handle and his mid-range game.
Of course my guesses about Trey and Travis assume that Fox stays in Athens and that the NBA season ends and begins as normal. The League's collective bargaining agreement ends in June. If things break down, then the best thing to do might be for both to stay for their senior seasons.
3) Can John Florveus and Tim Dixon Play?
Hate to say this, but from all I can tell, both will need a lot of work before they're big enough and strong enough to score consistently against SEC competition.
4) Who Will Man the Post?
If Trey leaves, Georgia will have a big void in the middle. With no JP, no Chris Barnes and no Thompkins, Georgia may wind up with the Bermuda Triangle Offense. If you throw the ball into the post, no one knows what will happen.
5) What's up with Recruiting?
Will Phillip Jurick sign? Anyone else? Who is this guy from Montenegro, and is he really better than the available kids from right here in Georgia?
6) Can Georgia Attract a Transfer?
If Sidney Lowe and Bruce Pearl are let go, Georgia may be able to pick up a guy like Marcus Thornton. Either a guy who decommits and asks for his release from the letter of intent, or a person who wants to find a new place to play, even if he has to sit out a year.
7) Will Georgia be Good Enough to Escape the Lower Half of the SEC East?
Florida and Kentucky are in the Sweet Sixteen again. Georgia, again, is not. They will have a deep bench next year. Vandy will be good again and so will Tennessee. I know it's early yet, but we all hope that we can close the gap some between those guys and Georgia.
8) Can Thornton and Williams Step Up?
Marcus Thornton and Donte Williams will be the only post players with any experience. They both did quite well in high school, and they have a good bit of athleticism. They'll have to show it next year.
9) How well will Kentavious Caldwell Play?
He'll be a freshman, and he'll have to learn the triangle offense. But can Caldwell-Pope give Georgia the kind of size and shooting ability that the team needs?
10) Will 2012 be a Year of Stability and Steady Improvement, or Transition and Rebuilding for the Dawgs?
What do you think?
1) Will Fox Become a Wolf?
Apparently N.C. State wants to talk to Mark Fox. If I'm Fox, I listen. Why? State can pay a lot more than UGA, and to be honest, that's why coaches have agents. The coaches can offer up polite denials, saying that they haven't spoken with anyone from such and such college, while they and their representatives are discussing details several times a day. The rep's try to get things lined up so that if the offer does have the kinds of terms that an up and coming coach wants, the coach can sign quickly.
2) Will Trey and Travis Test the Waters?
My best guess is that Trey is gone, but Travis will stay. Thompkins ended the season with a 26 and 9 game, in which he shot almost 80 percent from the floor, 100 percent from behind the arc, and 100 percent from the free throw line. He also showed that he had great hands and could even bring the ball up against the press.
With the injuries that Thompkins suffered this year, he might want to protect himself and his family. Travis, on the other hand, went 4 of 14 from the floor against Washington. If I'm not mistaken, all of his made shots were right at the basket, and he didn't hit a single jump-shot. He has enough to work on that the smart money says that he will take one more year to improve his handle and his mid-range game.
Of course my guesses about Trey and Travis assume that Fox stays in Athens and that the NBA season ends and begins as normal. The League's collective bargaining agreement ends in June. If things break down, then the best thing to do might be for both to stay for their senior seasons.
3) Can John Florveus and Tim Dixon Play?
Hate to say this, but from all I can tell, both will need a lot of work before they're big enough and strong enough to score consistently against SEC competition.
4) Who Will Man the Post?
If Trey leaves, Georgia will have a big void in the middle. With no JP, no Chris Barnes and no Thompkins, Georgia may wind up with the Bermuda Triangle Offense. If you throw the ball into the post, no one knows what will happen.
5) What's up with Recruiting?
Will Phillip Jurick sign? Anyone else? Who is this guy from Montenegro, and is he really better than the available kids from right here in Georgia?
6) Can Georgia Attract a Transfer?
If Sidney Lowe and Bruce Pearl are let go, Georgia may be able to pick up a guy like Marcus Thornton. Either a guy who decommits and asks for his release from the letter of intent, or a person who wants to find a new place to play, even if he has to sit out a year.
7) Will Georgia be Good Enough to Escape the Lower Half of the SEC East?
Florida and Kentucky are in the Sweet Sixteen again. Georgia, again, is not. They will have a deep bench next year. Vandy will be good again and so will Tennessee. I know it's early yet, but we all hope that we can close the gap some between those guys and Georgia.
8) Can Thornton and Williams Step Up?
Marcus Thornton and Donte Williams will be the only post players with any experience. They both did quite well in high school, and they have a good bit of athleticism. They'll have to show it next year.
9) How well will Kentavious Caldwell Play?
He'll be a freshman, and he'll have to learn the triangle offense. But can Caldwell-Pope give Georgia the kind of size and shooting ability that the team needs?
10) Will 2012 be a Year of Stability and Steady Improvement, or Transition and Rebuilding for the Dawgs?
What do you think?
Sunday, February 6, 2011
John Florveus
The kid is not a prolific scorer by any means, but from all indications, he is the kind of player that will add length and some athleticism to the team.
I like for big men to go up and dunk the ball with authority. He seems to have at least a little bit of that in his game.
Slam!
I like for big men to go up and dunk the ball with authority. He seems to have at least a little bit of that in his game.
Slam!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Festus Ezeli, Exhibit A for Projects
Ezeli's performance against Georgia is both good news and bad news for the Dawgs.
It's bad news because Festus is a player. He has rounded into a key contributor for Vandy, and they don't need any help. Their court is help enough. Add to that the fact that they apparently got all the foul calls, then their home court advantage should win them two or three extra games this year.
Ezeli is a physical post player. He'll get rebounds and block shots. Now he has some decent moves around the bucket, too.
The good news is that Georgia is apparently bringing in two Festus Ezeli-type players this year. Tim Dixon is a lanky player that needs to build muscle. He has some shot-blocking skill already. John Florveus is a 7-footer that might just end up anchoring the middle for the Dawgs in future years.
Big men develop slowly. Hopefully, UGA will have enough success in recruiting to allow our incoming post players to bulk up physically and develop their talent.
It's bad news because Festus is a player. He has rounded into a key contributor for Vandy, and they don't need any help. Their court is help enough. Add to that the fact that they apparently got all the foul calls, then their home court advantage should win them two or three extra games this year.
Ezeli is a physical post player. He'll get rebounds and block shots. Now he has some decent moves around the bucket, too.
The good news is that Georgia is apparently bringing in two Festus Ezeli-type players this year. Tim Dixon is a lanky player that needs to build muscle. He has some shot-blocking skill already. John Florveus is a 7-footer that might just end up anchoring the middle for the Dawgs in future years.
Big men develop slowly. Hopefully, UGA will have enough success in recruiting to allow our incoming post players to bulk up physically and develop their talent.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Dawgs Ink Three
Georgia has signed letters of intent from the three hoopsters who committed earlier. John Florveus, Tim Dixon and Kentavious Caldwell are all on board.
Welcome, guys!
Welcome, guys!
Monday, October 18, 2010
John Florveus Commitment
Obviously Fox and staff saw something they liked in Florveus and convinced him to commit.
I've been a bit disappointed in how recruiting is going since we lost out to Tech on Julian Royal, and it looks like Nick Jacobs will commit to Clemson.
At any rate, it's hard to teach 7', and if he is anything close to that height, Florveus might be able to help.
Here's the free article from Dawgpost.com
I've been a bit disappointed in how recruiting is going since we lost out to Tech on Julian Royal, and it looks like Nick Jacobs will commit to Clemson.
At any rate, it's hard to teach 7', and if he is anything close to that height, Florveus might be able to help.
Here's the free article from Dawgpost.com
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