Sunday, November 24, 2013

Dawgs Lose to Nebraska

Final score:  Nebraska 73, Dawgs 65.

We're 1 and 4 on the year and dead last in the SEC.

We're inventing ways to lose now.  This time we couldn't hit our free throws.

I keep thinking that Georgia is going to put it all together and beat some team by double digits.  I thought we would get a W in at least one of the three contests.  Didn't happen.  We came in last place in the tournament, not winning a single game.

Not sure what to make of this team.  We have some possibilities.  We could go on a run and win the next six games.  It could happen.

There are possibilities, but there are also problems.

Wing players.  Brandon Morris is playing pretty well.  Meanwhile, Cameron Forte seems to have taken a step back (Mark Fox needs to work on Forte's shot.  Make him shoot one-handed until he starts getting good arc on the ball and learns to use his off-hand as a guide, only).

Post players.  We still don't have the production we need in the post.  Marcus Thornton is doing better, but he has no lift off of his surgically repaired legs.  Sad to see, since he had so much bounce in high school.  By the way, he and Donte don't need to be shooting three-pointers.

Shooting guards.   We got next to no production from our 2-guard position.  Kenny Gaines went 3 for 9 and Juwan Parker shot 0 for 3.  A combined 3 for 12 won't get it done.  If our shooting guards don't manage better than 25 percent from the field, we will lose every time.

Offense.  Our offense doesn't seem to get us any good shots.  Or maybe the shots are there, but our guys just can't hit'em.  All too often, however, we run the weave 25 feet or more from the basket, pass it into the short corner and try to angle a guy toward the basket.

If the game under the new rules is to drive the ball to the basket and get fouled, then let's design an offense that will do just that.  Scrap the triangle, or at least try an alternative during part of the game.  Charles Mann is good at driving the ball, but we need to have more players who can do it.  Reminds me of Sundiata Gaines driving the ball on almost every possession back when Felton was coaching.  We can do better.  Coach Fox has to make it so.

I think Mark Fox's record at UGA is now into negative territory at 66 and 67.  If we don't pick up a string of wins during the non-conference part of the schedule, Fox will likely have yet another losing season, notching losing seasons in 4 out of his 5 years.  All of our momentum seems to be backwards, and it's hard to argue with the guys who point out that Georgia basketball has degraded under his stewardship.

They have a point.  Multiple losing seasons, no recruits, poor defense and a stagnant offense spell disaster for a basketball program.  Like I've said before, I like to see our guys graduate, but if that's the only criteria for successful coaching, hire one of the academic advisers to coach the team.  Sure wouldn't cost us $1.7 million a year.

Gotta have some wins and quick.  We really need a good run over these next few games.  Fox, make it happen!

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