Dawgs Lose Again

Hate being at the bottom of the SEC. Shouldn't be this way. But we're officially 11th in the league with a 3 and 9 record.

We have games remaining at 16 and 10 LSU with their 7-foot center, against Florida, at Kentucky and against the South Carolina team that just beat us a few days ago. Have to play them one game at a time, and I'm a homer who hopes for the best, but when you look at our recent performance you have to admit that there is a real possibility that UGA could end the conference regular season at 3 and 13.

We are on track to being the worst Georgia team in some 30 years, when stats are examined for field goal shooting (.392), 3-point accuracy (.322), scoring (61.3), rebounding (33.6), overall record (12 and 14), and SEC record (3 and 9).

The only squad that performed about as poorly was the 2004 NCAA-sanctioned team that had just 8 scholarship players, which actually shot better at .395, but went 2 and 14 in the SEC. The Felton/Pete Herrmann team of 2009 had just as bad a record, but they shot better from the field (.412), were more accurate from three-point range (.342), rebounded better (37 per game), and scored more (64.9 per contest). Ron Jirsa teams don't have their stats on UGA's official web site any longer, but their overall records were 20 and 15 in 1997 and 15 and 15 in 1998. Before Jirsa were the high performing Tubby Smith and Hugh Durham years.

Looking at today's game, we didn't shoot the ball well. Meanwhile, Vandy's star shooting guard John Jenkins shot lights out. Very efficient. He was 8 of 11 from the field, 6 of 8 from behind the arc, and 6 of 6 from the free throw line. Reminds me of how Chris Lofton of UT used to come into Stegeman and put on a shooting display.

My biggest disappointment is the same one I have mentioned previously. We chunked up way too many three-pointers. We attempted 23 and hit only 3. How does that happen? If we're not a good three-point shooting team then we need to drive the ball to the basket. Gerald Robinson had a pretty good game for us, but that was it. The final score was 61 to 52.

Recap

Can we turn it around? Boy, I sure hope so. We need a couple of high-level recruits or at least a big-time Jeremy Lin-type sleeper, or someone needs to make a big step forward at the end of this year and in the off-season. We're not getting it done as is.

UGA Faces Tennessee

Tough way to start the SEC slate, but you play the hand you're dealt in this league. Game is Saturday at 12:00 in Athens.

I really can't see a way that Georgia wins this one. When we had Sundiata Gaines, there was always a chance. He almost willed the team to victory last year, but Georgia lost by three.

With that said, Georgia has a chance. The game is at home. Should be a good crowd. And there's no Chris Lofton. He hit 9 three-pointers one year in a close game against us. Scotty Hopson and Cameron Tatum will be challenges at the two-guard position for us, but I don't expect them to shoot like Lofton. According to one stat I saw, they shoot less than 32% from deep. Not terrible, but not world-beaters, certainly.

Tyler Smith is listed as doubtful for the game, with a bruised bone in his knee. I expect him to play, by the way, but if he is held out, or at least not 100%, that should help Georgia some.

Tennessee really doesn't have any bad losses this year. They've had 4 defeats, but 2 of those were against a Gonzaga team with a great point guard and some very good shooters. They lost against defending national champ, Kansas, and Temple beat them, but only because their 2-guard had a career night.

I think we ought to pack things down in a zone. Slow the game down. Make them run some clock and hit from the outside. If they miss, rebound like crazy. If we can keep the game close, they might get a little nervous, argue amongst themselves-- that kind of thing, and we can steal our first SEC game of the year.

If we try to match their speed, end up turning the ball over and succumbing to their defensive pressure, then UT by 18.