I stand corrected. We're not good enough to beat the last place team in the SEC.
Sure enough, USC came out with their trapping defense and we started to turn the ball over right at the very end. KCP had a good look at a three to win the game, but he missed.
We won two games, defeating Arkansas and Mississippi State, and a few posters even thought we might get to the NCAA's because we were on a roll. We won't and we weren't.
We're just not very good. I hope we can win some more games, but we've got a lot of work to do. Disappointing.
Showing posts with label South Carolina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Carolina. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Dawgs Beat South Carolina
Ugly game. We had 17 turnovers, shot 60 percent from the free throw line and almost let the last place team in the SEC East beat us after they only scored 9 points in the first half.
We looked like a championship team in the first half. More like a rec team in the second.
I don't like the poor decisions with the ball. Sherrard Brantley needs to learn to fake one way with the basketball and then pass it.
Jeremy Price hit two clutch free throws late. Gerald Robinson had a chance to ice it from the foul line, but didn't quite get it done, hitting 1 of 2. We got a couple of good rebounds from Marcus Thornton. Still doesn't have his legs underneath him, but that will come back with time.
The good news is that no one will care how we won at the end of the season, but just that we won. We needed a win and we got it.
The Dawgs are now in second place in the SEC East. Tied with Vandy, both teams having a 6 and 4 record. Florida has an almost insurmountable 2 1/2 game lead at 9 and 2.
South Carolina is in last place at 4 and 6. Next to last is UT and Kentucky. How about that?
We looked like a championship team in the first half. More like a rec team in the second.
I don't like the poor decisions with the ball. Sherrard Brantley needs to learn to fake one way with the basketball and then pass it.
Jeremy Price hit two clutch free throws late. Gerald Robinson had a chance to ice it from the foul line, but didn't quite get it done, hitting 1 of 2. We got a couple of good rebounds from Marcus Thornton. Still doesn't have his legs underneath him, but that will come back with time.
The good news is that no one will care how we won at the end of the season, but just that we won. We needed a win and we got it.
The Dawgs are now in second place in the SEC East. Tied with Vandy, both teams having a 6 and 4 record. Florida has an almost insurmountable 2 1/2 game lead at 9 and 2.
South Carolina is in last place at 4 and 6. Next to last is UT and Kentucky. How about that?
Maybe we're just not that good...
I have read the couple of articles out this morning about the Dawgs and how our team is hoping to close out the season with a push toward the NCAA tournament.
Slippage
Patch
While it's true that our team has had its fair share of troubles, and players have gotten sick-- the fact is that these kinds of things happen during a long season. It's winter and we can't avoid having to play through adverse circumstances.
As we go into the stretch, we're playing a tough South Carolina team at home today. The loser will be in last place in the SEC East.
We just about have to win this game. Can we do it?
I'm not feeling too good about our chances. Horn will have his guys trapping all over the floor. They arguably have a deeper team than we do.
If we can't pull out a win, team supporters will have to face facts. Maybe our players were over-rated going into the season. Perhaps our expectations have been too high. Maybe we're just not that good.
Slippage
Patch
While it's true that our team has had its fair share of troubles, and players have gotten sick-- the fact is that these kinds of things happen during a long season. It's winter and we can't avoid having to play through adverse circumstances.
As we go into the stretch, we're playing a tough South Carolina team at home today. The loser will be in last place in the SEC East.
We just about have to win this game. Can we do it?
I'm not feeling too good about our chances. Horn will have his guys trapping all over the floor. They arguably have a deeper team than we do.
If we can't pull out a win, team supporters will have to face facts. Maybe our players were over-rated going into the season. Perhaps our expectations have been too high. Maybe we're just not that good.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
UGA vs. Kentucky: Could Winner Take All?
Not to put too much pressure on the Dawgs, but this Saturday's game at Rupp could be huge.
At the beginning of the season, everyone was picking the Dawgs to end up last in the SEC East. Georgia was understandably seen as being much weaker than the 5 other teams in the division.
But not even the best prognosticators could have foreseen the variety of on-court and off-court issues that have affected the opposition. As the SEC kicks off the first conference games this weekend, I think the pundits would agree that Georgia's prospects are much brighter, based on the following:
1. Volunteer Orange Sing Memphis Blues
UT is still figuring out what to do about the problems that have ensnared a few of their key players. Just a few hours after the team played Memphis, a car with Tyler Smith, Cameron Tatum, Melvin Goins, and Brian Williams, was pulled over. The smell of marijuana and the presence of two revolvers under the seat meant trouble for the group.
Law enforcement is still working its way through the investigation, but in the meantime, the four players involved have been suspended indefinitely. Even if Coach Pearl were tempted to give his guys a slap on the wrist, he can hardly do so, now that the police and UT's athletic director are closely involved. Given the bad press that UT's football players have generated, I expect that the four hoops players will not see the court this year.
Make no mistake about it, the 6 scholarship players that Pearl still has at his disposal can all play. And he has some walk-ons to help him fill out his bench. But Pearl's margin for error is now extremely thin. He certainly cannot afford much in the way of injuries, foul trouble, or off shooting nights from the members of his squad. And his style of play will definitely be affected. Can UT commit to run a full-court press all game long, all season long? I don't think so. Without the press, UT struggles to put points on the board.
2. Downey, Dominique and Dismissal in Columbia
As good as South Carolina looked last year, the Gamecocks could end up as lunch this season for the other teams in the SEC. Devan Downey seems to be in a bit of a slump. He's still averaging 18 points per game, but he is shooting right at 40 percent from the floor, and has just as many turnovers as assists.
Dominique Archie, an inside player who had been averaging 14 points per game, was injured last month and has had to have season-ending surgery. Now, just this week, Coach Horn has dismissed Mike Holmes from the team. As the attached article states, Holmes was averaging 11 points and 5 boards per game. South Carolina will still be a team to be reckoned with, but their record as they enter conference play is a rather pedestrian 9 and 5, and without Archie and Holmes, other SEC teams should be able to wear them down in the post.
3. Vandy Plays Beneath Potential
Vanderbilt will be good, and they have defeated Missouri and Depaul in Nashville. However, Vandy will always have a pretty decent record at home, based on the unusual sight lines in their gym.
The Commodores have an up and coming team, but they have lost already this season to Western Kentucky and to Illinois, a team that Georgia beat.
4. Can Florida's Guards Shoot?
Florida is still out there. They hit a lucky three-quarter court shot to beat N.C. State and go to 11 and 3 on the year. However, they have looked less than impressive. UF is last in the league in 3-point shooting, and 10th in the league in field goal percentage.
5. Georgia has the Mojo
Has anyone else noticed? We haven't won every game, and our record is about where it was last year. But, knock on wood, we haven't had a single key injury, suspension, or legal issue this season.
Ebuka Anyaorah was out all last year to allow him to recover from surgery on his shins. His legs are holding up, and he even has some explosiveness going to the rim.
Albert Jackson's broken hand healed up just in time to start the season. Chris Barnes seems to have suffered no ill effects from his wrist surgery last year. Jeremy Price recovered well from the ankle surgery he had before last year. Howard Thompkins, who had a stress fracture in his foot and a sprained knee just before last year's season started, has recovered completely and due to his playing time with FIBA over the summer and his ability to participate in fall workouts, he's in the best shape of his life.
Everyone else in the division seems to be breaking down, just when our players are finally all healthy at the same time.
Could it be that the perennial "UGA basketball snake-bite" has finally latched onto someone else?
6. UK
So that leaves Kentucky. UK is undefeated. They're as good or better as everyone expected.
Are they be primed for an upset? John Wall has had some cramping problems. Perhaps the Dawgs will GATA (Get After That Asp), and Calipari's squad will feel the fangs of defeat on Saturday.
How could it happen?
I would use the same strategy against them that we used against Tech. Pack the lane and make their guards prove they can shoot from outside.
Unlike the Georgia Tech game, the Dawgs will have to rebound like crazy and limit their second shots. If McPhee and Ware get hot from the outside, and our big men play their post guys even, UGA might escape with the W.
Not to get too far ahead of ourselves here, but win against UK and the Dawgs might then have the momentum to go on a streak against the other teams in the SEC East.
I know all of this sounds unlikely, but we just beat the #17 team in the country, and I'm greedy. We have the mojo. Let's take it one game at a time, leave it all out on the court on Saturday, and see what happens.
I'm ready for more basketball. Go Dawgs! Shock the world and win at Kentucky!
At the beginning of the season, everyone was picking the Dawgs to end up last in the SEC East. Georgia was understandably seen as being much weaker than the 5 other teams in the division.
But not even the best prognosticators could have foreseen the variety of on-court and off-court issues that have affected the opposition. As the SEC kicks off the first conference games this weekend, I think the pundits would agree that Georgia's prospects are much brighter, based on the following:
1. Volunteer Orange Sing Memphis Blues
UT is still figuring out what to do about the problems that have ensnared a few of their key players. Just a few hours after the team played Memphis, a car with Tyler Smith, Cameron Tatum, Melvin Goins, and Brian Williams, was pulled over. The smell of marijuana and the presence of two revolvers under the seat meant trouble for the group.
Law enforcement is still working its way through the investigation, but in the meantime, the four players involved have been suspended indefinitely. Even if Coach Pearl were tempted to give his guys a slap on the wrist, he can hardly do so, now that the police and UT's athletic director are closely involved. Given the bad press that UT's football players have generated, I expect that the four hoops players will not see the court this year.
Make no mistake about it, the 6 scholarship players that Pearl still has at his disposal can all play. And he has some walk-ons to help him fill out his bench. But Pearl's margin for error is now extremely thin. He certainly cannot afford much in the way of injuries, foul trouble, or off shooting nights from the members of his squad. And his style of play will definitely be affected. Can UT commit to run a full-court press all game long, all season long? I don't think so. Without the press, UT struggles to put points on the board.
2. Downey, Dominique and Dismissal in Columbia
As good as South Carolina looked last year, the Gamecocks could end up as lunch this season for the other teams in the SEC. Devan Downey seems to be in a bit of a slump. He's still averaging 18 points per game, but he is shooting right at 40 percent from the floor, and has just as many turnovers as assists.
Dominique Archie, an inside player who had been averaging 14 points per game, was injured last month and has had to have season-ending surgery. Now, just this week, Coach Horn has dismissed Mike Holmes from the team. As the attached article states, Holmes was averaging 11 points and 5 boards per game. South Carolina will still be a team to be reckoned with, but their record as they enter conference play is a rather pedestrian 9 and 5, and without Archie and Holmes, other SEC teams should be able to wear them down in the post.
3. Vandy Plays Beneath Potential
Vanderbilt will be good, and they have defeated Missouri and Depaul in Nashville. However, Vandy will always have a pretty decent record at home, based on the unusual sight lines in their gym.
The Commodores have an up and coming team, but they have lost already this season to Western Kentucky and to Illinois, a team that Georgia beat.
4. Can Florida's Guards Shoot?
Florida is still out there. They hit a lucky three-quarter court shot to beat N.C. State and go to 11 and 3 on the year. However, they have looked less than impressive. UF is last in the league in 3-point shooting, and 10th in the league in field goal percentage.
5. Georgia has the Mojo
Has anyone else noticed? We haven't won every game, and our record is about where it was last year. But, knock on wood, we haven't had a single key injury, suspension, or legal issue this season.
Ebuka Anyaorah was out all last year to allow him to recover from surgery on his shins. His legs are holding up, and he even has some explosiveness going to the rim.
Albert Jackson's broken hand healed up just in time to start the season. Chris Barnes seems to have suffered no ill effects from his wrist surgery last year. Jeremy Price recovered well from the ankle surgery he had before last year. Howard Thompkins, who had a stress fracture in his foot and a sprained knee just before last year's season started, has recovered completely and due to his playing time with FIBA over the summer and his ability to participate in fall workouts, he's in the best shape of his life.
Everyone else in the division seems to be breaking down, just when our players are finally all healthy at the same time.
Could it be that the perennial "UGA basketball snake-bite" has finally latched onto someone else?
6. UK
So that leaves Kentucky. UK is undefeated. They're as good or better as everyone expected.
Are they be primed for an upset? John Wall has had some cramping problems. Perhaps the Dawgs will GATA (Get After That Asp), and Calipari's squad will feel the fangs of defeat on Saturday.
How could it happen?
I would use the same strategy against them that we used against Tech. Pack the lane and make their guards prove they can shoot from outside.
Unlike the Georgia Tech game, the Dawgs will have to rebound like crazy and limit their second shots. If McPhee and Ware get hot from the outside, and our big men play their post guys even, UGA might escape with the W.
Not to get too far ahead of ourselves here, but win against UK and the Dawgs might then have the momentum to go on a streak against the other teams in the SEC East.
I know all of this sounds unlikely, but we just beat the #17 team in the country, and I'm greedy. We have the mojo. Let's take it one game at a time, leave it all out on the court on Saturday, and see what happens.
I'm ready for more basketball. Go Dawgs! Shock the world and win at Kentucky!
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