AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2008 > January > 26 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.US‘Climbing’ Dogs not getting far
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Knoxville — Georgia got an RPI bump just by showing up, not that the Bulldogs showed up in any competitive sense. Indeed, what they showed Saturday was that a program that hasn’t graced the NCAA tournament since 2002 isn’t as close to getting back to the Big Dance as it should be.
The Bulldogs entered as one of those odd-duck teams peculiar to college basketball: They had a decent record (11-5) but an awful RPI (117). Rule of thumb: Unless your RPI is under 50, you can forget being an at-large invitee. Conveniently enough, the schedule brought Georgia to the home of the current ratings colossus.
Tennessee is No. 1 in the RPI but entered having appeared pedestrian in losing at Kentucky on Tuesday. The Vols can look great when allowed to rip and run, markedly less great when forced to slug it out in the halfcourt. Against such an opponent, the idea is to slow it down and give yourself a chance at the end.
Georgia didn’t give itself a chance in the beginning. It made 15 turnovers before it sank its fifth basket. It defended so abominably that the Vols appeared to playing with an extra man. (Big Orange on the power play!) It trailed by 10 points after six minutes, by 21 at halftime, by 26 before Tennessee lost interest.
“Far too many times we weren’t strong and decisive,” said Dennis Felton, Georgia’s coach. “We were soft to start the game.”
Put bluntly, Georgia played a game that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the 8-20 season of 2004-2005. That was Felton’s second season after inheriting Jim Harrick’s mess, and Felton could hardly be faulted then. But now it’s 2008, and there can be no more excuse-making for the Bulldogs.
Yes, Felton was dealt a lousy hand and has had some rotten luck since. The best recruit he has signed, Louis Williams of South Gwinnett, never enrolled. Last season’s team might well have made the NCAA had Mike Mercer not hurt his knee in February, and this bunch would be much more imposing if Mercer and Takais Brown hadn’t run aground academically. That said …
Felton has been coaching Georgia longer than the combined tenures of Tubby Smith and Ron Jirsa, nearly a full season longer than the disgraced Harrick. A U.S. president doesn’t get as long to fix the country as Felton has had to right a basketball program. Felton has been in place since April 2003, and still every discussion of Bulldog basketball — and there aren’t many — begins not with the incumbent but with the man he succeeded.
This is Bruce Pearl’s third season at Tennessee. While he didn’t follow anyone as egregious as Harrick, he did inherit a program that had run through four different coaches in 15 years. Pearl has Tennessee near the top of the national rankings — the Vols are No. 3 in the AP poll — and has brought a basketball buzz not felt since the days of Ray Mears and Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld.
Asked to assess the state of Big Orange hoops, Felton said, “That’s a question for Tennessee.”
Fair enough. Asked then to characterize Georgia basketball, Felton said this: “Steady climbing. Steady climbing — that’s how I’d assess it.”
Earlier he’d said, “It’s really disappointing. There’s no shame in losing. Vanderbilt, one of the best teams in the country, came here and lost by 20. [Georgia lost by a fairly flattering 16.] You know that possibility exists against such a tremendous team. But we were soft to start the game.”
And that’s the alarming part. Even Felton’s 8-20 team could be counted on to play hard. Never well, but always hard. If ferocity has been lost and not much gained in the talent department, does that amount to steady climbing? Or is it instead an unsteady retreat?
Permalink | Comments (39) | Post your comment | Categories: Mark Bradley, UGA / SEC
Comments
By src
January 26, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this
Georgia basketball is brutal. Felton’s “tough” philosophy should have been paying off by now, but it hasn’t. We continue to kick players off the team, or they quit on their own. What’s that saying about things?
By We don't have the players or coach
January 26, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this
Look, Kentucky beating the Vols is no surprise. The surprise is Ky having a losing record. They’ve got 1 thing going for them, TALENT on the court. That’s one thing more than the Dawgs. We’ve got a sorry coach and mediocre players.
Buy, hey, who really gives a sh1t anyway, we have football to look forward to. ACTUALLY, I give a sh1t because I happen to be a college b-ball fan and a Uga alumnus. Until Felton is gone and we get a proven coach and we actually make a commitment to the program (like a new coloseum, not just a new practice facility), we’re going to continue to be the toilet of SEC basketball and that’s a double whammy.
By Confucius
January 26, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this
When “Steady Climbing” takes you down a hill, then you’re not climbing… you fvcking idiot.
By Rich
January 27, 2008 12:18 AM | Link to this
UGa should bring by Jirsa. He was cheaper. Not that anyone really cares about UGa Men’s Basketball. I’m unsure why I even clicked on this link to read this report.
By Bryan G.
January 27, 2008 12:30 AM | Link to this
Felton has to be held accountable. Too long he has gotten to slide by on the “oh poor me, I got Harrick’s mess” bull s*.
He’s not good enough to keep his player’s eligible or interested in the program. And these are HIS players. HIS recruits. If it takes 7 a.m. phone calls to wake Mercer and Brown up to go to class….then by God, do it. Your job is to WIN GAMES.
It’s been 6 years since we were in the NCAAs. That’s ridiculous for a state school in the 10th largest state. Felton is becoming an embarrassment. His team half-as*es it. They play with no heart. They are CONSTANTLY lost on offense.
How on earth did we take a whole freaking week to prepare and turn the ball over 15 times in 10 minutes? We couldn’t even dribble the damn ball.
I doubt this team will get blown out on Rocky Top and end up with a Sugar Bowl bid and a #2 ranking….
By gastr1
January 27, 2008 12:35 AM | Link to this
I too am beginning to think that Felton isn’t the answer. Baylor has managed to turn itself around and be competitive after much more recent and much worse programmatic devastation. Also, the SEC is weak this year—wasn’t a lot better last year—and UGA cannot get itself to consistent competitiveness against only fair competition (in part why they have a decent record still).
How is it that Pittsburgh, Marquette, Gonzaga, and Butler can consistently win? Those shools do not have a regional talent base or huge tradition to draw on. If Vanderbilt, Mississippi, and Texas A & M can win, why can’t Georgia?
Look only to the recruiting and coaching.
By Dawgs2008
January 27, 2008 12:37 AM | Link to this
We had a chance last year, even after Mercer went down. Our coach decided to bench Levi Stukes before the Kentucky game because he “back-talked” a coach.
There is a time and place for discipline and it is not during the stretch run of your season.
Coach Felton should have been fired last season. I guess we are stuck with him until he decides to retire. I wonder how many more players he will run off with his “discipline”?
By gdawgs77
January 27, 2008 1:26 AM | Link to this
Mark how does a team have a week to prepare and not look so bad? Mississippi and Georgia have pretty much equal talent and look how Mississippi played them at Knoxville. I mean Mississippi had to replace much of there backcourt including a very experienced point guard!
By AKDAWG
January 27, 2008 2:09 AM | Link to this
Georgia basketball just stinks period! They will finish at .500 again this season, and they might upset a few teams along the way. I don’t think Felton is the problem. The University, the fans, the players just don’t seem to mind mediocrity. Can you ever remember a highly sought blue chip prospect wanting to go play for the Bulldogs? I think we all just need to understand that UGA just isn’t a basketball school.
By Basketball Jones
January 27, 2008 7:00 AM | Link to this
Its reality check time for Georgia. Lets be honest, Georgia never cared about basketball…until now. I go to games, the inside of the Coliseum is really pretty good…the outside is bad… but have you seen the new practice facility? That is a huge committment to basketball, its unbelieveable and could be the administrative push needed….Now, is Felton right for the job with an admin that cares…Since he’s been here we have had some emotional wins but more emotional let downs…how can a coach have the turmoil and academic issues with “his recruits”. Does any Georgia fan really identify with this guy? Has he embraced Georgia? As a hoops coach at Georgia you have to match PR with X’s and O’s (see Bruce Pearl). Think hard Dawg fans, would we support a winner who is who gets after it with recruits and the fan base? By the way they sold out the Coliseum for gymnastics last night…oh yeah Yoculan is a winner with recruits who gets after it in PR too!
By Steven
January 27, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
I’m so sick of hearing UGA is a Football School. Guess what guys? 2 Nationals Championship in 60 + years doesn’t make you that great of a football school. Florida, LSU, OSU,Texas, and many others have shown you can do both successfully—if you will commit. I want a successful basketball program at UGA. But then again, people in a very warm place want ice water.
By dawgaholic5
January 27, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
Been following Basketball for a while now and I can tell you Felton is a average coach! Just like UGA basketball. The bottom line is that if your gonna win big , u better give more support on hiring a better coach and one who can market the program better among the state of georgia. This is not happening right now and Felton is to blame. 6 years folks of Felton and NOOOO NCAA Invite. Tubby would have done it in 3 considering the Harrick mess.
By Ben
January 27, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Is this the only game you’ve watched all season or something? Sure, I agree they played soft in THIS game, but for the season as a whole, this has been one hard working bunch of guys. But, Felton should have better talent by now and be able to keep the talent that he does get.
By Go Dawgs!
January 27, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
I have also been a staunch Felton supporter who is having serious second thoughts. There can be NO excuse for us continuing to play in this fashion.
It is the fault of the administration and is their responsibility to make sure we have a top-notch team to represent us. The admin wanted to make themselves look so good after the Harrick mess that they brought in the Disciplinarian and forgot about winning. Well, the Harrick mess has been apologized for enough in my opinion and we need to move on. Hell, UT, or UF, or most any other school would have let it bother them for a week or so at most.
Coach Richt (hate to mention him in the same discussion) now realizes how players can respond when allowed to loosen up a little and have a little fun. Philosophy needs to change quickly. It could not be clearer that what we are doing is NOT working. Agree with above opinion about doing the same things and getting the same results!
By Dawgtime
January 27, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
As always, I am amazed by the vulgarity and sarcasm I read on the blogs. Hello, if you live to insult others; you may need to seek therapy or anger management. For some reason, the popular culture has encouraged and condoned the usage of barbaric views and language. No, it doesnt make you look smarter or tougher. To the contrary, it makes you look ignorant and pathetic. In terms of Coach Felton, I believe that he has done an admirable job considering the situation. First of all, UGA is not a national basketball power yet. Secondly, he inherited a mess left by Mr. Corruption himself. Thirdly, he has had standards raised during his tenure. It is easy for the ill-informed to make assassin comments, but the truth is that he is attempting to make the players quality young men. How many of the condescending responders ever coached any sport or worked under the confines of education? For that matter, how many of these people have ever even played sports? You have some young ego fanatics that feel a sense of power from talking trash. That is so feeble. I am very excited about the future of the gym Dawgs. Jeremy Price 68 power center is developing into a low post scorer that we have badly needed. Trey Thompkins 68 swing forward is coming in next season. He will be an instant star. Terrance Woodbury 67 wing is emerging into a solid player. Billy Humphrey 62 wing is a great scorer. Zac Swansey 61 shows signs of being an excellent leader. Albert Jackson 610 power player that needs to develop better hands. Dustin Ware 60 high quality kid with excellent quickness. Jeremy Jacob 67, excellent combo forward. Try Brewer 65 great shooter than needs more strength. Chris Barnes 67, explosive leaper that loves to power dunk, he is developing the rest of his game. Corey Butler 63 excellent defense and hustle. Drazen Zlovaric 69 European player with outstanding fundamentals. The state is loaded with quality juniors. Coach Felton is building a great team. I realize that most of the negative responses are from fans of other teams that need to get a life, but the negative Dawgs need to wake up and realize that the man is doing a great job. We tried the coaching carousel in the past and it was a disaster.
By Dawgtime
January 27, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this
Again, cursing does not impress anyone. I realize that you were not allowed in front of your parent, but the first venture out of the house is no reason to spread noise pollution. In terms of some of the responses, how can any predict what Tubby would have done? Hello, he left UGA. UK didn’t want him anymore. He was not a great recruiter. Check what happened when Western Kentucky led by Coach Felton played UK led by Tubby. Better coach hmmmmmm. Who would be a replacement? No, the high profile people are not coming to UGA. We have updated the facilities. He doesn’t let players dominate the team like the NBA. He runs to ship. I’d much rather have Coach Felton than the clown coaching LSU. He is a loud mouth baby. No class. He could take lesson from Coach Richt and Felton on how to conduct himself. Quick fixes get you Harrick. A corrupt cheater that created the mess for Coach Felton.
By Dawgtime
January 27, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
Oh I have heard the negative comments about Coach Richt. He was given the time and developed a great program. He had more to work with from day one. Donnan was an excellent recruiter. How many kids graduated under Harrick? What was the combined GPA. That is the reason you go to college. Most of these kids won’t play in the NBA. In terms of the national title propaganda, open the discussion to all UGA sports and you will see that we have more than 50 national titles. Don’t pick and chose. We have a great school. How many national titles has UGA won in basketball? The program has improved under Coach Felton. The best practice facility in the nation. We are not hearing about the testing disgraces like we saw with Harrick and son. What is ole Harrick doing now? UCLA and UGA both ran him off. Bring back Ron Jirsa. He just got fired again.
By Joe
January 27, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
He is the Jim Donnan of UGA hoops. He has dealt with the muck left over from the Harrick regime. But, he achieved his Peter-Principle after leaving Western Kentucky.
The fact is that he recruited Takais Brown and Mike Mercer, Jim Harrick did not. The fact is that only 7 of Felton’s 17 recruits have made it through 4 years under him. The fact is that last night was not UGA’s worst loss to a team from Tennessee this season. They lost by 18 to East Tennessee State earlier this year on a neutral court.
The UGA fanbase is divided by Felton and always will be. It is time to bring a unifier in here who will rally the fans. I appreciate Felton’s effort, but it is becoming increasingly clearer that he will never have anything better than mediocre results in Athens.
By Confucius
January 27, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
Felton sucks. Period. He is a only an average coach and any reasonable person would agree that SIX years is long enough to take a school such as Georgia to the NCAAs. I don’t want avereage at my alma mater, so for those of you satisfied, continue ignoring reality.
Dawgtime:
Lick my balls, you sorry a$s piece of sh1t. You are bothered by profanity and sarcasm? I am disgusted by arrogant jackas$es like you. To paraphrase, your self-righteous atitude does not make you “look smarter…. To the contrary, it makes you look ignorant and pathetic.” Move to Holland, you passive, liberal pus$y.
By DJ
January 27, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
Coach Felton is a good person, but he is not a very good basketball coach. He does not know how to relate to his players or fans. He does not know how to get his players to play for him. Adrissi, Mercer, Brown, Toney, Stukes and it goes on never bought in to Felton’s my way or the highway crap. He has these kids running his crazy system instead of running something that suits the players that you have. He had them running playes to big men when he had none worth passing to. He had them not pressing when he had Mercer, Stukes, Humphrey, Gaines, Woodbury, Brophy, Toney all at the guard position. I don’t think they pressed once all season. This coach does not have a clue. His players are not interested in his philosophy.
By DJ
January 27, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this
Then you got Trey Thompkins coming in next year. What the heck did he tell his Dad to get this guy. I’ve known this kid since he was a little fat kid in AAU. Why would he waste it a UGA. They wil ruin him just like they have several other players under the hands of Coach Oliver, Jones, and Felton. They talk more than they produce. I have not seen one player play at the next player under coach Felton. Its more about Felton than it is about the team winning. Well his excuse for this year will be Mercer, Brown and Singleton. He and Damian Jones got this thing going on. Any other program would have fired this guy two years ago. Pearl got his program going the first year. He knows time it is.
By DJ
January 27, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
Humprhey could aveage 25 a game but the coach runs no plays for him. He is a great shooter. have you ever seen a quick hitter play for Humphrey. Next year without Gaines who plays point? Swansey? They never let him play. What the heck is going on at UGA! I don’t buy that not a basketball school crap. To much talent in Georgia. You need a coach that is interested in basketball and is willing to let the professors do the educational stuff. Why did’t he just become a teacher instead of a coach. Or a drill sergeant in the military. Don’t for get, he use to have the go to boot camp for reals when he first started. The team thought he was crazy. Ther will be other players quit on this team.
By Keeping It Real
January 27, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
Every time a team from Tennessee kicks your butt, you start whinning and asking for the head of the coach. Face it, you do not have the talent. GO VOLS!!!!
By DJ
January 27, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
I’m not whining, our coach at UGA sucks, your coach at Tennessee is a great coach. That is the facts Keeping It Real. I have always said Felton sucks! And I love Georgia! They have had talent but don’t know what to do with it.
By hop
January 27, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
how much longer is demon evans going to continue to extend felton’s contract each year without any accountability.
we have heard all the excuses for 5 years and still no improvement.
it is time for our athletic director to get off his rear and get this program going in a positive way.
we have too many great basketball players in our state to be mired in this pattern of utter failure.
we need to fire felton and let’s get a winner in basketball , as we have in football with coach richt.
when are we ever going to hear from demon evans about the horrible state our basketball program is in and when is it going to be turned around.
what say you DAMON EVANS??????????
By ugaheros
January 27, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
UGA mens basketball is a continuos embbarrassment for our sports program. All other sports seem to be either at a championship level, or moving in that direction. nuff said
By DJ
January 27, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this
I mean’t Damon Evans.
By DJ
January 27, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this
I have never heard Felton blame any losses on his self. Its always, we were soft. We turned over the ball, we did not listen, bull pucky, you didnt get them prepared to win or don’t know how. You said Mercer was a disruption because he voiced his opinion about the state of Georgia basketball. He said he wanted out a little to loud! Better you dismissing him than him quiting on you, that wouldnt have looked to good.
By Stafford>Tebow
January 27, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this
FIRE FELTON!!! BRING TUBBY BACK!!
By GW
January 27, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
When a team plays man in your jockstrap and overplays the passing lanes like Tenn. did don’t you need to set an occasional screen and try the back door a time or two? Georgia’s halfcourt game is atrocious against an aggressive defense. Georgia basketball has always been “snakebit” and I don’t think Felton or any other mid-major coach can fix it. It will take big bucks to lure a proven winner from a bigtime school and I don’t see it happening. I’ve said for years; never hang your hat on UGA basketball. You will end up disappointed.
By Dr Morpheus
January 27, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this
Coach Felton has certainly had plenty of time to get the program back off the ground. He will probably get another year in light of the impact of the new and rigorous athletic department policies on his roster. I give him credit for bringing back some moral values and I haven’t heard him making excuses but clearly he has been cut a lot of slack. Unless we show improvement for the remainder of this year and make the big dance next year, he should be let go. And don’t you just love people who have the cajones to flaunt their freedom of speech on an anonymous blog where there’s no danger of actually facing the other guy?
By DJ
January 27, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
Dr. Morpheus, Felton has made countless excuses for losing games and players. I would have no problem facing Felton, Evans or his staff. Until he leaves I would advise any good recruit who thinks he can play at the next level to way his options closely. They are going to screw up Trey, I promise you.
By P Dawg
January 27, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
Who cares about basketball? Is it fall yet? GOOOOOO DAWGS!!!
By darryl
January 27, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
Georgia will never win until Felton brings in more long, lean,athletic big men. Their big men look like football players with concrete hands.He also should start recruiting more players from the state of Georgia.
By Confucius
January 27, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
Dr. Morpheus:
Once again, this is about Felton and how bad the Georgia basketball program is and how he refuses to address it and how we need a new coach.
And you’re so right about Dawgtime.
By thomas
January 27, 2008 10:52 PM | Link to this
Really should have used those millions (wasted) spent on the new state-of-the-art basketball practice facility (where do they think the $$$ will come from to fund this thing?) to construct a new indoor football practice facility. Is anyone thinking!!! Dr. Thomas Johnson Class of ‘74
By IlliniBrave
January 27, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
I was a student at UGA when Herschel and Dominique were both lighting up the campus and creating a buzz like never before. The problem is, no one really actually gave a crap about the basketball team. They just went to see Dominique. Absent the Human Highlight film, there would have been nobody in the building. Then, two years after Dominque leaves, we go to the Final Four, and still, no real loyal ongoing fan base. The sad truth is that the average sports fan in the state of Georgia just doesn’t give a rat’s behind about basketball. Why is that such a crime? Besides, with the embarrassment know as the Hawks, why would anyone want to invest any kind of emotional energy into following the sport? We suck and we know it and we’re smart enough not to care.
Hey, wonder if we could shut down the UGA basketball program and spend the money on starting up a team where we could be nationally competitive right away - men’s soccer. GA produces more elite soccer players than any other southern state except VA - yes, more even than FL. But thanks to Title IX bullcrap, we can’t have a men’s soccer program. Let’s take the money we’re wasting on our worthless basketball program and invest it in a sport where we could be competitive almost instantly. [BTW, I’m prepared for all of the negative comments I’m going to get for this]
By ILuvHewitt
January 27, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
1st Hewitt - now Felton. NO ONE will every make Mr. Bradley happy. So I hope that no one is trying. Good Luck to both Hewitt and Felton. I hope they both do well!
By MGM
January 27, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this
Felton has made excuses since he arrived at UGA. He started by complaining about how the university had outdated locker rooms, etc in a featured article in the AJC. Go win a couple of SEC Championships or at least make it to the title game before you complain about Stegman and the basketball facilities and requesting hundreds of thousands of dollars to update locker rooms,etc You are the least deserving coach of the new $30 million basketball practice facility at UGA. Coach Landers and Coach Yacolum have earned the right to hold practices and use it for recruiting. Your staff only deserves to hold practice at the outdoor courts in the graduate student resident area. Coach Richt won SEC championships, 2 Sugar Bowls and has only recently began requesting an indoor practice facility publicly. He came to UGA, kept his mouth shut, recruitted high character athletes and started winning. The fact is that the $30 million practice facility was for Coach Lander and Coach Yoculan. Who knows, Tubby Smith may still be coaching if it was built 10 Years ago. I never remember him complaining about the facilities when he arrived.