UGA

By Apaul404

January 25, 2007 03:57 PM | Link to this

I don’t know but they are fun to watch. The sec tournament is going to be must see tv.

By LaJolladawg

January 25, 2007 03:58 PM | Link to this

Does the person who writes the headlines even bother to read your articleS? I read that headline and expected a totally different topic than the one you wrote about.

By The Truth

January 25, 2007 04:01 PM | Link to this

For some strange reason I felt better at halftime last night than I did at halftime of the Alabama game. The second half truly showed how good we can be when we play tough defense and pound the ball inside. Best game I’ve ever seen Bliss play, although he dribbles like a linebacker. If he and Singleton can just play good defense and rebound, we’ll be just fine. I think 20 wins gets us in for sure, and 8-8 would probably do it as well. We need another sellout for Sunday as victories at Tenn. and Vandy will be tough to come by. Also, with Allen Bailey eliminating us, we need to have a good showing for Cameron Heyward. Haven’t seen that atmosphere at the Steg since the Harrick days, and I’ll be honest, for someone who bleeds red and black, it brought a knot to my throat. GO DAWGS!

By pj

January 25, 2007 04:36 PM | Link to this

Chip.

I was there. It’s not often that I can drive across the state to get back to my old hometown, but I took a half day from work and got up to Athens for the game. I was sitting in the front row - section Q - opposite from the UK bench.

A couple of things that I’d like to point out after attending a game for my 30th year in a row…

1. The crowd was as loud as I ever remember it. The Harrick days with Ezra and Jarvis come close, but this one was louder than games I’ve been to at Florida or at Auburn. I don’t know how to explain it, but the crowd was just on top of the court, and it was clear from my front row vantage point that it severely rattled the Wildcat players. I even caught Tubby looking around at us a few times.

2. Sundiata Gaines is the best point guard in the conference. I’ve watched at least one game on television of each SEC team. He’s a Senior playing in sophomore clothes. His clutch 3’s and great drive ‘n dishes were nothing short of perfect.

3. Takais Brown isn’t going to outjump, outrun or out-dazzle any of the league’s premier post players, but the guy has a ridiclous knack for putting his body in a position to get a score or a rebound. He’s an awfully smart player.

4. Dave Bliss wore his heart on his sleeve Wednesday night. He jumped higher than he’s EVER jumped to deny a post feed to Randolph Morris that kept our momentum going. He dove for a loose ball that ended up getting us a key bucket.

Georgia lost to 2 good ACC teams, 2 great SEC teams, and the best team in the country in Wisconson. All those teams raved about Georgia afterwards. They have proven they belong in the spotlight and I can’t wait to see what’s next. If they split the remaining 10 games, they will be 9-7 in the conference and the RPI will be high. Don’t forget we have a breather against Kennesaw St. in a few weeks to add to the win total. 19-10 is doable, and it’ll get us in easy. 18-11 would put us on the bubble. anything less and we go NIT.

After last night, I won’t miss a play, be it at Stegman, on tv, or on the radio. Go Dawgs.

By brewdawg

January 25, 2007 04:55 PM | Link to this

I had my doubts after the Alabama game-and after the first half- but there is absolutely no reason we shouldn’t make the dance. We are plenty good enough. I was at the game- my first ever basketball game- and it was awesome at the end of the game when the clock ran out. A great experience.

By the way, I was in a pro-Kentucky section for the game and while they were a classy group, their perspective of being 4-2 in the SEC is much different than ours. They find it unacceptable to lose to us and they all wanted Tubby fired. Basically, the way we are about football, they are about basketball.

By Nick

January 25, 2007 05:21 PM | Link to this

This Georgia team continues to grow and evolve. A 5-22 shooting mark from behind the arc would’ve spelled a 20 point loss for this team earlier on in the season. It’s not just the Stukes / Gaines / Mercer show anymore. Brown is an absolute beast, Bliss and Newman seem more comfortable with their roles, Billy is an unselfish (almost to fault, actually) glue guy, and I never expected Woodbury to have such an all-around set of skills.

Let’s hope for a strong finish to the end of the year. A tournament bid would be great. Next season we should be a staple in the top 25.

By honest_abe

January 25, 2007 06:24 PM | Link to this

heeew haw! what a sweet win! now just teach sundiatta how to make some free throws and this is a pretty formidable dawg team.

coach felton needs to be recognized as one of the top coaches in america. georgia should get him locked in for the long term. he has gotten a bunch of average and i don’t mean that in a negative way, but no mcdonalds all americans, he doesn’t even get the best talent in state. (minus mercer) and yet he has gotten this team to play some stellar basketball. team basketball. it’s refreshing to see a team go out and lay everything on the line and play great team basketball!

GOOOOOO DAWGS!

By **By Chip Towers**

January 25, 2007 06:47 PM | Link to this

What, nobody wants to talk hoops? Are people jumping out of windows and off bridges because Allen Bailey said he’s not coming to Georgia? It’s just one player, right?

By Max Sizemore

January 25, 2007 06:59 PM | Link to this

pj, that was an excellent post. Keep writing.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

January 25, 2007 07:20 PM | Link to this

Chip, thanks for the note about LF. IT;ll make a nice Sunday. Church, over at 11:00, a little social time and then to Jillians which is about equi-distance between home and church. May try and bring some people with me. Quick note: as a few of you know I haven’t thought Bailey was coming for a long time. Heyward? same doubts but I hope I’m wrong……..Back to the hardwood. Sorry, I not even thing about 8-8 in the SEC.correct me, are we 5-2 in the SEC now? Whatever, I want to hear an attitude that says, WHO CARE WHO’S TOUGH AND WHO’S NOT!! Forget it, I want to hear ” hell, just line up and tip it off because we’ll take on all comers anytime or anyplace!!! Then I’ll know that a true winning attitude is forming in Athens.

By I-DOG

January 25, 2007 07:55 PM | Link to this

The question you asked is would it take 18 or 20 wins to get in the tourney. I can’t imagine that it would take 20. If UGA has 19 or even 18, I just don’t see us being passed over given the strength of schedule.

At 12-6 with 10 SEC games left and one nonconference, I would think the Dawgs could go 7-4 and get to 19-10. Unless there are a ton of unusual conference tourney winners for the automatic bids… I would think that would be enough. Does the Kennesaw State game count as a win for tourney purposes?

If we have 18 wins, we might need an SEC tourney win to get in.

By I-DOG

January 25, 2007 08:34 PM | Link to this

one tourney win that is… not the tourney champion, but that would be nice

By Buck Cochran in the NW

January 25, 2007 09:09 PM | Link to this

I-DOG, I really like your posts so please don’t think I’m referring to you because I’m not. I just don’t like ANY talk about 19-8 or 8-8 or one tourney win, Etc., ETC.. 5-22? I want to know has the Dawgs decided who they are and if they haven’t they darn well should. I want to hear them asking this question to themselves. Are we the neck bowers of the Ala. game in the 2nd half or are we the bowed necks of the Ky. game? The team is the only group that can answer that simple question and what the answer is what’ll determine the Dawgs season. Maybe Felton should have a big sign made up and display it at every game, home AND away, and hammer that one point because everything else revolves around it.

By Tim

January 25, 2007 09:41 PM | Link to this

Chip:

I was watching the DAWGS last nite and loved every minute of, well, the second half. Huge win. Congrats to Felton and his boys; I think we are tourney bound for sure and could make the sweet 16.

Not too concerned about Bailey at this point, more into looking forward to some more BBall Dawgs!!

By pj

January 25, 2007 09:50 PM | Link to this

thanks max. I’ve posted a few times and my posts have appeared to go unnoticed until then.

One more point. This team is really, really young, and they are playing like a cohesive Florida type senior laden unit. They aren’t as talented as Florida, but - and all due credit to Billy Donavan - the Gators don’t have as good of a coach as we do. Look at Felton’s track record versus what he had to work with. It’s insane.

I’m thinking about THIS year, not next year… but… peeking ahead, here is your lineup BEFORE the really solid recruiting class we have coming in for the hoop dogs.

C - Dave Bliss PF - Takais Brown SF - Terrance Woodbury SG - Mike Mercer PG - Sundiata Gaines

Bench - Singleton and Jackson beefing up the post, and Humphrey as the great 6th man. plus those recruits.

Folks. Georgia may be here to stay… that is - if we can keep Felton…

By Matthew at the SLC

January 25, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this

Okay, Chip, I wanted to talk basketball, really get into breaking down some of players from last night, and I just spent about 10 minutes doing so, before I glitch in this computer I’m sitting at at the SLC closed all the windows I had open, so being that I am really p**-off right now, I’ll just say I few things:

Dave Bliss in the second half of that game looked nothing like Dave Bliss from the whole rest of the season. Something happened at half-time to get the big man going, and I hope he keeps it up. He outhustled the whol Kentucky team in that second half, and it was awesome to see.

Newman almost killed us with a terrible turnover in which he drove the open lane and while in the air, about a foot away from finishing (or drawing a foul) he dished it to someone (I don’t know who) sitting in the lane, covered by THREE Wildcats. Newman… finish the play! Or at least draw the foul buddy. But good on you for the heads up play at halfcourt during OT that sealed the game for us.

Gaines and Brown are the best inside-outside duo in the SEC, bar none. I’d take them over Green and Noah in a heartbeat.

Coach Felton did a masterful job in not letting these guys quit on themselves, especially Dave Bliss, who gave up easy basket after easy basket in the first half, but contested everything he could, not giving an inch in the second.

Chip, what’s the deal with Singleton? A guy with his size should be a beast, yet everytime he gets the ball in the low post, he seems as timid as a jack rabbit in the middle of a desert with no where to hide. He’s usually in for a minute or so, either gives up an easy basket, or meekly handles the ball in the paint, and then Coach Felton pulls him at yells at him and then we don’t see him much the rest of the game. This has been the pattern so far. Any idea of what his deal is?

Overall, as I stated on the other blog, this game blew my mind as far as fan support. I got chills while screaming my head off, and haven’t been able to talk much today (I’m sure everyone I know would be thrilled to hear that!).

I just implore everyone to come out on Sunday (thanks guys, for setting me straight) and cheer for this team against an even better opponent. This Kentucky win is a launching point for this program… I can FEEL it! The stink that Adams and his boy, Harrick left this program with is finally washing away. Coach Felton has built a team based on character, and it shows in the heart they display on the court. Now they believe in themselves and each other. This is a team that will make some noise at the Dome and in the Big Dance, bet on it! So come out and support this team, all you who purport to be Dawg fans. The low prices of tickets should be enough to offset the price of gas (which has fallen 11 cents in a week) for those who have to travel from the Atlanta area. Come out Sunday, and show that you are TRUE Dawg fans, and not just football fans!

Oh, and Chip… that is a HORRIBLE headline. I know this team needs to put this win behind them and focus on LSU, but you’ve made it sound like beating Kentucky (even in a down year) is nothing to be praised, which I want you to know, it is even if you may not feel like it is. Last night was all my classmates who went to the game could talk about before and after our classes. It was on everyone’s lips on campus. Come on, man! Give the team more love than that!

By Matthew at the SLC

January 25, 2007 10:36 PM | Link to this

Woah, to quote a true philosopher of our times, Eric Cartman, “What! I can’t say p**-off?!”

By gdawgs77

January 25, 2007 11:37 PM | Link to this

Hey fellow Dawg fans we need a great crowd for Sunday! The place needs to be packed and more importantly LOUD! Lets have the place rocking! Lets all try to get there EARLY and get the team fired up from the beginning!!

By Buck Cochran in the NW

January 26, 2007 06:30 AM | Link to this

Chip, just got in, Thur. night are hard on you here in the Belltown section of Seattle and I don’t want to do this but I must ask a football question. Bailey wanted a chance to play MLB but our coaches wanted him at DE. Now a sleeper, the kid from Norcross who wants to play WR. Saban has alreay told him that he’ll get that chance but the Ga. coaches are looking at him for “O” or”D”. Not a thing wrong with this but it seems to have popped up with several recruits this year. MR knows what he doing, he’s proven that he can reruite but our recruiting stopped dead in the water on Dec. 10th(thanks BuLLDAWG) Does anyone have any REAL infor mation? We don’t have a single proven receiver coming back and no one with blinding speed.(I’ve hit a wrong key some where and darn computer is messsing up) We filled our needs on the interior positions but that’s it, unless King hits on his SAT. We need him to play as a freshman. Outside of FB, all we have is Lumpkin, Moreno and who? So it’s a goof need class in ‘07 but outside of that we haven’t done much and EVERYBODY has raided the state plus the bugs and cleaned house. Grenlee has said one thing but he;s still hedging. We get the last visit but so what, we had that with Bailey. Keeping my fingers crossed!!!………back to LSU AND BASKETBALL!!!!

By Buck Cochran in the NW

January 26, 2007 06:42 AM | Link to this

……..You never know what’s going to happen,” McClure said. “If you’re in every play, you’re going to be ready to make a play.”. From the Athens Banner-hearld, a quote from the Duke player who hit the buzzer shot to beat Clemson last night. This attitude from a bench player is one reason why Duke plays above the rim year in and out. Just something to think about, but what do you think he means “if you’re in every play”?

By Vantucky

January 26, 2007 07:36 AM | Link to this

On the wings of Hermes, please hurry April and put an end to this March to madness.

Forgive me.I’m but a football junkie lost amid the basketblahs.

By mikegadawg

January 26, 2007 09:54 AM | Link to this

What’s next?………finish off our last 10 games and the season 22-6, take the SEC, and dance into the tourney. Feltons rebuilding efforts over the past 3 years are starting to fall into place. And with 4 hot shot recruits committed for next year (including 3 Top 150 National players). UGA is B-ball is back! Great job Coach Felton!! Go DAWGS!

By **By Chip Towers**

January 26, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

pj, you weren’t kidding when you said you wanted to talk some hoops … As for Singleton, I’m surprised as anybody to see how much he’s struggled. I don’t think he’s ever going to be a 20-10 guy, but based on his early play and what I’d heard from coaches this summer, I thought he’d be better than this. He attended the Pete Newell Big Man Camp this summer. The fact of the matter is, and this is just my opinion, he just gets really nervous during games. You can coach him ‘til the cows come home but all that’s out the window if you play in a state of panic. I think he needs a sports psychologist rather than a coach. He’s a good kid, very strong and very athletic for his size so, at some point I imagine he’ll have a breakoout year. It may be late in his career, perhaps like Schensher at Tech. As it is, he’s a force on defense and, if nothing else, five more fouls to give.

By Legitimate reasonable observer

January 26, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

PJ, when you say Felton is a better coach than Donovan I have one question for you? Were you smoking the loco weed when you made that statement?

Has he ever taken two teams to the national championship, finishing second once and winning it all the last time? At the beginning of last season, Donovan’s team was not ranked but won the national championship.

Felton is a very good coach and has the potential to do what Donovan has done but “potential” just means you haven’t done anything yet.

If you are going to make statements about the difference in the coaches’ abilities, shouldn’t there at least be some basis for them?

By Brooks

January 26, 2007 01:31 PM | Link to this

Takais Brown is a man. That guy will be on an NBA roster one day. He is too big and powerful not to be. It will interesting to see him against Glen Davis Sunday. I hate to say it but if Georgia is not shooting the 3 ball well then it is a real struggle. That goes for alot of teams but it seems like the Dawgs especially. Gaines has been special. If we only had him against Tech. We should have taken that one. I feel that Coach Felton is going to stay in Athens for a while. He is building something that we can all be proud of. I can’t wait to see us take another W at Rupp. GO DAWGS

By gator the dog catcher

January 26, 2007 02:12 PM | Link to this

Bailey will end up in Florida, but not a gator.

By mikegadawg

January 26, 2007 02:17 PM | Link to this

RAndy Shannon at Miami has recruited Bailey hard. He’s a Cane.

By pj

January 26, 2007 07:09 PM | Link to this

Here is the “basis” for why I think Felton is a better COACH. I think Donavan is a better RECRUITER. Donavan, by the way, is an excellent coach in my opinion.

In his five seasons at WKU, he compiled a 100-54 overall record for a 64.9 winning percentage. In his final three seasons at Western Kentucky, his teams posted an overall mark of 76-20 (.792 winning percentage), earned three NCAA berths, while winning three Sun Belt Tournaments and three Sun Belt East Division titles. Additionally, the Hilltoppers owned the nation’s longest home winning streak of 39 games, with 26 of those wins coming in Sun Belt Conference competition, when Felton left for Georgia.

Thats at a school who had done nothing in a long time.

He managed to take a team that lost everything at Georgia. After the remaining few Seniors from the Harrick games were able to squeeze out an NIT appearance, he had to start over - with NOTHING. Donavan has had his cupboard full from day one.

just a little 2 years removed from this re-construction from scratch project - Georgia is looking like an NCAA team, beating Kentucky and Gonzaga - competing with the best teams in the country.

Steve Spurrier is a better coach than Urban Meyer, most people agree. But the football cocks don’t have the artillery right now. Thats what I compare this too. hope that’s enough “basis” for you. Thanks for asking me to clarify my position.

By MadMerf

January 27, 2007 02:21 AM | Link to this

Leg observer,

I believe pj has you on this one. With the star power of his veteran team, Donovan should win big, even in the tough SEC, without being a great coach.

On the other hand Georgia, with it’s unheralded group of youngsters, doesn’t appear to be able to stay in the same building with UF, much less lead the gators at halftime on their home court!

In other words, if you want to see a true coaching comparison, let Felton lead Donovan’s guys and give UGA’s players to Donovan. Then we’ll get a better idea of who is the better coach.

From the mouth of former Oklahoma coach Billy Tubbs: “Give me equal talent and I’ll win. Give me better talent and I’ll kick butt!”

By AltamahaDawg

January 27, 2007 02:32 PM | Link to this

Donavan inherited a program from a guy who left for the NBA. Felton inherited a program from a guy headed to…..well, you fil in the blank.

By Gator Guy

January 28, 2007 07:18 PM | Link to this

Alta~Dawg & pj——Billy Donovan (who was a Rick Pitino protege) took over the Florida basketball program after Lon Kruger left for Illinois and then subsequently went to the NBA. Kruger was a great coach, and got a bunch of over-performing Gators into the Final Four in ‘94.

Problem was Kruger couldn’t get the best homegrown talent to stay in state; there was a four-year stretch during Kruger’s tenure as UF’s coach where the high school “Mr. Basketball” chose Duke or North Carolina over Florida. It hurt to watch. Not surprisingly, UF was not a bunch of all-stars when Donovan arrived, solid but not a top-10 team in terms of recruited talent. Not exactly from scratch, but Donovan built the present Gators program into the solid top-5 program that it is now.

Give the Devil his due; he’s a very good coach AND recruiter.

By BuzzMaster

February 1, 2007 12:16 AM | Link to this

UGA will be lucky to make the Ncaas with that pathetic performance against a mediocre UT team without their best player. It looks like another NIT coming up.