UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 02 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USVanderbilt has an edge
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m sitting in the media room over at Stegeman Coliseum. I just got through talking to coach Dennis Felton and a couple of players about Wednesday’s game at Tennessee and Saturday’s game at Vanderbilt.
They’re not saying it’s a must-win game but, clearly, it’s important to them.
I always enjoy going to Nashville. It’s one of my favorite cities in the South. Lots to offer as far as restaurants, entertainment and nightlife and Vanderbilt has a beautiful campus there.
One thing I don’t like about Vanderbilt is its basketball court and apparently Coach Felton feels the same way. The Commodores, as I’m sure you’ve heard about ad nauseum, have an unusual basketball court configuration. Because of its raised floor and an odd seating arrangement, the team benches are on the baselines.
I haven’t had a chance to verify it but Felton says they’re the only team in the county allowed to do that and it results in an unfair home-court advantage for Vanderbilt.
“Yes I do,” Felton said when asked if he had a problem with it. “I don’t think it’s fair that one program in the country gets an arrangment that doesn’t comply with the rules. The rules are very specific about where everything is supposed to be and that includes having the benches on the sidelines.”
It’s a real headache for visiting teams, especially in first half when their squads are on the other end of the floor on offense. You’ll often see the coaches wander more than a quarter of the way out onto the court trying to yell instructions to their players.
Is Felton right? Is that an unfair advantage for Vanderbilt? Does it really make a difference?
Georgia hasn’t won in Nashville a bunch (few teams do) but it did win there last year. Is it a must-win for the Dogs? With nine games left in the regular season (eight in SEC), how many more do they need to win to make the NCAA tournament?
FYI, here’s the remaining schedule: at Vanderbilt, Florida, at S. Carolina, Kennesaw State, Auburn, at Ole Miss, Miss. State, at Kentucky, Tennessee (then the SEC tourney in Atlanta).
Comments
By Nick
February 2, 2007 04:29 PM | Link to this
If we win the games we’re supposed to win, we’re in.
A win over South Carolina, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State would give us 9 wins in the SEC. K-State should also be easy pickin’s. That and one win in the SEC tourny should do it.
One upset would be sweet. Possibly this weekend at Vandy (if you can call that an upset), but closing out the season against Tennessee at home with a win would be huuuuuge.
Not so sure the Dawgs win this weekend - Vandy is playing just like Georgia is right now, that is, a little over their heads - but here’s hoping we pull one out. Go Dawgs!
By Bryan G.
February 2, 2007 04:53 PM | Link to this
Does the same disadvantage apply for Vandy? Isn’t their offense all the way on the other end of the court in the first half, too?
If we play defense and make our shots, it won’t matter if Felton has to sit in the locker room…
By BJohnDawg
February 2, 2007 04:59 PM | Link to this
Might be hard to get in with less then 6 of the last nine games.Then it would depend on how they performed in the conference tournament. If they can win at least six they are 19-10 heading to the conf tourney And a good shot at getting in. 8 wins they are 20-9 and a in no matter what happens in the tourney.
Hell lets just run the table!Go Dawgs
By Ft Worth Dawg
February 2, 2007 05:28 PM | Link to this
MUST WIN
Go Dawgs Play defense; grind the Commode Doors down!
By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 2, 2007 05:29 PM | Link to this
Looking at the schedule, the only team where we’ll have a real uphill fight is the Reptiles; however, Vandy gave’um a good go the other night and id the Dawg revert back to 3 pt. shooting to win the game I think we’ll be in trouble. That game with the Vols was a disgrace! That wasn’t a “Dancing” team playing and I now wonder which Ga. team will show up to play. Benches? Give me a break, we won last season up there so why waste ANY energy thinking about it. I’m pulling for them but for the Dawgs, in mid-season to revert back to that type of game(Vols) here in the latter part of year has shook my confidence. Now as far as I’m concerned they have to win it back.
By I-DOG
February 3, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
Good luck to the Dawgs at Vandy today. I have a good feeling about this one.
Who are UGA’s best DE’s since the 1986 season (last 20 years). If you had to pick a two deep, who would those top four be.
Pollack is an obvious one, so lets just ink him in. Other possible candidates are Charles Jonson, Q Moses, Richard Tardits, Mitch Davis, Robert Geathers, Charles Grant or write in the ones I missed.
Who are the best four and why?
By Cuz
February 3, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
Take your mind off the floor arangement and get it back on the game. A must win for the Dawgs.
Got your e-mail Buck, I am doing better, keep me updated.
Now Go Dawgs and flush the Commodores.
By I-DOG
February 3, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
There have been a lot of comments about how some of the best players in Georgia aren’t coming to Athen this year. In the end, I guess I trust in Richt. He has earned it.
Lets put this in perspective. During the Donnan, Goff, and last days of Dooley, a 9-4 season (which we all just “suffered” through would have been one of the bright spots.
Donnan, started of 5-6, then went 10-2, 9-3, and 8-4. A 9-4 record with 3 consecutive wins against ranked teams to end the season would have been reason to celebrate under Goff, Dooley had a very good team in 1987 but 9-4 would have been a sucess during those years too.
Richt has raised the bar. We all want more SEC titles and some shots at a ntional title.
By IraqDawg
February 3, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this
I guarentee UGA will play for a national championship within the next 3 years. And I’ll go one step further and say we’ll actually be unbeaten when we get there.
By Cuz
February 3, 2007 03:34 PM | Link to this
Win the SEC first, the rest will take care of itself Iraqdawg. In 1980 I was walking the streets of New Orleans in a 1980 SEC Champs shirt.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 3, 2007 03:48 PM | Link to this
what drive for a TD think was the moct important one that caused CMR ot, after 6 yr’s make the coaching changes he did? I believe in was in the Ky. game. Stafford had led the team downfield for a TD to take the lead(missed PAT). Then Ky. put together that last drive running straight at us and WM’s “D” fled the field and they won. We have a lot of warm bodies playing at certain positions but they haven’t proven them selves yet. All because of one game, Henderson was supposed to be the MAN returing kicks AND catching passes. I didn’t see any growth. We have no proven reseivers coming back. We have warm bodies but no consistant receiver who will hold on to the ball. Our “OL” will be very good once they get in sink with each other but they don’t have any time in ‘07 so their attitude had better be one of working hard. I think the 3 JUCO players will push themselves and the others because they have less time to make an impression on the NFL scouts. So you can bank it and discount it, the play of our receivers will determine how far we go. IMO, if they do the job we’ll go undefeated.
By War Eagle
February 3, 2007 09:54 PM | Link to this
IDog, UGA has always recruited real good strong since Dooley`s arrival in 1964. Its like you stated, previously, its hard to win NC without certain happens.Herschel Walker came to UGA played injury free,workhorse, gave teammates confidence, favorable schedule, good coaching and it all came into place, a National Championship. I played on the 1957 NC team at Auburn, we were playing UGA, leading 6-0 in the 4th qt. UGA is own our 3 yard line, 1st goal, Theron Sapp fumbles, we recover, run out the clock win 6-0.The next week we beat Bammer 40-0 and won NC by 12 votes over Ohio State>>> this is what it takes, alot of this and that to win BIG.Auburn had a great team in 2004, and these things fell into place except BCS, which pick Oklahoma instead of Auburn.
By Kent
February 3, 2007 11:04 PM | Link to this
Stop complaining about Memorial Gym! It’s the most unique setting in college basketball. Just because Georgia’s B-Ball program isn’t at the same level as Vanderbilt’s and Georgia cannot win in Memorial, doesn’t mean the Commodore’s have an “unfair” atvantage. Heck, Vandy’s always at an “unfair” atvantage when playing SEC foes because they require their students to read and write.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 3, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this
I think I posted earlier on this blog that the Dawgs didn’t look like a “Dancing” team to me. Now it’s two in a row and the Reptiles coming to town. Tonight may have closed the door and we’re outside without a date.
By Cuz
February 4, 2007 01:13 AM | Link to this
Buck I heard you screaming at the TV all the way to Augusta.
By FedUp
February 4, 2007 01:05 PM | Link to this
Is anyone else tired of seeing Mike Mercer jack senseless 3’s up at a whim? It seemed like everytime the team picked up some momentum, Mercer threw up a deep one to kill the momemtum. I suppose he should keep shooting them, because he’s hitting them at a 20-something percent clip. Here’s to defending the “Steg” against the Evil Empire this week.
By BuLLdawg
February 5, 2007 05:23 AM | Link to this
.
. http://www.dawgsonline.com/?p=462#comment-2621
I have been writing about this from the 1st game this year, on AJ-C.com, when I had a moment.
Mike Mercer is our worst defender. In every situation, he runs around and is beat by his man for the score.
Mike Mercer is our worst shooter.
In all the games to-date, as you say, he takes the most shots.
Double-Whammy, as you say.
He has taken 100 shots more than Takais Brown.
Mike Mercer shoots the worst percentage on the team in free throws in addition, except for Rashaad Singleton who doesn’t play much as the 9th man in the rotation of the 10 who do play.
Mercer his 40 percent of his shots, for dead last on the team.
Mercer has taken 289 attempts, for the most by 100 more shots than the 2nd most frequent shooter.
Mercer is the worst 3-point shooter on the team at 25 percent; only Levi Stukes has taken more 3-point shots and Levi has hit 45 percent, not Mercer’s 25 percent.
Free throws, Mercer hits only 56 percent; none of the top 8 players in the rotation are worse.
Mercer also has 50 turnovers, and he is not even our point guard.
http://admin.xosn.com/fls/8800/stats/mbasketball/2007/teamcume.htm
I doubt seriously, were Coach Richt to play such a player as our Starting Quarterback, that there would be many who would say that he is not doing well.
They would point out that he is our 2nd leading scorer, behind only NBA player Takais Brown, a JUCO Transfer hired gun.
The Men’s Basketball Team at Georgia, will be good one day again; as soon as they bench Mike Mercer.
.
.
By BuLLdawg
February 5, 2007 05:30 AM | Link to this
And, this is our worst recruiting class in the Coach Richt Era. I said that too, after 10 days had passed in December. I was told that we would sign 12 more Top-Notch Recruits including many in-state of the top players. I said that we would not have the Scholarships to give them and detailed it. As for Coach Andy Landers statement that he enjoys going to ObKnoxiousville to play The Lady vols, who lead the nation in RPI Women today, www.collegerpi.com , he will hit 24 wins which means he will lose only 1 game the rest of the season. When Landers has a poor shooter, he benches her, and in front of the crowd tells her for us all to see and hear.
Dennis Felton, not only has not done that, he has continued to let Mike Mercer take twice as many shots than anyone else and play the most.
As for Georgia Tech, the AJ-C said yesterday winning its 1st NCAA National Championship in ANY sport, that Championship in Women’s Tennis will happen on our Courts The Dan McGill Tennis Center, May 28th, not February 3rd.
By crs
February 5, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
Last week was a bad week, would have been nice to get one of two, puts us in a tough spot with FL next, lose and all of sudden we are 5-5 in the SEC, to be a lock for the NCAA we need a winning record in the conference. Gonzaga is our only real quality out of conference win.
By Jason O.
February 5, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Yes, Vanderbilt has an edge.
It’s called “Derrick Byars.”
By Brad
February 5, 2007 02:23 PM | Link to this
Don’t whine about the court… its an awesome thing. Memorial Gym is the greatest physical venue in college basketball, maybe not overall environment including the fans interaction, but as far as the actual design of the place, it is the best.
Go Dores!
By gator the dog catcher
February 5, 2007 02:24 PM | Link to this
Iraqdawg - do this: right click, highlight the words I guarentee UGA will play for a national championship within the next 3 years., left click on “copy”. Three years from now hit paste. Repeat as many times as needed in three year increments ………………. or just become a Florida fan so you will be correct.
By gator the dog catcher
February 5, 2007 02:27 PM | Link to this
Cuz - that 1980 National Champs shirt must be getting old. You want me to get you a 2006-2007 National Champs shirt? Your choice of football or basketball! Glad to see you blogging again. Hope everthing is going well!