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 > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMercer loss costly
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As of this writing I don’t have the official word on Mike Mercer but unofficially it was as bad as feared (more than one ligament tear). I’ll be filing a news update as it becomes available.
Meanwhile, there is Georgia’s immediate future and how Mercer’s loss will affect it. Obviously it could be devastating to the Bulldogs’ cause or they will be able to absorb it.
First of all let me address some of you who have been consistently critical of Mercer and his offensive inefficiencies. If you believe this is actually better for Georgia you’re dead wrong. While Mercer has always struggled with shooting the basketball in his career, he brings so much more to the table.
One of the reasons he takes so many shots is he is athletic enough to be able to get them off. In fact, I don’t think a lot of you realize how exceptional and extraordinary of an athlete Mercer is. He would be a starter or at least the first player off the bench for EVERY SEC team right now. And as South Carolina coach Dave Odom was saying this past Saturday, he does so many things for Georgia, a good deal of which does not show up in the box score.
Anybody who says he’s a poor defender does not have a clue about basketball. Still a young player, he occasionally takes a risk he should maybe not and may get himself out of position. But as for quickness, size, wingspan, leaping ability, etc., he’s a special player.
Meanwhile, his loss doesn’t necessarily spell the end for Georgia. Obviously Terrance Woodbury (6-foot-7) and Billy Humphrey (6-2) are going to have to step up.
Woodbury is going to be the real X factor in my opinion. The Bulldogs have always been impressed by his abilities in practice and, a streaky player, he has occasionally displayed as much in games. But he is extremely inconsistent on defense and, in fact, has often been a liability.
Humphrey is a great shooter but simply is not as athletic and therefore is not as capable on defense. He’s very good against a slow team like South Carolina (7 steals) but is very vulnerable when it comes to really quick teams like Florida, Tennessee, Alabama and even Auburn, which Georgia gets on Saturday.
The good news is nobody on Georgia’s team has been playing more than the low 30s in minutes per game so the Bulldogs haven’t been overly dependent on any one player. That said, they are really going to miss Mercer and now the losses of Kevin Brophy and Channing Toney are really exaggerated.
I was talking to some Georgia administrators on Sunday and it’s incredible the misfortune Georgia’s basketball program has had to overcome over the years. Seems like every time they get things going something happens to screw it up.
So let’s hear it. Do the Dogs still make the tourney without Mercer? Who do you see stepping up more in this situation, “Dolla Bill” or “T-Wood?” Somebody else?
P.S. Not to sound like a certain someone who posts here regularly, but did anybody catch Georgia’s announcement it had moved Brandon Miller to middle linebacker? That little tidbit was forecasted here weeks ago.
Comments
By Bradley G
February 12, 2007 04:10 PM | Link to this
On defense, UGA will certainly miss Mercer’s shut-down abilities. But to be excited about his athletic ability to get off one bad shot after another is ridiculous. He sees an opening from half-court and he is taking it. That, we won’t miss. As for Miller moving to MLB instead of DE, we are about to see the difference between a true MLB (Tony Taylor) and a slow, inept one (Miller). CMR…what are you thinking?
By Baloney
February 12, 2007 04:14 PM | Link to this
Chip you are such a homer. YOu are worse than Munson,Scott Howard and Loran Smith combined. UGA will not make the tourney. It was a lon shot at best WITH Mercer. UGA has never been more than decent in basketball except for the one year they went to the fianl four the year after Dominique. All you have to do is look at the number of NCAA tourney bids they have received in their history and the number of SEC titles they have won. Those two things will tell you all you need to know about UGA basketball. So don’t come on here to try and rally the troops and imply that UGA has been good only to have misfortune. Again they have never been better than decent and I have followed SEC basketball since the mid 70’s. Their best teams the consisted of Jacky Dorsey and Walter “stinky” Daniels. And oh yea whatever happened to Steve Waxman from the mid 70’s?
By Ft Worth Dawg
February 12, 2007 04:16 PM | Link to this
I hope Mercer’s injury doesn’t dampen the fans’ enthusiasm for this team. People realize this team is blue collar, and blue collar teams should do better with adversity.
Chip — Please keep a running listing of UGA’s games remaining (perhaps with a win-loss prediction on the balance and current estimate of UGA’s chances at post-season).
My question: Better to get knocked out of the NCAA’s real early or go deep into the NIT?
By Hairy Dawg
February 12, 2007 04:27 PM | Link to this
It’s always better to make the Big Dance.
By **By Chip Towers**
February 12, 2007 04:31 PM | Link to this
OK Baloney, you are officially on the record. Georgia will NOT make the NCAA tournament in any uncertain terms. Got it. We’ll revisit on the Monday after Selection Sunday. Be sure to post under the same handle that day so we’ll know who you are.
By honest_abe
February 12, 2007 04:33 PM | Link to this
not even close.. make it to the big dance. you get a lot more pub by just playing in one game of the ncaa’s than you do if you win the NIT (nobody’s interested tournament)…..
as for mercer. he’s one of my fav uga players. i think chip’s dead on with his assesment. let’s not forget that mike changed his shot this year. and anyone that has played ball knows that once you change your shot it takes some time and practice to get proficient/consistent with it. his d is something that can’t be replaced as he is the dawgs best 1 on 1 defender.
i hope brandon can make an impact next year. i really do.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 12, 2007 04:37 PM | Link to this
Yes, I caught the tibit and you weren’t talking about me, but did you catch the tibit where CMR said that he wasn’t looking to “RS” , he’s telling them all to come in ready to play? I think we’re making a mistake if we think that we’ll win the NIT if we gop there. The SEC is down this season so I wouldn’t put money on us winning anything. We aren’t a “Bubble” team yet and I think the only way we get there is winm them all except KY. Then I think we’ve got to have one OR TWO tournament wins to “Dance”.
By baloney
February 12, 2007 04:38 PM | Link to this
Mercer has changed his shot every year since he was in middle school. The reason he does is because everyone sees the same thing. And that is he is not a very good “pure” shooter. He is a great talent but not the pure shooter that Humphrey is for example. Chip I will stand by the comment that UGA will not make the NCAA tourney. However the real point of the previous comment was that UGA has NEVER been anything more than a decent basketball team.
By **By Chip Towers**
February 12, 2007 04:40 PM | Link to this
Ft. Worth, here ya go:
2/14 Kenn. State W 2/17 Auburn W 2/21 at Ole Miss L 2/24 Miss State W 2/28 at Kentucky L 3/3 Tennessee W
That would be 18-11, 9-7 heading into SEC tourney.
To answer you’re other question, always better to make the Big Dance!
By Bryan G.
February 12, 2007 04:57 PM | Link to this
I agree with my big bro, Bradley G. I understand that Mercer is a great defender: I totally agree with that. But he has been an offensive liability for us for about 5-6 games now.
I mean, let me get this straight: the guy who takes the most shots on the team has the WORST shooting percentage. I doubt we’ll miss him THAT THAT much. Again, great defender, but I think Humphreys and Woodbury are better scorers than Mercer.
By The Truth
February 12, 2007 05:07 PM | Link to this
Losing Mercer hurts most on the defensive end without a doubt. I think Woodbury, who has been one of our best shooters of late, and Humphrey, who can no doubt score the basketball when he gets hot, are capable of filling in on the offensive end. Baloney, I think you’re a little naieve and have just had a tough day at work. Fact is, UGA has most certaily had some misfortune within its basketball program in years when NCAA tourney bids were very probable. This year we have a great chance, and I still think 9-7 in the SEC gets us in. I, for one, appreciate Chip trying to “rally the troops” cause this blue collar team deserves support.
By **By Chip Towers**
February 12, 2007 05:12 PM | Link to this
Buck, Yes, I’ve seen your continued amplification of Richt’s comments about redshirting. The thing is, he says that every year. Go back and checck. He always says he plans on playing the best players and that circumstances will dictate who redshirts and who doesn’t. He never signs a guy and says we plan on redshirting him. In fact, it’s usually well into every season before he’ll admit that a player might redshirt. That said, it’s better if they all redshirt unless of course one freshman is better than the four or five upperclassmen ahead of him at his position. That, however, is a rarity. You will not sway me on that so we might as well let this issue rest.
By **By Chip Towers**
February 12, 2007 05:12 PM | Link to this
Buck, Yes, I’ve seen your continued amplification of Richt’s comments about redshirting. The thing is, he says that every year. Go back and checck. He always says he plans on playing the best players and that circumstances will dictate who redshirts and who doesn’t. He never signs a guy and says we plan on redshirting him. In fact, it’s usually well into every season before he’ll admit that a player might redshirt. That said, it’s better if they all redshirt unless of course one freshman is better than the four or five upperclassmen ahead of him at his position. That, however, is a rarity. You will not sway me on that so we might as well let this issue rest.
By baloney
February 12, 2007 05:32 PM | Link to this
Every team has some misfortune. I’m just saying that Chip made it sound like UGA is the only team to have such things happen to them. Heck, look at the guy at Tenn. he missed several games and is still not even close to being 100%. Yet they were able to beat a full strength UGA team. I felt bad for Sundiata Gaines after he said he hope Lofton played so there would be no excuses when UGA beat them.I may be wrong, but didn’t UGA lose that game?
By Hawaii Dawg
February 12, 2007 05:33 PM | Link to this
I believe Mercer going down takes Dawgs out of Big Dance. One less quality player to sub and keep everyone fresher. I didn’t have much confidence of them making it anyway. Not quite ready. I like this Coach and soon folks will give him the ultimate compliment. Goes something like this, He can take his uns and beat urine, and then take urine and beat his uns.
By Gordon
February 12, 2007 06:01 PM | Link to this
I’m a Tech fan so this isn’t easy to say, but I predict UGA will make the tournament (Chip’s game predictions above look about right), but Tech won’t. And the reason is we are not as well coached. I never would have admitted that until the last few weeks, but now it is undeniable. Hewitt can outrecruit Felton (at least up to now), but we rely too much on athleticism while UGA plays more like a team. UGA could stand to lose any one player other than Gaines and make the tournament. The only reason we won against you is that Gaines was out that game. I hate to admit all this, but I think its true.
By doubledog
February 12, 2007 06:03 PM | Link to this
The loss of Mercer will hurt, but we still will make the NCAA’S. College ball is greatly affected by emotion and Humphrey, Woodberry et al will step it up. Just look at the fantastic week the Brophy family was here and tell me those two wins were not in part caused by emotion.
We are a year away from being very good. Felton is a fine coach, he has a great staff and the administration is behind him and I believe we’re on the way. We are not yet a great basketball school and have not and will not get many breaks until we are seen as such. Do you think we could have gotten Randolph Morris cleared to play? When was the last time UNC or Duke and that sort the loser in a ball game because of a bad official’s call?
We need to come to these last few games and supoport this group of guys, they need it and they deserve it.
By Brooks
February 12, 2007 06:27 PM | Link to this
Gordon, It’s good to hear a Tech fan speak the truth. The Dawgs would have won in Atlanta with Gaines running the show. Mercer cannot run the point. I agree that Mercer forces shots but he also brings energy and explosiveness to the court. Woodbury has been very effective most of the year. I wouldn’t be worried starting him or Humphrey. Humphrey looked solid in Columbia. This injury will get everyone refocused and ready to finish strong. Georgia goes 8-8 in the conference and doesen’t get in that will be a travesty. Heck 2 years ago we were starting walk-ons. That Alabama disaster sure is big now. I think we make it to the tourney and maybe win a game or 2. Depends on the draw. GO DAWGS
By dmddawg
February 12, 2007 06:33 PM | Link to this
Chip…if the dawgs go 9-7 I think they’re in the tourney, regardless of the SEC tournament.
By dmddawg
February 12, 2007 06:39 PM | Link to this
Also, Brooks is right…Gaines is the dawgs’ most indispensable player.
By AltamahaDawg
February 12, 2007 07:23 PM | Link to this
Chip, if you were indeed “worse than” (meaning supportive of UGA sports I suppose) than Munson, Scott, and Smith combined, I’d say that was pretty complimentary. I’ve never known those guys to be overly unrealistically optimistic frankly, so not sure what his point was.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 12, 2007 07:28 PM | Link to this
OK Chip, we’ll agree to disagree on that issue and see what happens. I still don’t thingk that 9-7 alone wil get us into the “Dance”. I want it to but it won’t. Now, if we beat Ole Miss or win one or two ni the tournament we’re in.
By AltamahaDawg
February 12, 2007 07:31 PM | Link to this
Bryan, percentages aside, he was still the second leading scorer. Chips point was that he took a lot of shots because he could. We dont know if this means somebody else might take those shots instead, they might just take fewer shots. Fewer shot even with a higher percentage can still be less points. IMO, the team will respond, coaching will adjust, and finish about where they were going to with him.
By Albert N. Milliron IMNS
February 12, 2007 07:45 PM | Link to this
Mike Mercers Injury was a gasp to players and fans from both sides. The Audience let out a unison empathetic moan as Mercers Knee was reset. He has played well. His 13-18 pints per game will be missed. During the press conference The opposing coach Dave Odom even identified the loss but also related that Georgia is deep and can overcome the loss. I am hopeful for a recovery that will get him back in the Game. Even from the press box it was a difficult view to see the young players expression as her realized something was seriously wrong. Kudos to the USC GAMCOCK fan who cheered for him as he left the court. It is nice to see opposing teams concerned about other players.Albert N. Milliron, Iron Mill Interactive Media Inc. http://www.ironmill.com/
By Albert N. Milliron IMNS
February 12, 2007 07:46 PM | Link to this
Mike Mercers Injury was a gasp to players and fans from both sides. The Audience let out a unison empathetic moan as Mercers Knee was reset. He has played well. His 13-18 pints per game will be missed. During the press conference The opposing coach Dave Odom even identified the loss but also related that Georgia is deep and can overcome the loss. I am hopeful for a recovery that will get him back in the Game. Even from the press box it was a difficult view to see the young players expression as her realized something was seriously wrong. Kudos to the USC GAMCOCK fan who cheered for him as he left the court. It is nice to see opposing teams concerned about other players.Albert N. Milliron, Iron Mill Interactive Media Inc.
By ugatider
February 12, 2007 09:37 PM | Link to this
I say UGA makes it by the skin of their teeth…if Mercer didn’t go down, I would say definitely. Mercer is extremely underrated and the Dawgs will miss him tremendously…to Ft. Worth, not to be too critical, but all teams want to be a part of the Big Dance, even if it means getting knocked out in the first round. The NIT is a total afterthought and no one cares but the coaches who get more practice time with their teams.
By JCH
February 12, 2007 09:53 PM | Link to this
i have read one of these blogs only once before…this blog was my second. i have never really been inspired to write anything…until tonight. some of the people who have participated in this blog seem to know a good bit about the basketball team. if you do know a good bit, then obviously you care enough about the team to keep up w/ them. so, why are you writing so negatively about these guys? EVERYONE should be really excited about this basketball team and program. Dennis Felton is a super dude, and yes, i have met him. we have a darn good basketball team. we have had some serious struggles over the years. that’s why i am psyched. some of you may have forgotten the team in ‘94 (i think). guys like Catu Davis. We lost a heartbreaker that year to Syracuse, who in fact went on to win the whole dang thing. then Tubby left, and we struggled for several years but still got to watch guys like Jones and Layne. then came Harrick, and we had a team that could not participate in the tourney. a team that, if it had won the whole thing, i would not have been surprised. and then we struggled. and now Felton, who i would not trade for anybody. ANYBODY. now we have a team that nobody can say isn’t competitive. isn’t that great? and i see great things for this program in the not-so-distant future. some of you might be surprised when selection day does roll around, or by what Humphrey and Woodburry are about to do. and we can watch this program excel knowing that EVERYTHING is being done the right way. we have the best situation in college basketball right now. we get to watch greatness being built people.
By SamoanDawg
February 12, 2007 11:13 PM | Link to this
We’ll miss Mercer definitely. But we should be okay w/the guys on the bench. I too, think we’ll go to the ncaa as a 16th seed, prolly.
Abert.. nice article.
By SamoanDawg
February 12, 2007 11:32 PM | Link to this
I think that’s a good move to move Brandon to MLB. I posted on one of the blogs couple a weeks ago, that we should try him at mike. He has almost the same size/speed as Urlacher… I know, he’s not nearly as good as Brian. I think he can utilize his speed from sideline to sideline, plus he should be able to read his keys a lot better/see the field better. He just needs to read/react quickly to get to his keys, which I think he will.
By BuLLdawg
February 13, 2007 06:09 AM | Link to this
.
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Why won’t the Big Ten (11) schedule SEC teams?
http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin/records/multi-conference.pl?start=1932&end=2006&team=Illinois&team=Indiana&team=Iowa&team=Michigan&team=MichiganState&team=Minnesota&team=Northwestern&team=OhioState&team=PennState&team=Purdue&team=Wisconsin
The Big Ten (11), as you can see at this URL Link, has played SEC teams in Football (You know the sport that UGA is good in, as demonstrated by its 10 Consecutive Years Final AP Poll Rankings no other program has accomplished with UGA, and the sport about to have NFL Combines only 3 other programs have more in the NFL than UGA and then the NFL Draft, and the Spring G-Day Game.) and the Big Ten (11) has done very poorly against SEC teams as it has in bowl games as well compared to SEC teams and the SEC Bowl Record.
The Big Ten (11) has played The SEC 138 times since the league began play and has beaten the SEC but 58 of the 138 games.
Mostly, all the Big Ten (11) plays, is Vandie and Kentucky.
They refuse to play the SEC in the regular season, as discussed in this blog many times recently discussing how for example Michigan refuses to schedule games against UGA in the regular season although repeatedly now UGA has requested such a home and home series.
All-Time the Big Ten (11) has won but 29 percent of all its games against the SEC in Big Ten (11) Away Games.
Only 9 out of 33 Away Games against the SEC has the Big Ten (11) Won, 29 percent.
And, out of 58 Neutral Site Games, the Big Ten (11) has won but 22 games, 38 percent Big Ten (11) winning percentage on neutral sites against The SEC.
So, why won’t the Big Ten (11) play The SEC in a home and home series in Football ?
Duh…
I am very sorry about Mike Mercer being injured, his career very much in jeopardy, and all just when he had worked so hard to get his game where it needed to be in recent games with better shot selection, although he still was struggling from the 3-point arc and the charity stripe. The other players on the team will just have to suck it up, and without him to give them any of his team leading minutes played, figure a way to smother their man on defense instead of playing Olay defense stepping to the side to let their man by instead staying between their man and the goal, which is also part of blocking out. This team was going literally no where, is generally considered a 50/50 shot for making the NCAA, and would have been matched up in the 1st round NCAA tourney against a team no doubt who would have beaten them. Starting with the Georgia Tech game, UGA has Lost 8 of 14. That is not very good, 8-6 down the stretch for the NCAA Tournament Committee who looks very hard at this recent record. The only Ranked Team UGA has beaten is Kentucky, and that is it for the entire season. http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/polls No other team UGA beat is Ranked in either the AP or the Coaches’ Polls. UGA does have a Number 43 RPI on this day : http://www.collegerpi.com/ and we have played the Number 11 Strength of Schedule. UGA is 13-9 and only 1 game up in the SEC Conference Record at 6-5 while we play the rescheduled game against Kennesaw State who is RPI Number 284 at 10-16. Georgia Tech, who dropped their entire series against Georgia Southern in Baseball this weekend while UGA again lost to Oregon State all weekend long too to the College World Series Champions whom we played in the CWS for our last lost last season to end up ranked Ahead of Georgia Tech in the Baseball – Georgia Tech – finds its College Basketball RPI Number 56 with Strength of Schedule Number 44. .
SOS Number 11 and RPI Number 43 UGA. .
SOS Number 44 and RPI Number 56 Georgia Tech.
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The fact remains that his man is seen driving to the basket and him standing there like a matador with a red cape waiving it, not wanting to get a foul, and UGA has a team full of better shooters, better rebounds per minute played and fewer turnovers per assist.
There is no reason why UGA : .
284 RPI, Feb 14 Kennesaw St 10-16.
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104 RPI, Feb 17 Auburn 13-12.
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55 RPI, Feb 21 @ Mississippi 16-8, SOS 73.
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75 RPI, Feb 24 Mississippi St 13-10.
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7 RPI, Feb 28 @ Kentucky 18-6.
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14 RPI, Mar 3 Tennessee 17-8, SOS 5.
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Vandie is RPI 49 and Gonzaga RPI 57.
LSU is RPI 78, Arkansas 38 RPI, and South Carolina Number 93 RPI. So, we have two (2) wins over RPI Top 50 teams.
The season boils down to, as it has all season long, what we do against not Auburn, but the two Mississippi Clubs.
15-11 and lose to both Mississippi Clubs and 15-13 could be with our Top 10 Strength of Schedule in the Nation of 336 Division 1 Men’s Basketball Teams staring us squarely in the face. Beat one lose to one Mississippi team, 16-12, find another win there against what might well be a 3rd Win over an RPI Top 50, and optimistically 17-11. Division 1 record of 18-10, seems out of the question.
But, you do NOT know Chip Towers, for in your last article pre-injury, you said he was dragging the team down taking the MOST shots by over a 100 more shots than the 2nd most shots taken on the team, and hitting the dead worst percentage of all shots of all players on the team in its entirety. His man did all season drive the basketball to the hoop and him standing there not wanting to foul, which ain’t defense. They all hit better free throw percentage, get more rebounds per minute played, more assists per minute played, and none threw the ball away more. This on top of shooting the worst. It is just a shame that just when he had worked on this part of his game to improve shot selection that we face not having him on the court at all even off the bench to give the other guys a blow for obviously more than one year. ACL Torn Loose does not get back to form in even 12 months, and this is the end of the season with but half a dozen remaining games left of 28 regular season Division 1 opponents. Georgia MIGHT play better, but I would think not having him to take even one second of his team-leading minutes per game will spell the doom I predicted with him Starting, Taking the Most Shots, Missing the Highest Percentage, and standing there not wanting to foul letting his man every time drive to the hoop.
We shall see, but again this is not good just when he had worked on improving his game in shot selection. Clearly, not having him at all to be there with his previous athleticism and be in position to put the ball back underneath and NOT be able to play any minutes is not good at all.
But, I will be damned if Georgia Tech is in a better position.
All this conjecture about what if a guy whose game came around in the last two games were there, is so much moot discussion. He isn’t and he is looking squarely at a medical redshirt next season, if indeed he is ever the same again. I am not sure if he can stand there and shoot set shots or not, but that might get him on the floor for some SEC games next year, but that seems to be pushing it obviously. ACL torn loose. Horrible that that would happen to a fine guy, who keeps his nose clean, doesn’t make any fouls, and was athletic on the court for us. And, just when his shot selection were the shots he got underneath with his then athleticism, clearly looking for his teammates. It hurts; it is not good; his minutes 30 per game are not going to be spread out without serious sucking it up by the whole entire team, and the challenge of course, is NOT to go at 13-9 now having already Lost 8 of the last 14 games with just wins over Kennesaw State and Auburn to be then 15-13.
Both Georgia Tech and Georgia have a tough road to hoe, and this team has not demonstrated ANY ability to deal with injuries in the past such as against Georgia Tech for example.
Georgia is not going to the NCAA if we lose games in the SEC, but we do have a one game over .500 SEC Record.
So, what does this really mean then ?
6-5 SEC today.
We beat Auburn, despite your question of that Chip Towers and that puts us 2 games over at 7-5 with 4 games before the SEC Tourney, when right now today we face Auburn in the SEC Tourney for a sure win then too.
The 4 games against two Mississippi’s, Kentucky and Tennessee cannot 4 of them be losses for that would leave us 7-9 SEC regular season and the game against Auburn in the SEC Tournament would NOT do it.
Georgia Tech is not beating the teams on their remaining schedule either. Tech is more likely out than UGA.
UGA, if we beat one Mississippi team would be 8-8 SEC. That would do it unless then Auburn beat us in the SEC Tournament, which could send us to the NIT.
We play Mississippi State at HOME at the Stegosaurus. Lose that game and the season is over.
So, while we have Lost 8 of the last 14 now today, we must Win in this stretch we are in 4 of 5 Wins (South Car, Ken St, Auburn, Ole Miss, Miss St) and anything short of 4 of these 5 games WINS starting with South Carolina last Saturday on such a good game by Mike Mercer and Georgia is OUT.
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By ChcikChasley
February 13, 2007 09:21 AM | Link to this
Mercer’s departure will help Georgia. He was taking way too many 3’s and smaking about 18 percent. His loss to this team will be what Dominaue Wilkins’ loss to the 1982-83 team was - a positive! It brought the team together to play unslefish team ball and not look for Wilkins or have a defense which loaded up on him. Billing Humprey is a better point guard, 3 point shooter, and theft man. He will complement Sukes nad Gaines on the 3 poniters will occasional help from Woodbury and Newman! Now we don’t have to manage his wild minutes which he usually starts a game with!
By ChcikChasley
February 13, 2007 09:30 AM | Link to this
BulLDawg Gonzaga was ranked when the Dawgs blew them off the court in Gwinnette in December. Maybe that game began the Zags demise. Also LSU was ranked in top 25 earlier. And least we forget the game in Tuscaloosa against Alabama (a top 25 team and often a top 10 this year) was stolen from up (22 incidents in Felton’s DVD of bad calls which weren’t even close)!!!
By godawg
February 13, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
Chip, small point…I remember reading in this paper where Logan Gray was told by the Georgia coach(es) that he would RS this year to put on weight, learn the system and give him two years post-Stafford to start.
By Realisticdawg
February 13, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this
Hey Chip, If 13 points, 3 assists makes a sensational soph, what is a frosh or soph that averages 19 and 6. Mike is a good player, but sensational….. let’s be real!
By GREG
February 13, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
I DRANK UP ALL MY BEER MAN!
By **By Chip Towers**
February 13, 2007 01:36 PM | Link to this
Realistic Dawg, “sensational sophomore” is a reference to the WAY Mercer plays (ie: did you happen to see the follow dunk against Wisconsin). Plus, it’s alliterative with sophomore! Enjoy splitting hairs, do you?
By 82DAWG
February 13, 2007 03:47 PM | Link to this
Chip, good to see you involved in the fray, it makes it more interesting. I like your optimistic prediction, but I think 3-3 is more realistic. That makes them 17-12 and 8-8. They would have to win two tournament games to have a chance at the NCAA. If they finish like you predict, they would still need to win one game in the SEC tourney. Could happen, who knows?
By Big Dawg
February 13, 2007 04:46 PM | Link to this
Mercer’s injury isn’t as bad as first thought which is a blessing. Next I believe this team will rally around Coach Felton and win 5 of the last 6 to finish 19-10 and win at least 2 games in the SEC tournament and make the Big Dance. Now as for Miller being switched to MLB, Washington’s injury isn’t healing as fast as they thought, next when Bailey didn’t commit the coaches reconsidered moving Miller to DE as we are already loaded with some really talented players at this position. Hopefully Brandon will rededicate himself to becoming the kind of player he was forecasted as being. Talent will only get you so far it is heart that separates the good players from the great players.
Go Dawgs
By Brian Jones TECH FAN
February 13, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this
LET ME START BY SAYING MIKE MERCER THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU I TORE MY ACL PLAYING DII BASKETBALL AND WOULD NOT WISH THAT UPON ANUONE NOT EVEN A UGA PLAYER THE EASIEST PART IS OVER. SO HOPE EVERYTHING GOES WELL AND YOU RETURN TO THE COURT SOONER THAN LATER. AFTER READING BULLDAWGS POST ALMOST ALL HIS POINTS ARE ACCURATE BUT WRONG TECH JUST GOT MONKEY OFF BACK WITH WIN IN TALLY MAKEING US 17-8 GOING TO DUKE WITH A GOOD CHANCE TO WIN IF REFS DONT HELP THEM OUT LIKE THE REFS SCREWED YALL IN TUSCALLOSA TECH NEEDS 3 MORE WINS GOING INTO THE ACC TOURNY AND WIN IN FIRST ROUND THERE AND THEY ARE IN AND THE SOS IS BULL ONLY GOOD TEAM IN SEC IS FLA WE HAVE VA TECH UNC BC NOT TO MENTION THE KEN ST WILL NOT HELP IN THE POLLSTERS EYES SO BULLDAWG I GUESS UR DAMNED CAUSE TECH IS IN BETTER POSTION THAN YALL
By gavol
February 15, 2007 03:17 PM | Link to this
uga will not make it into the ncaa tourney. they will lose 3 of their last 5, to ky, to ut, and to one miss team. i mean, for christ’s sake yall almost lost to ksu!! get real people. oh yeah, whoever said they wouldn’t trade felton for any coach is a moron. ex. coach k, roy williams, bruce pearl. i would trade a handfull of people for who uga calls their coach.
By JCH
February 15, 2007 10:50 PM | Link to this
thanks for the label gavol, but you missed my point. coach k and roy williams have already succeeded at building big-time programs. bruce pearl is a great coach, but very arrogant and definately lacks Felton’s morals. what i meant was: we not only get to see our basketball team grow, but our coach as well…a coach that should be very easy for us to root for…am i not right?