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 > 14
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Humphrey or Woodbury? You make the call
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tonight comes the big test for Dennis Felton’s Dogs. Georgia will be playing its first game without Mike Mercer, who was lost for the season last Saturday with a torn ACL in his right knee. Good thing for the Bulldogs (14-9, 6-5 SEC) this is a non-conference game against lowly Kennesaw State instead of an SEC opponnt so they can work out a new rotation.
Coach Felton refused to say what he was going to do (he loves playing coy with his lineups) but I’m inclined to think he’s got to go with Terrance Woodbury in the starting lineup instead of Billy Humphrey.
Woodbury, you may recall, actually started the first two games of the season ahead of senior Levi Stukes and Humphrey. It was him and Mercer and Sundiata Gaines in the backcourt. Woodbury also started the Georgia Tech game when Gaines had to sit out with a sprained ankle. He actually had 14 points in that game.
Over the summer and into the fall, I probably heard more about Woodbury than any other player. He’s one of those guys that has continually wowed coaches with his work ethic and his potential. At 6-foot-7, 210-pounds, he’s got all the physical attributes of an NBA wing. And he’s really a much better shooter than he’s shown in games (.389 on 3s). In practices and in games, he flat out fills it up from the arc.
Of course, doing it with consistency in games is a whole different story and that’s where Woodbury has to prove himself. He’s shown flashes, reaching double figures five times despite averaging barely 16 minutes a game.
Now that’s not to say I don’t like what Humphrey has to offer. On the contrary. “Dolla Bill,” as his friends and teammates like to call him, is one of my favorite players on the team.
Humphrey’s just one of those guys that seems to have a great disposition all the time, always smiling, always willing to do whatever is asked of him. And he has some serious skills, too. There’s probably not a better pure shooter on the team other than maybe Stukes. Both have such flawless forms and I would not have expected either to have endured the slumps they did a couple of weeks ago. Nice to see Hump break out with a 14-point, 7-steal, 5-assist effort against South Carolina.
And the fact is, Georgia needs Dolla Bill to backup Yata at the point when he needs a blow. Again, this is where the Bulldogs really miss Kevin Brophy, God rest his soul.
All that said, Felton will probably end up doing just the opposite of what I expect and start Humphrey or some other variety of lineup. The bottom line is this: Georgia now has four guards to play four spots. The one X factor may be walkon sophomore Corey Butler. Even though he made the team through open tryouts, this 6-foot-3 microbiology major is actually a pretty good athlete and looks to me like a decent basketball player. We’ll see.
So gimme YOUR starting lineup for tonight’s game. Is Mercer’s injury a death knell for the Dogs are simply new life for other players?
And how many of you guys actually plan to go tonight? Georgia is coming off three sellouts in a row. Hard to imagine the Stegosaurus filling up for Kennesaw State on Valentine’s Day evening but I guess crazier things have happened.
Hope to see you there.
P.S. Found out today I’m having a little boy in July! Bubble gum cigars for all then!
