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 > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFootball, basketball or UGA?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s nice to see all the lively and interesting banter about basketball in this forum this week. Certainly a lot of that can be attributed to the team itself, which if nothing else is more competitive this season and, therefore, is giving us more to talk and write about.
As most of y’all know, I’ve been covering Georgia’s basketball team for the past three years (and several other times off and on over many years). As it so happens, I was around for most of the Bulldogs’ best years. I was covering Hugh Durham’s team in 1990 when it won the SEC regular-season championship and I followed both of Tubby Smith’s Georgia teams into the NCAA tournament, the first of which lost to Syracuse in one of the greatest Sweet Sixteen games of all time.
I was also around for the Ron Jirsa era and for the tail end of Jim Harrick’s regime, too. But that’s another story.
More recently, I’ve had to chronicle some pretty bad seasons as Dennis Felton labored to rebuild Georgia’s program. It’s been a long, tough road for Felton but I have witnessed firsthand the internal rejuvenation he has overseen and you can see him starting to reap some external rewards as well. By that I mean better players, better teams, more wins, some notoriety for his coaching ability.
All of which brings me to this. I truly cringe when I hear so-called Georgia fans say that they could care less about what the basketball team does. I’ve never really understood why there is not the passion for basketball that there is for football. Isn’t it, after all, about supporting your school and/or the state university?
I say that to get to this. Florida to think of itself as a “football school.” So did Tennessee. They’re not anymore. The Gators are defending national champions and one of the nation’s truly elite programs under Billy Donovan and Bruce Pearl has got his Vols right on their heels.
Vanderbilt’s pretty darn good, too, and South Carolina is just a couple of years into a brand new arena. Oh, yeah, then there’s Kentucky.
In case you haven’t noticed, all those schools compete in the same division of the same conference Georgia competes in. So in my humble opinion, Georgia people who say they don’t care about basketball are saying they don’t mind losing to those teams year in and year out. And if I know anything about Dawg fans, that’s never the case.
Florida and Tennessee are proving you can be successful at both sports. Why in the world wouldn’t Georgia fans also want that?
Regardless of what happens in these last few games, Felton has Georgia’s program on the right track. He’s building it back up the right way, slowly and deliberately getting better players, getting them on track to graduate and becoming increasingly competitive. I don’t know if it’s this year (likely not), next year or the year after that, but they’re going to have a breakout season soon and make a little postseason run.
The Vols come to Athens on Saturday for Senior Day and one of the most crucial games to be played at The Stegosaurus in a long time. These are the same Vols that ran up and down the aisles of UGA’s facility last year to congratulate their more excitable and boisterous fans for making the trip there and helping UT pull out a hard-fought road victory.
I’m just wondering if Georgia fans will sit by idly again and let a more passionate group grab the gold. Or will they show up and say this is our team and this is our house and you ain’t coming in here and leaving with anything?
Until Dawgs embrace this, March Madness is going to continue to be for everybody else.
Comments
By baloney
February 28, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
But UGA is good in womens gymnastics (not sure how good the mens team is)And their golf team is generally good.
By Ft Worth Dawg
February 28, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
Man these next 2 games will be tough. Regardless of the outcome, this team appears to have improved markedly and I hope recruiting benefits.
GO DAWGS!!!
By High Pockets
February 28, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
Let’s hear it for Andy Landers 10th-ranked, 2nd-seeded Georgia Lady Bulldogs! They’re playing in the SEC Tournament at The Arena at Gwinnett Center this Friday at 3:30—-go support’em!
By Dan from UGA
February 28, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this
Good post, Chip. As a fourth year here at UGA, I too have endured bad times. Although it was nice buying a ticket a tipoff and getting a great seat (especially compared to wilting in 90 degree heat for three hours waiting for a football kickoff), it was always very disappointing to see an empty Stegman or see the majority of fans supporting the visitors (see: UK and UT). What UT did last year is absolute degrading to UGA—I was there, UGA put up a great fight against a great team, and UT celebrated like they slayed Goliath. You bet I’ll be there, two hours before tip on Saturday, poised to scream myself horse for the Dawgs. Go Dawgs!
By King Bee
February 28, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this
I know you go to a cow college Dan, but is scream yourself hoarse. Tsk, tsk. Dawgs.
By jc2beers
February 28, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this
Dawgs win tonight 78-71
By baloney
February 28, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this
Riiiiight.
By UT96
February 28, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this
Dan,I was there last year as well. It had very little to do with UGA and alot to do with saying thank you to the number of our fans showing up at Stegman to cheer on my team. Also, keep in mind it was Pearl’s first season as coach of team that for the longest time had been drowning in basketball mediocrity(worse than that,actually. Either way, no disrespect was meant. Good luck Saturday, and I hope for the sake of your basketball program, your fans will show up and fill your gym.
By Dan from UGA
February 28, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
My bad. I guess my graduate education from the number 3 advertising program in the country skipped over spelling 101.
By King Bee is stupid
February 28, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
Sorry King Bee, but your line should have been “but IT is scream yourself hoarse.” Tsk, tsk you moron Techie.
By AlphaDawg
February 28, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
The news concerning Levi Stukes is terribly disappointing. Any idea what he did Chip? Sounds like him might have missed a team meeting or another “team-type” function - that’s just me thinking while I type though. Woodbury and Humphrey better be ready to play major minutes tonight!
By JakeLew
February 28, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
Football will always reign supreme, but I agree with Chip. We need to embrace the hoops program. felton is doing a good job. And I think people are supporting it a little more. I’ve been to a couple of games this year, making the trip from Canton to Athens as a 1999 grad. I like what I see.
The problem Georgia fans need to face: If we don’t embrace it, Felton is too good of a coach to hang around a fan base that does not embrace the basketball program. Felton is one of the better coaches in America…and we need to keep him around.
By Dan from UGA
February 28, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
UT96, I appreciate your kind words and sensible attitude. I certainly don’t fault the UT fans who showed up for the game; I definitely fault UGA fans for not showing up. I just think there were more respectful ways for UT to show appreciation.
By JakeLew
February 28, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this
And a great article too Chip…linked it on our homepage.
http://www.dawgrant.com
By Buzzkill
February 28, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
Dear Queen Bee,
The general rule for correcting one’s grammar is to verify your grammar is also correct. Please learn this before you make yourself look like an idiot while trying to do the same to someone else….moron.
I love Tech fans, they fail to win at anything.
Go Dawgs(and for the time being, Go Tar Heels…beat them by 40)!
By UT96
February 28, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this
Dan, I will agree with you on your last point. It hasn’t happened any this year to my knowledge. I really believe it part of a process of learning how to win again for our program and the excitement of a first year head coach. If we are fortunate enough to win Saturday, I’m quite certain the same incident will not happen.
By King Bee
February 28, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this
Hey stupid, my “error” was a test for the Doggies. You passed. Must be a closet Tech man.
Oh, and they don’t teach that No. 3 is the proper style at that advertising school? Bet they do at Nos. 1 and 2.
By ConyersDawg
February 28, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this
How about that senior leadership of Stukes? I don’t know what he did be he let his team down big time regardless.
Go dawgs! Play as a team and we can win in rupp. If everyone individually tries to do this on their own tonight with no mercer and stukes we could get ran out of the gym.
Felton is going to have to get creative tonight and try some different defenses to throw off Kentucky. Woodbury will have to play the best defense he can tonight.
I am so upset with stuckes right now knowing we are in a fight for the ncaa tourney!
By Chip Towers
February 28, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
Not sure what Levi did, AlphaDawg, but it sounds like something in the responsibility realm. Felton is a real stickler when it comes to punctuality. In fact, he has a 10-minute rule, which effectively means you’re not on time unless you’re there 10 minutes early. That’s what got Takais Brown benched for the first 10 minutes of the Kennesaw State game. But we’re all just guessing. Felton’s not going to say anything about it until after tonight’s game and Stukes is not here where I am in Lexington.
It’s really a tough break for Georgia. I was having lunch with Scott Howard and Jeff Dantzler here earlier and Dantzler was talking about how confounded the Bulldogs have been in basketball for so many years. Seems like every time they get something going, something happens to blunt it. Oh well, maybe Georgia can beat Kentucky tonight anyway./ Crazier things have happened, right?
By Dawg4life
February 28, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this
I agree with your post Chip. I think that the attitude about not caring about basketball has prevailed because, by and large, the people who root for UGA now haven’t been around during the days of Hugh Durham or Tubby Smith. They don’t know of the SEC Championship or the game against Syracuse. They don’t remember names like Shandon Andersen or Alec Kessler. So I think that has a lot to do with it.
Plus, I think that if you look at the popular sports at the University, the football team is the one that’s usually in contention within the conference each year. It’s more of an anomaly if the basketball team is successful, whereas it’s expected for the football team to be successful. So with that line of thinking, fans naturally will gravitate toward the most successful sport. I’m not saying that’s right, but it’s just what I think is going on.
That being said, I saw a glimpse of the football team’s depth chart heading into spring practice. Looks like coaches are banking on Thomas Brown being ready for some contact this summer because they have him ahead of Moreno. And Vince Vance is listed as the No. 1 tackle. Good to see Sean Bailey back in at the No. 1 spot for Flanker. Hope he can get used to the juice on a ball thrown by Stafford, though, or he’ll be having problems like Massaquoi last year.
By JimmyG
February 28, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this
Levi didn’t play well against Kentucky last time out and the Dawgs won. Terrance Woodbury played like a man possessed in that game, however we did have Mercer to help bring the ball up court. Two and 1/2 guards against the Kentucky press is going to be difficult, but the last time Gaines and Humphrey played 40 mins UGA won the game. We are a better team when we push the ball and play at a fast pace, but without Mercer we are actually capable of running an offense and the ball movement has improved 2000 percent in his absence. All in all I have no idea what is going to happen tonight, all I know is Gaines and Hump will be extremely tired after the game. Woodbury may go off tonight he has definately showed the potential to be the best offensive player, and for our sake I hope he does.
By GREG
February 28, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this
MAYBE HE’LL PLAY ANYWAY!GOOD WAY TO KEEP KENTUCKY ON THERE TOES!GO DAWGS!
By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 28, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this
I think that Dawg fans have a right to know what Stukes did. Most of you will disagree but I’m darn sick and tired of trying to support the team, being asked to support them suportting then and the a Sr. on the eve of a hugh game pulls a freshman mistake. I really don’t care what Felton’s rules are, I believe that the fans have a right to know. Stukes screwed up and why shouldn’t the people being asked to help you know what he did. Coach, what did Stukes do to be kicked off the team for this game?
By GatorHater
February 28, 2007 6:27 PM | Link to this
I was in school the days of Harrick w/ Hayes bros., Rashad Wright, Daniels, Steve Thomas, and comp. The Steg. was always packed, and they were fun to watch. That was a group of players that played with such chemistry, and it is a shame it was tainted by the coach. In general, football games will always be packed no matter the record. With basketball, it seems most “UGA fans” are “fair weather fans.” Regardless, I will root for my Dawgs in anything from women’s equestrian to football.
By william cranman
February 28, 2007 6:30 PM | Link to this
I agree that discipline is important on any basketball team, but sometimes I think Dennis Felton goes to far. If we had Takais Brown against Western Kentucky (home loss)and Levi Stukes (most likely a loss tonight) we have a good chance of winning those games. Just think what 2 more wins on our record would mean as far as getting in to the tournament. I agree major infractions should be penalized, but don’t penalize the entire bulldog nation for minor infractions.
By Hattiesburg Dawg
February 28, 2007 6:39 PM | Link to this
Chip- Please remember this phrase: COULDN’T CARE LESS. If they could care less about something they would, you should know this phrase after all your years of writing.
By GREG
February 28, 2007 6:40 PM | Link to this
HE STILL MIGHT PLAY MAN!DAWG FANS WE NEED TO BELIEVE!!!I BET HE COMES IN 10 MINUTES INTO THE GAME!
By Dawgs2007
February 28, 2007 7:05 PM | Link to this
Why punish the entire bulldog nation by taking away our best 3 point shooter vs. Kentucky?!
Talk about turning away fans! I guess we have to depend on the two white boy stiffs(Newman and Bliss) to carry the team.
Watch out Lexington!! Bliss will be nailing threes all night!
Dumb move Felton! This guy is about to graduate and only has a couple of games left. He has been a good dawg and I could care less what he could done.
By Chip Towers
February 28, 2007 7:18 PM | Link to this
I’m at Rupp Arena now and this place is absolutely abuzz with conversation. Everybody wants to know what Stukes did and all the Kentucky people are talking about Tubby. Had one guy here tell me that the Lexington Herald-Leader’s feedback is 40-to-1 against retaining Tubby. Boy can things turn on you quick! Meanwhile, they’re talking about it being an absolute must win for the ‘Cats. Of course, it is for both teams… .
Don’t know how any of you guys could say never mind the discipline because you need Levi to win. At least until we find out his indiscretion… .
Meanwhile, Georgia will start Terrance Woodbury at Stukes’ spot and they’ll have only walkon Corey Butler to bring off the bench. Could be a long night for the Dogs - or maybe one of their most courageous efforts in years. We’ll see… . Game’s on Fox Sports Net if you care to watch. See ya in the papers!
By bigdawg
February 28, 2007 8:15 PM | Link to this
this is gonna be an ugly game…
By Matthew at the SLC
February 28, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this
Chip,
Let me tell you something straight from the heart… and this goes out to all the other Dawg “fans” out there as well. If you don’t support all the teams in the Dawg Nation (and support can be as little as aknowledging a job well done and being proud of gymnastic, swimming, and golf accomplishments as well as attending games, matches, or meets) then you are not a true Dawg Fan. You are simply a football fan. That’s it. You’re not a fan of the Dawgs or the University. You’re a fan of college football, and the Dawgs happen to be your favorite team. Most, if not all, of the people like that generally never attended, nor will never attend a class in Athens. That’s okay. The football team and athletic department appreciates you support, and more than that, you money, which helps to make champions out of our tennis, golf, and gymnastic teams. But to claim that you are a Dawg fan, yet you profess to care nothing about any of the teams not playing at Sanford Stadium is a flat out lie. You are not a Dawg fan. You’re a football fan. That isn’t snobbery. That isn’t haughtyness. It is what it is. Like I said, we appreciate your money in support of Georgia football, because it helped to build the SLC, will help build Tate II, as well as the brand new UGA Medical School. So keep on giving. Keep on supporting the Georgia football team. But stop calling yourself Dawg fans. Because it just isn’t true.
Thank you.
By bigdawg
February 28, 2007 10:00 PM | Link to this
all I can say is “NEEWWWMMAAANNN!!!” Not a bad game for our Dawgs playing without 2 leading scorers (Stukes and Mercer) Sr Newman really stepped it up in this game and I applaud him for that. Lets hope this gave us some great experience to beat UT this weekend at home in the Steg!
By george
February 28, 2007 10:14 PM | Link to this
I totally agree with Felton’s decision to be a disciplinarian. The players know what his rules are and they should obey them. Nobody is bigger than the team. If you screw up, you stay home. Anyone remember Bear Bryant home before the Orange Bowl? If you want to break the rules and play a sport, go to Florida State and play for Bobby Bowden.
By Dawgs2006
February 28, 2007 10:15 PM | Link to this
Matthew at the SLC: Get a life. You are always preaching from your Ivory tower with your scolding lectures to all that do not love the university in the same rigor as yourself.
I pray, come football season, you are one of the many who gets nailed in the back of the head with a soda bottle hurled from the upper deck. That would be worth the $56.00 cost of the tickets.
By Drew
February 28, 2007 10:17 PM | Link to this
Don’t punish us for Stukes’ mistake? Which is more important folks - establishing what kind of program we are going to run or winning one ballgame? Sure, winning these last two would get us in the NCAA tourney - which I want as badly as anyone does. But, even the blindly loyal know that we won’t go far in the dance this year even if we make it. We brought Coach Felton in to run the team right. Don’t we remember Harrick? Plus, at the end of the day, let’s win/lose with integrity and with class…not overlooking infractions. Coach Richt does the same thing in football - that’s why these two men are leaders - not politicians. It’s their job to lead…not try to please everybody.
By JimmyG
February 28, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
This was the worst coached game of all time, both coaches did terrible jobs. Gaines should have been pulled in the second half and told to watch Butler hustle. When you are down 18 there is no need to run down the shot clock and then shoot an off balance three when you have been cold all night. Tubby and UK could have killed us if they would have pressured the ball or played Morris more. Pitiful jobs by both coaches and I usually don’t say that about Felton. PLEASE PLAY WOODBURY MORE. Im working on a formula here to come up with TPP, Total Play Productivity however I don’t go to Tech so its taking me a while. All I have so far is Woodbury is our most effective offensive player, and Bliss is the worst player in the history of College Basketball. And yes that includes you John Nordine
By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 28, 2007 10:47 PM | Link to this
Let Felton enforce all of his rules, I just want to know what rule he broke. I don’t think that’s unreasonable. Run your program the way you want( after tonights coaching you need to) because at the end of the day it’s your job on the line. On 2nd though, I’m changing my mind. After not changing a thing when the ‘Cats changed from a half court game to running and we did nothing just worry about your coaching.
By bigdawg
February 28, 2007 10:48 PM | Link to this
Hence why Bliss didn’t play tonight. Singleton is pretty close down on that list with him, too…
By NewnanDawgCF
February 28, 2007 10:57 PM | Link to this
Well, a tough one at Rupp tonight; I agree with Drew - Felton cannot start compromising at the first taste of success. I also agree that a Dawg is not a Dawg only caring about football. I have the luxury of enough time to attend football and basketball games, as well as a few other events for other sports.I try to at least read what’s going on with everything and also try to attend at least one game/meet/match per season for almost every sport. If I had the time and money, I would have a second home in Athens so I could go to just about everything. I cannot understand the mentality of only supporting one part of what your school does. Just like I can’t understand bashing the student-athletes every time they make a mistake. Athletes should be held to a higher standard, but who among us can say that they did not do many things that would have brought about a Felton suspension in college? Habitual problems are one thing, but even a senior is still a college student that may have to learn the hard way at some point. If Levi comes out as focused against UT as he did against MSU, we’ll know he learned his lesson, and we’ll probably be 9 - 7 in the SEC.
Does anyone else think that we may be hurt at selection time by the fact that our biggest SEC East wins (Kentucky, Vandy) came the 1st time we played those teams? I think we’ll need a tournament win or two.
The Steg is sold out for Sat., so let’s make some noise this weekend and Go Dawgs!
By bigdawg
February 28, 2007 11:13 PM | Link to this
I’m kind of worried that right after Tennessee beats Florida is when the Steg gets sold out…may be a very vocal orange contingent there…(more so than usual)
By Erk
February 28, 2007 11:16 PM | Link to this
Chip,
Your points are well taken, but there are certain schools that will always be thought of as football or basketball schools and not both. Georgia and Florida, yes Florida even though they’ve recently won a national championship in basketball, will always be remembered as football schools. North Carolina will always be considered a basketball school no matter how well they do in football. Basketball will ALWAYS play second fiddle to football at UGA. Alabama is another good example. If Bama won 3 basketball national championships in a row it would still never compare to football.
By JimmyG
February 28, 2007 11:18 PM | Link to this
I wonder what the deal is with the program. Either Felton doesn’t release anything to the media or the AJC doesn’t do a good job of covering this team. A few things to look into: Find out some reasons for suspensions, why has Albert Jackson’s playing time decreased? Why does Jacskon wear a shoulder brace? Why did we not find out until 3 days later why Woodbury didn’t play in the Alabama game? It is very obvious to any of us who go to the games and watch the team on t.v. that certain players deserve more time and are more skilled than others. Yet we never hear about what goes on at practice and why minutes are divided out the way they are. We do not get daily articles about the team, just blogs that my mother’s dog could come up with the idea for. The fans need to have more access to this team, and if Chip is around the team every day there should be more written unless Felton wants things quite. Next year’s starting five: Gaines, Humphrey, Woodbury, Jackson, Brown. Coming off the bench: Mercer, Price, Jacobs, and Singleton. That team could be scary
By derek
February 28, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
TB was suspended the whole game vs WKU for grades. Seems like Levi did something WAY worse. I love how felton doesnt mess around though.
By NewnanDawgCF
February 28, 2007 11:34 PM | Link to this
JimmyG,
By Matthew at the SLC
February 28, 2007 11:37 PM | Link to this
Let me guess, Dawg2006, you’re just a football fan, right? Hey, keep on paying that season ticket price along with the donation (that is if you’re a season ticket holder), I know all of us who attend UGA love the money you’re sending our way. Like I said dude, the truth hurts. I sit in no Ivory Tower, just the SLC, which is close enough, I guess. But once again, you are no Dawg fan, unless you are happy and willing to support all the Dawg teams. If you don’t like hearing that you’re just a football fan, and not a Dawg fan, then maybe you should throw a little love to the other teams. But I digress, [football fan]2006. Once again, there is no problem with just being a football fan as opposed to a true Dawg fan. If there is a problem, you’re the one creating it in your own mind. There is no superior form of fandom. But there are two distinct kinds of fans. True Dawg Fans, and then Just Football Fans. If you’re just a football fan, don’t sweat it. Buit if that is the case, then stop claiming to be a Dawg fan, because you aren’t.
As for Newman, you gotta love the big red headed guy knocking down treys. I think, all things considered, the team played more than well. At the end, when they hit two treys in a row with about 2 minutes to go to bring it within 10, I thought they could pull out a miracle. If Stukes can keep it together, I smell a victory against Crappy Top.
By Gen Neyland
February 28, 2007 11:38 PM | Link to this
To a Volunteer, win or lose in Athens, we’re on a better course to make the NCAA’s. We still gotta play well in the SEC tourney, but we’ve shown up against Top 25 teams this year to be given real consideration…From Felton’s remarks earlier this week, I believe he figured to blow at KY and decided to put his marbles on the UT game. Go Vols, get one on the road
Chip, Stukes…Coach’s call or Athletic Dept policy for his no-show in KY..?
By NewnanDawgCF
March 1, 2007 12:04 AM | Link to this
JimmyG, I understand your frustration, but considering how far Felton has already taken this program and team from where he got it, I just have to trust him. Also, the media must be very careful about what they know vs. what they report. I’m not sure if you are familiar with the Dicky V. fiasco with Coach Donovan last night, but that is a prime example.
I’m also axcited about next year’s team, but let’s see where this team can go….
By Matthew at the SLC
March 1, 2007 12:48 AM | Link to this
NewnanDawg, when isn’t Dickie (Dukie) V sticking his foot in his gigantic mouth? Nothing new there, BABY!!!
By BuLLdawg
March 1, 2007 2:53 AM | Link to this
.
Tuesday night Levi Stukes, our Shooting Guard, 2 :
” Georgia coach Dennis Felton indefinitely suspended his top shooting guard on Tuesday night. Felton said Stukes missed a mandatory weight-lifting session after practice and got into a verbal altercation with a member of the team’s strength and conditioning staff. “
According to John of Athens Banner-Herald, and we are now Number 52 in RPI after losing to Kentucky while Georgia Tech is Number 63 RPI.
You say Georgia is NOT going to the NCAA Chipper. But, Georgia Tech is at 6-8 in a conference with Weak Forest, Miami and NC State as truly the worst 3 men’s basketball teams in America sporting RPI ratings of 149 Miami, Number 110 NC State and Number 135 Weak Forest.
Get off your high horse.
Georgia Tech’s Strength of Schedule is Number 67 and Georgia’s is Number 19.
Tech is NOT in, and Georgia NOT.
We are one game up at 8-7 and play in a far better conference with better opponents.
But, the news for the blog story 2 days now after Felton had to discipline our best player, or certainly one of the best two, is that obviously Levi Stukes will be back and have something to prove.
http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_Men.html
There is plenty of time for the Spring G-Day Game and you telling us how UGA is going to lose to Tech in Football again this year like you told us all last year they would.
And, how much we miss Mike Mercer. Heck without Mercer and Stukes, we were respectable. This is a pretty good basketball team, no one really wants to play right now, if Stukes is allowed to have learned his lesson for being unruly in not wanting to do weight-lifting just after he shot so well last weekend again.
It is not a good thing to lift weights just prior to a game, not when you are the Shooting Guard.
Levi Stukes will be fine; and therefore we are in a lot better shape than Georgia Tech.
Instead of telling us what we all followed as well, but not as we would have discussed even that either, just stop and think what might be the topic of the day for it ain’t that some football fan doesn’t know a thing about men’s basketball.
.
.
By George P. Burdell
March 1, 2007 7:27 AM | Link to this
Bulldawg, you need to quit sipping the hooch so late or find a better source. UGA is 54 while Tech is 52, after you lost to Kentucky. The ACC is still listed as the best conference whether you go buy Sagarin or RPI or whatever reasonable measure ( meaning not the Bulldawg interpretive Big Dance poll).
By DawgBite
March 1, 2007 7:34 AM | Link to this
By King Bee
February 28, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this
I know you go to a cow college Dan, but is scream yourself hoarse. Tsk, tsk. Dawgs.
Hey King Bee! You must be the king of empty seats at the joke by the coke. Or is it king of whining? Burger king, maybe? Most likely it is king of losing!
By Chip Towers
March 1, 2007 8:01 AM | Link to this
Do you guys not read anything other than the blog? Stukes cussed out a strength and conditioning coach who jumped his butt for trying to skip out on a weightlifting session… . Albert Jackson has had a shoulder injury all year and is a non-factor regardless… . Bliss injured his hip during practice Tuesday (we have access to players BEFORE practice the day before games, then they leave immediately afterward for out of town games)… . It’s ALL in my story, JimmyG.
By GW
March 1, 2007 8:12 AM | Link to this
I pull for UGA basketball but know better than to hang my hat on it. Felton may be building the program the right way but he is the worst half-court offensive coach I have ever seen. Georgia could have won vs. Kentucky if they didn’t try to run with them the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half. They needed to keep it an 8-10 point game until Kentucky hit their inevitable meltdown near the end.
By GREG
March 1, 2007 8:31 AM | Link to this
COACH FELTON DID THE RIGHT THANG!YOU CANT LET THE PLAYERS RUN YOUR THANG!NIT IS WHERE THE DAWGS BELONG THIS YEAR!WE WOULD ONE GAME AND OUT!WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR!
By 82DAWG
March 1, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this
Chip,
I love it how you mix it up with the bloggers. As for why do we accept basketball losses so easily and show a “don’t really care” attitude? Well, psychologically (and this comes from an MIS/HR grad), when you convince yourself you don’t really care, it is easier to accept the dissapointment that has been so prominent with this basketball program over the past several years. Yes, there have been rays of sunshine, but overall, its been hard.
The biggest single event to turn off so many (me included) was to cancel our trip to the NCAA tournament a couple of years ago. It accomplished nothing. The NCAA was coming down on us anyway, whether we did that or not. Now this year, we make a run, get all excited, then thud. So, while I maintain an interest and go to a couple of games a year, I do not allow myself the passion due to the history of this program’s likely dissapointment.
By AltamahaDawg
March 1, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this
GW, I doubt Felton is the worse coach at any aspect that you have ever seen. You are saying that you have seen a lot of coaches and none , at any school, has ever been worse at half court offence, ever? nobody? ever? I’d be curious as to who would be the top 5 worse coaches at half court offence that you have ever seen? Also exactly how would you have dictated Kentucky NOT getting mroe that an 8 point lead?
By gdawginkalamazoo
March 1, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
Not Invited Tournament here we come! That was a great one Stukes. Chip, I cheer for all our sports teams and follow them as much as I can. Felton was correct in suspending Stukes. Team rules are team rules, period end of discussion. Coach puts them there for a reason. I think Felton has proven he is a coach who can win. He has done a tremendous job getting the program back to where it is. Few more steps and we are back to a solid, consistent winning program. This stretch of loses here has killed our dance chances but this season I think sets us up to be a great success next year. It seems like these past few weeks it is one step forward and two steps back. I am still proud of the job that these guys have done this season. Nothing to hang your head about so keep fighting the good fight.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
March 1, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this
Now I know and that’s all I wanted. GW has a point in that when Ky. changed styles in the 2nd half we did nothing. With about 5-6 min. to go we started pressing then full court and cut 9 pts. off the lead. i wish we had used vaeried defence in ths 2nd. half.
By DJ
March 1, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this
Jimmy G, Next years starting lineup will be Gaines, Mercer, Humphrey, Brown and Price. Woodbury will come off the bench for offensive purposes because he can’t guard a 10 year old. Jackson starting Jimmy G! Thats the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, the guy still can’t catch a basketball. You must be a football fan. You say the passing in the half court offense is better without Mercer! Hell, there is no half court offense. You haven’t noticed us running the clock down every play because no one can get a shot off. You haven’t noticed that the passing is from Gaines, to Stukes, to Gaines, to Stukes, to Humphrey, to Gaines. Then a bad shot occurs. You haven’t noticed that Brown knows nothing about passing out of a double team. You haven’t noticed that Humphrey can not handle the ball, or defend. Have you been watching UGA basketball. Have you noticed that we will be losing by 15 points with 10 minutes to go in the game and there is no full court press. This team is not well coached at all. We have good shooters but run no plays or quick hitters to get shots off. Just because you have a disciplinarian as the coach does not mean its good. What happened to missing weights, now you have to run 50 suicides! That works for all. The team does not get hurt, but the player will learn his lesson or play another sport. Its to easy to sit out a game on a mediocore team. Want a day off? Miss practice. Coach get a clue, you end up sitting the whole team out then what? There are just as many coaches on this team as players. The players don’t even have room to sit on the bench. The players don’t respect half of those coaches, mainly because they don’t know how to play the game. Plus the coaches need to repsect the players the same way they want repsect. Half the coaches are just a little older than the players. Flunky coaches should sit at the end of the bench, not at the head. Just a thought.
By TennDawg
March 1, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
Chip - I for one really enjoy the job you do. Your information is consistently informative, up-to-date and factual.
As for the Kentucky game, tough loss at a bad time. However, I am proud of the effort by a very short-handed team. Levi’s actions or reactions obviously were unfortunate. Coach Felton did the correct thing; regardless the consequences. I’ll bet anyone that no one is more dissappointed with Levi than himself.
As for this team and Georgia basketball overall, I am pleased with the leadership of Coach Felton and the direction of the program. As I’ve mentioned before, I am a former Dawg b-ball player and have seen the good and bad. I can assure you that as Dawg fans, alumni, etc., we should be thrilled with the job that Coach Felton is doing. After the MSU game, I spent some time talking with him and a few players. I was impressed with his enthusiasm for the game just played, the possibility of the post-season (NCAA’s) and most importantly the fondness of his players as young men when he spoke. As the team filed out of the locker room, I was surprised to see each in a suit. Quite different from MSU (and my playing days) which all had sweats on. I was equally impressed with Levi, Takais and Billy H. in their attentiveness and politeness during our conversations.
One negative? Fan support! It is still as inconsistent as it was when I was playing. MSU game as an example, there were way to many empty seats. The support needs to be there whether the Dawgs are 11-17 or 17-11, period.
Enough rambling. Beat UT this week and GO DAWGS!!!
By GREG
March 1, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
I TALKED TOO SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE ,THEY TOLD ME THE WHOLE TEAM WANTED TO WIN!ITHINK WE WANT TO WIN ALL THE GAMES,JUST CANT WIN THEM ALL!!
By NewnanDawg CF
March 1, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
TennDawg - That was the best blog I have read since I started reading these not long ago. I, too, was at the MSU game and was very disappointed at the attendance. If you haven’t made it down to a lot of games though, please know that we have had a lot better showings throughout most of the SEC games at least. I agree with everything you said about the team, Felton, Chip, and the fans.
Go Dawgs!
By NewnanDawg CF
March 1, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this
Almost forgot - great to see all of you guys that came back for that game TennDawg! I hope Felton can get more Letterman involved.
By GREG
March 1, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
I’M GONNA GO DOWN THERE FOR THE GAME SAT..AND DRANK BEER OUT FRONT ALL DAY!!!
By JimmyG
March 1, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this
DJ- Yes I do watch the games and go to most (including away games b/c they are the most fun). Price is a 4 and Felton is reluctant to start new players. Yes, Jackson should start he is a 5 and if you have paid attention to what the little bald man says is going to be a great player in this league. He does look lost at times, but he will be around for the summer program to learn the system. Actually the half court offense (which we shouldn’t run anyway) has been better without Mercer. Gaines is able to penetrate almost every play and then for some unkown reason will pass it out. Hump and Gaines passed up about 10 layup chances against Kentucky. The team does not rotate and that is what makes brown look like he cant pass. The entire team needs to be more agressive around the basket, and that is where Mercer would help right now. The reason for starting Woodbury next year is we will need a scorer with Stukes leaving. Mercer is not a scorer he is an athlete. His offensive game was more productive per minute played coming off the bench last year compared to starting this year. I think coming off the bench will calm him down. Singleton looks like he is scared of the rim on offense but plays solid defense. Jackson at least acts like he cares while he is out there. And dear god you cant start the ATM (automatic turnover machine) Dave Bliss even tho he is a senior next year. How many of you actually pay attention to the first 2 mins of the second halfs that Bliss has started in. He averages about 2 turnovers per minute and 1 foul per minute in that part of games this season. We struggle because we have no rotation and no help on double teams. Those are my reasons for that lineup or maybe its just going to the games and seeing how the team plays together when certain guys are on the court. Back to the better ball movement statement. The Mississippi State game was the best ball movement UGA has had since Rashad Wright (most underrated player in UGA history) has been gone. Honestly the most effective five to have in there as far as chemistry goes would be to have. Gaines/Woodbury/Mercer/Brown/Newman (See Kentucky comeback for reference) I will debate (key word debate I am not arguing with anyone) basketball with anybody I love this sport and I love this team. Some of you people need to learn the difference between arguing and debate. I enjoy what Chip does and I for one am happy that it is not my job.
By JimmyG
March 1, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
And if you dont think I know what im talking about just check above where I said Woodbury will go off tonight before the game. I also said we needed to know some things from chip, right after I posted that his post game story covered some of the things I said we needed to know. I know the game of basketball and understand matchups. Chip- here is an topic for an enterprise story I would like for you to do this summer: Track the progress of our big men and come up with an overall assessment of what staying in the summer program does as opposed to playing traveling ball
By Chip Towers
March 1, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this
Man, long morning. Just getting into Atlanta from Lexington because of all the weather delays. The things we do to bring game coverage you guys (ha, ha, joke)… . 82DAWG I like your theory about not caring in order to not be disappointed. I’ve long suspected as much… . If I can ever get back to Athens today, I’ll try to get an interview with Stukes and with Coach Felton and find out if Levi’s actually going to be back with the team on Saturday (and the rest of the year, for that matter)… . Thanks for ALL the comments here today. I really appreciate your participation and feedback. C-ya later.
By UGA Class of 2001
March 1, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
Winning breeds interest. The fact of the matter is the Georgia mens basketball team has never won on a consistant enough basis to generate the kind of interest you want Chip. And I don’t buy basketball being anywhere near as important at Tennessee and Florida as football is. SEC schools are first and foremost football schools, with the exception of maybe UK and Vandy. Bottom line: The more Georgia basketball wins the more people will pay attention to them. They are currently on the right track. I agree that the next couple of years could see big things.
By matt
March 1, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
Chip- I think a lot of it has to do with overall popularity of the sport. Football always has and always will reign supreme and I think in general more people support and watch baseball than basketball. I think the whole Jim Harrick situation left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths and I commend Felton for the job he’s done. The baseball team has had success in the past few years and I think that helps keep the interest up. Also, almost every player on the baseball team is not only from Ga, but from N. Fulton, East Cobb, and Gwinnett areas. These areas make up a lot of the student population at UGA. The talent coming from those areas has been unbelievable the last 5-10 years! Give it time, I’m sure with continued improving the basketball team will start rolling in the supporters. Go Dawgs.
By TennDawg
March 1, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
Thanks NewnanDawg. While the crowd support at MSU was thin, we had a great time. Wish we could make it to more games, but four+ hours and three young kids make it tough. Hope Saturday is packed and loud. The Dawgs need a “W” and one or two in the SEC tourney. We’ll see.
GO DAWGS!!!
By me
March 1, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
Hey did Caleb King pass his SAT to play with UGA next year????