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 > 2009 > January > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USOn Trey’s slump and Gators’ streak …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hope you don’t mind if I change the subject to basketball today:
— Still one of two Georgia players averaging in double figures (13.2 points per game), freshman Trey Thompkins is in a serious slump: 7-for-32 from the field in the past three games. “He’s such a great offensive player,” coach Dennis Felton said, but in Saturday’s loss to Mississippi State “just about every 3-[pointer] that he missed was a real easy, good look except one.” Thompkins says he has had shooting slumps before, “and I know I’m going to have more. It’s no confidence shaker or [anything] like that. Just something I’ve got to get through.”
— The other Georgia player averaging in double figures — senior Terrance Woodbury [13.4 ppg] — has played all season with pain in both ankles. Felton said Woodbury got an injection in one ankle Monday and will get the same in the other on Thursday.
— As you’d expect amid a six-game losing streak, players are searching for an answer. “As far as what it is, we’re trying to figure it out,” Thompkins said. “We try to approach a different angle every day just to make sure we’re covering every aspect.”
— The players clearly are hoping the faster-paced, more aggressive offense shown in the second half against Mississippi State continues. Thompkins again: “It let us know that when we play together and just play basketball and not slow the game down and run a million sets, it helps us.”
— Yes, tonight’s game at Florida starts a daunting stretch of games: four of the next five on the road, where the Bulldogs have a 9-47 record — a .161 winning percentage — over the past five-plus years. Felton doesn’t want his team thinking in terms of a stretch of games. One at a time, you know. “I quite literally look at it that way,” Felton said. “I can’t tell you how many times during the season I couldn’t tell you who we play next after the upcoming game. It’s the honest truth. This is a really, really tough league; every game is tough regardless of where it is played.”
— Felton: “When you look at the teams that are struggling most in the league right now, they are the youngest teams — like us, Vanderbilt and Arkansas.” The key, he said, is “just staying optimistic and encouraged and enthusiastic about the next opportunity.”
— I asked Dustin Ware, the freshman point guard, the best advice he’s been offered by older teammates. He laughed. “The best advice? To not focus on the media or anything. Just go out and practice. Hate to say that to y’all, but that’s it.”
— You know all about Florida’s winning ways against Georgia in football: 16 wins in the past 19 games. Similar pattern developing in men’s basketball: The Gators have won 10 in a row over the Bulldogs since March 2004 — the past nine by double digits. Expect anything different tonight?
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Comments
By Hoop Master
January 28, 2009 10:33 AM | Link to this
NO.
By buckheadbill
January 28, 2009 10:40 AM | Link to this
Nope.
By ED FROM ELLIJAY
January 28, 2009 11:08 AM | Link to this
I HAVE GIVEN UP ON FELTON. GO GET TUBBY SMITH BACK FROM MINNESOTA. HIRE TUBBY SMITH TO REBUILD THE PROGRAM AND PUT FANS IN THE SEATS AGAIN. I’VE BEEN TO 2 GAMES AND THERE WERE AS MANTY KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE FANS AS UGA!! SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE!!
By PMC
January 28, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this
They needed a Tornado and a bursted water pipe to find the ability to play a good stretch of basketball last year.
They aren’t beating Florida, this is nothing new. They play average basketball year in and year out. Dennis Felton is simply not the man for the job. I’m sure he’s a good basketball coach who could succede in a lot of places… but 5.5 years is ample time to prove that he is simply not able to build a consistant 20 game winner who can compete against anyone at Georgia. They are what they are and that’s and average to poor performing basketball team.
By noddy dred
January 28, 2009 11:31 AM | Link to this
FEBRUARY 1. 134 LUCKY ST. THE LUCKY LOUNGE. DOORS OPEN AT 3:00 PM. CELEBRITIES, WOMEN, FOOTBALL, FUN. HALFTIME: DJ CANNON.
By Kendawg
January 28, 2009 11:37 AM | Link to this
UGA will be lucky if they’re within 10 points of FLA at the end of the game. How many years of sub-mediocrity does it take for Damon Evans to realize that Felton is simply not a big-time coach?
By Rabun Dawg
January 28, 2009 12:17 PM | Link to this
Same old same old, down by double digits early, moderate comeback, then losing by double digits. Whats to change, playing in a hostile arena against a more talented team. Long season ahead, and where will we pick up a conference win? Changes need to be made for sure!!
By PTC DAWG
January 28, 2009 12:42 PM | Link to this
Too bad it’s going to be on TV for many in the South to witness. We must move on with our BBALL program..we’re headed down the crapper under current leadership.
By leon
January 28, 2009 12:44 PM | Link to this
Felton’s style is obvious. During the first years focus all the attention on the past. When that starts to wear thin, redirect everyones attention to the future (young team, great recruits coming). When Damon Evans and UGA fans wake up and focus on the present, 7-8 years have gone by before you discover you have a very bad coach. Felton is a very bad coach but he is pretty smart.
By WhiteMoss
January 28, 2009 12:59 PM | Link to this
Here is the plan, get rid of Felton. Give Tubby anything he wants, let GiGi Smith be an assistant and then take the program over! It is a thought.
By coondawg69
January 28, 2009 1:17 PM | Link to this
Fixing Georgia Men’s basketball program is the easiest thing to fix. Two ways to look at it:
Plan A- increase the budget by 2 million dollars. Felton gets 800K, pay a proven winner, ala a Sean Miller type 1.8 million, increase the recruiting budget by 400-500K and use the rest to hire top tier assistants. A return on your investment will be seen by packed home games (See Tubby and Harrick), increased donations, more TV games, and actual NCAA tournament runs by UGA!!
Plan B- Don’t go the cheap route and hire a mid-major coach on the cheap with the hope of him panning out. Just go ahead and punt on the Men’s basketball program and simply take your cut from Birmingham via the TV and NCAA revenue sharing. Hire recent UGA player and graduate Dave Bliss to a lifetime contract. Pay him 250K a year with a 3% COLA. This move alone will save the program b/n 750K and 1 Million dollars. Granted, they might not win many games, but looking at Felton…. They are not winning any games the way it is now…. (only worthy win this year is against Va. Tech). Who knows, Dave Bliss might be a heck of a coach on the hardwood. If not, you know the program will have quality kids graduating and making a positive impact in society.
It’s an easy fix for Mr. Evans. We’ll just have to wait and see which plan does picks.
By Ricky T. Brown
January 28, 2009 1:22 PM | Link to this
Let’s face it!! Georgia will never hava a decent basketball as long as football remains the cash cow. No effort is put into recruiting good players and many in the state end up going out of state. It’s a problem not only at Georgia but throughout the entire Southeastern conference. Until Georgia decides to find a good coach, attack the high schools for the best players and sell the program just like football, the best that you can hope is mediocrity.
By Ricky T. Brown
January 28, 2009 1:22 PM | Link to this
Let’s face it!! Georgia will never hava a decent basketball as long as football remains the cash cow. No effort is put into recruiting good players and many in the state end up going out of state. It’s a problem not only at Georgia but throughout the entire Southeastern conference. Until Georgia decides to find a good coach, attack the high schools for the best players and sell the program just like football, the best that you can hope is mediocrity.
By Dawg Fud
January 28, 2009 1:26 PM | Link to this
searching for answers? here’s one - Felton will not be the coach at the end of the season which is unfortunated because he is a good man and a good coach.
By DunwoodyDawg
January 28, 2009 1:29 PM | Link to this
2008 - 2009 UGA Mens Basketball Season, fork inserted. FL by a bunch. Damon Evans what are you going to do about it?
By Go Gators
January 28, 2009 1:41 PM | Link to this
10 in a row, can’t say I knew that. Has anybody seen that piece of garbage Ohio State suckeye since they lost there bowl game? seems he dissapeared and he needs to come take his beating like a dog..I mean dawg, oh yeah…TIMEOUT
By chapple belle
January 28, 2009 1:52 PM | Link to this
(1) Florida will win (2) There will be the same head-scratching (3) No one - coach or players - will know why (4) Who cares?
By 82DAWG
January 28, 2009 1:57 PM | Link to this
Answer is quite simple. Get a new head coach.
By 82DAWG
January 28, 2009 2:04 PM | Link to this
Um Ricky T. Brown, last time I checked Florida seemed to be doing pretty good in both basketball and football.
By DAWG FOREVER
January 28, 2009 2:18 PM | Link to this
HIRE MARTINEZ!!!
By 2 old 2
January 28, 2009 2:35 PM | Link to this
It didn’t take long for the surgery/miss spring practice(Samuel)parade to start again, did it?
By Cuz
January 28, 2009 3:09 PM | Link to this
I think we lose to Florida tonight by three touchdowns and a field goal.
By 59-39-5
January 28, 2009 3:10 PM | Link to this
Who cares? Basketball sucks.
By 49-24-HIKE
January 28, 2009 3:33 PM | Link to this
“Basketball sucks.” What an original concept and phraseology. Makes you hope he didn’t go to YOUR school, doesn’t it?
By Big MIKE
January 28, 2009 3:40 PM | Link to this
Can we get to football season? This is the most watered down sports in college, with all the top players going straight to the NBA.If not for Dick Vitale, nobodt would care!
By Dave In Tampa
January 28, 2009 5:22 PM | Link to this
Come on folks. If UGA was winning and they beat Tech in B-Ball everyone would be cheering them on like when they surprised everyone last year in the SEC CG. I bleed Red n Black and will support them no matter what. If you are a true UGA Grad or Fan you will do the same.
It’s a huge co-out when people say, “Who Cares,” “When does football Start,” etc. You are an embarrassment to the rest of us TRUE UGA Grads and fans base. So please do us all a favor and shut up!
By AfroDawg
January 28, 2009 8:01 PM | Link to this
Tonight’s game with Florida hasn’t even started yet, and the Dawgs are down by 13!
By Orlando dawg fan
January 28, 2009 9:11 PM | Link to this
The UGA basketball team is a disgrace. With the city of Alanta only 1 hour away, there has to be tons of talent to recruit. Felton CANNOT coach!! Would we sit by and give the football coach this much time? there’s no reason why the basketball team can’t be top 20 every year. Felton’s 10 times worse than Willie. I love the idea of bringing Tubbie back. Last year’s run was a fluke. Any smart basketball fan knew they were getting every break and playing way above their heads. Evans should be ashamed!!!!!
By Why?
January 28, 2009 9:55 PM | Link to this
Why are we YOUNG this year…all our great players graduate? Just offer one sign that things will be better. ONE!
Already getting the excuses in order for why we will not win in FB again with the surgery, etc. Quit emphasizing the injuries and rehabbing and surgeries! I am sick of it and sick of it as an excuse! Either it is part of the game and we should move on OR if it is happening to us more than anyone else, then we need to figure out what is wrong with our conditioning, stretching, etc. programs.
GO DAWGS!
By Atlanta Gator
January 28, 2009 10:24 PM | Link to this
Cuz——Sadly, you were only off by a safety.
By JaxGator
January 28, 2009 11:09 PM | Link to this
The dawgs are Florida’s biggest drum in Dixie;they get beaten so often and easily by the Gators.You dawg fans can take heart though; your basketball team did not lose to the Gators by as many points as your football team. You can keep your heads held hhigh; when does the women,s gymnastic season start?
By will barron
January 28, 2009 11:41 PM | Link to this
Evans better do something before Tubby goes to Alabama.
By John
January 28, 2009 11:56 PM | Link to this
This is my second response to this blog in 10 years it has be available. I do not do this very often. Did you read that Felton said we are a young team? That is why we stink. All the teams in SEC that are young are bad. Good excuse. Next year it will be a key injury as why we are bad. The year after that will be all of our upper classmen are gone. Thats why we are bad. He has a reason why we will be bad for the next 5 years. Paul hHewitt is doing somthing right. His team is losing but he has recruited all the good GA talent. Felton can not get the players. Why? because no player wants to play for him. Why??? Felton is great at getting the second line of players and making them good in a confernce that is not like the SEC. He can not get top SEC talent to stay at home and come to GA. We need a guy who will get the top players in GA to go UGA. Felton can not do this. We need a change ASAP!!!