Kenny Gaines didn’t play Saturday. But he essentially guaranteed that he will play in Georgia’s next game, which is expected to be somewhere in the NCAA tournament.
Asked after the Bulldogs’ loss in the SEC Tournament semfinal to Arkansas if he’d have to sit out the next game, he responded with an emphatic, “no, no, no.”
“That first game, whenever and wherever it’s going to be, I’m there,” Gaines said. “Whatever it takes, it doesn’t matter if I have a foot left, I’m in there. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s something not everyone can say they’ve been a part of. So regardless of how I feel, I’m playing.”
Gaines has dealt with a sprained left foot since he injured it March 5 in a practice before the regular-season finale against Auburn on March 7. He was able to go in the Bulldogs’ first game at Bridgestone Arena, getting nine points, two rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes of the 74-62 win over South Carolina on Friday night.
But it was immediately apparent when Gaines woke up Saturday morning that he would be unable to go.
“Really, it’s probably a blessing in disguise,” coach Mark Fox said. “It will allow him to heal much more by next week certainly. … If this would’ve been the NCAA Tournament, Kenny would have played.”
Said Gaines: “I was going to try to give it a shot, but Coach just told me not to risk it and try to get healthy. I’ve just got to rest and do some more rehab. I just need time.”
The same goes for junior small forward Juwan Parker. He tried to play despite the Achilles injury that has forced him out of 14 games this season but lasted only six minutes. He said his would likely be another game-time decision next week.
Echols comes through: The 16 minutes logged Saturday by Taylor Echols were the second-most of the season for him. And he took advantage by making three of his four 3-point attempts and finishing with a career-high 10 points.
“I felt pretty comfortable on the court,” said Echols, a senior walk-on. “Obviously we have some bumps and bruises we’re getting over now. Coach Fox called my number, and I tried to give him some good minutes.”
Nobody in Georgia’s locker room was surprised. Echols has played in 24 of the Bulldogs’ 32 games this season and has always been one of the team’s top shooters.
“He was able to knock down a few in rhythm today, and they were some big ones,” forward Marcus Thornton said. “It’s great for him. He’s a senior, and I’m glad to see him have some success.”
Shutting down Portis: The Bulldogs did a number on Arkansas' Bobby Portis on Saturday. The SEC's player of the year was scoreless in the first half and finished with four points on 1-of-14 shooting. He had scored in double figures in 31 of 32 games before that.
“We were just able to force him into some tougher looks,” Thornton said. “And I think today was a day where he just didn’t make some.”
Said Arkansas coach Mike Anderson: “He’s human. The guy’s been so consistent, he’s been like a machine. But look at all the other things he did.”
Portis finished with 12 rebounds.
Etc.: Cameron Forte has been counted on increasingly as the season has progressed. He played 25 minutes and tied Thornton with a team-best 13 points on Saturday. The 6-foot-7 forward has averaged 21 minutes over the past three games. … The Bulldogs are now 4-7 in the SEC's semifinals.
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