Georgia loses to Florida — and the NCAA tease continues
Georgia coach Mark Fox calls timeout but can't stop another second-half slide. (AP photo)
(UPDATED AT 10 p.m.)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Looking for the one victory that could lead fans to exclaim “We’re in!” and the NCAA tournament committee to place Georgia’s resume on the stack of 68, the Bulldogs instead prolonged the debate and the agony.
The Bulldogs were good enough at times Thursday night to lead 13th-ranked Florida on the road by 11 points. They also were inconsistent and panicky enough to melt down in the second half, go cold, let up on defense and lose.
Does the NCAA give style points for teases?
The Dogs lost to Florida 71-62 at the O’Connell Center. They are now 1-5 this season against ranked teams – the only win coming over Kentucky in January.
There is no shame in losing in Gainesville. But the lead-and-wilt act can wear on even the most optimistic fans. Also, the head coach.
“We’re not the most mature group when it comes to handling success,” Georgia coach Mark Fox said. “I think our leadership in [that area] has got to improve.”
Georgia is 18-9. This is how close they could be to 20 wins. They have led at halftime in the past six games but are only 3-3 (the losses coming to Xavier, Vanderbilt and Florida). Fox said the common thread is Georgia lost the rebounding battle in the second half. Guard Travis Leslie pointed to a slip in attitude, not a statistic.
“We’ve just got to keep grinding and keep fighting,” he said. “If we’re going to be in that situation, we can’t get comfortable and let teams back in it. If things [stop] going our way, we can’t start getting overly concerned have things start falling apart.”
The Dogs committed 13 turnovers to Florida’s five and were outscored in points off turnovers 23-5. There’s the game.
They played a solid first half, leading by as many as 11 points (31-20) and by seven (33-26) at the intermission. But Florida came out strong in the second half. Forward Chandler Parsons, who missed the last game with a bruised thigh, came off the bench and gave Florida a lift, scoring seven of the team’s first nine points and tied the game at 35-all on a 3-point shot.
The fast pace turned to Florida’s advantage. The Dogs had trouble handling the Gators’ press, turnovers led to fast breaks, and the Gators took a 52-46 lead with eight minutes remaining. After making only two 3-point shots in the first half, Florida made three consecutive in one stretch of the second half to take their biggest lead, 63-53, with five minutes left.
That pretty much was it. Georgia didn’t get closer than four points the rest of the way. The Dogs made only one field goal (1-for-8) in the final four minutes.
They were coming off an impressive victory at Tennessee, but a win in Gainesville would easily have been the best on their resume. Instead, they’ve now lost 14 of the past 16 meetings to Florida. That’s one-sided enough that maybe the basketball series should be moved to Jacksonville.
At 18-9, a tournament berth certainly is within reach. They should win the next two regular-season games against South Carolina (Saturday) and LSU (next week), before finishing with Alabama before the SEC tournament.
A win Thursday night could have removed all doubt. A projected NCAA bracket by ESPN this week had Georgia as a precarious No. 10 seed in the East Regional. Their record creates just enough discomfort to spell the “bubb” in “bubble” team.
They’ve prolonged the debate for at least another week.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
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– Rod Barnes still waiting for payoff at Georgia State (so are we)
– Braves’ Heyward, Freeman make Sports Illustrated cover (uh, danger?)
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188 comments Add your comment
Tuna
February 24th, 2011
11:39 pm
Try the turkey and swiss on “inbread.” That’s a tasty sandwich!
-Tuna
Jeff Schultz
February 24th, 2011
11:40 pm
BK … hold the onions — Thanks, appreciate it.
Tuna
February 24th, 2011
11:42 pm
Jeff,
What do you think this team lacks, other than defense and bad turnovers? I’m thinking perimeter shooters?
Tuna
February 24th, 2011
11:43 pm
Check that: I guess they are really not “lacking” bad turnovers. Those are a plenty!
Ryno in Athens
February 24th, 2011
11:47 pm
I figured you’d like the Tuna on that Inbread.
Globetrotter
February 24th, 2011
11:50 pm
With about 4 games left with the tourny still to come, the UGA game against Alabama will play a bigger role than most UGA fans want to admit. As for Lindz, who lumped a division leading Alabama team with USC and LSU, you my friend have zero credibility. The division winner on each side makes the tourney historically. If UGA loses 1 or more remaining regular season games then UGA will need to play in the conference finals to be a lock team.
Tech Tony
February 25th, 2011
12:02 am
It’s hard to be objective about UGA but I’ll give it a go.
Using the subjective “eye test”, I think Georgia should make the field of 68. I watch an awful lot of college basketball and I don’t see 37 better at-large selections out there (assuming of course UGA doesn’t win the SEC Tournament).
However, if the selection committee acts as promised and uses more of a blind resume to determine who’s in and out, the Bulldogs might have to sweat it out. On the plus side, the team has no bad losses against it and will more than likely post a winning record inside the league but on the down side, they are, as you stated, 1-5 against ranked teams (and I think something like 2-9 against the top 50). The selection committee also places a good deal of emphasis on strength of schedule ouside of conference and there Georgia is found wanting as its biggest OOC win is UAB.
I think someone’s earlier post pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the players individually is spot on. I see a very talented player in Thompkins but not a very savvy one; he thinks too much and as a result makes too many bad decisions. Leslie will have a career in the NBA due to his outstanding athleticism but it’ll be as an 11th or 12th man because there’s not a whole lot of minutes available in the NBA for a guard who can’t shoot. Ware is the unsung hero. As he goes, so goes Georgia.
UGA fans don’t give a rat’s patootie about my assessment of their team and that’s fine but I can’t beieve some people are down on Mark Fox. The team, even with a few second half collapses, is still better than the sum of its parts.
TiredDawg
February 25th, 2011
12:06 am
I swear to all that is good, I have never had more weird feelings about a UGA team in any sport than this one. I honestly feel like we are going to definitely lose a game the larger our lead gets.
If UGA has a 10+ point lead with 2:00 minutes left I will always put my money on the opponent. This is beyond ridiculous.
Douglas
February 25th, 2011
12:08 am
If I am the AD at UGA, I send Fox to a coaching clinic on teaching his players how to play defense and how to finish a game because he does not have a clue.
TiredDawg
February 25th, 2011
12:11 am
Hey Coach Fox, it’s called “CLOSING OUT A GAME!!”
Dino
February 25th, 2011
12:18 am
“Douglas If I am the AD at UGA, I send Fox to a coaching clinic on teaching his players how to play defense and how to finish a game because he does not have a clue.”
Thank you for showing the world that Dawg fans, at least the ones who post crap on-line, are some of the dumbest on earth!
BigDawg1980
February 25th, 2011
12:18 am
3 areas that cost us this game tonight. 1. Permeter defense was horrible in the 2nd half as Florida lit us up from 3-pt land. 2. Rebounding…..Com on man, it is simple. We are not blocking out under the boards and on offense when we shoot no one is crashing the boards for an offensive rebound. 3. Heart…We played the 2nd half with no heart. What I mean by that is we acted like we didn’t want the game. We did not play with much effort in the 2nd half. I am tired of watching this team only play parts of a game. Play the entire game with the same intensity. I also question the fact that we had Brantley playing late in the game and Robinson on the bench? So I guess there were 4 reasons. The fourth being coaching……..We need a leader on the floor. I was at the game tonight and we looked like 2 different teams in 1st and 2nd halves. I love these Dawgs but we have to get it together and play a complete game if we are gonna make any noise in the NCAA.
Jet
February 25th, 2011
12:20 am
How many games is this now that this team has gift wrapped for the opponents? 6?
Coach Fox
February 25th, 2011
12:21 am
Winning is overrated. It’s how hard you play the other 35 minutes of the game that really counts.
Whopper Dawg
February 25th, 2011
12:52 am
THey darn near blew it against TN too, for about three possessions in the last minute and a half, TN just ran the court to the basket uncontested and scored. Fox really has to work on how to close one out. They can’t do it against a quality opponent, even if they dance, it is one and done despite the talent there.
GTBob
February 25th, 2011
1:06 am
UGA will make the tournament. It’s hard to imagine them getting too far though. They are just not mentally, and physically strong enough in close games against good teams. Well, that is pretty much all they will play in the NCAA tournament. A first round loss is likely. At most they make the second round. Then next year they will have to rebuild most of the team.
sarfdawg
February 25th, 2011
3:16 am
Schultzie: “…Instead, they’ve now lost 14 of the past 16 meetings to Florida. That’s one-sided enough that maybe the basketball series should be moved to Jacksonville.” I suppose you think that’s not a cheap shot?
As I said before, any chance you have to stick it to Georgia, particularly Georgia football, you will. You have something against Georgia, and it’s brutally obvious, and I’ve often wondered why you are assigned to Georgia athletics.
As far as phony screen names go, in case you didn’t notice, just about everyone on here uses a nickname of some kind. You’re crazy if you DON’T do that. If you would like to discuss this privately, I’ll be glad to send you my name, number, and address. Post your phone number, and I’ll give you a call.
Buzz 2010
February 25th, 2011
4:26 am
Get over it with Schultz there sarfdawgs.. He is the same way with GT..He has no dog in the
hunt and does a good job. Things are what they are sarfdawg.. It’s a Dawg gone shame…
Jonathan
February 25th, 2011
4:38 am
We’ve seen this all season. I highly doubt we lost to USC @ home or to LSU. Bama will be the deciding game that gets us in. I don’t think we deserve to be in if we only win 2 of the next 3. Personally though I think Bama is overrated and I’ll bet we win the next 4 or 5 games in a row(pending who we play in the SEC Tourney)
just win
February 25th, 2011
5:37 am
worm you are right fox lets them play in the first half … then his coaching gets in the way in the second half I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR A WHILE ……. LET THEM PLAY…….. AND STOP ALL THEM TIMEOUTS … DON’T MICRO MANAGE
just win
February 25th, 2011
5:39 am
AND WHEN THE TEAMS ARE PRESSING TAKE OUT BRANTLEY THE BALL IS A HOT POTATO IN HIS HAND …… JUST HAVE HIM SHOOT …
» SEC: Florida clinches; Rain shortens basketball game John Clay’s Sidelines
February 25th, 2011
6:33 am
[...] The NCAA tease continues with the Bulldogs, says Jeff Schultz of the AJC. [...]
bjohndawg
February 25th, 2011
6:42 am
Fox has brought significant improve to this Georgia program in the last two years. 18-9 in second year. Give the man time. He has my vote of confidence.Adn if one really is a Dawg fan, they should be given their confidence as well. Beat SC and LSU and at BAMA, focus on that. 3 would be great. Two gets it done.
GaCracker
February 25th, 2011
6:51 am
Trey Thompkins is really erratic now. He not only is not scoring as well, but is not blocking shots or rebounding as well either. Many times he just forces shots, and always tries 1 or 2 three pointers.
He must learn to find the open man quickly when the low post double team comes.
The dogs are losing the turnover battle also. They need to drive and penetrate more than they do. Get more fouls called on the big guys down low. And they often fritter away the shot clock and either have a violation or a very bad shot.
‘Nuff said!
JustAThought
February 25th, 2011
6:56 am
Thompkins seems to play lazy and he looks lazy. The kid has the bones of a very athletic guy, but by just looking at him, the way he plays you would never know it. He should be more dominate player at this level but he’s not, which translate to NBA bust. If he has another year of elgibility he should stay, at least to get STRONGER (if thats possible at UGA).
JM
February 25th, 2011
7:00 am
Don’t count on them beating South Carolina on Saturday.
Beast from the East
February 25th, 2011
7:09 am
“Instead, they’ve now lost 14 of the past 16 meetings to Florida. That’s one-sided enough that maybe the basketball series should be moved to Jacksonville.”
I don’t care who you are, that’s funny stuff.
Palm City Dawg
February 25th, 2011
7:11 am
You folks need to RELAX. Look where we were 2 years ago. Fox had repeatedly said he realizes we need to fill a few voids. Look, if we make the tournament it will be a great year…a work in progress.
JB
February 25th, 2011
7:16 am
Have we just come to expect that we just not compete with Florida except for Non profit sports like Golf, Gym etc.? Did anyone read the quote from Adams yesterday at the Athletic Assoc. meeting. He basically said there was a lot of cheating going on in the SEC and that he hates losing, but would rather be compliant than Cheat. I agree by the way. He said it in political speak, but that’s what he said.
Sloan
February 25th, 2011
7:35 am
UGA basketball is in great hands with Coach Fox. For the first time since the Jim Harrick debacle, I am taking my family of four to Athens this weekend to watch them play South Carolina. It is a 4.5 hour drive for us and two nights in a hotel room. I really love the game of basketball, and I have longed for Georgia (my Alma mater) to have a good program that would be worthy of us spending an occasional weekend in the the Classic city to watch in person. Unfortunately, after every coach Durham, Smith or (on the court record only) Harrick we have never sustained momentum (see Jirsa, Felton). It is my sincere hope that Coach Fox is here to stay and that our AD, Mr. McGarity, will see to that.
That we have won 18 games to this point in the season and are in the discussion for an NCAA tourney birth in Coach Fox’s second season is monumental progress. I believe that if we win our remaining home games we are in. Even more so if we can beat Alabama on the road.
All of the criticism on this blog and in previous ones as the season has played out is a result of expectations that, in hindsight, have proven to be founded in a lot of “pie in the sky” optimism and not a lot of real sound evaluation of what this team is made of from a basketball talent perspective. Many SEC coaches picked UGA as the dark horse to win the east and the conference as did many sports journalists whom cover SEC basketball and with Thompkins and Leslie returning we UGA fans bought in. But now that the season is in the home stretch, I think the following things ring true about this UGA team:
1) Gerald Robinson was touted as the guy that would be a the difference maker in the front court for the Dogs – reality says that he has potential but has played small more often that not in SEC play and has not shown that he makes good decisions with the basketball in his hands at crunch time. And his defense is barely passable against some of the leagues better guards.
2) Trey Thompkins has not played up to expectations. The pre-season SEC player of the year was slowed by a high ankle sprain during the pre-SEC portion of the schedule. His statistics for the year are underwhelming given what was expected of him. Watching him play I believe there is a combination of things that explain this. He is at his best around the basket, yet he oftens plays soft with the ball in his hands putting up a finesse jumper or lay-up instead of aggressively attacking the basket for a more high percentage shot and trying to draw a foul. Other times he is stuck outside the paint in the offense when a shot goes up. And often he is open under the basket, but his teammates don’t recognize the opportunity and get him the ball. He is an NBA body with NBA potential, but I am not convinced he has an NBA motor.
3) Travis Leslie can jump out of the gym. Tremendous athlete. But he too has failed to show a willingness at times this year to take control of a game at crunch time and has shied away from taking the fifteen foot jumper when he’s open on a crucial possession. The hope was that he would develop his overall basketball skills during the offseason and progress from an athlete to a basketball player with freakish athletic ability. Based on the evidence, it hasn’t happened yet. NBA? I hope someone who he will listen to will tell him the truth, NOT READY.
4) Jeremy Price is much improved, particularly on offense. But he is just not quick enough to guard some of the better big men he’s been matched up against in the low post.
5) Dustin Ware is an efficient player who can be a nice compliment to a team with a great drive and penetrate type of guard. He can shoot the three but lacks the athleticism to consistently get open on his own against the more talented opposition.
6) The bench is not real deep and provides only brief infusions of effectiveness from the likes of Chris Barnes, Sherrod Brantley, Marcus Thornton and others. What has happened to Connor Nolte who played a lot when Thompkins was hurt early in the season but has scarcely seen the floor during SEC play?
7) Last year no one expected anything from this program and we got a lot more than that. This year UGA was on everyone’s radar because we had earned their respect from the previous year. The result has been that we haven’t been able to surprise anyone. Every team we have played has been ready to play against us. That has made things much tougher for Fox and his players in his second season.
UGASlobberknocker
February 25th, 2011
7:36 am
This team just cannot finish. I do believe that the Dawgs will get in the tourney if they finish 9-7..but even at 9-7, if they lose to Bama, they prob will have to win the first came of the tourney to get in for sure. I would rather be a 10 seed than 9..to miss the 1 seed in the second round.
We have the talent to make a run..but I just don’t see the leadership on the team to make that happen.
Buckeye
February 25th, 2011
7:36 am
1st Half – Yes We Can!
2nd Half – Knew We Couldn’t….
Interesting too see several comments regarding Howard (before I was Trey) Thompkins that mirror what I have already posted. Hope you make the Dance, Kid, and please come back for another year. You need the work.
Perhaps its burnout and the overall desire just isn’t there anymore.
in blogging..short is good
February 25th, 2011
7:40 am
Nobody wants to read a five paragraph epistle from an anonymous somebody who may or may not know his butt from a hole in the ground..just keep it short and on point people. Nobody is looking for deep deep analysis here..we can go to the experts for that.
UGASlobberknocker
February 25th, 2011
7:45 am
If there is a silver lining in the disappointing season this year, it is that IMO, neither Tompkins or Leslie have proven to me that they are top picks; certainly not lottery picks. They both could use another year..so maybe they’ll come back..if so, lookout next yr with the new guard coming in..plus Dante Williams is gonna be real good.
Brian
February 25th, 2011
7:50 am
Apparently the basketball ball team and the football team have the same strength and conditioning routine. Neither can close out a game. Going to be a quick SEC and NCAA (if we get in) if they can’t find a way to play for 40 minutes.
wow
February 25th, 2011
7:51 am
You guys were talking nonstop during the offseason about how great of a game time coach Mark Fox is and how you guys were going to challenge for championships. Its funny to see how quickly UGA fans can turn on one of their coaches. You guys went from pitiful to respectable in two years….give the guy a little credit. UGA will be one and done in the NCAA tourney but at least they will make it. UGA fans should enjoy this time while GT is down, because things will go back to normal soon enough when the new coach is hired on North Ave.
Buckeye
February 25th, 2011
7:56 am
Sloan,
You it the nail on the head with Howard ( before I was Trey): Motor.
Buckeye
February 25th, 2011
7:57 am
and perhaps……”motor”vation
The Greatest Game Ever Played
February 25th, 2011
7:57 am
45-42. November 2008. Magical.
Sarcasm
February 25th, 2011
8:01 am
If Travis Leslie and Trey Thompkins don’t want to play defense, please let them go to the league where they won’t have to.
GT Dude
February 25th, 2011
8:15 am
Dawg fans, its not as bad as you guys are making it out to be…
You don’t have Hewitt for your coach
Buckeye
February 25th, 2011
8:21 am
Does anyone know the deadline to declare for the NBA draft? I wonder if the impending lockout ( July 1? ) will have any bearing on Howard’s ( before I was Trey) decision. And, Jared Sullinger’s for that matter.
GT Dude,
Admire you sense of humor!
confused
February 25th, 2011
8:22 am
I like Coach Fox, I really do. But I have never felt less confident with any other team than I do this one with a big lead. I had the same feeling last night when they had an 11 point lead multiple times and yet the same result happened as usual. They blew it.
Busted
February 25th, 2011
8:27 am
Even if they go 2-1 over their next 3 games, they are not in. 9-7 in the sec is dreadful. They have two more wins than south carolina. Considering how badly they’ve played at home recently. I wouldn’t be surprised if they lost to them. Better win a couple of sec tourney games to help, although that won’t be saying much because the bottom 8 teams are crap, ga included.
papadawg
February 25th, 2011
8:30 am
You have to question the play in the second half and wonder if it’s the Coaching, youth, lack of talent/depth or poor conditioning.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
February 25th, 2011
8:41 am
After the last few years i am glad to be in the bubble discussion. I am a little concerned with second half conditioning its one of the things that destroyed the football team.
Basketball Fan
February 25th, 2011
8:43 am
I’m tired of the “These are still Felton’s players” excuse. You sound like Obama still blaming everything on Bush. Fox has coached this team in approximately 60 games and probably 150-200 practices. I’d say this is defintely Fox’s team now, and it’s not a very good one.
DawginLex
February 25th, 2011
8:47 am
Buckeye,
Thompkins and Leslie need to come back next year. Period. With the guys returning, could be a top 15 team nationally. 5 star recruit coming in.
This year’s team is really a strange bunch. I still don’t think they know how to win at the end of games and that goes back to lack of success, it’s UGA etc. Fox has changed that somewhat but not completely.
They have to get to 9 wins in the SEC. Losing at Bama won’t kill them.
20-10 and 9-7 in the SEC. Pretty darn good considering where this program has been. I think that gets them in.
LKB
February 25th, 2011
8:47 am
I love how all the haters just say the team is “not good”. That is total BS. UGA has the chance to win every game but they can not finish like the good teams. They blow big lead after big lead. That is youth- simply put. Fox is a great coach (except when he needs to call a time out). He will continue to get better players and UGA will win the SEC. They will NEVER win it all so everyone stop comparing them to the elite B-ball programs. Be happy with just making the tournament which they will as long as they win 2 more games.
Dogs Smell
February 25th, 2011
8:47 am
Whats new? NCAA ? Why would you want to be another 1 and out team? Go to the NIT where you can be 2 and out !