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
♦
Last 3 posts (no charge)
– Rod Barnes still waiting for payoff at Georgia State (so are we)
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188 comments Add your comment
Buckeye
February 25th, 2011
11:20 am
Any of you are welcome to hope on the Buckeye Band Wagon. No talk of will we/won’t we.
Sunday, CBS 4PM vs. Indiana. Take a look. You’ll see what a contender/ #1 seed looks like.
Bulldawg
February 25th, 2011
11:25 am
Atlanta…Imagine if we could buy alcohol on Sunday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TOM_UuQzc0
uga is STILL Gator Bait
February 25th, 2011
11:44 am
DawginLex: uga owns Tech because they won the last 2? LMFAO. You might want to do some research, son. Tech leads the series. I will give you an example of owning people. UF 18 UGA 3.
Donovan 22 uga 7. Have a nice day!
Dogs Smell
February 25th, 2011
11:52 am
Buckeye’s are funny fans. Dream almost as often as UGA fans. Except in basketball they are head and shoulders above an Athens program. Georgia why would you even hope for an NCAA berth? Do you really want to see your team lose to an Alcorn state or UTC ?
G8R GRAD
February 25th, 2011
12:08 pm
No shame in losing to the top ranked SEC program.
Coach Fox is building a fine squad.
They just need to settle down and continue to play the game that got them a ten point lead.
And the upperclassmen need to step up and lead the less exprienced through any press that defenses throw their way.
It’ll happen, with time, experience and the confidence they build.
Your biggest game now seems to be Alabama.
Good luck and . . .
GO GATORS!
Gatormeat
February 25th, 2011
12:19 pm
dogs, once again you fold in the face of Florida power. This was just a small sample of what you will get in Oct. Florida beats georgia. Again
DawginLex
February 25th, 2011
12:25 pm
Florida, enjoy it while you can.
Kentucky will go back to wiping the mat with everyone next year.
And enjoy your trip up here Saturday. The beatdown will be fun to watch in person
G8ters eat boogers
February 25th, 2011
12:32 pm
and uga is STILL Gator Bait ,
do some of your own research biggin’: UGA STILL owns the overall record vs. Turds in football!!
Chester
February 25th, 2011
12:35 pm
My how I would be embarrassed to wear a florescent orange and royal blue combination on any clothing item. Can you say “Velveta Cheese”? Not to mention those cute little fuzzy orange gators on my head!
gdawginkalamazoo
February 25th, 2011
12:35 pm
This dawg fan is proud of this team and the job that coach Fox is doing. In year two we are pushing a 20 win season and possible tourney birth. Maybe too much was expected? One thing for certain is that the program is heading in the right direction after how many years? The play in the SEC tourney will probably be the deciding factor on a bid. If we have a good showing there and show that we can last the full 40 then I think we have a shot. Go Dawgs! And please fans get out there and support this team at home.
BigDawg
February 25th, 2011
12:37 pm
Hey Dogs Smell,
Um, please explain to me how an “Alcorn State or UTC” would be seeded high enough to face UGA in the first round. You better hope they don’t disband your Jackettes B-ball team for good.
BigDawg
February 25th, 2011
12:40 pm
I agree, gdawginkalamazoo. A fantastic job has been done in year 2. The haters on here are just obsessed with belittling UGA. Dawgs just need a little more upgrade in talent and that will come.
I HATE FLORIDA
February 25th, 2011
12:41 pm
For the most part, Gator fans are classless and total cheeseballs.
Belcher
February 25th, 2011
1:04 pm
Let’s face it….not a very bright team!!
Gator fan
February 25th, 2011
1:12 pm
As a Gator fan it is definitely enjoyable to beat the Dawgs in anything. That said, I think UGA is a pretty damn good team. They have one of the most physical front courts in all of CBB. They could definitely make some noise come tourney time. If they win 2 of 3 and win at least 1 in the SEC tourney then they are in for sure. The bubble really isn’t that strong this year.
I can’t believe a UGA fan would want Leslie and Thompkins gone though (from posts above). I would imagine that if they return then UGA would have a shot at the SEC next year and deep tourney run (2nd weekend at least).
I wouldn’t trade coaches by any means but I think you guys have a good up and coming one.
UGASlobberknocker
February 25th, 2011
1:17 pm
The Dawgs are on the NCAA bubble. Tech may as well be coached by Mr. Bubble
Mr. Bubble
February 25th, 2011
1:18 pm
Not in a million years would I take that job. I have to draw the line somewhere.
Last Word
February 25th, 2011
2:49 pm
Hey, Chester & IHF:
My those grapes sound sour!
Last Word
February 25th, 2011
2:51 pm
Oh, and G8ters eat boogers:
Ditto (and learn how to spell, please)
The Gator Nation
February 25th, 2011
3:07 pm
So many positive comments, it is amazing. Get at least 2 wins out of your next 3 and uga is in the dance(it helps that the tourney added 3 teams from 65 to 68). Don’t worry about barely leading the overall series in football(national titles make me happy) or uk fans that could enjoy a 1st round Thursday game in the ga dome(btw I thought uk was a lock to win it all last season).
The SEC should get 6 teams in the tourney, uga can be a tough match-up for anyone they face.
Good luck and go SEC!
HM
February 25th, 2011
3:39 pm
2 weeks ago..”I can step up my game a lot”…Well we are still waiting. Our two “star” players are weak. Look at UF’s Parson’s. That’s how you step up your game.
Skeezix
February 25th, 2011
4:15 pm
To me they have some really good talent with which they should have a better record.
I think these dogs have to win 2/3 and then win at least one in the SEC tournament to get in. If they go 1/3, they may be out. However, if that does happen, they could redeem themselves with a very strong showing in the SEC tourney.
frelemur
February 25th, 2011
4:18 pm
Those of you bashing Thompkins and Leslie are really stupid. They are the only players you have on the team and they would both start for pretty much any team in the SEC. Fox is a good coach and looks like a pretty good recruiter. Your problem is you have average to terrible guard play and no bench. Also, this is a team with no history of winning, no real idea on how to win close games, and thats why they struggle to win these close games against the better teams in the conference or a team like Xavier. I have no idea what you’re complaining about at this point, Fox is the best coach you’ve had in years and he is just a few wins away from taking them to the tournament. It seems the expectations for your basketball team are as unrealistic as those for your football team.
George Roberts
February 25th, 2011
5:17 pm
Trey has been a disappointment this year and Travis has been up and done. Both should play their senior years. Gerald Robinson Jr, came in with high expectations and looked good against non conference foes, but has looked out of control in conference play. Too often he gets in the air with no place to go and either is called for a charge or passes to an unexpecting teammate. Although he can make the outside shot, he is not consistent. He would be better served shooting of the dribble in the lane. His speed in the open court is neutralized by team defense in the lane. We’ve taken a big step forward, but we make too many mistakes at crucial times, and we do not seem to have a take charge guy. Although our strategy is to get the ball inside, at times we are not willing to take an outside if the inside is not open.
Beast from the East
February 25th, 2011
6:36 pm
Why is it so hard to accept a loss to a top 15 team on the road that re-grouped and played a great second half? Did you really think that Donovan would not make the necessary halftime adjustments to get his team going? IMO, he’s one of the top 5 active coaches in the country. Fox has UGA headed in the right direction. Just needs to get some of these close games to convert to W’s so his kids can get gain confidence. It’s all a process that takes some time. Be proud of your team and show them some support and they might just surprise you!
Coffee Bluff DAWG
February 25th, 2011
7:00 pm
Will be at the game tomorrow night to support the DAWGS. Last night was a tough loss but UF is very good this year and a little deeper than UGA, which seemed to be the difference in the 2nd half as it has been in a few other games.
Give Fox some more time. Great programs don’t just happen overnight. Donovan was at UF for a while before he had big time success.
harold
February 25th, 2011
8:20 pm
LOOK: FACE IT: NOTHING HAS CHANGED! GEORGIA JUST PLAIN SUCKS IN FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL! BUT LIKE FOOTBALL AND OTHER DELUSIONAL FANS WE CAN DREAM WE WILL DO IT NEXT YEAR——-
KB
February 25th, 2011
11:58 pm
Fox is a heck of a coach. His team is twice as good as they were last year. No one has beat them soundly. UGA could play with anyone, but they have got to play a full 40 mins. Fox will turn this program into a respectable and great program. Give him time
trey
February 26th, 2011
7:57 am
What seed are the yellow maggots projected to go in as?
King Gator
February 26th, 2011
8:03 am
Dribbling Dawgs should be a shoe in for the Liberty Bowl! Go Gators!
michael
February 26th, 2011
9:24 am
Thompkins and Leslie both need to stay put at Georgia for their senior year. Nothing they have done this year warrants them leaving early. If they decide to leave, their draft stock will suffer.
Hoops Dawg
February 26th, 2011
12:46 pm
Gator Fan @ 1:12 hit the nail on the head about the state/quality of the UGA BB team. Yes, I have been frustrated about our repeated failure to hang on to leads. But I also know well that it takes some time to learn to win and that one belongs in the winner’s circle–and we ain’t there yet. I get a kick out of all the negative comments about the dawgs being underachievers. If y’all could go back to the early season blogs, you’d find that most knowledgeable BB fans would have expected us to win 18-20 games. Most hoped for an NIT bid and many said that with a lot of good fortune, we might sneak an NCAA bid. That’s exactly where we are at. I’d be shocked if it happened, but if Thomkins and Leslie stay, if we could get solid up front play from D. Williams and one of the two incoming bigs, and with the addition of Caldwell-Pope and 15-20 minutes per game from an improving Marcus Thornton, next years team would have a shot at the SEC (despite Kentuckys incoming class) and at winning 25-26 games. Heck, if we could hold half the leads we’ve lost in losses, we’d be a top 15 team and a 4-seed in the tournament this year. Its not that bad folks!
GaCracker
February 26th, 2011
4:40 pm
Either the dogs need to use more of their bench or get in better shape. They just start to wilt in the final 10 minutes on both offense and rebounding. Start getting to the foul line more often and getting players in foul troulbe as they did with Tennessee.
College Basketball Betting: Florida Gators vs. Kentucky Wildcats Pick – Fast Line Sports | Bet 31
February 26th, 2011
4:53 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Jborodawg
February 26th, 2011
6:31 pm
Gator fan@1:12 pm….that’s a class post, and spot on regarding Leslie, Thompkins and Fox.
frelemur@4:18pm; Beast from the East @6:36 pm; and Hoops Dawg@12:46pm…ditto and right on.
I also think Thompkins will forgo his senior year. But I do wish he’d stay.
Wes Durham's Extra Large Waist Size
February 26th, 2011
11:50 pm
Schultz,
Why do you love to throw UGA under the bus when we lose but NEVER write about us when we win? Second, I have not seen you write about Tech’s woes in over a month. If UGA lost in basketball like Tech, you would have Fox all but fired by now. I am sure you will claim these is no bias bit the facts clearly demonstrate otherwise.
I will await your response.
King Gator
February 28th, 2011
2:31 pm
^Schultzie is a secret Gator fan and hates the Dawgs…. lighten up Francis, I’m sure he could care less. ^
Michael
March 3rd, 2011
1:17 pm
March Madness (TM) has segmented college B Ball so much that I never watch regular season games. I am shocked UGA has 20 wins since I never see a game. I hear results on the radio but this morning heard 20 wins?!