LIVE: Georgia looks to strengthen NCAA bid against Florida
Ladies and gentleman of the Bulldog Nation: Here's the critter you've learned to hate.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Hello. This is the week I was scheduled to check in on the Braves at spring training in Orlando, and it just worked out that there was a pretty good college basketball game tonight on the way.
Georgia, which I think will have a strong enough resume to get into the NCAA tournament, nonetheless has a chance to remove some of the doubt tonight when it faces 13th ranked Florida at the O’Connell Center (7 p.m., ESPN2).
This will be a significant test for the Bulldogs, who are coming off a huge 69-63 road victory at Tennessee (whose athletic department before long I believe will officially become an extension of San Quentin. The Volunteers’ football, basketball and baseball programs all have been under NCAA investigation.)
The Dogs (18-8) have shown that they can play with Florida (21-5), having lost to them in double overtime at Stegeman Coliseum last month, when a desperation 30-footer by the Gators’ Erving Walker at the end of the first overtime tied it. But Florida has won five straight and eight of its last nine since a surprising home loss to South Carolin.
Georgia catches a break in that forward Chandler Parsons, the Gators’ leading rebounder, is expected to miss his second straight start with a thigh bruise, although he could see some playing time.
OK, here’s the latest on the Dogs’ tournament chances. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, in his latest “Bracketology,” lists Georgia among the “most talked about bubble teams” at No. 41 overall. Here’s what he wrote:
Playing in the tougher SEC East, the Bulldogs can survive a loss at Alabama if they can pull the upset at Florida on Thursday night. Georgia has been a .500 team since mid-January and is far from secure without at least one more quality win on its resume.
In Lunardi’s most recent projected bracket from Monday, he has Georgia as a No. 10 seed in the East Regional with a first-round match-up against Washington.
That’s it for now. I’ll be live blogging as much as possible during the game while trying to work on the post-game column. Have any thoughts on tonight’s game?
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361 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
February 24th, 2011
7:20 pm
Brantley smokin’ and Dogs have biggest lead 21-12.
Jeff Schultz
February 24th, 2011
7:21 pm
Before that turnover, I was about to say Georgia played tough and error-free hoops. But they’re close.
5150 UOAD
February 24th, 2011
7:21 pm
Could it be that this is the only sports on TV until Big Bang Theory, American Idol, or the Heat @ Bulls start?
D A DoubleU G
February 24th, 2011
7:21 pm
I only have 1 early class on Thursdays 5150. And I’m a little under the weather so I didn’t get out to enjoy our beautiful campus today.
Beast from the East
February 24th, 2011
7:21 pm
Macklin has been very inconsistent. One game he looks like Ewing, the next he disappers.
5150 UOAD
February 24th, 2011
7:22 pm
This is way faster than I thought they would play.
D A DoubleU G
February 24th, 2011
7:23 pm
Typical UGA start.
I am not comfortable with a 25 point lead unless there are less than 3 mins left.
Jeff Schultz
February 24th, 2011
7:23 pm
Shooting: Georgia 10/16, Florida 4/14.
5150 UOAD
February 24th, 2011
7:24 pm
DA Double
1 class
Man you are going to hate to have to be in the WORKFORCE. AHHAHAHAH if you get a job. That ain’t a given these days. You can HOPE and OBAMA will leave you some change in your pocket. i hope you are on HOPE.
D A DoubleU G
February 24th, 2011
7:24 pm
Leslie is a beast.
He will go pro deservedly after this year. he will not be a superstar in the NBA, but he may win a few 6th man awards.
Jeff Schultz
February 24th, 2011
7:24 pm
Nice hands by Thompkins
todd grantham
February 24th, 2011
7:25 pm
Jeff, thanks for doing the live blog
Beast from the East
February 24th, 2011
7:25 pm
I think there’s a lid on the bucket at our end.
5150 UOAD
February 24th, 2011
7:25 pm
Jeff
does this PACE favor UGA?
D A DoubleU G
February 24th, 2011
7:26 pm
My god 5150.
Yes, I have 1 class on Thursdays. Don’t try and act like when you were in college back during WWII that you took 36 hours a week.
I take 18 hours and Thursday happens to be my breather day.
But you got me!! I am a typical UGA slacker!!!
todd grantham
February 24th, 2011
7:28 pm
i had gained the impression that everybody at the ajc but you had completely lost interest in Georgia basketball
Terry Funk
February 24th, 2011
7:29 pm
The dawgs can play with anybody….but can’t “beat” everybody…we are so due for a stinker..but we look good 2nite…JS is in Gainesville..NUTS!!!!
D A DoubleU G
February 24th, 2011
7:29 pm
There’s that white kid who killed us.
Rod
February 24th, 2011
7:29 pm
Lets go dawgs!
Jeff Schultz
February 24th, 2011
7:29 pm
Among those in attendance — Dwayne Schintzius, who’s attending his first Florida home game since quitting the team in 1990.
D A DoubleU G
February 24th, 2011
7:30 pm
I really feel UGA could be a sleeper team to upset a team or two in the Dance. The SEC is better than people think this year on the hardwood.
todd grantham
February 24th, 2011
7:30 pm
Georgia has to play a slower game than Florida. running and trading baskets with them would spell disaster.
Jeff Schultz
February 24th, 2011
7:31 pm
Parsons be-looowwws the layup.
Just Asking
February 24th, 2011
7:31 pm
Just Asking
February 24th, 2011
7:27 pm
Just wanted to let the UGA folks that the issues around Auburn, Bobby Lowder, and Colonial Bank just got really dark. Desiree Brown the CEO of a major mortgage company and the primary associated lender of Colonial Bank just plead guilty and will cooperate with the Feds to reduce her sentence.
The whole thing is coming down around Bobby Lowder and his Auburn Empire.
todd grantham
February 24th, 2011
7:31 pm
i thought Schintzius was a member of the A Team
J Clay
February 24th, 2011
7:31 pm
Looks good so far, but havent we seen this story for about the past 3 weeks? Get to a big lead and then implode? Maybe that wont be the case tonight
D A DoubleU G
February 24th, 2011
7:31 pm
2 BS offensive fouls.
This team has every opportunity in most games to run away. But we just don’t.
Jeff Schultz
February 24th, 2011
7:32 pm
I’m here to serve, Faux Coach Grantham.
Jeff Schultz
February 24th, 2011
7:32 pm
5150 UOAD — Working so far but Florida hasn’t shot well, either.
5150 UOAD
February 24th, 2011
7:32 pm
DA Double.Actually I took 20 20 and 25 my last year. They were Qtr hours not semester hrs. I did almost 1 yr and a qtr + in a year. Carried Deans list all the way through. that is why the dean let me do the 25 to finish. They were not going to offer my capstone course for 23 qtrs and I would have to waited almost a yr to finish.
todd grantham
February 24th, 2011
7:32 pm
Florida on a mini run here
D A DoubleU G
February 24th, 2011
7:33 pm
atta boy Leslie.
Jeff Schultz
February 24th, 2011
7:33 pm
Wow –what a shot by Leslie.
todd grantham
February 24th, 2011
7:33 pm
nice play Leslie
5150 UOAD
February 24th, 2011
7:33 pm
AND-1
Jeff Schultz
February 24th, 2011
7:34 pm
D A DoubleU G — “There’s that white kid who killed us.” … Words you don’t hear every day.
Rod
February 24th, 2011
7:34 pm
We are gonna raise some eyebrows tonight!
todd grantham
February 24th, 2011
7:34 pm
so i guess you didnt fly down with the team?
D A DoubleU G
February 24th, 2011
7:34 pm
Schultz,
Did they send you to the s-hole of Gainesville or are you blogging with your brandy in hand, fire lit while your English Wolfhound sleeps comfortably at your feet?
5150 UOAD
February 24th, 2011
7:34 pm
He scored like Kroy BEERMAN on Kim Z. ahahhahaa AND-1. LOL
Rod
February 24th, 2011
7:35 pm
Is there a crowd Mark Bradleys blog tonight? I think he is covering Paul Hewitt tonight.
todd grantham
February 24th, 2011
7:35 pm
no, but you dont need much more description than that to figure out who he’s talking about.
5150 UOAD
February 24th, 2011
7:35 pm
Jeff
did you forget Jeffery Dalhmer? LOL
Beast from the East
February 24th, 2011
7:36 pm
“That white kid”, Parsons, needs to get healthy for us down the stretch. He’s a major match-up problem for most teams with his length, range and athleticism.
Jeff Schultz
February 24th, 2011
7:36 pm
No brandy or pipe or smoking jacket or wolfhand.
todd grantham
February 24th, 2011
7:36 pm
fouls in basketball are about like holding calls by offensive linemen in football. its mostly in the eye of the official.
D A DoubleU G
February 24th, 2011
7:37 pm
I have a good feeling about the 2nd half if we can just get there with a comfortable lead.
5150 UOAD
February 24th, 2011
7:37 pm
BAD shot
5150 UOAD
February 24th, 2011
7:37 pm
UGA is better than WINDEX so far.
Cletus Dooley Earnhardt SR.
February 24th, 2011
7:37 pm
Wayke mee up whenn footballl seison strats. i cann onlyy stomak foootballs and nesCar raicing. IMm not a fan of alll of the sports like moost goood colleje fans aree, just ONE sportt for me~!
-GO UGA (football only)