This wasn’t the time for Georgia to face No. 1 Kentucky
The Bulldogs had no answer for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14 points, 11 rebounds) and No. 1 Kentucky, losing 57-44. (AP photo)
(UPDATED: 11:20 p.m.)
ATHENS – In his second season on the campus-that-doesn’t-hold-bonfires-for-basketball, Mark Fox led Georgia to a winning conference record, an NCAA tournament berth and its first 20-plus win season in nine years – or 15 years, depending on if you factor in the grease stain left by Jim Harrick (NCAA probation, vacated victories, shame).
Fox has been, by any measure, an immediate success. The fact that Georgia was struggling this season entering Tuesday night’s game against No. 1 Kentucky should not have led to some catastrophic conclusion. Like, say, “Agggh! Ron Jirsa!”
“I think the educated fans and media members can look at us and know what we’ve lost,” Fox said. “But I have no issues with the way we’re going about things on the court. We have no academic issues. We have no social [off court] issues. When I first came here, there were some issues. But now we’re two years into changing the culture of Georgia basketball.”
Problem is, culture can’t score. Culture can’t defend. Culture can’t rebound. Culture generally arrives before recruiting, player depth and a string of winning seasons.
Enter: The Bulldogs of 2011-12.
They’re now 1-5 in SEC (10-10 overall) after Tuesday’s 57-44 loss to the Wildcats. The game didn’t seem as close as 13 points. Kentucky led by 16 at 46-30 early in the second half and then just played as well as it needed to — which wasn’t very well.
In short, Georgia wasn’t ready for a game like this. It probably won’t be this season. The Dogs play hard and for stretches they can even be impressive. They’re just not very good. Losing forward Marcus Thornton for five games to a knee injury thinned an already thin cast. Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie, the Dogs’ two best players from last season, left early for the NBA.
Some basketball programs can withstand two early defections to the pros. Not Georgia. The Dogs shot 34.5 percent (19 for 55) and were outrebounded 41-26. The Wildcats’ bench — basically, players: Darius Miller and Kyle Wiltjer — outscored the Georgia bench (three) 25-1. That’s all you need to know about the respective talent depth of the teams.
Fox afterward referenced a late first-half stretch when the Dogs, after trailing 23-22, were outscored 15-4. “That little burp in the first half was extremely costly,” he said.
What some would call a burp, others would call a market correction.
Kentucky is 20-1 record (the only loss coming by one point at Indiana). Unlike Georgia, the Wildcats can withstand player losses. Two years ago, they had five players drafted in the first round. Then they went to the Final Four anyway. This past draft, coach John Calipari lost three more players to the NBA (one in the first round). Yet, they’re ranked No. 1.
Kentucky doesn’t recruit in basketball so much as it opens the door.
Fox is still on the doorstep, knocking.
But he’s making progress. He’s keeping some touted recruits from leaving the state. Last year Georgia landed Greenville guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who starts as a freshman. Two months ago, during the early signing period, he signed three key players: Whitefield Academy (Mableton) guard Kenny Gaines, Milton guard Charles Mann and Miller Grove (Lithonia) forward Brandon Morris. (Gaines has been ranked as one of the top 25 shooting guards in the nation.)
It’s not quite the blur of high school All-Americans that head to Lexington every season. (Kentucky has four players on the Naismith preseason watch list, joining only North Carolina with that many.) But it’s a start.
“I like where we’re going, I like the fact these guys are working together, getting better,” Fox said. “The future is not something I’m worried about.”
Understand something: Fox is not rebuilding. He is building.
This is only Season 3 for him in Athens. He took over a program that hasn’t won an NCAA tournament game since March 2002 over Murray State (and that was vacated).
“A program has to have depth to withstand [player] losses and maintain continuity,” Fox said. “I can’t give you an accurate assessment [when that happens]. It’s going to take time.”
We see that.
By Jeff Schultz
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122 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
8:23 pm
Sorry folks. Just realized that commenting had been closed since I posted this. Not sure why, but problem has been fixed.
5150 UOAD
January 24th, 2012
8:29 pm
Wow open
Seminole Ed
January 24th, 2012
8:31 pm
Does that mean I’m first?
5150 UOAD
January 24th, 2012
8:32 pm
Jeff let us know if you spot this guy tonight.. http://www.ajc.com/news/police-man-exposed-himself-1314712.html…I am sure you will see about 4000 just like him but just keep an eye out. Be safe.
5150 UOAD
January 24th, 2012
8:33 pm
No ED it means you are 3rd including JEFF.
5150 UOAD
January 24th, 2012
8:35 pm
Jeff do you think the Dwags really have a shot?
and in the article it should be Whitfield Academy. It used to be Mount Vernon Christian Academy on Northside drive.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
8:37 pm
Seminole Ed — No. I’M FIRST!
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
8:38 pm
5150 –If he’s sitting near me, I’ll move.
Coop
January 24th, 2012
8:39 pm
As tough as it is to watch at times this season, it doesn’t compare with the Jirsa years. Jirsa inherited good players from Tubby Smith and simply was incompetent. Nice guy, couldn’t coach. Coach Fox knows how to coach. This is just a rough spot in the road. Hang in there Dawgs!
Abnerish
January 24th, 2012
8:42 pm
“Understand something: Fox is not rebuilding. He is building.”
Very good point. I wish all Bulldawg fans would understand that and give him the time it’s going to take to make us consistently good.
Calipari
January 24th, 2012
8:50 pm
I can’t believe I am still coaching as much as I have cheated. I cheated at U.Mass., then at Memphis, and now I’m cheating more than ever at Ky.
Ha ha ha. The NCAA can’t catch me.
Student athletes? What is that?
5150 UOAD
January 24th, 2012
8:53 pm
Calipari took the book HARRICK wrote from his beat downs and is make the right plays not to get caught.
bamaguy
January 24th, 2012
8:57 pm
This could be interesting (for about ten minutes). Georgia (or Tech) could not even beat Alabama and you think you have a shot with UK?
On a related note, our thanks to UGA for passing up Anthony Grant for Fox. We will always be grateful.
Falah
January 24th, 2012
8:58 pm
Why does Richt keep signing lowlife woman-beaters like Commings?
Da Ref
January 24th, 2012
9:00 pm
Kentucky 112, UGA 43
Heath
January 24th, 2012
9:04 pm
When he could be signing murderers like Tech’s Crittenton.
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:04 pm
Let’s do THIS Dawgs!
5150 UOAD
January 24th, 2012
9:05 pm
Heath Crittenton was not a member of the Tech team or a tech student. COMMINGS is on the team and enrolled in UGa still Big Difference MORON.
ub
January 24th, 2012
9:07 pm
Fox will make UGA very strog in B-ball very soon. Go DAWGS!
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:08 pm
A lot of scattered blue here but Georgia fans loud.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:11 pm
Dogs off to a cold start.
5150 UOAD
January 24th, 2012
9:11 pm
48 i really don’t think you want to watch this. maybe you should turn on the State of the disUnion Address. LOL
Heath
January 24th, 2012
9:13 pm
Okay, UOYourself, here is a picture of hm not being on the team: http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/former-georgia-tech-star-1146197.html
I think you’re smoking some of that bad stuff Joe Hamilton has.
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:14 pm
Dawgs are doin THIS so far! Looking good!
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:14 pm
Threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:16 pm
Dogs up by a point 12-11 with a pair of 3s fro, Djurisic despite fact Kentucky has hit 4 of 5 from floor.
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:16 pm
The Montenegro nightmare! 42! with the threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !
kral
January 24th, 2012
9:16 pm
we got to enjoy the 1st 5 minutes toad
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:17 pm
Jeff he is the Montenegro Nghtmare!
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:20 pm
John Calipari sure looks funny when he gets mad.
Heath
January 24th, 2012
9:21 pm
This oughta help with the selection committee
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:22 pm
Dawg48 — I’ll try to remember that. Assume the “Montenegro Nightmare” hasn’t been copyrighted yet.
promethius
January 24th, 2012
9:22 pm
Uga leading No. 1 at home and field house quiet as a mouse. Now I know why Fox can’t recruit to UGa. All the’ve got there are football heads.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:24 pm
Kentucky has missed its last 3 shots.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:25 pm
And there goes that streak.
5150 UOAD
January 24th, 2012
9:26 pm
@Heath…….. you MORON can you even read the Link you posted? Crittenton was not at TECH. COMMING is on the UGa team and still in school. Crittenton is a grown man in the NBA. You get the F…ing difference MORON? Tech has nothing to do with his actions at this time.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:27 pm
Kentucky on a 10-0 run. Time out Georgia.
promethius
January 24th, 2012
9:29 pm
Wonder how Gurley and Marshall are going to enjoy basketball season at UGa. I bet they will be watching UNC and Duke.
Heath
January 24th, 2012
9:29 pm
But they recruited him. They signed him. The original poster was saying only UGA would sign someone who could be violent. Not fine, civilized, rational men like yourself who don’t let their emotions get the better of them and call names like a 3 year old. My point was that everyone signs them. Still confused?
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:30 pm
Miami 23 GT 15
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:31 pm
Nice little run by the Dogs. Showing some fight. Only a 3 pt game (23-20) with 7:02 left in half.
Heath
January 24th, 2012
9:31 pm
Oh wait, I see you wrote moron in caps. That means you mean BUSINESS, pal.
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:31 pm
Throw some water on Djurisic he is on fire! He is all we have as of now.
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:33 pm
Guys can we have a peaceful night please! People are responsible for there own actions not a school!
kral
January 24th, 2012
9:33 pm
moments of fun can be so fleeting at times
Heath
January 24th, 2012
9:33 pm
That was my point.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:34 pm
Shooting thus far: Georgia 9 for 21, Kentucky 8 for 14.
5150 UOAD
January 24th, 2012
9:35 pm
48 I don’t have TECH on cable so I am not watching.
Dr. Knockafuji
January 24th, 2012
9:35 pm
Shultz – don’t you feel sorry for trolls like 5150 UOAD?
That countdown today was great, keep them coming in more frequency…
Heath
January 24th, 2012
9:35 pm
Djurisic Park is frightening in the dark.
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:38 pm
5150, I will keep you updated. 28 17 miami
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:40 pm
I’m not sure, but I think Kentucky just has better players.
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:40 pm
Stop wasting SHOTS!
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:42 pm
Jeff, we can’t get a shot down low without it getting blocked!
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:43 pm
33 22 Miami
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:43 pm
Dawg48 — Of Dawgs’ many shortcomings this game, include, height, reach, length and athletic ability. So general answer to that question is: no.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
9:44 pm
Dogs now shooting only 39 percent (11 for 28)
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
9:45 pm
Jeff, sure looks like Mark Fox stressed taking three point shots in the game plan. Ain’t workin’ so far.
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
9:47 pm
Todd, they are giving us the three we can’t get a shot down low.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
9:47 pm
I’m afraid this one’s already beyond reach. The Dogs will have a run or 2 in the second half, but Kentucky is a smooooth machine.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
9:48 pm
Dawg, their plan sure is effective.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
9:51 pm
Jeff, I’m certainly a Mark Fox supporter, and am encouraged by your comments about his keeping key players in the state. What is the maximum number of basketball players a college team is allowed to carry?
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
9:53 pm
just being a casual college basketball fan, it looks like it doesn’t say much for Georgia’s depth when several of those guys on the bench dont bother to remove their leggings.
bamaguy
January 24th, 2012
9:54 pm
Basketball Dawgs are to Kentucky, as Foottball Dawgs are to LSU.
Boss Hog
January 24th, 2012
9:57 pm
@bamaguy…LMAO
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
9:59 pm
bam, why do you even care about commenting? did your dish fall off the trailer?
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:00 pm
boss, hope nobody was in the path when it came off.
5150 UOAD
January 24th, 2012
10:01 pm
What is wrong with you people. The president has been giving the State of the disUnion Address and you are watching a Basketball game?
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:02 pm
one of the refs looks eerily like Bill Parcels
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:02 pm
51- that’s why I AM watching the game.
bamaguy
January 24th, 2012
10:03 pm
I am not allowed to have a dish on the side of my house in Morningside, but thank you for asking.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:04 pm
a successful politician is one that convince the haves that he won’t tax them and the have nots that he will.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:05 pm
I bet that’s on the east side of Alabama. The community of Eveningside is on the west side.
Helps bamans keep things straight.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
10:06 pm
Todd Grantham — Men’s teams can have 15 players but only 13 on scholarship.
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
10:06 pm
5150, do WHAT? Are you saying he is not at a basketball game right now?
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:06 pm
thanks Jeff
bamaguy
January 24th, 2012
10:08 pm
Bless your heart, todd.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:09 pm
are you Fr. Bamaguy?
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:10 pm
43-28 ouch.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:10 pm
even Scott and Slon have tossed in the towel.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
10:11 pm
Here’s a stat: Kentucky’s bench has outscored Georgia’s 19-1.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:11 pm
so Kentucky’s subs are only 11 behind Georgia.
5150 UOAD
January 24th, 2012
10:12 pm
48 he has it on screen & screen on his teleprompter I am sure. LOL
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
10:13 pm
Make that 22-1.
Dawg48
January 24th, 2012
10:14 pm
5150′ I was thinking it was his double doing the speech.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:16 pm
I thought it was a little cheesy of the President to say he had asked his little scotty Fala for economic advice and his daughter Amy about nuclear proliferation.
bamaguy
January 24th, 2012
10:20 pm
todd, in more ways than I can ever imagine, you are the typical UGA fan (as opposed to alumnus).
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:28 pm
bama, you’re a great guy. assuming you’re a guy.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2012
10:39 pm
Georgia trails by only 13 — only because Kentucky playing down to Dogs’ level right now.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:40 pm
crowd seems to have more spirit than players do.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2012
10:40 pm
maybe i should have said fans have had more spirits than players have.
CATSOWNDAWGS
January 24th, 2012
10:43 pm
Hey Crackers..want some Cheese with that whine? Georgia basketball is a sad joke..Try some other sport.Leave Basketball to UK..44 SEC Titles..end of discussion
5150 UOAD
January 24th, 2012
10:43 pm
Chester Brown is an Illegal and can’t attend college in Georgia. I am HAPPY he is not going to school in Georgia. Not At UGa. no illegals should take a seat from a Georgian or American EVER. Screw the football factories. an undocumented student can’t take the seat of an otherwise academically qualified Georgia resident who has been turned away because of capacity constraints.
That could explain the abrupt change of heart for Brown. The son of Samoan immigrants, he certainly didn’t sound like he wanted to go anywhere other than Georgia.
CATSOWNDAWGS
January 24th, 2012
10:46 pm
as the CATS blow out the hapless Dawgs..The cowd empties quickly..Good Nite!
Send'em Uhauls
January 24th, 2012
10:53 pm
Fox is another bust hire. He looks like an accountant rather than a basketball coach.
Since Vince
January 24th, 2012
10:56 pm
This season is OVA!
Lemon B
January 24th, 2012
11:37 pm
Yawn. Same story, different decade.
Seven months til football season.
Natureboy809
January 25th, 2012
12:54 am
Fox is doing a great job, given what he inherited and the lack of basketball tradition. This article makes it sound like he is coming under fire from the fan base, though. If he is, I haven’t noticed it. I think most fans understand the mess he inherited.
WvRDawg
January 25th, 2012
2:00 am
Fox gets a pass this year–next year, he needs to start producing some big wins.
Senor Coughee
January 25th, 2012
7:22 am
Too bad “wait until next year” started before this year got started.
blue
January 25th, 2012
8:50 am
So when is a good time for them to play UK? I would suggest it is on a day that does not end with the letter “y”.
bill
January 25th, 2012
8:51 am
Nope Mr. Schultz: I am a typical UGA football fan and check the basketball scores. It is the round ball right?. Nope time to fire him the coach, what’s his name, no national title in two plus years. Fire him and replace Bobo while you are at it.
Evansdawg
January 25th, 2012
9:20 am
Coach Fox is doing a fantastic job. I like the reference that he is “not rebuilding, but building.” Lets hope we keep him long enough to finish the job.
UGA Insider
January 25th, 2012
9:44 am
Mike Adams and Greg McGarity have let another major sports program at UGA dip below(way below) average. Please write Gov Deal and ask him to fire Mike Adams at once!!!!!! Adams has been there much too long and is much to close to his $89,000,000 nest egg. Alumni deserve better than him and no more money will be coming to UGA from my family. I suggest other alumni wake up and do the same.
BulldogBen
January 25th, 2012
9:53 am
I understand the state of hoops at UGA. I know Fox is “building” and is “changing the culture” but that doesn’t make these kinds of seasons any easier to take. Especially since we’ve seen this movie over and over again while watching programs like UF, Vandy, UK, LSU, UT, go to Final Fours and Sweet Sixteens over and over again.
So what if Kenny Gaines is the real deal? What happens when Caldwell-Pope goes pro after 2 seasons? What will they sell us then?
So frustrating.
Bill Walton
January 25th, 2012
10:08 am
Unlike the football team these dawgs can’t schdule every cupcake team they can find. They actually have to play decent teams, and show how really bad they are.
2010 BCS CHAMPS
January 25th, 2012
10:12 am
Jeff
I just wanted to let you know that Cam Newton, a guy that you hate, just won ROTY in the NFL and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
flagboy?
January 25th, 2012
10:14 am
Mark Fox is doing a pretty good job with what he has at UGA. There was talent on the team (Tompkins, etc), but it was awfully hard to watch a Georgia basketball game with the last coach at the helm.
If Fox can bring in recruits to Athens, he’ll win. If he can’t, he’ll lose. Seems simple enough, but even with that formula I don’t believe Felton could win in the SEC. With Fox, you get the feeling that if he can get equal talent to other programs, he’ll win.
flagboy?
January 25th, 2012
10:14 am
Bill Walton
January 25th, 2012
10:08 am
Unlike the football team these dawgs can’t schdule every cupcake team they can find. They actually have to play decent teams, and show how really bad they are.
________________________
yeah. . .you’re an idiot.
Dawglasville
January 25th, 2012
10:23 am
blue – Funny. I was prepared to write the same thing until I saw your post. It’s never a good day for UGA to play UK in basketball. Congrats, you are a great basketball school.
Football Guy
January 25th, 2012
10:35 am
Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……………………………
………………………………………………………….
…………
Dawglasville
January 25th, 2012
10:56 am
Football Guy – Really? Do you want to compare UGA vs UK academically? Do you really think that basketball players are smarter than football players? Have you ever looked at a college playbook? How many plays do you think a college point guard has to learn? Most basketball schools are basketball schools because their academics make it hard to field a quality football team. What is Kentucky’s excuse? I’m glad you have basketball. Everyone should have something.
Dawglasville
January 25th, 2012
11:11 am
Bill Walton – what is your team and are they one of the cupcakes on our schedule next year?
Felix
January 25th, 2012
11:17 am
Man, both GT and Dogs go down; no, they got stomped.
what happened to the GT team that played so well against Duke?
promethius
January 25th, 2012
11:21 am
How do you explain NCState’s success with their 2d-yr coach vs UGa’s lack of success with it’s ballyhooed 3d yr coach. Come on, speak up!
harold
January 25th, 2012
11:41 am
EVERYONE OUT OF DIAPERS KNOWS THAT UGA IS NOT AND HAS NEVER BEEN COMMITTED TO BASKETBALL. UGA HAS SUB PAR FACILITIES COMPARED TO TENNESSEE, KENTUCKY AND EVEN AUBURN NOW. GEORGIA TECH IS WAY MORE COMMITTED THAN UGA.
FOX IS A HORRIBLE COACH THAT NEEDS TO BE IN A COMPUTER SCIENCE LAB.
Sonny Jackson
January 25th, 2012
12:05 pm
I love the UGA Hoop Girls!
Honest Abe
January 25th, 2012
12:06 pm
Mark Fox is an outstanding floor coach. He’s great with game planning, and very impressive with Xs and Os. He will improve the b-ball program at UGA. However, with the exception of KCP, he’s NOT shown that he can really recruit here in the Southeast. Yes, he’s bringing in some fairly talented 3 stars next year, but to truly elevate the program, Fox is going to have to sign some additional outstanding talent like KCP. Luckily, he has the metro-Atlanta area to work with, but he has to convince the 4 and 5 stars that UGA is the place to be. The potential is there. Fox is a great coach, he has to become a great recruiter.
Deal In
January 25th, 2012
12:11 pm
Until Ga gets serious and builds a real, state of the art arena, they will continue to be mediocre and making excuses for another bad season.
News | MrSEC
January 25th, 2012
1:19 pm
[...] himself at Georgia and from Horn’s boss at Carolina.After last night’s Kentucky loss, Fox gave his take on the state of the UGA program:“I think the educated fans and media members can look at us and know what we’ve [...]
South Georgia Dawg
January 25th, 2012
1:41 pm
Fox will not be a great recruiter until we become better fans. We MUST pack the Steg first then the recruits will follow and not the other way around.I was at the Ole Miss game last saturday and half the seats were empty. If I’m an All-American 17 year old I would look elsewhere too. BTW…..I had a great time at the game with my 10 year old son. $15 for a ticket is a bargain. Go Dawgs !!!!!
Pump up the noise
January 26th, 2012
3:50 pm
Georgia needs to get up the jam, pump up the noise with a lot more rap type music during commercials, etc. to appeal to the players they recruit—the place is deadsville during games.