Which team is having the better season – UGA or Tech?
Thompkins battles Lawal. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
This will sound a little weird, but it’s a Bradley post so whaddaya expect? I’m asking a question, the nub of which is: Can a team with an 11-12 record really be having a better season than one that’s 17-8?
Wait, wait. Hear me out. The 11-12 team is Georgia; the 17-8 team is Tech. And to offer a real answer, don’t we have to consider more than just won-lost records? Don’t we have to consider …
Expectations: Georgia was picked to finish last in the six-team SEC East and is indeed in last place at 3-7; Tech was picked to finish fourth in the 12-team ACC and, at 5-6, stands eighth.
Polls: Georgia has been unranked all season; Tech was ranked 22nd in the Associated Press preseason poll and 20th in the coaches’ poll but dropped out of both Monday.
Personnel: Georgia starts a former walk-on (Ricky McPhee); Tech starts three McDonald’s All-Americans (Gani Lawal, Iman Shumpert, Derrick Favors).
Player development: Georgia guard Travis Leslie averaged 6.3 points a freshman but is averaging 14.5 in his first year under Fox and is projected by NBAdraft.net as the 23rd player on its 2011 mock; Tech forward Favors was rated the nation’s No. 1 recruit by Scout.com last season but is averaging 9.7 points in ACC play and has slipped from being the second player listed on NBAdraft.net’s 2010 mock to the seventh.
Personnel utilization: Georgia’s two best players, Leslie and forward Trey Thompkins, average 10.7 and 13. 2 shots per game, respectively; Tech’s two best players, Favors and Lawal, average 7.5 and 9.2 shots, respectively.
Depth: Georgia’s seventh man, center Chris Barnes, averages 2.8 points; Tech’s eighth man, guard Glen Rice Jr., averages 4.5 points.
Stability: Mark Fox is in his first season at Georgia; Paul Hewitt is in his 10th at Tech.
Head-to-head: Georgia beat Tech 73-66 in Athens on Jan. 5.
Signature wins: Georgia has beaten three teams (Tech, Tennessee and Vanderbilt) that were ranked when the game was played; Tech has beaten three (Duke, North Carolina and Clemson).
Bad losses: Georgia lost to Wofford at home, lost by 28 points at Missouri and was routed at Florida and Auburn; only Tech’s loss at Duke has come by more than 10 points.
Loading ...Road records: Georgia is 0-8; Tech is 3-6.
RPI: Georgia is 90th; Tech is 29th.
Strength of schedule: Georgia’s is rated the 11th-toughest nationally; Tech’s is 12th.
Probable final regular-season record: Assuming Georgia beats Florida in Athens and LSU in Baton Rouge, it should finish 14-15; assuming Tech wins its three remaining home games, it should finish 20-10.
Probable destination: Georgia will do well to make the NIT; Tech would have to mess up not to reach the NCAA.
Conclusion: Tech has better players and still figures to go further but hasn’t really done much yet; Georgia entered just hoping not to be embarrassed but has beaten four teams (Illinois is the fourth) that stand to make the NCAA field. And Georgia did beat Tech. All things considered, the Bulldogs have had, at least to date, the better season.
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217 comments Add your comment
HA
February 16th, 2010
8:55 am
You are a jerkoff MB. UGAY IS STILL AWFUL AT EVERYTHING
Asheville Dawg
February 16th, 2010
9:03 am
FIRE PAUL HEWITT! He peaked in 2004, and seems to be very complacent. Way to much talent to be squeaking into the big dance.
Fox seems to be doing more with less. Hope he hangs in Athens and develops the Dawgs into something special.
Lee Goza
February 16th, 2010
9:06 am
Mark,
If I’m not mistaken, Tech lost their last game by 11 points. This team is the very definition of under-achievement. Hewitt has to go.
Frankly Dawged
February 16th, 2010
9:08 am
Good article. I do have to raise a math question, however. The Dogs are now 11-12 with 6 games to play. How can they finish 13-14, as you project?
PMC
February 16th, 2010
9:12 am
Georgia is overachieving based on the talent they have available.
Tech is VASTLY underachieving based on the talent they have available.
Tech is probably going to the NCAA tournament. Georgia is probably not.
I don’t really care about who is having the better season, but I’m far more positive about the direction of Georgia.
Rabun Dawg
February 16th, 2010
9:14 am
From what I have observed, Fox is getting more out of less, and Hewitt is getting less out of more! I understood that Favors was to be a “one and done”, but appears to me he needs a lot more work before he takes the next step. Have only seen both teams on TV, and while Tech appears to be very talented, I have never seen a Team implode in the latter stages as they do. They appear to be just like the UGA football team, under achieving at its finest. And this looked to be a year when the ACC was there for the taking,with no clear favorite as UNC was last year. And yes, Uga lets a lot of late leads get away also, but at times they appear to be as good as any one they play. Just do not have the best talent or depth, but Tompkins and Leslie could play for anyone. Imagine Duke with those two coming off the bench for Zoubek and Thomas! I just hope that Fox can get some of the better talent in Georgia to Athens, then hope he stays ! JMHO
Bradley is a jackass
February 16th, 2010
9:15 am
The bottom feeder of the SEC is having a better season than a team about to receive an at-large bid. UGA has inferior coaching and personnel to almost every team in the east. You have Donovan with 2 titles, Calipari with his great success at multiple schools, not to mention the fact he’s the best recruiter out there. And Pearl who hasn’t missed a big dance at UT. UGA will more than likely remain a bottom feeder of the east.
RAMBLE ON!!!
February 16th, 2010
9:16 am
If you like turnovers, and missed f/t’s, I’d say GT is having a better year.
RAMBLE ON!!!
February 16th, 2010
9:17 am
I’ll take Felton right about now.
Old Dawg
February 16th, 2010
9:17 am
It’s difficult to argue the fact that Georgia has produced amazing results this season, especially considering the talent, loss of players in recent years and strength of schedule. Fox is doing an amazing job.
Ferndolin
February 16th, 2010
9:18 am
Coach Fox is on the way to putting UGA B-ball back on the map. A good recruiting year this year and if Leslie and Tompkins don’t bolt for the NBA, I predict UGA competes for the SEC East championship in Fox’s second year.
collegeballfan
February 16th, 2010
9:24 am
The question is, who has exceeded expectations? The answer is Georgia.
Who has the better X and O coach? I believe Georgia. Who has the better recruiter? I believe Tech. But if the lousy excuse for fans of UGA will get off their collective butts and support Fox, I believe he can build something special at Georgia.
Presently UGA basketball does not matter to anyone but the UGA athletic administration and staff. If the UGA grads will get out and support the team, then UGA basketball will matter on the national scene, and they will sign those top 100 recruits needed to build a program. Georgia fans need to realize that the best point guard in the country is not going to sign with a college and play in front of a high school crowd. Georgia has the coach to be successful, now they need the fans
in the stands.
Reality
February 16th, 2010
9:31 am
Bradley – Are you serious? The best test to answer your question is this…. “Which team would you rather be a fan of?” If anyone can impartially state UGA, then I would suggest for them to seek mental health!
Anyone would rather have their team make the NCAA tourney than not. Are you kidding me?
collegeballfan
February 16th, 2010
9:33 am
I just read Carroll Rogers’ story on Fox’s ties to Roy Williams. You UGA fans who have not read that need to do so.
Ivan Vasilii Vladivostok, aka "Pasha dat a$$"
February 16th, 2010
9:33 am
You tech nerds won’t be saying this crap if Hewitt does well in the tournament; that’s the beauty of a playoff, specifically the college basketball playoff.
Likewise, UGA will be in top gear if they do well in the NIT and pick up 2 good recuits next year.
Rabun Dawg
February 16th, 2010
9:35 am
CBF, you are correct about the support. I ordered tickets to Sat. game with Ala. through UGA ticket office and only available were up in upper deck. I took them, but when I see games on tv, all manner of good seats down low are vacant. I guess some buy season tickets, but do not show up to support the team. If Fox does produce and gets no fan support, you can bet he will bolt if someone else comes around.
E.Lo
February 16th, 2010
9:36 am
Hey ” Bradley is a jackass” that bottom feeder of the SEC beat that team even if they do recieve a at large bid. Heee hee heee heee!!!!!!!!!
Vermont Yellow Jacket
February 16th, 2010
9:40 am
As much as it pains me to agree with a Dawg, I have to wonder if Asheville Dawg is correct when he says that PH is complacent. With that monster golden parachute he has, how can life be bad? If I were in his shoes, I would find it quite easy to avoid reading the papers and stay away from the GT-related blogs. Ahhh, blissful ignorance….. Except in front of the fans at AMC.
Well, Mark, what’s your take on PH’s state of mind. Is he on cruise control?
GT Fan
February 16th, 2010
9:42 am
I voted against GT for one reason,Paul Hewitt! GT may have the best players but anyone with Basketball smarts can see Fox is a much better Coach. I’ve been a GT fan since 1955 and PH is a joke. Please RADS for the fans, Tech, State and everyone that cares… pay the money and FIRE HEWITT.
Tron Carter
February 16th, 2010
9:43 am
Obviously UGA is having a better season in basketball and football (SCOREBOARD).
However, Tech continues to dominate us in free food giveaways to attend games, students being robbed on the way to class, and terrorist students.
Brent
February 16th, 2010
9:46 am
Mark, you burst onto the scene some 25 years ago with not one but two columns stating that UGA had a better team than the Mark Price-John Sally led Yellow Jackets. You were of course dead wrong (some things never change). You are surprisingly on the money this time. GT has taken under-achieving to a new level.
Ed
February 16th, 2010
9:46 am
Tech better win tonight or they are done. Scary to have to beat unc who could turn it on any moment like uconn did last night. Unc has played better against common opponents the past few games.
robodawg
February 16th, 2010
9:47 am
Tech is going to the big dance; short of an incredible end of the year run, we’re not. We want to get to the point where reaching the sweet 16 is realistic just about every year (a la the Tubby years). But as this season winds down, Georgia fans have more to feel positive about. If Fox can get his players, the excitement around our program will explode.
Tech Buzzer
February 16th, 2010
9:50 am
Georgia–another mediocre, NIT year, but because they have an upset over a good team, it’s labeled a “great year!”
Nothing ever changes in athens.
Tale of Woe
February 16th, 2010
9:50 am
Hewitt’s coaching strategy is to try to run (which the team doesn’t do that often) and wear down the other team with all these substitutions. What happens is that no player feels comfortable and the team struggles. Hewitt is a bad coach who can recruit. I want a decent recruiter and a good coach – that is what UGA has. Tech is going to have to look elsewhere if they ever want to return to the final four.
aztec
February 16th, 2010
9:52 am
are you kidding me with this question, as a tech fan the answer is cut and dry, tech has the best athletes but UGA by far has the the best coach, so i give the edge to UGA
Tron Carter
February 16th, 2010
9:53 am
Tech Buzzer,
8 of 9
30-24
60-39-5
73-66
I agree
Some things never change
Larry
February 16th, 2010
9:53 am
Fox is getting the most from the least while Hewitt is getting the least from the most.
A coach who gets the most from the most competes for league and national championships.
Bill
February 16th, 2010
9:55 am
Tron…no free food, son. Terrorist student..I bet u have some you don’t know about….etc or professor shot two and then week later kills self…players in jail monthly…students raped… girl student killed in her apts. Hit and run….free grades to players…everyday is fun right?
Tron its every where wake up!
Tron Carter
February 16th, 2010
9:59 am
I am unaware of any UGA students directly affiliated with Al Qaida.
Can’t say the same for Tech.
and cheating in athletics?…http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2227377
SimpleDawg
February 16th, 2010
10:01 am
Fox has done more with less, although he does have some good size in the front court. Poor guard play has killed them…..turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.
Hewitt has done less with more. He has a wealth of talent on a team that can easily go 8 deep and maintain quality play. Either Hewitt is the Willie Martinez of CBB, or he has real chemistry problems on the team…..and I’m talking about class and labs.
Fox and Georgia will eventually surpass GIT in every way in basketball…..just like in football.
Both schools have great baseball programs.
Good ol’ fashion hate……get it!
Texas Wreck
February 16th, 2010
10:06 am
Easy choice- they are both second rate teams with NIT on their minds.
Bill
February 16th, 2010
10:06 am
I said, I bet you have some..don’t expect u to know them. GT didn’t know one either …it happens everywhere, they want to kill you as much as me.
drew
February 16th, 2010
10:14 am
The answer to the question is Tech. They’re on the bubble of the NCAA’s, and UGA is fighting for NIT eligibility, hence, Tech’s having a better season. Having said that, it’s also obvious that the UGA fans are much happier with their season than are Tech fans, for all the reasons stated above, most notably, the coaching.
But when MB states that “Tech would have to mess up not to reach the NCAA”, he’s a little off. While Tech’s defense will keep them in games, their lack of offense, especially at the point, may just make them NIT bound. I love watching them play D, but it hurts to watch them in a half court offense (dribble…dribble…Shumpert behind the back dribble…dribble…turnover).
As someone else said, Tech is 8th in a weak ACC that won’t send more then 6 teams (if that) this year. I see them winning two more regular season games (UNC & BC), and losing three (Va. Tech, Clemson, Maryland), which would put them at 7-9 in the ACC and 19-11 overall. And I don’t think this will get them to the big dance. Yeah, if the season ended today, they might get in on RPI alone, but a more deserving team would be getting the shaft. And a small part of me wants them to go ahead and lose out just to expedite a coaching change.
eddy
February 16th, 2010
10:20 am
Not even close, Tech has had the better season, even though they lost to Uga and are currently not ranked for the first time all season. Uga doesn’t even have a winning record! They do however seem like they have found a good coach that will make UGA relevant again in bball. Even though Tech hasn’t met expectations this season, they play in a much tougher conference than uga and still have quality wins, higher, RPI, etc. I mean, if tech was in the SEC they would be in the top ten and everyone would be talking about what a great season they are having. But even being a Tech fan, we have greatly underachieved so far this season with the talent we have on our roster. And I would like to give credit to Mark Fox, he has done a better job than Hewitt with much less.
Gen Neyland
February 16th, 2010
10:21 am
Tech Buzzer : Look at it like an EKG tape. GT is flat lining after more recent successful seasons and UGA has been jolted back to life with an injection of Fox. We’ll see if UGA can build on it. Speaking of EKG’s, time for me to get in a run…
papadawg
February 16th, 2010
10:22 am
Basketball, who cares
Gags
February 16th, 2010
10:23 am
http://twitter.com/CoachPHewitt
Dostoyevskiy
February 16th, 2010
10:29 am
Prettiest waitress at IHOP?
doyle, winder
February 16th, 2010
10:34 am
Whopper Dawg–Yeah and Amen!
jeff c.
February 16th, 2010
10:39 am
This is a pretty pointless topic…but here are my thoughts anyways. We won’t know what kind of hire Fox was until a few years. So far they have done what they always do…beat Tech at home and pull a few upsets and still finish last, or near last. At Tech, we loved Hewitt when he was hired. He took underacheiving Cremins players to the NCAA’s. We thought he was the next John Wooden. 10 years later….Look at him now!
dawgingatorville
February 16th, 2010
10:43 am
“Presently UGA basketball does not matter to anyone but the UGA athletic administration and staff.”
Not true, not true, not true. Georgia fans are excited by the development of the basketball program and paying attention. I’m sure the attendance records would show that and support of the program has been growing all season. Look at all the coverage the program is getting, people are reading it. This is the first year with our amazing coach and it takes a little time for the word to get out. I’m sick and tired of hearing people bash Georgia fans for lack of basketball support. This is the first season we’ve had any basketball worth watching in a long time and the culture is changing, and actually, much more quickly that I ever expected it could.
AndyC
February 16th, 2010
10:55 am
I think you got this one right Mark. Considering the expectations going into the season, UGA has done very well. Assuming that Mark Fox can be competitive in recruiting, I think UGA has a bright future. I can see Fox making the tournament within a couple of years.
At least Tech IS a basketball school
February 16th, 2010
11:01 am
We ARE a basketball school. Right?? We are aren’t we??? When we arrive in the Tourney, it will substantiate that …….right???We will be in that tourney …….right??
ARGHHGGHAHA, AAAAAAAAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
GT? G un T oters
matt r
February 16th, 2010
11:05 am
Bracketology! http://bracketology101.blogspot.com
Dave In Tampa
February 16th, 2010
11:14 am
This Dawg feels for Tech. I know surprise, but we were in the same catagory the past 2 years with our CWM. Very frustrating. GT has a ton of talent that any coach would love to have. CPH is gone after this year, no doubt. You’ll get a good coach next year.
I have to say that I was unaware of CMF before he came to UGA. Wow, this guy has a team playing very well that lacks so much depth. It will be interested if 1) he sticks around and 2) what players he can recruit. Both teams will be better next year
Shane
February 16th, 2010
11:29 am
Easy answer
UGA
justdhoo
February 16th, 2010
11:37 am
So Mark Bradley writes the article and says to himself, “What conclusion will cause the most controversy?” It is IMPOSSIBLE for a sub-500, lucky if they get into the NIT team to be having a better season than a team well above 500 who will almost definitely make the NCAA tournament. Who’s having a more disappointing season? Georgia Tech, absolutely. But that’s because expectations are so high and people actually care about Georgia Tech basketball. Congrats to UGA for having a good season under first year coach Mark Fox. The future looks good for them, they’ve had an encouraging season. But NOT a better season that GT.
Also, I believe this exact same article was written recently about UGA v. GT football, when GT was under a first year coach who was showing promise. Great originality Bradley.
Jacket Dad
February 16th, 2010
11:43 am
I’m a huge GT fan, but have to say that UGA has had the better season so far. UGA has overachieved, is better coached and plays as a team. GT is a talent-ladened group (notice I didn’t say team)that has mostly under-achieved. I blame much of that on Hewitt.
Chris
February 16th, 2010
11:43 am
Mark I could not agree more. Georgia basketball has pretty much been irrelevant. Expectations were so low that I did not plan on watching one Georgia basketball game this season. However, what Fox has done with very little talent is amazing. What you didn’t mention is that Georgia took Kentucky to the wire IN LEXINGTON and even Calapari could not believe how tough Georgia was on that night.
I just hope Fox is in Athens long enough for basketball to be respectable again. If he keeps this up, the bigger basketball jobs will come calling and just like Tubby, he’ll be gone.