Live from Dogs-Cats: Can Fox’s Hounds shock the world?
DeMarcus Cousins warms up before the not-so-adoring Georgia fans. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Athens – Here’s an amazing stat, courtesy of Georgia publicist Tim Hix. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 494-457 in the first halves of their 14 SEC games but have been outscored 564-505 in second halves. Being my analytic self, I take this to mean:
Preparation and coaching gets Georgia ahead; the lack of depth gets them behind.
And this, I submit, is why a surprisingly decent team has lost six conference games in which it held a second-half lead. One of those games came Jan. 9 in Rupp Arena, where the then-unassuming Bulldogs led Kentucky with 8:06 remaining.
I mention this because the two meet again here tonight. As was the case nearly two months ago, the Big Blue enters ranked No. 3 in the nation, but Georgia has a much different look. The Bulldogs have proved they can beat quality opponents from the SEC East — Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Florida — on this court. But Kentucky is clearly a cut above those teams.
The Cats are 7 1/2-point favorites, and they need a victory to stay ahead of Vanderbilt in the SEC East. They’re also coming off a loss in Knoxville, and as a Bluegrass native I can tell you that any UK loss is cause for hand-wringing. (It was after the second — and final — loss of the 1977-1978 season that Joe B. Hall referred to his team as “The Quitting Quintet” and “The Folding Five.”)
Having just taken a tour of the court, I can report that many NBA scouts — including two former Hawks GMs (Billy Knight and Pete Babcock) — are in attendance. There might be six lottery picks playing tonight, only four for Kentucky. Georgia’s Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie are listed in the top 10 of NBAdraft.net’s 2011 mock draft. As is UK’s Eric Bledsoe. John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson are expected to be taken in the 2010 lottery.
Speaking of Cousins: The Kentucky center was being razzed by Georgia students during early warmups, and Cousins was moved enough by this to stop shooting and glare into the stands. A couple of weeks ago Cousins was the center, so to speak, of a mini-tempest: Mississippi State students had gotten hold of his cell phone number and were leaving unflattering messages.
So we’ll monitor Mr. Cousins tonight. He has a temper, and he’s easily flustered. He’s also the best center in the nation. And we’ll see if Georgia can manage to go 5-0 against the SEC East at the Stegasaurus after going 0-5 on the road. And I ask you, not for the first time and I’m hoping not for the last, to join me. And I thank you, as always, in advance.
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351 comments Add your comment
MontyP
March 3rd, 2010
8:28 pm
Resilient!!! Florida started off hot hitting 3’s just as UK has. They will cool off. Cousins should have 3 fouls. Hacked the heck out of Leslie.
boots
March 3rd, 2010
8:28 pm
Mark, you did not finish the quote. Said Turpin, “The kid shocked me… with the number of hot dogs he woofed down before the game.”
SoCal Dawg
March 3rd, 2010
8:28 pm
Hard to beat a good three point but not impossible.
todd grantham
March 3rd, 2010
8:28 pm
that 3 for 8 wont hold up.
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:28 pm
Price with another layup. Calipari is furious with his big men.
Elmore Spencer
March 3rd, 2010
8:29 pm
Problem dogs have is the lack of depth shows up in the second half. It has all year.
boots
March 3rd, 2010
8:29 pm
Enter your comments here
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:29 pm
Price with a dunk from Leslie. Dogs by six.
Elmore Spencer
March 3rd, 2010
8:29 pm
Nice switch on D by Fox
todd grantham
March 3rd, 2010
8:30 pm
4 for 9. i cant believe it. wont hold.
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:30 pm
Dogs just got a call. And now a trey from Trey.
boots
March 3rd, 2010
8:31 pm
Dawgs bench is starting to play in to the game more these past few games. Barnes is making an impact on the floor tonight.
Elmore Spencer
March 3rd, 2010
8:31 pm
Jeez 54 hits threes?
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:32 pm
Wall with a massive dunk.
Elmore Spencer
March 3rd, 2010
8:32 pm
Thats not a travel in the pros
boots
March 3rd, 2010
8:33 pm
Dawgs back to man-to-man. We are mixing up the defenses really well and giving teams different looks. Well coached teams do that.
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:34 pm
Cats score three hoops in like 30 seconds: Wall dunk, Orton tip, Patterson from the baseline. Tied at 26. Fox calls time, which he needed to do. Can’t let these guys get running.
Elmore Spencer
March 3rd, 2010
8:35 pm
Might have two dunks on Sportscenter
Elmore Spencer
March 3rd, 2010
8:35 pm
Is Wall a one and done guy?
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:35 pm
DeMarcus Cousins hasn’t done a thing. He has been on the bench a long time, too.
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:36 pm
Wall would have been none-and-done if the NBA permitted it. He’ll be the No. 1 pick in June.
todd grantham
March 3rd, 2010
8:37 pm
told you cousins would struggle.
JV
March 3rd, 2010
8:38 pm
TV announcers adoring the Cats. They seem to have a desired outcome.
Matt the Brave
March 3rd, 2010
8:38 pm
Mark, the Fox’s Hounds line is Grizzard-worthy. Do you think that the old Stegasaurus can become a destination for incoming college kids?
Elmore Spencer
March 3rd, 2010
8:38 pm
Wall would have been none-and-done if the NBA permitted it
I dont think that rule will hold up in the long run. Eventually some court will change all that.
I mean cmon. MLB players from developing countries sign at 16 ( if not younger ) Look at Tennis, Gymnastics etc.
Elmore Spencer
March 3rd, 2010
8:39 pm
McPhee was guarding Wall that time
boots
March 3rd, 2010
8:41 pm
@ Elmore – and Kiffin signing 12 year old quarterbacks.
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:43 pm
Kentucky up two, 3 1/2 minutes left in the period. Kentucky is pushing the ball harder now, and Georgia’s guys are tiring. But Thompkins just got a minute’s rest.
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:44 pm
Matt, I’ve never thought there was anything preventing Georgia from having a big-time hoops program. But the fans have to do their bit.
Elmore Spencer
March 3rd, 2010
8:47 pm
Dang I remember Alec Kessler. RIP
todd grantham
March 3rd, 2010
8:48 pm
I think the fans are showing they will respond to a team with a chance to win.
Cuz
March 3rd, 2010
8:48 pm
Can Geico really save you 15% on car insurance? Does Charles Barkley have Papa Johns on hs speed dial?
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:53 pm
Kentucky up four at the half. Georgia had a chance to tie but McPhee walked and then DeAndre Liggins scored on a drive.
Kentucky has hit six threes. That’s good enough to beat a zone.
MontyP
March 3rd, 2010
8:55 pm
Please don’t show that stupid Taco Bell commercial with Sir Charles. I will have to change the channel.
Trey trying to force it. He needs to settle down in the second half. He is a little frustrated. Mr. Price has been playing some really good ball the last few games. He is finally playing the way a big man should. Ware has had a couple good looks at the 3 and passed them up. Pull the trigger Ware. UK is fast. Dawgs have to keep the pace of the game under control. They need to come out strong in the second half. I don’t picture UK staying hot from behind the 3 but if they do Dawgs will have a tough time pulling this out.
Go Dawgs!
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:56 pm
Back in December, you’d have sworn Georgia would have had no chance against Kentucky. But this is twice now the Bulldogs have made the Wildcats work hard, and there’s no guarantee UK wins this one.
Elmore Spencer
March 3rd, 2010
8:57 pm
My best UGA basketball moment was in 90. Dogs were playing at Auburn with a chance to win the SEC. I was in the crowd that day and remember thinking Chuck Dowdle looked awful tall walking around pre game.
The Dogs won that day and won the SEC regular season title. Can still remember the regulars from that team.
Green at guard, Jody Patton, Marshall Wilson. Alec Kessler and yes me Elmore Spencer.
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:57 pm
Here’s something you don’t see: Michael Adams making an appearance at center court. (UGA is presenting a check for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.)
boots
March 3rd, 2010
8:58 pm
We need to pass more effectively. It is one of the strong points of our game, working the ball inside. Seems like we are rushing some shots. Mark, what kind of recruiting reports are we seeing for next year’s team?
dawgstephen
March 3rd, 2010
8:59 pm
Mark,
It says how far Coach Fox has taken this team to think of how the Dogs led till the final minute at Rupp, and are only down 4 tonight at the half with the chance to SWEEP the SEC East at home this year. To think that…WOW
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
8:59 pm
I was at that game, Elmore. But I don’t believe Elmore Spencer was on that squad. Neville Austin was the starting center, and Arlando Bennett was his backup. And Rod Cole, who’s here tonight, was a starting guard.
todd grantham
March 3rd, 2010
9:00 pm
were the boos for the prez overwhelming
boots
March 3rd, 2010
9:00 pm
Adams is less popular in the Stegasaurous than Cousins.
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
9:00 pm
Georgia has signed only one player to date, Boots — Cody Lalanne of Orlando, Fla. He’s ranked 142nd among seniors by Rivals.
Floundering Fox Hounds Batman!
March 3rd, 2010
9:00 pm
Mark it down….. Kentucky will come out smoking in the 2nd half. Dawgs are done!!!! dawgs finish below .500……
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
9:01 pm
Did not hear a boo for Dr. Adams. But it’s hard to boo a guy who’s doing his part for a good cause.
Since Vince
March 3rd, 2010
9:02 pm
I bet there were a lot of Boo’s under the breath !
Mark Bradley
March 3rd, 2010
9:03 pm
Many former hoop Dogs here: Charles Claxton, Shaun Golden, Rod Cole, Derrick Floyd (he’s the official scorer, as you know) and even former head coach John Guthrie.
oLD gOLD
March 3rd, 2010
9:03 pm
Thats a nice High School Gym yall are playin in…
Buckhead Bulldog
March 3rd, 2010
9:03 pm
Hopefully, the fans are booing Michael Adams the President, and cheering the University for a good deed? I’m sure Adams will take credit for it. The snake!
oLD gOLD
March 3rd, 2010
9:03 pm
SEC ang UGA= HIGH SCHOOL