College basketball 2010-2011: Will these Dawgs really hunt?
Is there a lid on how high Trey Thompkins and UGA can climb? (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
With the season almost here, our thoughts naturally turn to that bastion of college basketball — the University of … Georgia?
Speaking of which, will the Bulldogs be as good as some people seem to think?
Florida coach Billy Donovan suggests Georgia could be the conference’s best team. The Bulldogs’ Trey Thompkins, already projected as an NBA lottery pick, was voted the SEC’s preseason player of the year. And here we pause to wonder: Is all this too much too soon?
Reality check: The Bulldogs were 14-17 last season. They finished last in the SEC East. They were 0-11 on the road. For all the good work done in Mark Fox’s first season — beating Illinois, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Florida — Georgia operated without an ounce of pressure. Fox’s second band of Hounds is expected to reach the NCAA tournament. That’s at least 16 ounces of pressure.
For Georgia, the cheery news is that the players don’t seem overwhelmed and the coach, who graced NCAA tournaments while coaching Nevada, won’t be. And the Bulldogs, with Tennessee State transfer Gerald Robinson and touted freshman Marcus Thornton, stand to be much deeper than they were a year ago. (Although the high ankle sprain suffered by Thompkins could complicate matters.)
With the status of both Kentucky signee Enes Kanter and Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl in flux, the SEC East is unsettled. It’s not inconceivable that a team as gifted as Georgia could surge to the top of the division, but that’s a lot to ask of a team unaccustomed to being noticed.
Speaking of Bruce Pearl, does he still have a job?
It’s complicated. His contract has technically been voided, but Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton has made it clear that Pearl, who has admitted lying to NCAA investigators, is still the Vols’ coach. (The school and the coach are negotiating a new deal for less money.) But almost nobody seems to think Pearl will last much longer. Nor should he.
Speaking of coaches and jobs, what’s up with Paul Hewitt?
Georgia Tech reached the NCAA tournament last season but left the distinct impression it accomplished maybe half what it could have. Hewitt was approached by St. John’s in April but wound up staying at Tech, where he has the world’s greatest contract. He’ll be without his three best big men from last season, but he still has resources.
The Jackets will be deep on the perimeter, and we saw with the now-departed Derrick Favors that Hewitt’s strength isn’t in teaching his men to get the ball inside. Duke has proved you can have a fair measure of success by spreading the court and letting your guards work. If Tech can manage that, it can have a decent season. Picked to finish ninth in the 12-team ACC, the Jackets should wind up sixth or seventh.
Speaking of Duke: Will the Blue Devils repeat as NCAA champ?
They’ve done it before under Mike Krzyzewski, but that was in 1992 with a team that featured Christian Laettner, Grant Hill and Bobby Hurley. These Devils aren’t nearly so imposing. They’ll be very good, but they’ll miss Jon Scheyer’s distribution and guile. (Although the freshman point guard Kyrie Irving is a major talent.)
Duke deserves to be preseason No. 1, but the guess here is that somebody else — Michigan State, Pittsburgh or Ohio State — will take the title come April 4 in Houston. Lest we forget, Duke was a missed Gordon Hayward 40-footer from entering this season as the reigning runner-up.
Speaking of Butler, who’s apt to be the new raging mid-major?
Even without Hayward, who left early for the NBA, Butler will again be strong. So will Gonzaga, which was the Butler of the ’90s. And a mid-major to watch is based in nearby Spartanburg, S.C. The Wofford Terriers return four starters off a team that beat Georgia in Athens, won the Southern Conference tournament and finished 26-9. Don’t be surprised if/when Wofford wins on the road at Minnesota or Clemson within the next 10 days.
Speaking of leaving early for the NBA, who’ll be the next John Wall?
The Kentucky one-and-done was the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft. NBAdraft.net projects seven freshmen among the top 10 selections in its 2011 mock draft. One is Kanter, the Turk who hasn’t yet been cleared by the NCAA to play for Kentucky. Another is Brandon Knight, who signed with the Wildcats after Wall announced he was leaving. Another is Irving of Duke. Another is Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, who’s the reason the Buckeyes might be improved even after losing player of the year Evan Turner.
But the best freshman stands to be Harrison Barnes of North Carolina. He’s a small forward who has been likened to Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce, Grant Hill and Tom Gola. (Just kidding about Gola. Not kidding about the other four.) Barnes is why North Carolina, which somehow lost 17 games — including three to Tech — and missed the NCAA tournament last season, is again a Top 10 team.
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78 comments Add your comment
BUZZ ME
November 6th, 2010
6:14 pm
if they stay out of jail…maybe. Oh wait that’s football
brokeback jacket
November 6th, 2010
6:24 pm
Asking if these Dawgs will hunt is like asking if a tech student will die a virgin.
Illegitimate
November 6th, 2010
7:42 pm
A matter of time for a sell out of a once proud but now a joke of a program- Kentucky’s recent success is simply a timing issue.
GADAWG88
November 6th, 2010
7:51 pm
I can honestly say that I’m more excited about the UGA basketball program than I am about UGA football. Never thought I would say that but it’s true. I can’t wait till tip off next Friday. I think we have a very exciting future in front of us. GO BBALL DAWGS!!!
jim
November 6th, 2010
10:06 pm
Hewitt will win seven games this year and will still get a contract extension. Dave Braine must get nice Christmas gifts from Mrs Hewitt
Hewitt must go
November 6th, 2010
10:11 pm
Clark fans outnumbered Tech fans two to one. Tech had more fans at the volleyball game than basketball game last night. Hewitt’s days are numbered. He called a timeout in the final minute to design a “play” and then had to call another timeout when they couldn’t get the ball in as usual. He then ran out of timeouts before the end of the game again. He spent most of the game just looking down shaking his head like he wished he didn’t count on one and dones every year. Shumpert looked worse than ever but shot just as much. He still can’t hit free throws and even blew a lay up late in the game. I guess when you have a lifetime contract, you don’t work on fundamentals with your team.
Glory Glory
November 6th, 2010
10:58 pm
Well, I saw where Clark Atlanta took GT to Overtime today…..
Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!!
Brian F.
November 7th, 2010
7:18 am
I think UGA will be fine until Tre Thompkins heals. We have an excellent BASKETBALL coach. We also have a guard now who can break people down. Did not have that last year.
tom
November 7th, 2010
9:33 am
Hewitt just needs five more years to turn it around. Give him some patience and he can learn to develop a play to get the ball in bounds and teach guys to make free throws.
gabby
November 7th, 2010
9:48 am
UGA lost most of their games last year due to a lack of bench. They just wore down, especially late n the season. Also they didn’t have a guy who could truly break down a defense. Now they have both and a year of experience in CMF’s system.
To Observer….Leslie is much more than just a leaper. He has a nice stroke on his pull-up and 3 pt shot. He had a couple of games where he was almost unstoppable last year. He also rebounds, blocks shots and can pass very well. Maybe you know more than the NBA scouts I know who like him a lot. And Thompkins has improved defensively. While not fast, he is quick enough and can do more things than most guys his size.CMF has proven he can recruit in less than two seasons. He’s signed the best player in Georgia for next year and got Mr. GA. Basketball last year. Don’t forget Gerald Robinson, who transferred in and will be a heck of a player.
UGA will be in the hunt for SEC east and will go to the dance.
Johnny 5
November 7th, 2010
10:17 am
Is being in the hunt for the SEC East basketball really anything to brag about? Like winning the Subelt confrence championship for football, irrelavent.
Ted M
November 7th, 2010
10:21 am
Really this blog is the extent of the AJC’s College Basketball Preview. I remember when the AJC had whole pullout preview sections for each sport.
Cutbacks are going to cut you right out of the market.
bruce mac
November 7th, 2010
11:13 am
Johnny5, you need to keep up son. The SEC East had two teams in the Elite Eight. Do you think that really matters? You would be better off keeping quiet until you learn something relative. Morons a plenty on this blog.
jc_dawgs
November 7th, 2010
11:15 am
Ga is easily 4-6 pts better this year than last. You apply those 4-6 pts to last years results and all of a sudden….14-17 becomes 21-10. In all likelihood…the 2010 basketball Dawgs will be the real deal.
Dawg Time
November 7th, 2010
12:51 pm
UGA is easily the best team in the SEC and should win the conference with little problem. I’m hoping for a 2-3 seed in the NCAAs where the Dawgs can make a real run for the final 4.
hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
November 7th, 2010
1:13 pm
Only O-N-E ACC team in the entire top 25 poll!!! And that team lost to James Madison at home!!!!!! What a freakin’ joke!!! The ACC should be stripped of their automatic BCS Bowl bid immediately!!!
geez
November 7th, 2010
1:14 pm
Go Dawgs!!!!
Floundering Fox Hounds Batman!
November 7th, 2010
6:43 pm
This UGA basketball team reminds me of the SC football team. Lot of hoopla at the beginning and then will do its usual flop.
reno dawgs
November 7th, 2010
6:55 pm
Enter your comments here
reno dawgs
November 7th, 2010
8:49 pm
Mark I do not know why you had a problem with Mark Fox hire ?. He is the best hire you could have at this time. He lives and dies basketball but he expects the kids to get an education. I,ve know Mark a long time and is the most caring man about his players and his school. All of you that think he will be leaving the school think again this is the school he has always wanted to be at. You would be very surprised at all the big time schools that he turned for head coach I,m not talking any mid-majors these are the bigs. I,m so happy that Evans hired Mark and so should you. Why do you think he signed the contract that he did .I,ve read what you people have said about his contract because this is where he where he wants to be. How many coachs have their players over to their house for the holidays when they can not get home . He thinks of his players as his kids and he always checks on their grades. All I can say is that all the fans and the parents of the players should be happy that Mark is the coash . Mark you did not Vet coach Fox before you said WRONG HIRE. GO DAWGS….
Pope UGA XXIII
November 8th, 2010
9:11 am
After a year of extreme frustration with the football team, it’s time
for a little roundball.
As that great prophet Al Bundy used to say…….
LET’S ROCK !!!
DawgTrainer
November 8th, 2010
9:41 am
“UGA is easily the best team in the SEC and should win the conference with little problem. I’m hoping for a 2-3 seed in the NCAAs where the Dawgs can make a real run for the final 4.”
Let the Dawg Trainer do some schooling. Tennessee will win the SEC title, regardless of Bradley’s thinking of Pearl. That team is 13 deep…Pearl’s main concern is giving his racehorses enough minutes to keep ‘em all happy.
Only 1 ACC team in the top 25
November 9th, 2010
8:22 am
All I know is, real football is played in the ACC. Remember, they stacked the deck against the poor little SEC by luring in BC, Va. Tech and Miami. LOL!!!!
What the UGA alumni expect, not what hs bloggers expect
November 9th, 2010
12:19 pm
The UGA administration and alums expect UGA to win around 20-21 games this year. Last year they suffered losses to Wofford and folks like that. That should end this year. A 20 or 21 game expectation is very real for UGA.
Next expectationfor 2010-11 is to win maybe 2 games in the SEC Tourney. Then, possibly get the invitation to the Big Dance. To luckily win it? Gravy. Two wins in that tourney IS the expectation.
This is it, period. UGA alums do not expect UGA to win the East, nor do we expect our alma mater to win the SEC tourney ………….this year. This is a one year, low gradiance climb ………one year at a time.
Folks ……………2010-11 ought to be 30 -35 % better and if it is …………then we are on track.
Go Dogs.
jwilli120
November 9th, 2010
4:39 pm
expect the unexpected UGA BB will roll this year! GO DAWGS
Always a Jacket
November 10th, 2010
9:11 am
Hewitt will struggle not to be last in ACC. DRad will continue on his building binge while the program fades into oblivion.
NoCoach Blewitt
November 10th, 2010
9:51 pm
“that Hewitt’s strength isn’t in teaching his men to get the ball inside” — That is insinuating that he HAS a stength.
When will a sports writer for this paper make a stand?? Answer: NEVER. If this POS was back in NYC, where I was born, his a$$ woulda been run outta town two years after making it to the final four.
TechHoops
November 11th, 2010
9:44 am
Hey, GT bashers from my own fane base!! give it a rest. Last year, we won the exhibition in OT as well. And last I checked, OUR team gave Duke more than any other team at the end of the season until their final in the NCAA. Yes I wanted more than 7-9. But couple that with 3-1 in the conference tourney and we were 10-10 in the ACC. Hewitt got a pretty big recruit for next year and give this team a chance. Lots of talent in the backcourt. You know waht I liked from the first game? Production from the front court. Thatis something we rarely had before Lawal was a sophomore.
Our schedule is favorable and Hewitt will have this team gell down the stretch. only question is will we be too far gone to be relevant?? You bashers suck. 4-6% in FG %age defense in the NATION last year. But Hewitt can’t coach. I agree better offensive plan needed. And he instilled one and bought a new assistant for that. Nobody can list any good things about him because they think we should be DUKE or UNC in hoops. Like UGA fans think they should be on top like UF and Bama. Get over it. Cremins was a great recruiter and pretty bad with offense also. Only difference was that you got into the dance if you were from the ACC back then and had a pulse. Hewitt is getting fine recruits. His players are becoming relevant at the next level. Morrow, Young, Bosh, Jack all start. And Favors will too soon (#3 rookie in the NBA) They learned a little something while stationed at Tech. So give it a rest.
UGA will not win the SEC muc less their own division. I agree UK, Tenn and UK too strong. hope for their sake I am wrong. But they are getig better and that’s good. Its gonna be tough to top Clipari’s recruiting.
Speaking of recruiting, I hate to hear about it. In football you have to recruit to compete. In hoops you can’t recruit too high becuase they won’t stay. Well, they still kick As$ their brief time here. UK would have been bad without the blue chips he brought. Tech would have been horrbile without them. And that class we have still has 4 guys who will go to the next level. Oliver, Holsey, Rice Jr, Udofia, Miller (thanks UGA) 4 of those 5 will get t the next level. so, chill out. We did well last year and see if his changes can take affect on the court.