Georgia in the NCAA: A good team that still might get it right
The bright lights of the Big Dance shine on the Bulldogs' media session. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Charlotte — Sometimes I feel I’m the lone ranger. I watch Georgia and I see good players, a good coach and a good team. Others wonder why this team made the NCAA tournament field. So I asked Lorenzo Romar about the Bulldogs, and now I don’t feel so all alone.
Said Romar, whose Washington Huskies will play Georgia on Friday: “I definitely don’t see a team that shouldn’t be here. They’re physical. In the paint they’re more than capable of playing well and competing against any team. They’re well-coached. They have a system that you can see they’re disciplined in. They have great quickness, and they really do a good job defending.”
Then, regarding Mark Fox: “You can see he has them playing the right right way. I’m really impressed with how he goes about handling his business.”
Then, regarding Trey Thompkins, the Georgia forward Romar coached this summer as part the USA Select team: “He was good … I loved his attitude, his mobility, his versatility. Just a nice stroke. Has great hands.”
Then, regarding the other Bulldogs: “Travis Leslie is a phenomenal athlete … He can run like a gazelle. And their guard play is good as well. They have good quickness on the perimeter. They have a real good blend.”
About here, I nearly jumped up and said, “Exactly!” I managed to restrain myself, but it’s always nice to hear a learned basketball man say pretty much what you’ve thought for four months: That these Bulldogs have it within them to be a big-time basketball team.
I admit they haven’t always behaved that way. That’s how they came to lose 11 games and nearly play themselves out of the Big Dance. But there’s not much Georgia can’t do: They can shoot it and they can score down low and they can defend and they’re seasoned. (They start four juniors and a senior.) That said …
I expected more. I expected Georgia to win more close games along the SEC trail than it has. I didn’t expect the Bulldogs to blow a 14-point lead inside the final seven minutes against Alabama last week. I can understand why outsiders don’t expect much from this team in this tournament — at 5 1/2 points, Washington is the biggest favorite by far among the No. 7 seeds — but I also keep thinking there’s more to this team than we’ve seen.
Either we’ll see it Friday or we’ll spend the summer wondering why we didn’t. Washington can be beaten. (The Huskies have lost 10 games and finished third in the not-very-hot Pac-10.) This stands to be one of those fast-versus-slow deals, as they say in NASCAR: Washington runs and presses and averages 83.5 points; Georgia prefers to settle into its half-court triangle and averages 69.8.
Loading ...Whichever team can make the game move at its speed figures to win, and in the NCAA tournament, with its heightened tension and longer timeouts, it’s easier for a deliberate team to slow a faster opponent than for the quicker side to mash on the gas. Although Romar did say: “As the season has evolved, we’ve learned from our mistakes. We have better patience.”
As for Georgia, Fox said: “We’ve always tried to play as fast as we can play well, and we’ll have to try to find that balance.”
This one seems simple: Either the 5-foot-9 Isaiah Thomas flits through Georgia’s defense and the Huskies score big, or the Bulldogs hunker down and clog the lane and guard the perimeter — doing both isn’t easy — and the underdog carries the day.
I’ve waited all year to see Georgia win big games, and it has won a couple. It’s probably wrong to expect this team to win a couple more this weekend in the crucible of the NCAA tournament, but that’s why I’m the lone ranger. After all their near-misses, I still expect the Bulldogs to get it right. I expect them to frustrate the Huskies. I expect the team that wasn’t sure it would make the field to be playing Sunday.
By Mark Bradley
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159 comments Add your comment
jadams
March 18th, 2011
3:22 am
i hope you get beat by 50. I hate you and all of you
Hot news about: ncaa scores : 11 News - Your Dose of Daily News at 11 o'clock
March 18th, 2011
3:48 am
[...] Others wonder why this team made the NCAA tournament field. So I asked Lorenzo Romar about … But there’s not much Georgia can’t do: They can shoot it and they can score down low and they can defend and they’re seasoned. (They start four juniors … read full article… [...]
Mark Bradley`s Booster
March 18th, 2011
5:00 am
Delta Stewardess is either an imposter or a very old retired woman. The airline industry changed the title
to Flight Attendant back in the 1960 era.
UGA-Washington notebook from Charlotte… | UGA sports blog
March 18th, 2011
5:03 am
[...] Mark Bradley’s column. [...]
Buh Bye
March 18th, 2011
6:01 am
Buh bye, dawgtards.
Yogi
March 18th, 2011
6:16 am
I agree with what UGA should be able to do, but what I’ve seen of what they haven’t done makes me think they won’t do it.
Will
March 18th, 2011
6:31 am
Mark:
Your youthful-like excitement and giddy loyalty to Mark Fox and UGA is charming and greatly appreciated in Athens (at Tech you are still “Bark Madly”) but holds no place as a journalist.
This is why you feel like the “Lone Ranger”. UGA completed an under achieving regular season masked as a great season by failures of the recent past. Berfore the season UGA was a consensus “dark horse” to win the SEC, Trey Thompkins was the pick for SEC Player of the Year and no credible source saw UGA as anything but a “lock” for the tournament.
When the ball was tossed, UGA lost 11 games, finished closer to the cellar than the penthouse in the SEC and Thompkins had a subpar season.
While you see Mark Fox as a “great” coach, others see him a good coach who also under achieved and who was outcoached on numerous occasions – most notably in the Xavier and Alabama games where he and his staff were slow to recognize and react changes in game schemes.
No, UGA will not win tonight even though they are playing against another bunch of underachievers.
Mark Fox is a good fit at UGA but the program will take a step back next year with the loss of Thompkins and Leslie. This time next year, because you have a maddening habit of writing to the moment with little or no vision, you will be writing about your disappointment with Fox and his failure to build on this year’s “greatness”. And you will be wrong again.
mowreck
March 18th, 2011
6:36 am
Jeezzzz, I must have been thinking about football on that Missouri / Cincinnati game!
Marietta Resident
March 18th, 2011
6:49 am
Go Dawgs!
From Where I Sit
March 18th, 2011
6:59 am
Right! Really? Until they actually win something, then you can get on the bandwagon.
Gators are in the Final Four!
Enough Said!
YardDawg
March 18th, 2011
7:42 am
If, and it’s a big if, UGA can keep it close, and make free throws down the stretch, they can win. All of their losses were close this season, and the common denominator in them was they didn’t make the free throws in the last 4 or 5 minutes.
And this happened in their last game – they missed the front end of one-and-ones four times during Bama’s run at the end of regulation. If the Dawgs make any one of these free throws, Bama loses by a point.
chiefdawg
March 18th, 2011
7:43 am
Dawgs will fade at the end just like every other big game they have played in. They have no heart, stamina,and don’t know how to win. When he is faced with a little adversity Tompkins folds his tent and quits.
joe
March 18th, 2011
7:46 am
How did UGA miss on a kid out of Peachtree Ridge HS in Gwinnett Co. 45 minutes from Athens, they have needed backcourt help for years. His name is Kevin Anderson and he has played at Richmond all 4 years. He has been great there and he hung 25 on Vandy last night to help Richmond in the upset ! We could sure use him…..
YardDawg
March 18th, 2011
7:58 am
“…how loud can I say NO IT WANT !!.”
*****************************
just the truth, you did mean WON’T, right?
And you call us idiots?
Indydawg
March 18th, 2011
8:09 am
Let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are talking about UGA basketball making the NCAA tournament. Regardless of the outcome, I’m personally pleased that we at least have some sense of basketball direction. Anything past this point this year is house money.
Gen Neyland
March 18th, 2011
8:35 am
I had UGA in the NCAA’s prior to the SEC Tourney, even with all the bubblespeak. That makes me 1-0 with them. Any game remaining for UGA now is to not squander a halftime lead ala too many times this season. Finishing is the key in the NCAA’s…Good luck. Show them West Coast shooters that speed kills…
General Ledger
March 18th, 2011
8:42 am
The UW press has me extremely concerned. We have not responded well when we get pressed. Too many turnovers. We also have not handled the big games too well. Blown too many leads. It’s going to be tough, I’m afraid.
JSS
March 18th, 2011
8:43 am
That Gonzanga-St Johns game last night might be a harbinger of things to come today. Their guards are nowhere as talented as the Washington back court; but they took one the most aggressive defensive teams in D-1 and broke them down all night long. Once they did that, and the Zags spent the rest of the night turning over the Red Storm bigs too… Robinson and Ware must break pattern. All I can say is geez!
Rickster
March 18th, 2011
8:45 am
After the first day’s carnage, I’m at 26 points. Mark B is at 14.
I ROCK!!
Moof,Moof---TheHairLipDog
March 18th, 2011
8:46 am
What will Mark do when the dogs lose?
Yuppy Puppy
March 18th, 2011
8:47 am
Who cares? Georgia athletics is a joke. Richt can’t win and never will get a national championship. Alabama and Auburn’ new coaches accomplished that within 3 years on the job. Fox is terrible game coach. Perno’s program is on the slide, etc. Face it, Alabama should be here instead of you guys. You got owned twice in the last week by an inferior team with a better coach–Remember the blackout for Alabama a few years ago? Georgia Athletics–underacheiving since 1980! All hail to Jim Harrick, Ron Jirsa, Ray Goff, Dennis Felton and Jim Donnan. Hopefully the performance by your basketball team can exceed the Liberty Bowl performance.
D A DoubleU G
March 18th, 2011
8:47 am
It doesn’t matter what happens because spring training is just around the corner. Who cares about BB?
JSS
March 18th, 2011
8:55 am
Neyland…
Speed kills? Washington has speed! That is not a jump shooters team only… Why don’t you folks hit you tube some time?
Pete Van Weird
March 18th, 2011
8:58 am
Out-foxed–after not fouling Florida and then fouling up by calling a time out vs. Bama, “they might get it right” just yet. Maybe. But it’ll be a bigger miracle than the tornado tourney.
Bogus
March 18th, 2011
8:59 am
Some teams, like Butler, play better against ranked teams. Some, like Georgia, fold, and lose 75% of the games.
Gamboo
March 18th, 2011
9:01 am
Fox is similar to Mike Bobo. They both have mastered the art of buiulding up their stats against unranked teams. But when the smoke & mirrors clear, they got nothing substantial there.
Dink
March 18th, 2011
9:03 am
Mark:
Good call on Morehead State yeterday, kudos to you sir.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 18th, 2011
9:06 am
Regarding all the polygamy comments above. There is this dude here in Michigan that was just arrested for polygamy. He had a wife in Rhode Island and just married one here in Michigan. His first wife saw the wedding pix on facebook. He now faces four years in prison. I am thinking he opts for all four years then does something to stay locked up. Can’t imagine the honey-do list with two wives.
Buckeye. I remember that fable that Tressel is living out. “Don’t throw me in the briar patch” said Burr Rabbit. I would be happy with the 5 and the season vacated and the two years of no bowl games. Maybe a reduction of 5 scholarships per season for two years. This one was blatantly bad.
JSS
March 18th, 2011
9:07 am
5 freakin 8 inches! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arV-ITIZxqA&feature=related
gdawginkalamazoo
March 18th, 2011
9:08 am
Back to basketball. I think UGA needs to play a full 40 minutes without letting up. Maybe that goes to the lack of depth that some people are mentioning. Regardless, I am proud of this team for what they have accomplished this season and what our coach has accomplished in his second year.
Finally UGA basketball is getting some good press for a change. Please make it a W tonight.’
Boise Dawg
March 18th, 2011
9:10 am
I do think they have a shot to win today, but the premise of this article is lame. If a team like Georgia hasn’t gotten it figured out by late March, then it isn’t going to happen. Lets enjoy Georgia for what it is… a good team and a program that is remarkable better off today than it was a year ago. But to expect the light switch to all the sudden go on and for them to make a deep run by beating the type of teams they struggled against all season? Likely not going to happen. Good luck today Dawgs!
To Buh Bye
March 18th, 2011
9:15 am
There are probably not many, but for sure a few Washington fans on here, and to refer to them as Dawgtards is not showing Southern hospitality at all.
robodawg
March 18th, 2011
9:17 am
Great column. I expected more this season too. I was with Billy Donovan thinking we would challenge for the East title.
Tonight I think we can slow the pace to our liking. My biggest concern is their press — too many teams have gotten back into games against us by forcing turnovers in critical situations. We have not handled the press very well.
Gamboo
March 18th, 2011
9:18 am
Look for Washington to expose Georgia’s lack of depth, Georgia will hang first for a while, then fade due to poor conditioning, as usual.
Shug
March 18th, 2011
9:19 am
You’re in trouble if your chief source for a scouting report is the opposing team’s coach—”they’re well coached and very physical/fast/mentally tough.”
Rufus
March 18th, 2011
9:21 am
The Dogs have a shot, about a 25% shot, at winning (that’s their record against strong teams with a 1-50 rpi, 3-9). The Dogs will fall apart in the last 5 minutes like they pretty much always do. They’re not suddenly going to find a deep bench, and play with depth, it’s not goign to happen. Teams will just run them until the 5 starts are gasping for air.
JSS
March 18th, 2011
9:26 am
Respecting what a team does well and what another team does not, does not make one a “fan of Washington.” They are a battle hardened team. You don’t overlook that kind of a résumé.
bucket
March 18th, 2011
9:29 am
IF UGA plays perimeter defense and limits turnovers, they have a chance. We shall see! Also, not sure how a team underachieved when they won more games overall than last year, including more league wins and qualified for the NCAA tourney. Looking back over the season they certainly could have won more games, but the game is 40 minutes long and they were outdepthed most nights. This is Fox’s second year – give the dude a chance! Next year the team will definitely be in transition if Thompkins and Leslie leave. Circle 2012-2013 season to see where Fox can take UGA.
Rufus
March 18th, 2011
9:29 am
Mark,
Fox only has 3 wins, out of 20, against good teams.
YardDawg
March 18th, 2011
9:32 am
Well, Rufus, at least the Dawgs were in all of their games this season. I seem to remember your boys getting their asses handed to them a few times this season . . .
Nobody thinks UGA is suddenly a BB school, but it is nice to win 21 games this season after what we’ve seen the past few seasons.
Baby steps . . .
Rufus
March 18th, 2011
9:43 am
Fox has NEVER sdvanced past the 2nd round of the NCAA’s. Fox doesn’t build his teams for the tournament.
Clueless at the AJC
March 18th, 2011
9:49 am
No chance to go beyond the first round
Rufus
March 18th, 2011
9:55 am
Fox only averages 68 points a game, and his team shoots an abysmal 48%. Compare that to Kansas, 83 points, 58%, or even Washington, 81 points, 53%. Fox’s guys don’t take or make enough shots to win games.
Mark Bradley
March 18th, 2011
9:56 am
I hate to say it, Clueless, but technically UGA is already in Round 2.
Gen Neyland
March 18th, 2011
10:02 am
JSS : JSS, JSS, JSS…
Gen Neyland
March 18th, 2011
10:04 am
JSS : btw, I went 13-3 yesterday. Not great but pretty good. Today, who knows…and with apoligies to BHO, I don’t have Kansas…
Rufus
March 18th, 2011
10:13 am
So far in the toutney, the team with the better RPI has won 67%.
Rufus
March 18th, 2011
10:16 am
Washington also has much better Pomeroy ranking than Georgia, the team with the better Pomeroy ranking wins 70% of the time so far in the tourney (14-6 record).
At best, basing on RPI or Pomeroy score or Georgia’s record against top 50 rpi (3-9), Georgia has about a 25%-30% shot at winning this game.
wildbill
March 18th, 2011
10:34 am
We have good player talent. But where is the TEAM? AND conditioning? When we cover that, we will beat some teams.
YardDawg
March 18th, 2011
10:50 am
“Fox has NEVER sdvanced past the 2nd round of the NCAA’s”
***************************************
“NEVER” being 7 years at NEVADA and UGA.
Fox hasn’t exactly been coaching at Duke or North Carolina, and yet he has been to the Big Dance 4 times. . .