UGA’s hoops epitaph: It gave itself a chance but lost anyway
It was both the end of the road and the story of the season. (AP photo)
Charlotte — “Losing in the tournament,” Mark Fox said, his voice a rasp as Friday night became Saturday morning, “there should be no shame in that.” There shouldn’t, and there isn’t. You could even describe the presence of Georgia in the NCAA tournament as a breakthrough. And yet …
The season that ended here didn’t feel quite that emphatic. Georgia won 21 games and made the Big Dance, yes. It also lost 12 games and was gone from the NCAA after 40 minutes that could stand as the season in miniature.
The Bulldogs got what they wanted against Washington — the game, the pace, the score. They just couldn’t win it. “Yes,” said Fox, the Georgia coach, “that was frustrating.”
Two years ago it was possible to wonder if the Bulldogs would ever again grace the only tournament that matters. That they made it in their second try under Fox says much about this coach, and in a different era we would look on Georgia and foresee, to borrow from the late Al McGuire, only seashells and balloons. But we live in a colder time, where this season’s team can bear little resemblance to next’s.
There’s a chance we might have watched one of the more talented Bulldog assemblages come and go without registering even one NCAA tournament win. Not since the early ’80s, when Dominique Wilkins and Vern Fleming worked in tandem, has Georgia had a duo as gifted as Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie, but what are the chances we’ll see either or both of these juniors play another collegiate minute?
Said Fox: “They could come back and we could have a great team. They could leave and we could have a young team. One could stay and one could go.”
Fox has signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a shooting guard from Greenville High who should become Georgia’s first McDonald’s All-American recruit since Carlos Strong in 1992. (Louis Williams was a McDonald’s All-American but didn’t enroll; Damien Wilkins was, but arrived as a transfer.) Put Caldwell-Pope alongside Thompkins and Leslie and you’d have a Top 10 team. But the probability is that Thompkins will leave, and with him would go any hope of such a lofty ranking.
Georgia left so many winnable games on the table this season they needed an extra leaf to accommodate them all. Friday’s was just the last of a series. The Bulldogs led by seven in the first half, saw Washington tie it at the break, fell behind by 10 with 12 1/2 minutes left and still trailed by eight with 36 seconds remaining. But they cut it to two and had a chance to tie on Leslie’s fling off a deflection at the buzzer.
Afterward Thompkins didn’t care to ponder missed opportunities. “We gave it every shot we had,” he said. And then: “I don’t regret anything. We’re a tough bunch.”
But they weren’t tough or clever enough to turn a good season into something more. Big men Jeremy Price and Chris Barnes were inconsistent. Guards Gerald Robinson Jr. and Dustin Ware were too much alike — neither a true point guard, neither a knockdown shooter. And there was nothing beyond Barnes in the way of depth. Said Fox after Georgia’s full-tilt rally that fell one basket short: “We’re just not deep enough to play that way all the time.”
Georgia scored 65 points against Washington; Thompkins and Leslie accounted for 38 of those. And now their partnership could end after three seasons, and if it does, Fox will have a hard time finding a starting five, let alone filling out his bench.
And that’s why college basketball has become such an ephemeral thing: You must win big when the opportunity arises, for next season holds no guarantee. (Indeed, who’s to say Caldwell-Pope mightn’t be a one-and-done?)
There was no dishonor in anything Georgia did this season: Its losses were all close, all to worthy opponents. But it would be wrong to suggest there wasn’t disappointment. The Bulldogs gave themselves a chance against Washington, same as they’d given themselves a chance against everybody. Chances, alas, aren’t the same as victories.
By Mark Bradley
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284 comments Add your comment
HickoryDawg
March 19th, 2011
8:52 am
I was first (look at top of the blog) and now I am awake and back! My house!
Brock-
March 19th, 2011
8:52 am
Mark- one big stat you forgot to mention. Wash had 28pts from their bench….UGA had 0.
GT71
March 19th, 2011
8:53 am
If UNC plays the next game like they did a very small but ferocious LIU squad, they, too, are OUT.
Zoeller with 32 isn’t the way the UNC offence is drawn up.
After a 1/2time verbal a$$-kicking, they did play the next 5 minutes well enough to put the Blackbirds away. But that was it.
And PLEASE give UGA credit, Techies. Show a little class.
Ted
March 19th, 2011
8:55 am
Coulda, woulda, shoulda…you didn’t think that UGA would actually win, did you? It doesn’t matter that it was a “close game” or that “it could have gone either way”. They lost.
eddiedawg
March 19th, 2011
8:59 am
Are Tech seriously on this blog talking smack? Seriously?? Get a life losers.
A good, not a great season. But Fox has it going in the right direction. All you can ask. And football season will be here soon…..
GO DAWGS
Get Real
March 19th, 2011
9:00 am
I was talking with some UGA fans earlier in the week and all they could talk about was that UGA could hang with UNC. I told them they better worry about Washington first. Looks like they were way ahead of themselves. But that attitude is typical of UGA fans.
David Granger
March 19th, 2011
9:02 am
Surprised me we got that close, Mark. Got some talent on the team, but still need a good point guard and a couple of players who can hit the jumper.
ormewood
March 19th, 2011
9:04 am
GT71, actually UNC’s offense has always been geared towards big guys. They look inside first and always. See Hansbrough, Tyler. So Zeller scoring a lot of points is not unusual. They had a height advantage in a very fast-paced game. Don’t you think it’s wise to seek to exploit such an advantage?
TURD FERGUSON
March 19th, 2011
9:06 am
Bradley,you got it wrong again.you had the dogs winning 2 games.you dont know sports at all.quit and go home.
DMR
March 19th, 2011
9:08 am
You hoped it wouldn’t happen. You thought it very well could. It did. Now, the Georgia Bulldog basketball program that has been on a two year rise will face some big obstacles. If Thompkins and Leslie both leave, Fox will be left with tons of youth and the program will inevitably take a step or two backward.
Fox has done a great job for the last two seasons in bringing this team along and building a solid foundation from the mess they were as Felton departed Athens. One thing fans cannot deny. Most of the talent Fox has had to work with was a product of Felton’s recruiting.
Fox has to go out and sell the program to the future talent that could take Georgia to the next level. If he can do that, he will be building something. If he doesn’t, Georgia fans will have to wait another 10 or so years for a team of consequence.
Unlike his predecessors, I believe Fox can take this team to the next level given time. McGarrity and UGA need to make a long term commitment to Fox, so he can do his job.
As for those who see simple one and done for the “Tourney”, the only thing that matters in the NCAA is who wins the finals. As a Georgia fan, you have to look at the big picture. 34 teams…some very good got bounced in the first round; and let’s be honest, Georgia wasn’t going to win a National Title this year.
John Wooden
March 19th, 2011
9:11 am
Remember my line, “Don’t judge yourself by what you’ve done but rather by what you should have done.” In that light, this season wasn’t as successful as many people seem to think what with all the blown games down the stretch. On the other hand, judging this season against the last 10 years of the product in Athens, even this crap looks good.
Maybe UGA will win a tournament game someday—it just won’t be soon.
hey....
March 19th, 2011
9:16 am
typical underachieving dogs….no one does less with more….
TarheelinGeorgia
March 19th, 2011
9:21 am
God, I love it when Mark Bradley picks against the Heels and is wrong…
LakeDawg
March 19th, 2011
9:23 am
Good season for the Dawgs. Fox still can’t play the style he wants, because he doesn’t have enough players. Someone mentioned that not having enough players is Fox’s fault. He should have recruited better. Well, he has to build the brand name of UGA before he can recruit better. Going to the tourney was big in that regard. Give Fox some time and I think UGA will see great results.
Vant
March 19th, 2011
9:32 am
A great year — for the Dawgs; something to build on if another prime recruit can be had; Thompson is gone, but could use another year to improve; then again, if he didn’t improve, he’d be a second rounder next year so should take the money now; if Leslie goes, he’s in the CBA in a year; as someone has already said, he’s a great athlete playing basketball; I like Fox and hope UGA extends his contract; but can any of you that really knows the game say that the Dawgs were an improved team from Jan.1 to now; I couldn’t see it; assuming Thompson & Lesle both go, next year will be a better indicator of how good a coach Fox is, for he will have a very different team than is does now.
Marlon
March 19th, 2011
9:33 am
Congratulations UGA on a great season. Mark Fox is doing a tremendous job in Athens and last night’s game is just a first step in building something special at UGA. Dawg fans stay focused and stay on track and continue to build the basketball program. Continue to invest in Stegman and turn it into a first class facility for Fox to be able to recruit. Georgia is loaded with basketball talent. It kills me at every game I go to and watch to see teams such as Florida State, Morehead State, Tennessee Tech, Richmond, Clemson, and on and on have their top players from Georgia. Mark Fox is building something special and last night is just the start!
who cares?
March 19th, 2011
9:33 am
yawn
could be worse
March 19th, 2011
9:37 am
at least you didn’t lose by THIRTY like Bruce Pearl and his employees. THIRTY!!!!!!
Good old Rocky Flop!
UGA=Yawn
March 19th, 2011
9:40 am
Please. UGA should have never been invited over Alabama. What a farce. They lost so all is right again. Too bad the committee has issues with deciding who should go. Alabama, Colorado and Virginia Tech should have all been in befor UGA.
UGA=Yawn
March 19th, 2011
9:41 am
Turd – I agree about Bradley. So wrong – so many times.
BYRDDAWG
March 19th, 2011
9:43 am
Hey tech at least we’re not paying our coach for the next 5 yrs NOT to coach our team!!! BTW we’re 7-4 vs the mighty acc jackets during the past 11 games…..Proud to be a DAWG & Mark Fox fan!!!!!
Marlon
March 19th, 2011
9:43 am
Congratulations UGA on a great season. Mark Fox is doing a great job! UGA’s basketball program in on the rise. Stay focused and don’t get sidetracked by last night’s loss. Continue to make Stegman a first class facility for recruiting. This state is loaded in basketball talent. It is crazy to look at the rosters of all Division I schools and see all their top players from Georgia. Last night was just the first step of something special to come.
I apologize if this is posted twice. I didn’t see that my first one got posted.
Skitty Fritty
March 19th, 2011
9:44 am
Compared to where the program was just 3 years ago, this is a great accomplishment. I am behind Fox 100% and look forward to even greater success in the years to come.
I love all the UGA haters (GT fans) on here. I thought GT was a basketball school, now that’s a school with problems. Also, UT fans, have fun with your Herrick, UT basketball is in big trouble.
Jacket Dad
March 19th, 2011
9:44 am
Congrats to the Dawgs for a really good season. You played to the end of the game and came up just short. You have a good coach who has built a good foundation for the future.
Giggs
March 19th, 2011
9:44 am
Giggity!
collegeballfan
March 19th, 2011
9:44 am
I watched the game last night and UGA had a chance for a good shot at the buzzer. But the Washington defender made a play on the ball and that was that.
Give Washington credit, they were quick and played defense by moving their feet. We do not see much of that anymore in college basketball. A tip of the hat to the Washington coach. Good job.
Fox had a damn good year. Georgia basketball was at the botton and Fox has brought them credibility in just two seasons. Good job.
Going forward you UGA grads really need to fill Stegeman for the games like you did for the last 8 or 10 games this season.
The future of Georgia basketball really looks good.
Skitty Fritty
March 19th, 2011
9:46 am
Why do all the Tech fans tell us how smart they are but allowed their basketball coach to have such a one sided contract. I guess Tech fans aren’t so smart after all or maybe it’s just their AD’s who are idiots.
The Paul Hewitt contract is worse then hiring Bill Lewis,
Hairy Dawg
March 19th, 2011
9:46 am
Proud of my Dawgs for playing hard and Coach Fox. The refs gave us bad calls that cost the game that was close. We goning be better next year as Fox beginning get rolling program. Then we just reloads talent when needs too. Talent should play for Dawgs and is best program in state. Good job Coach Fox.
King Gator
March 19th, 2011
9:49 am
Better than being in the NIT, losing to UCF in the Liberty Bowl, or getting busted for a DUI with a woman who’s not your wife – with her panties in your lap. Chin up Dawgs, it was the best game on last night too. Go Gators!
Hairy Dawg
March 19th, 2011
9:52 am
And another thing I telling you is that Pearl Vols soiled there pants in embareases SEC. Vols just stink with bad programs.
Confused
March 19th, 2011
9:53 am
I can’t figure out UGA fans. They have a good basketball coach who proves he can actually make it to the tournament, even if they lose by three in the 1st round, and still want him fired. Yet they have a 2nd rate football coach who can’t get them to the big game even with some of the top talent in the conference…….and they’re convinced he’s the next Jesus H. Warner.
JDawg1785
March 19th, 2011
9:54 am
Definitely a step forward for a program that was in the dumps only a few years ago. Coach Fox has everything going in the right direction. Let’s hope he can keep building on what he’s done thus far.
PTC DAWG
March 19th, 2011
9:57 am
Congrats to Fox & Co. He can build on this.
J Clay
March 19th, 2011
9:58 am
How is losing to the favored team proof that we should not be there? Are you kidding me? So Louisville should not have gotten an invite either I guess? Bunch of igniters all you are…
Proud of the team and disagree with Lowcountry on this one – Fox stuck to the game plan and the team executed it well – keeping htem in the game all the way. No way we needed to get into a press situtation against them, we don’t have the depth – they could have run us off the court. Was very disappointed in the dunk put back being called offensive interference – the momentum of the game changed after that (we had 4 trips in a row with no points)….
Anyway – to all of you who feel vindicated because UGA lost – you’re not as smart as you think. Ask a rational basketball person about UGA and they will tell you UGA most indeed deserved to be in the tournament, and validated it with they way they played against Washington.
TampaDAWG
March 19th, 2011
10:00 am
Thank you to the other programs fans that actually have class, to the others, nobody really cares what you think. The most serious problem UGA had/has is the bench. As pointed out by Brock 28-0 in bench points. It only proves that depth is more important then most fans understand. UW likes to run cause they can play 10 people, they like to press because of depth, the reason UGA didn’t dribble or pass through the press is because it would have worn them out quicker, they played a good game against the type of team that was a terrible matchup for them. Anyways, UGA can and will be good if Fox can recruit. Nobody should have expected him to build the bench right away with the way the program was. I’ve said it before, if he recruits well these next 2-3 years then UGA will be relevant in basketball for as long as he stays. If not, then hell be gone and the program will get as bad if not worse than it was under Felton. Can’t wait to what Thompkins and Leslie do. Go DAWGS!!
Beejis
March 19th, 2011
10:01 am
Great game Dawgs of GA! The Dawgs of WA had to pick up their game in the second half in order to finally get a sliver of a lead to hold you all off! Where IT (Isaiah Thomas) goes, UW goes. From a UW fans perspective, the only thing holding GA back from a longer run in the tournament is depth. Great game and good luck next season!
YellowJacket
March 19th, 2011
10:02 am
Now that the Dawgs are through dreaming about their “one and done” basketball team let’s see how their other dream team works out. Probably the same. It’s just too bad that you have to actually play the game and not just dream about it. They would definitely be a number one seed in a tournament of dreams.
TampaDAWG
March 19th, 2011
10:06 am
Hey YellowJacket, lots of trash talking since your team didn’t make ANY of the post season tournaments, had a losing season, and lost to UGA at home. But thanks for chipping in, lets us know we Still Run the State!
wildbill
March 19th, 2011
10:06 am
Good effort this year. Not Excellent, Not Great, but good. Glad we don’t have to play N.C.!!!
LLUGA
March 19th, 2011
10:07 am
At least we made it to the second round this year…
dh
March 19th, 2011
10:09 am
This Tech fan wants to actually congratulate Georgia for their season and making it to the tourney. After all, Tech didn’t do squat and he is 2-0 against the Jackets. I think when CMF gets his players he will be successful for many years. You guys may want to lock him up so a bigger basketball school doesn’t go after him.
Homepage | MrSEC.com
March 19th, 2011
10:13 am
[...] 3. Mark Bradley: “There’s a chance we might have watched one of the most talented Bulldog assemblages come and go without registering even one NCAA tournament win.” [...]
BW
March 19th, 2011
10:14 am
Will someone ask Mark Fox why we went to Man D in the second half when Zone held Thomas to 4 points in the first half. They shot 54% in the second half because he broke us down in the lane. Questionable coaching cost the dawgs a chance to match up w/ UNC.
heartofdarkness
March 19th, 2011
10:14 am
Georgia played well enough to make the game closer than expected. Neither team seemed to want to play team defense, which is odd, because neither is offensively talented enough to get by on scoring alone. If Fox is allowed to recruit on both coasts, Georgia might be a team on the rise.
cooper
March 19th, 2011
10:15 am
that’s a shame, where is Mark Price or Kenny Anderson when you need them? oops my bad wrong school hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Gator Gus
March 19th, 2011
10:16 am
Well well, Georgia one and done. Boys run out of gas. Bench gets outscored 27-0. Missed free throws. Lost steam in the 2nd half. Same old, same old.
Chomp!
Dawg Tired
March 19th, 2011
10:16 am
This sports page sux.
willie
March 19th, 2011
10:18 am
With the talent Georgia has (particularly Thompkins), having to sneak into the tourney and then getting bounced in the 1st round can’t be considered anything but an underachievement…period.
Chris
March 19th, 2011
10:18 am
Wonder if McGarity regrets having the team work out, in trailers last year? Conditioning seemed to hurt Georgia, in football and now basketball. And someone should ask McGarity if he sees a link between only reinvesting 25% back into the football program, and losing?
Beast from the East
March 19th, 2011
10:18 am
Gator Gus,
Be careful. We could very well get sent home today, as well.