Hoops insider: So which is the bigger dud – Tech or UGA?
"So why aren't we better than this? You're asking ME? " (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
Hoops Hysterics
1. Georgia is tied for last in the SEC. Georgia Tech is dead last in the ACC. Which team is more disappointing? Georgia, and not just because the Bulldogs managed to lose to Tech in Athens. (The Jackets are 3-9 since.) A team in Year 3 under its coach, as Georgia is, should be much further along than a team in Year 1, as is the case with Tech. If the Bulldogs don’t win a big game or two the second half of the league season, the advances of last season will be canceled out.
2. How many NCAA tournament bids will the ACC command? How many for the SEC? The ACC could get stuck on four — North Carolina, Duke, Florida State and Virginia — if North Carolina State continues to slide and Miami doesn’t make a big push. The SEC has four almost-certains — Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State — but Alabama lost four in a row and, its RPI of 33 notwithstanding, could be overtaken by Ole Miss. There’s a chance the SEC could get six, but five seems more like it.
3. Will Bobby Cremins return to the College of Charleston next season? The guess is no. Although technically he has taken only a leave of absence for the rest of this season, the (unspecified but said not to be life-threatening) health issues that forced him to step aside don’t augur well for a comeback at age 65. His Cougars beat Clemson and Tennessee early in the season but have suffered a run of injuries and lost seven of the past nine games. It has been reported that Cremins offered to resign Friday but agreed to the leave of absence instead.
My Super Sweet Sixteen
1. Kentucky: With Tennessee and South Carolina upcoming, this stands to be another ho-hum week. Next week, however, will bring games against Vanderbilt and Florida.
2. Ohio State: The surging Buckeyes only play once this week, but their date at Wisconsin on Saturday stands to be one of the Big Ten’s biggest games of the season.
3. Syracuse: Those seeking the worst call (or non-call, in this case) of the year need look no further than Baye Keita’s blatant goaltend against West Virginia on Saturday.
4. North Carolina: Only eight more days until the Tar Heels face Duke in the Dean Dome. Possible trap game: Carolina must play at Maryland on Saturday.
5. Missouri: All season folks have wondered if Mizzou is for real. This week should help provide an answer: The Tigers play at Texas, then face Kansas in Columbia.
6. Duke: Only eight more days until the Blue Devils face North Carolina in the Dean Dome. Possible trap game: Miami in Cameron on Super Bowl Sunday.
7. Baylor: For the Bears, this is the week before the week. They face Texas A&M and Oklahoma State on the road. Next week brings Kansas and Missouri.
8. Murray State: The Racers are still undefeated, and at 21-0 Steve Prohm is tied with Lou Rossini of Columbia for the third-best start by any first-year coach ever.
9. Kansas: Can’t carp overmuch about the Jayhawks’ upset loss at Iowa State. The resurgent Cyclones are pretty good, and Kansas hadn’t lost since before Christmas.
10. Michigan State: This is a prove-it week for the men of Izzo. They play at Illinois on Tuesday, then face Michigan, which just beat State by a point, in East Lansing.
11. Florida: The latest contender for second-best-team-in-the-SEC will be identified Saturday in Gainesville when the hot Gators face almost-as-hot Vandy.
12. Creighton: The Bluejays’ winning streak stands at 10 in a row. The name to know: Forward Doug McDermott, who averages 23.5 points and 8.4 rebounds a game.
13. Saint Mary’s: The Gaels’ winning streak stands at 11 in a row. The name to know: Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova, who averages 15.4 points and 6.4 assists.
14. Florida State: The game to determine the ACC’s third-best team comes Saturday, when Virginia visits Tallahassee. First up for the ‘Noles: Georgia Tech on Wednesday.
15. Marquette: The Golden Eagles have risen to second in the 16-team Big East but have beaten only one conference opponent — Louisville — of real consequence.
16. Virginia: A narrow escape at North Carolina State lifted the Cavaliers to 15-3, but they still must play North Carolina and Florida State twice each.
Dropped out: San Diego State, Georgetown, Mississippi State.
By Mark Bradley
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127 comments Add your comment
honest_abe
January 30th, 2012
12:44 pm
whatever. tech is SUPPOSED to be good at basketball. uga not so much.
trevinb
January 30th, 2012
12:47 pm
I agree that UGA is bigger dud, but I still believe in Mark Fox’s program. I don’t think this year will put him on hot seat. What is your opinion? Does McGarrity start looking around?
ChopAttack
January 30th, 2012
12:47 pm
I realize that Georgia isn’t a basketball school, but wow what an embarrassment. With UGA’s resources there’s no excuse for how horrible they are at basketball. Georgia has had as much success in basketball as UNC-Charlotte over the last 12 years. Think about that.
Outside Observer
January 30th, 2012
12:49 pm
Abe, no program is supposed to be good in the first year under a new head coach, especially with the lack of talent he inherited. Tech has been competitive in most games, and hopefully they can win a few games they shouldn’t, as well as provide some extra motivation going into next season with the new recruits and all of the returning guys.
KCTheTruth
January 30th, 2012
12:52 pm
GT beat UGA… UGA = biggest dud. They have a McD’s burger boy on the roster and they still suck. Sounds like a Paul Hewitt coaching job.
GT lost Iman, Oliver, Mo Miller, etc. We were expected to have a tough season. The guys play hard, play to a system, and we have major help on the way in Marcus Hunt, Rob Carter, and Bolden. We’ll grab a PG in April also. We’ll be tough to deal with in 2012/2013. UGA will UGA again.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
12:58 pm
I don’t think McGarity goes shopping anytime soon, trevinb. But it would behoove Mark Fox to prove he can win with players he recruited.
Tech Fan Since 1950
January 30th, 2012
1:01 pm
No contest. UGA is aways the biggest dud. BUT, neither one of us have “dream teams”.
reebok
January 30th, 2012
1:06 pm
Both teams are bad, Tech gets the mulligan only
because they beat Georgia in Athens.
OkieDawg
January 30th, 2012
1:06 pm
Georgia can’t recruit the the top talent to play basketball at UGA. Georgia has the same problem in basketball that GT has in football. Kids want to play for schools that can compete year in and year out. Georgia’s lack of ability to recruit good basketball talent doesn’t have anything to do with academic requirements. Likewise, Tech’s inability to recruit good football talent doesn’t have anything to do with academic requirements. It’s just an excuse Tech uses to not have to face the real problems that exits within the football program.
wes
January 30th, 2012
1:06 pm
UGA just getting what they deserve.
Remember when Bob Knight expressed interest in the job? Instead of hiring maybe one of the best basketball coaches of all time (you know…the guy who mentored Coach K?)….they went with some balding guy from Nevada.
Gordon
January 30th, 2012
1:07 pm
It’s just too early to tell if Gregory will work out at Tech. I am pulling really hard for him, but there are just too many things working against him now to show what he can do, the biggest of which is very little offensive talent. We’ll start to get an idea after the next game against FSU. I would like to see some progress over those last 8 or so games where we should at least be competitive.
Cremins first 4 years at Tech he won 10, 13, 18, and 27 games. I expect a similar trajectory with Gregory if he is to survive. Year 3 we should be on the bubble, year 4 we should get in comfortably. If not, Hewitt will be almost paid off and it will be time to look around. But I hope that isn’t the case because I really like Gregory a lot.
reebok
January 30th, 2012
1:07 pm
Different issue, I hope Coach Cremins does whatever is best for his health…I used to run into him frequently when he coached the Jackets, and he was always friendly and approachable…seemed like a really good guy.
Ted Striker
January 30th, 2012
1:09 pm
I concur with you. UGA is the greater disappointment.
(Is that even possible to say “greater disappointment” unless one is Switzerland? In these parts one man’s disappointment is another individual’s pleasure.)
As for your sweeter 16….okay….I didn’t read that far. Not that I don’t think your columns are pure literary gold. However if papa needed new shoes and they were dependent on a choice in anything to do with NCAA basketball bracketing results i’d query you this.
WHO DOES YOUR DAUGHTER PICK?
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
Can’t speak for Lizzie for sure, but I’m pretty sure her Final Four will include the Kentucky Wildcats.
Hankie Aron
January 30th, 2012
1:11 pm
Well said OkieDawg
Hankie Aron
January 30th, 2012
1:13 pm
Alright I’ll say it Mark, you UK Wildcat homer! you. It’s not like you graduated from there or anything.
GTBob
January 30th, 2012
1:17 pm
Tech’s inability to recruit good football talent doesn’t have anything to do with academic requirements.
That’s true. Tech has never had to turn away a long time commitment because he couldn’t meet academic requirements. They also sign tons of JUCO players because it is so easy to get them into Tech. Academics definitely have no influence on GT recruiting at all.
ChopAttack
January 30th, 2012
1:17 pm
Kentucky has yet to beat a good team away from Rupp. You can say that about a lot of other teams as well…. I don’t think this UK team makes the Final Four. They’re not as good as last year’s team. The PG isn’t good enough.
UNC, OSU, Kansas, Syracuse
1eyedJack
January 30th, 2012
1:18 pm
Ok, I’ll say it. Who cares. It’s basketball!
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
1:20 pm
Talent-wise, this Kentucky team is much better than last season’s. Not even close.
And I believe Kentucky did beat Kansas in Madison Square Garden. But I do take the point. The big SEC road games — Mississippi State, Vandy and Florida — still await.
UGA Insider
January 30th, 2012
1:20 pm
Mike Adams could care less about BBALL. That’s all you need to know.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
1:22 pm
I would disagree very much about Michael Adams’ feeling for basketball.
Ryan
January 30th, 2012
1:23 pm
Thompkins and Leslie leaving the program a year early completely derailed anything Fox had building. Great players leaving early is the number one issue any upstart coach/program has in trying to become an elite basketball program. Name me one school in the last 10 years who has gone from below average to top tier and sustained it. There aren’t any. UGA is what they are; a program who will have blips on the radar every once in awhile but as a whole just mediocre.
ChopAttack
January 30th, 2012
1:23 pm
Yeah, UK has a good stretch. If they mow those teams down I’ll be a believer. I’m a UNC fan and I went to the the game at Rupp. Amazing atmosphere and great game.
DawgJones
January 30th, 2012
1:24 pm
Hey Mark..didn’t McGarity give Fox a raise and extension last year?? Someone explain this to me
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
1:24 pm
How about Baylor, Ryan?
Pitbull
January 30th, 2012
1:25 pm
Which is the bigger dud- Bradley or Schultz. Its close.
ChopAttack
January 30th, 2012
1:27 pm
Ryan,
Gonzaga? Bulter?
GTJeff
January 30th, 2012
1:28 pm
The bigger question is, do Bulldog or Yellow Jackets even care about basketball? Answer, hell no. Nix basketball & sink that money into the football program. WE need it over at tech. To hell with BB. Leave that to Puke.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
1:28 pm
Yes, McGarity did redo Fox’s contract, DawgJones. And it seemed appropriate at the time.
I still say, though, that Georgia should have done better with the talent it had last season. Lost nearly every lose-able game.
Pensacola dawg
January 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
Has to be tech, no real expectations in Athens, tech claims to be a basketball school.
Alabama | MrSEC
January 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
[...] RPI boost by sweeping Ole Miss and Mississippi State last week.8. Is Georgia’s hoops team a bigger disappointment than Georgia Tech?More to [...]
UGASlobberknocker
January 30th, 2012
1:37 pm
Great to see college basketball from Mrak Bradley..his best stuff every year..
on this, though, I disagree with Mark . While both are duds for sure,to me, Georgia is the lesser dud because
a/ we lost a ton of talent and had no big men coming back.
b/we expect pretty much to suck every yr anyway ..so how big of a surprise can it be really?
Tech on the other hand, thinks they are a basketball school. ‘Nuff said.
dawgman
January 30th, 2012
1:40 pm
What’s new? UGA is disappointing in all sports. Have you looked at the football team lately?
GT Dude
January 30th, 2012
1:41 pm
This deserves a “Well Duh”
Everyone knew that the Jackets were going to be poor to down right bad this year and to their credit they are doing a darn good job of being bad.
Now over in Athens there were expectations of a middle of the pack season, which just isn’t going to happen.
So UGA is the bigger disappointment!
Admiral Obvious
January 30th, 2012
1:48 pm
Neither is surprising.
Georgia is rebuilding because they lost two darn good players to the NBA. They’d be scary in the East if those two players had stayed.
Tech’s downfall is not surprising at all. This program has been sinking for several years then they hire a coach that was about be fired from Dayton. You get what you pay for Nerds…
Ryan
January 30th, 2012
1:51 pm
@ Mr. Bradley: Baylor has made the NCAA tourney twice in the last 10 years. Heck UGA has done that. Need to see more but they are creating an excellent foundation for a top tier program.
@ChopAttack: Gonzaga has been an elite program since the early 90s. Butler is the perfect example of a blip team. Two unbelievable runs to the title game with elite talent and now this season they are mid pack in a mid major conference.
kdubble
January 30th, 2012
1:53 pm
UGA is a bigger disappointment…..in year 3 a coach should have recruited veteran players who could step in and make a difference…we have some of the best high school basketball talent in the country but no kids want to play there….Our college coaches need to do a better job of keeping our kids in state….
Ted Striker
January 30th, 2012
1:53 pm
Hard for this humble observer to diagnose the root cause of the Athens issue.
But since I’m getting paid as much as the next commenter, I’ll try.
1) Coaching? Solid B. Not much more; not much less.
B+ for year one, C+ for year 2, jury is out on year 3. Lefty Driesell would’ve done better with year two talent. Jim Donnan would’ve gotten the tax id numbers off of year 3 talent and who knows what would happen if one of them had been a lottery pick in 2016.
2) Recruiting? Easier to pronounce a disappointment at this point yet harder to know for sure. Results are sometimes apparent 2-3 years down the road.
What it looks like? C+ Needed one/two more blue chippers. Or one more blue collar guys to become a difference maker in the clutch.
3) Neither here nor there
Has anyone else noticed how the term ‘blue chip prospect’ is less in favor over the more specific RIVALS.COM or ESPN top 25 or USA TODAY or SCOUT.com player of the millennium?
Coastal Dawg
January 30th, 2012
1:53 pm
Totally disagree about the Dawgs. Not sure what one could expect with the loss of the big men and Thompkins and Leslie going pro. Dustin Ware and Gerald can’t play the post. We get killed rebounding and the shooting percentage is because we can’t get those high percentage baskets inside. As long as I see hustle, attempts at defense, and slow improvement, I think the program will still develop as it appeared before. CMF is in the conversation with a lot of recruits that before would not even have considered us.
Hal
January 30th, 2012
1:58 pm
I am suprised Tech is hanging in there in some of the games they have played. I prediced no wins in the ACC for them. The previous coach left the cupboard bare.
GTBob
January 30th, 2012
2:00 pm
GT should be much better next year. This year has been pretty awful as most expected. I’m not sure what to think of UGA’s program at this point. They aren’t very good and they will lose at least two of their top 3 scorers next year. If Caldwell-Pope goes pro then they will lose all three. Things are bad now, but may get worse.
PT Barnum
January 30th, 2012
2:09 pm
Georgia should be further along than this, imho. We know what Pewitt did to our program here in Atlanta. So give us two years to regroup. Lets talk year after next, and we will see. I figure both programs should be MUCH better then. If not, heads SHOULD roll in both schools.
Ted Striker
January 30th, 2012
2:10 pm
Coastal – You don’t write in much however i always remember who you are. As always your points are excellent.
Please allow me to say this. Thompkins & Leslie going pro was not unexpected. That’s something college coaches just have to deal with whether you’re red and black or big blue.
Always good to read your viewpoints.
bruce mac
January 30th, 2012
2:13 pm
Who cares, it is all about Wednesday and the final recruting ratings for UGA. And really if you both are really bad what difference does it make if you are less bad? So, Yech fans are excited about what? Golf, no, tennis, no, swimming, no, football, no, basketball, no. No no and double no.
keepinitreal
January 30th, 2012
2:16 pm
Neither team has been what I would call “disappointing.” I fully expected both UGA and Tech to suck this year. As a Dawg fan, I’ve come to terms with the fact that Georgia will never be much of a factor in basketball. Aside from the occasional Caldwell-Pope, the elite prospects just don’t give UGA much of a look.
RCB
January 30th, 2012
2:21 pm
How do you know its basketball season? Mr. Bradley is setting up Mr. Fox to fall instead of Mr. Richt.
UGA BBALL DAWG
January 30th, 2012
2:21 pm
It’s hard to turn over when you lose your best two players and have 7 Freshman or RS Freshman opposed to 4 Seniors, two of which are RS as well. Fox has some solid recruits coming in next season with Charles Mann, Kenny Gaines, and Brandon Morris. If they can manage to land Charles Mitchell as well…and keep Caldwell-Pope from going pro for no reason….I think they will be able to build a team to contend. Of course with Kentucky annually getting half the Top Ten recruits (who then go pro) and then replace them with more Top Ten recruits (who then go pro) and so on…it will be hard for any team to really contend for an SEC Championship.
You can doubt me but I think UGA and GT both reach the Big Dance again between now and 2015. Seems like a long time but it’s only 3 seasons considering 2012 is over for these two teams.
Dawg in Sewer
January 30th, 2012
2:24 pm
WE`s bigger dudsie. We is always are bestes in everythings. We is lotsa bigger thanes the maggots.
Rioffs, Ruffgs goes Serwers dawgssss
crackbaby
January 30th, 2012
2:25 pm
College basketball is almost unwatchable. The game has fallen so far since the 80s and 90s.
It’s not simply that the best players leave early for the NBA. Coaching is mediocre and the inconsistency in officiating leads to games that are practically different sports. Guard play is lacking on most teams.
Best game this year was FSU’s domination of UNC. Captured the emotion and spirit of on-campus basketball.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
2:26 pm
I really don’t think anyone expected both Thompkins and Leslie to return. Maybe one, but not both.
And the “we-lost-players-to-the-NBA” line really doesn’t cut it anymore. Anybody who’s any good leaves early. A program has to keep re-stocking. And it has to win big when it has the chance. Not many second chances in this sport.
Fair n Balanced
January 30th, 2012
2:28 pm
What were the advances of last year?
Bobby Knight
January 30th, 2012
2:28 pm
UGA has virtually no inside presence (other than D. Williams who is usually outmanned by two to three good front line players on other teams) and relies on an inconsistent group of shooters, who frequently appear to be brick layers, to convert from outside of the 3-pt line. Not necessarily there fault since every team knows we rely on the outside shot since we have no interior threats to speak of. Until they build an inside presence they will remain cellar dwellers. Hopefully CMF can develop some of the bigs he brought in before next season so we can be a complete team. Fox has the odds stacked against him unless he can recruit some higher quality players like KCP going forward, hopefully Morris will help next year. PG is also going to be occupied by youth going forward so better recruit some talent. In regard to Tech – NOBODY REALLY CARES – haven’t been worth a d@*% since Cremins left.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
2:29 pm
And it wasn’t just that Thompkins and Leslie left. So did big men Chris Barnes and Jeremy Price. They were seniors.
blazer
January 30th, 2012
2:32 pm
uga bball in a old barn-they don’t even care about it.
George P
January 30th, 2012
2:38 pm
Well, at least we can inbounds the ball this season. Incremental progress. Its hard to believe how one coach can destroy a program in just a few short years.
TruthSeeker
January 30th, 2012
2:39 pm
Fox seems like an OK coach but nothing special. I don’t think UGA should look to get rid of him because I have no delusions that they’re a great program and because finding a good coach who wants to come here would be difficult, but Fox hasn’t done much to impress so far. His best coaching job was his first year, and that team still lost 17 games.
DawginJail
January 30th, 2012
2:42 pm
The real question is which is the biggest disappointment, UGA Football or UGA Basketball? And by the way, I’m ready to commit.
BulldogBen
January 30th, 2012
2:45 pm
Totally agree about UGA’s season. Yes we lost 2 NBA talent players but like Bradley said, in Year 3, we should at least be competitive against the rest of the SEC. That means at least an 8-8 conference record. If you’ve watched the team this year, you know that will be a miracle.
Felton got 5 seasons. If Fox doesn’t make the tourney next year or the year after he has to go. We should not settle for this. We have too many resources.
BjohnDawg
January 30th, 2012
2:47 pm
I watched practice on Saturday. Fox looked pretty relaxed for someone on the “hot seat”.
But he needs to get some players in and win with his own recruits.
I am not impressioned with the recruits so far…with exception of K. Pope.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
2:47 pm
Dennis Felton got six seasons. (Or 5 1/2, to be accurate.) He would have been out after five had Georgia not won the 2008 SEC tournament.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
And let’s be clear: Fox isn’t on the hot seat. But I do think his program has taken a major step back this season. I knew there’d be some rebuilding required, but I didn’t expect Georgia to be 1-5 in the SEC and to have lost five home games.
Jimmy Crack
January 30th, 2012
2:50 pm
“A team in Year 3 under its coach, as Georgia is, should be much further along than a team in Year 1, as is the case with Tech. If the Bulldogs don’t win a big game or two the second half of the league season, the advances of last season will be canceled out.”
Advantages of last season??? Oh, you mean those two “advantages” that are counting their money and warming the Clippers’ bench in L.A., Mark? This ain’t “Year Three”, it’s “Year One” all over again. Georgia could have been a NCAA contender this season, but will not be because Fox’s two best players (by far) at their PEAK, just disappeared from his roster. Mark, 40% of UGA’s 2010-2011 starters, including over 70% of their scoring, left early for the NBA (stupidly I will add). That basically made Coach Fox start over from scratch with a play-in audition to incoming freshmen. When Seniors leave, the HC is responsible BEFOREHAND for recruiting players who will already be in place when graduation time arrives. When ONE talented starting player leaves a team EARLY, it leaves a void in the starting lineup and creates a hole for other teams to take advantage. WHEN TWO OR MORE star players leave early (as underclassmen) it completely destroys any team “progress” that may have occurred and basically hits the reset button for that entire season.
So I would say Tech and Georgia are TIED in the lousy department, with the tie-breaker going to Tech who won their head-to-head matchup. Just not much different situations.
LakeDawg
January 30th, 2012
2:50 pm
Fox is a hell of a coach, but his recruiting has been abysmal. Its tough to recruit to UGA, but if he doesn’t start bringing in better talent he is sunk. Right now, UGA has only one player with SEC talent. The rest are mid-major at best. The next class seems to be better, but is it good enough? Fox doesn’t need much to be successful.
GSUStud
January 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
Is it true that Ga Tech is really going back to Div II in sports? I hope so.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
2:52 pm
As far as players leaving, let’s note that Tech is playing without early NBA entrant Iman Shumpert, who was drafted (far) ahead of both Thompkins and Leslie, plus Brian Oliver, who transferred after Gregory was hired.
JSS
January 30th, 2012
3:02 pm
Ted Striker!!! Good to see you, keep ‘em honest young man!!!
Fair n Balanced
January 30th, 2012
3:07 pm
Why isn’t Felton on the hot seat? If we were talking about football……. It’s just that GA does not expect much from the basketball program, or there would be an outcry. But how is this a rebuilding season? I mean, when were we built? I certainly thought last yr was a minimum pass at best. This year is a disaster. 3 years in and GA is dead last I the conference and can only hope to beat SC to get out of the cellar. Is this where we expected to be in 3 years? I don’t think so. And I agree with Mark, the fact that GA lost a couple players to the NBA does not fly anymore.
Gordon
January 30th, 2012
3:08 pm
Mark,
Not to mention Moe Miller, who was a PG who I never really appreciated until this year. I think we actually miss him more than Oliver.
Also, a myth that needs to be retired is that Gregory was about to get fired at Dayton. He won 97 games his last 4 years. We’ll see if he works out at Tech, but I’ve seen nothing yet that makes me think he is in over his head. As someone stated above, Fox’s problem might be getting 4 and 5 star talent to UGA. He did last year with KCP, but I was surprised he couldn’t get anyone this year. Gregory stole Carter from him even with a late start.
Ignition
January 30th, 2012
3:09 pm
GT gets what they deserve
Gordon
January 30th, 2012
3:11 pm
Fair N Balanced,
The reason Felton isn’t on the hot seat is that he isn’t an active coach. The reason Fox isn’t on the hot seat is that he coaches at a school where many fans don’t know the name of the coach.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
3:11 pm
Moe Miller saved the 2009-2010 season, Gordon. I’d agree that he was a major loss as well.
JSS
January 30th, 2012
3:12 pm
Well, it is funny just how bad the major D-1 programs really are! Thompkins and Leslie were game changers on the college level; but man they are getting a baptism under fire in the NBA… While the lockout was in progress, I got to watch a ton of D-1 games (and some international ball at the Pan-Am Games) and difference is just startling!
Mark Bradley, that Murray team is the OVC’s version of Butler, they may be playing in the last game… Don’t give up on SDSU just yet, they were made for March…
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
3:13 pm
Not giving up on SDSU, JSS. Just was surprised they lost by 17 at Colorado State after winning at New Mexico. Maybe just the road blahs …
PreyDawg
January 30th, 2012
3:14 pm
Asking this from Western Kentucky area. Did you consider Murray State in your 16 teams. We are pretty excited about them up here.
PreyDawg
January 30th, 2012
3:15 pm
Sorry, didn’t see the earlier Murray post.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
3:16 pm
Oh, yes. Murray State is No. 8. And I can proudly say that I’ve seen maybe the two greatest Racers ever play in person — Mont Sleets and Popeye Jones.
GT
January 30th, 2012
3:16 pm
Georgia is playing in one of the weakest SEC years in a long while. A little effort on their part could have poked a hole in the ceiling. I think Fox is seeing this backwoods basketball doesn’t work like football. Georgia on paper looks great but in reality it has never been a destination school.
Tech is playing in a conference that is much stronger than most believed it would be. A good Tech team would have problems in this conference, like the one Hewitt had two years ago that couldn’t get out of its own way. I can’t remember a thing telling us this wouldn’t be this kind of year and not having a real home, this was always a throw away season like so many Hewitt had, only his were unexpected.
Gordon
January 30th, 2012
3:17 pm
UGA loses senior guards Robinson and Ware next year. Those 3 freshmen better work out well and KCP better stay at least 3 years or Fox will really have some problems. Gregory’s problem is that he needs to sign a PG this year or it will be 14/15, his fourth year, before he has a talented experienced point guard.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
3:17 pm
I’m not sure the SEC is all that weak, GT.
PreyDawg
January 30th, 2012
3:19 pm
Sorry. My bad. Read through the list too fast. Yes, we all talk about Popeye to this day. I am a UGA alum and fan and a Falcon through and through but my son and I like to go to a few Murray games and occasionally WKU. That way we don’t feel like we are betraying the DAWGS somehow. If we went to a UK game we would feel like turncoats. Of course we couldn’t get a ticket anyway probably.
Gordon
January 30th, 2012
3:22 pm
It hurts UGA that even though they no longer have divisions in basketball, they still are playing the same schedule as before (every former East team twice). UK, Vandy, and UF are all very good and will be 6-0 combined against UGA, and Tennessee will probably beat them at home. Tech lucked out in that it plays the 4 best ACC teams only once each.
JSS
January 30th, 2012
3:26 pm
Losing Ware is addition by subtraction, he’ll never understand his weaknesses and really work on them… Maybe 4 to 5 fresh faces (in 2012-2013) could be just the thing to clear the decks in Athens and get them to see where they need to go?
I’m sorry, but the lower to middle teams in SEC are something scary bad… A lot of teams with horrible chemistry issues! The same can be said for the Big 10…
BulldogBen
January 30th, 2012
3:29 pm
Jimmy Crack, way to miss the point of the whole article. Point is, despite the losses, this team should at least be competitive and not staring directly at a 3-13 or 4-12 conference record.
GT, the biggest fallacy in college basketball these days is that the ACC is the toughest basketball league. It has been living off Duke/UNC for years. It is a very top heavy conference with over half of it being mediocre to bad.
Help Wanted
January 30th, 2012
3:30 pm
This is easy…Georgia…Mark Fox is in his third year…this year UGA was going to become one of those 2nd tier teams…ain’t happenin’…it’s unfortunate…Fox is a good coach…but UGA ain’t a BBall school
BigTimeTechFan
January 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
Put Xavier in the Sweet 16, they are back on track after the supensions
They beat:
Vandy
Georgia
Purdue
Butler
Gordon
January 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
I have to agree with BulldogBen about the ACC, but I think several teams made coaching changes in the last few years that will have us back to being a 6 or 7 bid league before too long. I think Turgeon was not an upgrade for Maryland but a solid coach. Bennett, Larranega, Gregory, Gottfried, and Donahue are all better than their predecessors. Bzedelik I’m not so sure about.
Joey
January 30th, 2012
3:38 pm
You didn’t mention the girls, Mark (shame on you, you sexist!) but I think the first coach that should be run off in Athens is Landers.
Recruits well, but lets Georgia’s best go out of state (Maya Moore).Sends players to the Pros and Olympics, but can’t win anything big with them, himself.
Gee, that sounds familiar . . .
JSS
January 30th, 2012
3:39 pm
Prey Dawg, you need to go to one UK-UL or UK-IU game once in your life… That is bucket list stuff, you won’t regret it…
I dislike college basketball; but I to this day still remember my first UK game in Rupp (LSU)…
The coach Gregory project
January 30th, 2012
3:40 pm
I like what Gregory is doing at Tech. Yes, Tech lost the best player between the two schools. Shumpert is averging double digits in points and started 12 games, so it was a good decision for him to go (unlike Crittenton) The showing against Duke was unbelievable and I don’t think many Tech fans had been that excited in a big game in a couple of years.
Everyone forgot that Hewitt’s good teams were good. Duke ACC finals loss 3 times I think. No other school than chapel hill had been to the finals that many times in that span. But he could not get enough regular season wins and so his fate was decided.
Gregory is recruiting like a beast. To come in with a top 15 recruiting class his first full year is excellent. He wants good D and that is hard to teach but will reap benefits of knocking off the big schools in the future. With good recruits the ceiling will only get higher. Can’t wait to see what the next few years bring!
Tech was outmatched by UNC because we could not defend that transition game. I disagree with the coaching being mediocre. I think the players who are great leave.
Coaching mediocre – You have to admit coach K is an excellent coach. His international team results speak for themselves. We weren’t doing that before he got there like they are now. And I’ve seen him get outcoached on a given night. although its very seldom.
AP
January 30th, 2012
3:47 pm
As long as UGA continues to promote, remodel, etc. Stegeman, they will be at a disadvantage in hoops. Past time to bulldoze and rebuild!!!!!! A new state of the art facility like they have in Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and many others would go a long way in beginning an actual basketball culture in Athens. Fox will be gone soon for another job as I think he realizes this.
RaleighDawg
January 30th, 2012
3:51 pm
Coach Fox was a bad hire. He rode Trent Johnson’s coatails to the UGA job and he has ridden Dennis Felton’s coatails to the end of last season. He’s got his kids and his system in place, buth his ‘three man weave, then throw up a three pointer” offense clearly isn’t working…he successfully recruits two of the top players in the state at the end of 2010, but then plays them both an average of 7 minutes a game last year – wasting both potential redshirt years and not doing anything to prepare them for this season…he starts Connor Nolte while Trey is out at the start of last season as a obvious ploy to convince his younger brother to attend UGA, then forgets him for the next two years when the brother signs with UVA.,,he preaches defense yet continues to play players who can’t play defense…if Coach Fox was as smart as some folks think he would have used last year as a springboard to another job….and next year will be even worse as we have no experience guards short of Vinnie Williams who trys so hard to follow in Gerald Williams footsteps he won’t even throw the ball inbounds. If UGA is lucky Coach Fox will be gone in two years and we can try again to build a men’s basketball program.
DP
January 30th, 2012
3:53 pm
I didn’t realize until I saw it on the ESPN ticker yesterday that before last night’s UNC-Tech game that UNC had lost 4 in a row to Tech. When it comes to embarrassments for Hall of Fame caliber coaches, Roy Williams losing 4 times in a row to Paul Hewitt is up there with the Old Ball Coach losing twice to Mike Dubose in one season.
And I agree with crackbaby about the quality of college basketball. I used to be a huge fan, now rarely see a game I can watch for more than a few minutes. Last year’s championship game was between a team that finished 9-9 in its own conference during the regular season (UConn) and a team that was on the bubble to even make the tournament with a month left in the season (Butler). And then Butler went something like 3 for its first 30 from the field in the championship game.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 30th, 2012
3:56 pm
I’m not disappointed with the UGA season; in fact I am totally enjoying it. I really wasn’t even aware that they still had a basketball program in Athens. Have the players learned yet how many points are in a 3-point basket? Actually, I am not disappointed with Tech’s season either, because it’s what everybody with any basketball knowledge at all predicted. In many ways they have done better than most people expected. At least they beat that intramural team in Athens, not that that really means all that much.
Boise Dawg
January 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
Mark I completely agree.. I recognized that this was going to be a rebuilding year, but a lot of teams lose significant star talent each year in college basketball. The best coaches can reload quickly. I don’t think this season is an indictment on Fox’s future potential, but he better find some answers… if we aren’t back to NCAA consideration by year 5 (2 years from now). Both Tubby and Harrick proved you can win big at UGA. I know everyone loathes Harrick but that guy knew bb talent and could flat out coach. Too bad he was also a sleaze ball.
Ignition
January 30th, 2012
4:01 pm
What’s George Mason’s record ????
ToeMeetsLeather
January 30th, 2012
4:03 pm
No surprises with this TECH team. We knew the “Hewitt exorcism” would probably be a two year affair. But you heard it here first folks, TECH goes to the sweet sixteen in 14′. Carter, Miller, Holsey & Royal down low with Poole, Hunt, Bolden, Morris and our future PG slashing to the basket and feeding the bigs. Add to this a state of the art new arena, and the “Thrillerdome” will be back in business shortly.
As for the mutts, they should probably turn the ‘barn” over to the VET school and give up round ball.
Ah, “just messin with you dawg fans”, as Doyle Hargraves would say.
Saint Simmons 2
January 30th, 2012
4:07 pm
Hey everyone , how about the bigger DUD ! Bradley Or Schultz !!!!!
Comments welcomed !!!!!
Dawglasville
January 30th, 2012
4:12 pm
Supersize that order, mutt – I know from experience (growing up a Tech fan) that winning in basketball gives you guys a little bit of salve for your football wound. You don’t have to wait until baseball season when you try to convince us that winning three baseball games is much better than winning a football and a basketball game.
UO5150
January 30th, 2012
4:19 pm
UGA will never be a Basketball program. Their is just no emphasis from the University to be so. Fox is a good coach. The best coach that UGA can get. No top notch coach will come to UGA unless the University puts as much attention on Basketball as it does football. Won’t happen. It will be a tough year this year, but next year will be better.
As for tech, it does not often happen that a 1st year coach that has taken on as many problems as Gregory has does well. Two years from now they will be a 20+ win team. The ACC brings in the top recruits and I think he will pick up on a couple of them.
Either teams fan base is talking out of their tail ends if they won’t their respective coach fired because of the years they are having this year. Just tells me that those that do are pretty clueless about the process!
Sad Sack
January 30th, 2012
4:22 pm
Is it football season yet?
JSS
January 30th, 2012
4:23 pm
Ignition
January 30th, 2012
4:01 pm
“What’s George Mason’s record?”
18-5…
UO5150
January 30th, 2012
4:23 pm
sorry that’s “want” not “won’t”
Dawglasville
January 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
UO5150 – Bully! I’d say you could be 100% on. I don’t know about the 20 plus wins but I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens.
Mark
January 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
Only 1 blogger has mentioned the home court issue, but it has to be big. I’ve watched Tech from Augusta on TV and they’ve been on 3 different courts – that ain’t easy. No home court and recovering from 10 years of Hewitt – it’ll take more than a few months!
Crackhead O kelly
January 30th, 2012
4:31 pm
Dont care about no stinkin basketball at either schools……………..Football is enough for me.
BiggDawgK
January 30th, 2012
4:31 pm
Come on Mark. the north avenue trade school is the bigger dud no matter what you are talking about. Unless you are talking about former students who are now terrorists.
NO THREE MAN RUSH (the stupidest play in football)
January 30th, 2012
4:34 pm
Mark I don’t see Indiana U on your chart., Didn’t they beat the wildcats this season? Is it beacause the have at least 5 losses? That would make any pretender a dud to lose to Indiana. Take the two best players off any team and they would be less a power as is IUGAs case. You can’t coach teams up that has very little talent. If the best HS players in Ga stayed home and played then they would be on a team that challenges for titles every year. But too many of the players are like the NCAA No Class At All. They use the Ga taxpayers money for their education and training and then turncoat and play for the enemy. Anyway Mark just kidding you about your wildcats as they are a fine team. Kentucky fans take pride in their team unlike some of the Ga unfaithful that will not support their home state. Take care.
Dawglasville
January 30th, 2012
4:34 pm
Mark – I do love it when you guys find the appropriate photo to match the topic. This is a good one of Fox. It’s not flattering but it is funny. My favorite is the when you have a story on CPJ talking about toughness and you guys match it with that picture that looks like he is doing a karate chop.
ToeMeetsLeather
January 30th, 2012
4:37 pm
As long as Hewitt stays seated and doesn’t try to instruct the previous coach’s players, I would suspect George Mason finishes strong.
Skeezix
January 30th, 2012
4:44 pm
Tech is the better team; but so are most teams better than Ga. I watched them twice and quit because that team is completely unwatchable. I mean how does a coach recruit basketball players that can’t shoot? I don’t get it.
I wasn’t keen on Fox and at the time preferred Bobby Knight (assuming he really was interested) or Grant who ended up at Alabama. As I recall, Fox was your man Mark.
gtfanfrom1951
January 30th, 2012
5:04 pm
Tech basketball has few years before it will be back on top. Georgia has gone down hill and is about to fall into ocean. I don’t understand why UGA can not have a good team each year.
Chuck
January 30th, 2012
5:07 pm
Give Fox a chance. The coach at Georgia that should go is Andy Landers. 33 years is enough, and he can’t recruit the best players from Georgia. Gets blown out by Tennessee and schools like that. Can’t compete with those teams and needs to go.
Go Jackets 88
January 30th, 2012
5:27 pm
Fox is an ok coach. But his squad has zero post players that are decent. He did a poor job of hiring assistant coaches that had strong enough GA roots in the AAU programs.
Baby Ruth
January 30th, 2012
5:35 pm
Agree totally with “Cracbaby’s” comments.
Hairy Dawg
January 30th, 2012
5:39 pm
Crappy seasons hurt more at Tech than they do in Athens. Therefore, Tech is the bigger disappointment.
Dirty Dawg
January 30th, 2012
5:51 pm
Hey Bradley, just category would you put Kentucky in these days? Seems to they’re simply selling their program as one-and-go (pro, that is). I suppose that can be a satisfying experience for some plus it’ll mean no more inductees into the KY Hall Of Fame.
Problem with Georgia is that with Leslie and Thompkins leaving early Fox missed the chance to create excitement at the old B-ball court, which fills the seats, which impresses recruits, which means better teams, which means…well you get it.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
6:16 pm
I preferred Grant, Skeezix. I wrote that I believed Fox was a bad hire. (I’ve since come around to believing he’s a good coach.)
Coastal Dawg
January 30th, 2012
6:17 pm
Mark,
What do you and the others think about changing the rules in basketball to that of baseball? You can go from HS to the pros, but if you sign, you have to stay out for 3 years. I realize that other programs are hurt much worse than UGA with early losses (and not trying to get into that argument), but leaving after a single year just doesn’t seem right.
Mark Bradley
January 30th, 2012
6:19 pm
I’d prefer that, Coastal Dawg, but I don’t know that such a restriction is legal. Baseball has its antitrust exemption, you know.
Skeezix
January 30th, 2012
7:10 pm
I stand corrected then………..
dave
January 31st, 2012
7:57 am
Seem to me a scholarship is the binding factor for the long haul.One or two years and gone don’t help the program in most cases.Will someone please explain the rules if there are any.Looks like it just a money thing for some players.
dawgs bust
January 31st, 2012
8:36 am
Georgia has been a complete bust–in year 3, fox’s team is worse, not better. He better pick it up big next year or he can hit the road. This team is embarrassing. Ga needs to a new, state of art arena to get good players and get rid of that dump stegeman.
billyBobjacket
January 31st, 2012
10:46 am
I’d say Tech, not because UGA is any better but simply because ACC basketball expectations are higher. Playing an urban game in an urban setting in one of the premier basketball conferences, Tech should ALWAYS be better than UGA, where nobody really cares that much about roundball unless the opponent is Tech, Kentucky, or Florida, and even then the interest is only for a day.
yellowjacket
January 31st, 2012
1:23 pm
It’s a tie they’re both bad. Mark Fox is struggling because his offense can’t get off the ground. He needs a true point guard. And Tech? ugh Hate watching them on t.v. Just bad shots taken, lot of standing around and bad defense. Rooting for Georgia State this year. Get it together!
Paul Hewitt
January 31st, 2012
6:10 pm
Mark Fox: It is all over. Might as well start looking for another job. Once the ajc sportswriters start writing stuff like this about you, it is just a matter of time.
BulldogBen
February 4th, 2012
10:14 pm
Looks like the Dawgs will battle USC for the SEC basement this year. Now 1-7 in league play.
Awful and unacceptable.