Greetings from Athens. Once again, it’s Georgia vs. Georgia Tech — this time in hoops. Eleven days after the rivals met in football at Bobby Dodd Stadium, they’ll convene tonight for the 188th time in men’s basketball. Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Stegeman Coliseum, where Tech hasn’t won in 35 years. Tickets are available. The game will be televised on Fox Sports South. If you missed it, here’s a preview of the game from today’s AJC:
State of the teams
Tech was picked to finish 10th in the 12-team ACC and Georgia eighth in the 12-team SEC — prognostications that reflected two programs in transition. Georgia lost last season’s two leading scorers and rebounders, Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie, to the NBA draft, and other than a pair of senior guards the Bulldogs have a young team that coach Mark Fox labeled “as green as the New York Jets.” Tech also lost its top scorer and best player, point guard Iman Shumpert, to the NBA, and the Yellow Jackets have no seniors on the roster except for a pair of former walk-ons.
So far this season
Both teams are 4-4 and on short losing streaks. Georgia has lost its past three games (Xavier, Colorado and Cincinnati), while Georgia Tech has dropped its past two (Northwestern and Tulane).
New to the rivalry
Former Dayton coach Brian Gregory, who replaced the Jackets’ Paul Hewitt after last season, officially joins the Tech-Georgia series. Gregory received his first exposure to the rivalry by attending the schools’ football game on Nov. 26, a 31-17 UGA victory at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
A low-scoring game?
That would be the logical assumption. Both teams have struggled to score: Tech averages 65.3 points per game, which ranks 229th among 338 Division I teams, and Georgia averages 59.9, which ranks 301st. Defensively, the Jackets and Bulldogs have held opponents to 59.1 and 61 points per game, respectively.
And a close game?
History says so. The past four Tech-Georgia games have been decided by seven points or fewer, as have 11 of the past 15.
Home-grown players
Most of the players on both teams grew up with this rivalry. Ten of the 14 on each roster are from Georgia. All five of Tech’s probable starters are Georgians, as are four of UGA’s.
Keep an eye on …
Georgia freshman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a McDonald’s high school All-American, is the Bulldogs’ leading scorer, averaging 13.9 points. The Dogs’ only other double-figure scorer is guard Gerald Robinson, who has come off the bench the past two games, at 11.6. Tech’s Glen Rice Jr., suspended the first three games for a violation of team rules, has scored in double figures in each of the five games he has played; he is shooting 52.5 percent and averaging 14.8 points.
The Jackets in Stegeman
Tech has not won in Stegeman Coliseum since Nov. 26, 1976, when the Jackets beat the Bulldogs 64-43. The drought is somewhat exaggerated because the teams played at a neutral site — The Omni in downtown Atlanta — for 14 years, beginning in the 1981-82 season. But since the series returned to the campuses on an alternating basis in 1995-96, Tech has lost all eight games played in Stegeman. (Georgia, by the way, has won only twice at Tech since 1995-96.)
Speaking of Stegeman
If this is your first trip of the season to Stegeman Coliseum, you’ll notice two changes: a new $600,000 sound system and a nearly new $90,000 playing court. The court was purchased from the NCAA, which used it for this year’s Women’s Regional in American Airlines Arena in Dallas. (The NCAA typically installs new courts for its regionals and Final Fours, and then sells them to member schools.)
Dog-turned-Jacket
Daniel Miller, a 6-foot-11 center from Loganville, originally signed with Georgia, but was released from his letter of intent and enrolled at Tech in 2009. He has started 39 consecutive games for the Jackets.
Last year’s star
Guard Dustin Ware’s seventh 3-pointer of the game, with 18 seconds to play, was the difference in Georgia’s 73-72 victory over Tech at Alexander Memorial Coliseum last season. Ware, a senior, is off to a rough start this season, shooting 27.7 percent from the field, down from 44.2 last season.
Series history
This will be the 188th men’s basketball game between Tech and Georgia. The Jackets lead the series 101-86 but are 28-51 in Athens, including 3-25 at Stegeman.
Probable starters
Georgia Tech
Pos. Player Class Height RPG PPG
C Daniel Miller So. 6-11 7.8 8.9
F Kammeon Holsey So. 6-8 4.5 10.4
G/F Glen Rice Jr. Jr. 6-5 7.2 14.8
G Mfon Udofia Jr. 6-2 3.9 11.9
G Brandon Reed So. 6-3 4.4 7.3
Georgia
Pos. Player Class Height RPG PPG
F Marcus Thornton So. 6-7 6.9 3.5
F Donte Williams So. 6-9 5.9 7.6
G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Fr. 6-5 5.3 13.9
G Dustin Ware Sr. 5-11 2.3 6.4
G Vincent Williams Jr. 6-0 1.1 4.3
139 comments Add your comment
bgdawg
December 7th, 2011
5:40 pm
nice write up chip. hope the trend continues and the dawgs get a W at the steg!
P-Man
December 7th, 2011
5:42 pm
Should be a good game!
bgdawg
December 7th, 2011
5:44 pm
Oh, my bad TT, im too used to seeing chip’s mug on here. good article Sir!!
Tim Tucker
December 7th, 2011
6:10 pm
bgdawg: Thanks….
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December 7th, 2011
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December 7th, 2011
6:20 pm
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December 7th, 2011
6:21 pm
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Honey Badger's mammy
December 7th, 2011
6:24 pm
Oh it’s GREAT to be a Georgia Bulldog. We run this state
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December 7th, 2011
6:46 pm
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Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
7:10 pm
Pope is a beast!
PTC DAWG
December 7th, 2011
7:28 pm
Both are sub par. IMHO.
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December 7th, 2011
7:30 pm
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Sven Ottke
December 7th, 2011
7:54 pm
Nice back acne on Djurisic!
south
December 7th, 2011
7:57 pm
This is going to be a long year for “insert your team here”
Sven Ottke
December 7th, 2011
8:03 pm
1 Free Throw for Tech, 13 for Georgia. Hello Ted Valentine!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
8:31 pm
Why is there no Tech blog for the game tonight?
101>86
December 7th, 2011
8:32 pm
101 > 86 we own you rednecks…
GT BBall Fan
December 7th, 2011
8:32 pm
GT up 10!!!!! Let’s go Tech!!!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
8:32 pm
Soon to be 102 > 86
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:34 pm
Fire Mark Fox!!
He should’ve been canned after the Bama debacle in the tourney last spring.
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:36 pm
Who is the hyper dude coaching Tech?
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
8:36 pm
Can’t believe the ref didn’t stop play with a shoe lying on the court
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
8:37 pm
phil he is the future of basketball in the state of Georgia
101>86
December 7th, 2011
8:37 pm
Mark Fox looks like a fat baby Huey…
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:37 pm
Will we even win 12 games this year?
GA is awful….truly wretched. Can’t wait for the annual butt kickings in gainesville and lexington!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
8:38 pm
Actually, Fox looks like the proverbial nerd the dawgs like to call Tech fans. LOL
GT BBall Fan
December 7th, 2011
8:39 pm
Tech is taking them leg humpers out!!!!!! To Hell with Georgia!
GT runs this state!
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:39 pm
Fox is in over his head.
That TO with one second left against Bama confirmed all i ever needed to know about this genius.
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
8:39 pm
We could not throw a basketball in the ocean standing on the beach right now!
GT BBall Fan
December 7th, 2011
8:40 pm
Tech on an 18-4 run. Kickin dawg tail and taking names!
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:41 pm
And tonight’s pathetic performance against a shell of a Tech team is just more icing on the cake…
Fire Mark Fox!!
101>86
December 7th, 2011
8:41 pm
WHY IN GODS NAME IS UDOFIA BACK IN THE GAME!?
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
8:42 pm
101, I agree, we were better with him out, but he just got another foul, so he’s out again
101>86
December 7th, 2011
8:42 pm
Thank you for fouling Udofia. You help take yourself out of the game : )
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:44 pm
The only good news is no more having to watch the moron trey thompkins throw games away with his lack of hustle and situational smarts…..man was he dumb.
101>86
December 7th, 2011
8:44 pm
Udofia is lost on the court, and the simple fact he cant make threes but shoots them at will is a big concern. Reed is looking good with Rice on the court in Guard spots.
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
8:45 pm
Fire Phil!
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:45 pm
Fire Fox!
Hire Mark Slonaker or Bobby Knight! Is John Wooden still available?
101>86
December 7th, 2011
8:45 pm
That lineup right now of Miller, Halsey, Morris, Reed and Rice Jr. is pretty good.
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:46 pm
Don’t fire me! I’m trying to help us…lol
101>86
December 7th, 2011
8:47 pm
Are you guys insane… Fox is the best thing you got going for you guys. You are not, I repeat not going to get a Knight caliber coach to come to UGA.
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
8:48 pm
Lol!
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:48 pm
Yeah….
Let’s see that vaunted lineup against Duke and Carolina….
You bums won’t lose under 25 even once in any game with them.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
8:49 pm
UGA has never had a consistent basketball program and never will. Bad coaches get fired, and good ones move on to greener pastures
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
8:49 pm
I like fox!
Talk to Phil…….
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:50 pm
No kidding we won’t get a Knight like coach. Neither will a certain team from Atlanta….
That said, Fox is a doof. He proved it last spring.
101>86
December 7th, 2011
8:50 pm
LOL… We play in the best conference in America for Bball, UGA wouldnt register a single win in the ACC conference play… Just sayin.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
8:50 pm
phil, there is no doubt about that, but we don’t expect to do better than that in Gregory’s first year. Top 15 recruiting class for next year in early signing period means the future looks damn good though
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
8:51 pm
Phil
Your starting to sound like A tech football fan!
” wait till you play bama or LSU”
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:51 pm
I did like Fox….
Until i watched us self destruct over and over and over last season…
He was helpless to stop it….
I thought he coached like a sissy boy!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
8:52 pm
LOL @ 48. Good one
101>86
December 7th, 2011
8:52 pm
Hey you said it Dawg48…
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
8:53 pm
101
Now your sounding like a UGA football fan!
“You would not win a game in the SEC”
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
8:54 pm
damn, we’re even hitting free throws tonight.
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:54 pm
This is totally humiliating!
Fire Mark Fox! Now!
And fire someone else first!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
8:55 pm
dammit, I should have kept my thoughts to myself; we just missed 2 FTs
phil
December 7th, 2011
8:57 pm
Brilliant. No timeouts left with over 2 minutes left.
Fox is a visionary!
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
8:57 pm
They need to fire Dave Neil!
Man I thought it sucked to watch a football game this guy called, this is worse!
101>86
December 7th, 2011
8:57 pm
Hey you said it Dawg48… lol : )
101>86
December 7th, 2011
8:58 pm
GD UDOFIA…. Guy gives me a hernia.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
8:59 pm
Is Hewitt coaching the dawgs now? LOL
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
9:00 pm
Phil…..
UGA will never be able to recruit top notch talent like tech!
Our academics are way to high……..
Oh…wait…..
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:00 pm
48, you’re on a roll tonight. LOL
phil
December 7th, 2011
9:02 pm
Recruit ANY talent…
Wait til Mercer beats us on the 20th!! And they will.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:02 pm
The place wasn’t full to begin with, but it’s really emptying out now
OkieDawg
December 7th, 2011
9:03 pm
Is the Tech coach a midg….oh excuse me, a little person?
101>86
December 7th, 2011
9:03 pm
LOL… The other 100 people left 10 minutes ago.
phil
December 7th, 2011
9:04 pm
35 years…
Way to go, Fox!!
Call timeout with one second left, you doof!
101>86
December 7th, 2011
9:04 pm
Okie, we need to put him a midget wrestling match against fat baby huey!
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
9:04 pm
On a serious side of things…
On football recruiting, I wish tech and UGA could start locking down the state.
It has enough talent to keep both teams well stocked and in the top 10 year after year!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:05 pm
OkieDawg, he’s a bigger man than you are. LOL
phil
December 7th, 2011
9:06 pm
A sellout in Athens is more rare than snow in Miami!
Fire Mark Fox!
102>86
December 7th, 2011
9:06 pm
Ownage… and they know it.
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
9:07 pm
I would like to see him fight that blow up bulldog!
Good game bugs!
Go party like it’s 1976!
GO JACKETS
December 7th, 2011
9:08 pm
WE RUN THIS STATE!!!!
GTBob
December 7th, 2011
9:09 pm
A nice mutt butt kicking in Athens. I like it.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:09 pm
102, glad you updated your name. First win in Athens since 1976. Order has finally been restored
102>86
December 7th, 2011
9:09 pm
I might keep watching whats on FS South… thats pretty dang HOT!
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
9:10 pm
GO JACKETS
Wait till the gym dawgs get fired up we will run it again!
We Rule this STATE
December 7th, 2011
9:10 pm
WE RULE THIS STATE…UGAYYYYYYYY SUCKS!
phil
December 7th, 2011
9:10 pm
No it isn’t…
102>86
December 7th, 2011
9:11 pm
Yes, darkness has been lifted…
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:11 pm
phil, what isn’t?
phil
December 7th, 2011
9:11 pm
The Gym dogs…
Oh joy!
Lol
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
9:11 pm
102
I know your a tech guy,but that’s what we call girls! Lol
laugh
December 7th, 2011
9:11 pm
Tech is better at everything except football and thats close. better academics, bball, baseball.etc…….
Tech Guy
December 7th, 2011
9:12 pm
And the silence from the dawg house is deafening.
GIVE ME A BREAK
December 7th, 2011
9:12 pm
Good win, Yellow Jackets. Thank You. Now that’s how you play DEFENSE.
We Rule this STATE
December 7th, 2011
9:12 pm
GOOOOOOOO JACKETS…..WE RULE THE STATE…DID IT WITH 5 IN DOUBLE FIGURES….TO H E L L WITH UGAY!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:12 pm
Listening to the post game on 790thezone now. Look forward to Gregory’s comments
Buzz2011
December 7th, 2011
9:12 pm
Woof, Woof!!! Where were Dawg fans? Stedgemen was only half full.
Where were Dawgs?/
phil
December 7th, 2011
9:12 pm
The fox south show….
phil
December 7th, 2011
9:13 pm
Tech played GA….we’re horrible with a moron for a coach….
You guys won’t win 15 this yr either.
102>86
December 7th, 2011
9:13 pm
Well, of course if that isnt your thing. Good question, have any of the gym dogs gone to the Olympics, or do they just good in college?
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
9:14 pm
Buzz
It looked like grant field
crackbaby
December 7th, 2011
9:15 pm
Good win for the Jackets. Tale of two halves. GT was horrible in the first half. Dawgs were epic fail in the 2nd.
Glenn Rice did a great job handling point in the 2nd half. Jackets took it to the rim, didn’t settle for 3s and that guy Morris was money beyond the arc.
For UGA, Robinson dissappeared in the 2ndd half but to be fair, he had no help.
Paul in NH
December 7th, 2011
9:15 pm
This is a much different GT team than last year’s. They make free throws, look like they run an offense and don’t throw the ball away on in-bounds. Last year’s team would have had at least 4 turnovers on in-bounds in the last 5 minutes. Heck – Gregory even had time outs left at the end. They have a long way to go before they are competitive in the ACC but the first baby steps look good.
OkieDawg
December 7th, 2011
9:15 pm
Good job Teckerheads….Good luck in your BB season. See ya in Athens on the gridiron next year. And be sure to put on your big boy pants. Looks like we may have a couple of 5′6″ rent-a-TBs for CPJ’s silly little offense next year as our stable is getting full of studs.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:15 pm
48, at least we fill up Grant Field when UGA plays there. You couldn’t fill up Stegeman even with Tech playing
102>86
December 7th, 2011
9:16 pm
HAHA Dawg… Too funny man. My experience in the Marines makes me a slightly different type of Jacket fan
bucket
December 7th, 2011
9:16 pm
I’m gonna say something a Jackets fan will never say to a UGA fan, “Congratulations on the win tonight Jackets. No excuses. You guys were the better team tonight.”
phil
December 7th, 2011
9:17 pm
Fire Mark Fox! Now!
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
9:17 pm
It’s a shame
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:18 pm
Lest any of you dawg fans forget, Daniel Miller, who had an awesome game tonight, saw the light 2 years ago and transferred from UGA to Tech. And to add salt to that wound, his grandfather was Spec Townes, a FAMOUS former UGA athlete.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:19 pm
bucket, I actually said that after the football game
Dawg48
December 7th, 2011
9:19 pm
I’m out guys
Good game…
Paul in NH
December 7th, 2011
9:20 pm
UGA could use the 2 guys who went pro early
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:20 pm
Night, 48. Thanks for being a good sport
phil
December 7th, 2011
9:21 pm
Spec Townes grandson?
That really is sad….
I knew we would struggle, but this was an unacceptable collapse, same as many from last year, only much earlier in the game.
Fox couldn’t coach a kiddie team….fire him now!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:22 pm
phil, I seriously don’t think Tech would have won without the play of Daniel Miller tonight.
phil
December 7th, 2011
9:23 pm
It was a fine win for you Tech folk…
Congratulations.
Lisa
December 7th, 2011
9:23 pm
Way to go Jackets! Beat them at the Barn! THWG!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:23 pm
Thanks, phil. Since this is a UGA blog, I won’t gloat here, but I WILL gloat on the Tech blogs. LOL
phil
December 7th, 2011
9:24 pm
Fire Spec Townes!!
RamblinGamblin
December 7th, 2011
9:25 pm
Thanks to Coach Gregory and his players it was nice to finally see a team that:
– attacks a zone aggressively
– is more disciplined (although they have a ways to go)
– can dynamically adjust on both ends of the court
– play hard-nosed, physical defense
– win in Athens
– generate good shot selections (even if we don’t have good shooters)
– can inbound
– can handle pressure
– doesn’t fold
– has a time out in the last three minutes.
Go Jackets!!
Lisa
December 7th, 2011
9:26 pm
Okie…your stud TB’s are a joke. Is this latest one a prima dona too?
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:29 pm
RG, don’t forget we hit free throws too, at least when it counted.
Flo's Filet
December 7th, 2011
9:33 pm
…and world order was once again restored…
102>86
December 7th, 2011
9:34 pm
The best thing I like is not hearing Hewitt shout every minute “HEWT” or whatever he was saying.
gt45
December 7th, 2011
9:37 pm
Finally! Did I tell you guys we are a basketball and baseball school?
go
December 7th, 2011
9:40 pm
Tech men rule Atlanta business
We Rule this STATE
December 7th, 2011
9:42 pm
Stegman is a pig stye….then again those ugay girls know all about that!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 7th, 2011
9:44 pm
Mark, I don’t think you have to worry about that. Gregory has yet to prove how good a coach he will be in the long term, but he hit the ground running when he got here, and winning in Athens in his first year shows he is still running. Early signings also look VERY VERY GOOD!!!
RamboDog
December 7th, 2011
9:57 pm
SUPERSIZE…glad to see you survived the arse kicking I promised in the real mans game (football)….you are an old , tired GT fart. Sucks to be a Tech fan…10 out of 11, and STILL COUNTING !!!!!
RamboDog
December 7th, 2011
10:04 pm
Lisa, your girlfriend is waiting on you…enjoy
RamboDog
December 7th, 2011
10:05 pm
Lisa, I “know” you are too ugly to get a guy…GT gals are pigs
Irvine
December 7th, 2011
10:13 pm
It’s always gratifying when intelligent student-athletes beat illiterate morons. Specifically, when Georgia Tech defeats the stupid goons in Athens.
AJC=UGA
December 7th, 2011
10:16 pm
Tim: Do you think you can get out of your UGA cheerleader uniform long enough to report the score, Tech 68-56? Guess you hadn’t heard. You are so quick to report Tech’s record in Athens. How about UGA’s record at the Omni and at Tech? Does that cut too deep into your red and black hide? Hope it hurts REAL bad. Just like the AJC, you are a joke!
d1reality
December 7th, 2011
10:53 pm
Hey Mark Fox!!
There is a new sheriff in town, meet Brian Gregory!!!
mikey
December 7th, 2011
11:26 pm
the mental institution should revoke phil;s computer privileges.
wes
December 7th, 2011
11:28 pm
Great to be a Yellow Jacket!
That was fun as hell!
The Sheriff
December 7th, 2011
11:29 pm
There is a new sheriff in town. GT 68 UGA 56. Bwhaaa haaaaa haaaa.
William Casey
December 7th, 2011
11:33 pm
@bucket: I said it on your football blog after your 31-17 well-earned victory. Here only because there is no GT BB blog tonight. GT won for two reasons: 1. CBG is teaching his team how to defend the perimeter; 2. CBG is teaching his team how to go inside. Life will be tough in the ACC this year but the future looks MUCH better than it did this time last year.
Dogs vs. Jackets tonight in Athens – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) - My Best Dogs
December 8th, 2011
12:35 am
[...] Dec, 2011 Dog News webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick [...]
Suck it bulldogs
December 8th, 2011
12:52 am
68-56
Jabdawg
December 8th, 2011
2:03 am
Both teams are bad.
Dogs vs. Jackets tonight in Athens – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dog Blog Shop
December 8th, 2011
3:22 am
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Flo's Filet
December 8th, 2011
9:24 am
How bad is UGA basketball or did they simply forget the commission check for the officials in Athens? That was the weakest GT team in years and they mopped up the floor with UGA, breaking the “fix.”