Sports

Welcome back to Stegeman Coliseum for another WUOG live-blog. I’ll be here documenting the infamous Billy Humphrey’s return to Athens. For some reason, he’s listed as projected “Off the Bench” for the Privateers. That could be because of his knee injury but after seeing him move in warmups, I seriously doubt that will be a factor. I’ll be updating 5 times per half. Brace yourselves.

Connor Nolte hit me with a tip: there are new nets at Stegeman Coliseum. “They suck,” said Nolte. I was unaware that nets could suck but I also added an “h” to Ebuka.

I just stood through the longest national anthem in history. I think I see someone from Guinness here.

Dawgs:
Dustin “Dimes” Ware
Ricky McThree
Travis “Trampoline” Leslie
Trey “Still Taking Suggestions for this Nickname” Thompkins
Chris “The Hulk” Barnes

Privateers:
Carl Blair
Charles Carmouche
Devin McDonald
Ejike Hart
Jaroslav Tyrna

Shocked Billy isn’t starting. Shocked.

Update 15:44: The crowd is a little bigger than last week, the student section making it into the second deck. I’m so excited. Don’t bet on me staying here the whole game, I may well join the student section. I’ll make a note of how many glares I get for my brazen support of the Dawgs. Game time.

Chris Barnes just swatted a hook shot off the glass. I almost stood up once Travis “Trampoline” Leslie got the ball. Unfortunately he passed the ball. Georgia has attempted 3 jump shots and missed two of them badly. Leslie picks up a silly foul and Drazen is in to replace him. This does give Georgia two perimeter threats offensively.

The biggest difference from last week is that this team can actually match up with Georgia size-wise. We still have some height advantage but not nearly as much as against North Georgia. Chris Barnes backs his man up and makes a strong move in the paint for Georgia’s first bucket. He was fouled but missed the free throw which Georgia rebounded and Trey hit a three. Barnes then lays in an up and under as Dustin “Dimes” Ware drives down the court and takes advantage of an unsuspecting New Orleans defense. Dawgs lead 7-6.

Side Note: this was a terrible day to do shoulder workouts. Already burning from all this typing.

Update 12:17 Billy Humphrey makes his first appearance. I’m ready for a shoot-off where he and Ricky trade 3’s until someone quits. Liklihood of this happening: 0. But I can dream.

The Foul-A-Hulk strategy is in play as Barnes is on the line again. So far, he’s 0-3.

Billy Humphrey just swatted Dustin Ware off the glass but Georgia gets the putback opportunity. He’s also being guarded by Drazen which really kills the dream. Jeremy “The Big Dawg” Price checks in for Barnes who’s had a busy quarter. Luckily The Big Dawg can knock down free throws. Senior Albert “Stonewall” Jackson checks in giving Georgia a big lineup, which they’ll need if the team continues to miss outside shots. On cue, Dustin Ware misses a jumper and Humphrey answers with a layup. Ok Billy, time to go back to the bench.

Jackson knocks down two free throws and Georgia has a 13-8 lead.

Update 7:28 During the official timeout, Georgia gave away Papa Johns pizza. Major upgrade over Red Baron. Major. McThree checks back in bringing my dream closer to reality. Ricky told me those two battled throughout high school and was excited about the matchup.

Jaroslav Tyrna just screamed as he fell to the floor. I didn’t see much contact, certainly not enough to warrant such a yell. Could be going for an Oscar. Humphrey is being booed by the fans. Not what I expected.

After committing so many fouls New Orleans is now in the penalty. This could be a long game. Vince Williams misses the 1 and 1. Humphrey seems to enjoy the booing. He’s taking the team on his back and makes a tough layup in the lane. Probably fouled too. Speaking of which, Thompkins is fouled in on the other end and drains both.

Georgia is giving up the outside shot to New Orleans and they should continue to do so. Ugly. And guess what happened on the other end. Yup, another foul. Vince Williams makes both and then makes way for Dustin Ware.

Demario Mayfield just introduced New Orleans to the No Fly Zone. Major swat. Ricky McPhee then attempts to start the shoot-off but misses. I believe in you Ricky. New Orleans is really struggling to get rebounds. Georgia pushes the ball down court and Trey Thompkins is fouled. He makes one, Dawgs up 20-16.

Update 3:45 Bad turnover for Georgia leads to an open look for New Orleans which is passed up in favor of a guarded Humphrey. The offense has run completely through him since he entered the game. He just checked out and their offense already looks much more free flowing. I’m not sure if New Orleans is purposefully fouling or if they just can’t handle the speed or strength of our big men. Either way, they’ve committed 10 fouls in 15 minutes and Trey knocks down two more. I imagine Jeremy Price will stick around to hit his from the line because Barnes looks lost at the charity stripe. Or not. Price powers his man in the paint and makes the bucket with the foul but misses the free throw. I’m tired of typing that already. Come on guys. Georgia up 26-22

Update 1:10 I get completely ignored at the Charter T-Shirt giveaway. Whatever, I hate Charter cable anyways. Georgia is running screen and rolls with Trey Thomkins who is boldly left open by New Orleans. He punishes them with a 3 from the corner. After Trey Thompkins annihilates a layup off the glass I get my first look from a Clippers scout next to me. Should I tell him about my plan to leave school early and declare for the draft? All he’ll need to see is me abusing Coach Pope at HORSE next week. It’s the Trey Thompkins show tonight. He hits a fadeaway J with the foul and makes the free throw to give Georgia a two point lead, 32-30.

Update 0:00 Price THROWS a one hander down to give Georgia the halftime lead 34-32. Huge.

Halftime Report We haven’t seen much of the Trampoline tonight, mainly because he picked up two fouls within the first two minutes. He’s not the best free throw shooter either, so that could have played a small role. I’d expect to see him in the second half. New Orleans is keeping the game uncomfortably close. By fouling so often, they’re limiting the tempo of this game which seems to have affected Georgia’s shooting. Georgia is shooting just 22% from 3 and 41% from the field. If they get the field goal percentage back up, Georgia will gain a comfortable lead.

Update 15:29 Georgia goes back to the starting lineup for the second half. After giving up a three, McPhee tries to answer but misses and Thompkins gets the putback. Dustin Ware is called for consecutive fouls giving him 4 and a spot on the bench. Not good. Humphrey makes both. Trey misses a three, Leslie gets a rebound and Trey tips in Leslie’s attempt. Lazy defense gives up a 3 to New Orleans. Three point woes continue for Georgia. Pounding it down low seems like the only thing that’s worked so far but that, of course, means more free throw shooting. Georgia is just 12/30 from the field and 2/11 from deep. Ouch.

New Orleans really can’t hang down in the paint as Barnes is strong enough to get about 4 attempts to make a layup and does so. Of course, he got the ball there from a missed field goal. They’re also playing about 5 feet off Leslie daring him to shoot. He hasn’t so far.

Trey Thompkins just sent a layup into the first row. I think he asked the shooter if he was kidding. If only that counted for points. Dawgs down 40-45.

Update 11:57 The Trey Thompkins show continues with an assist to Price who makes the easy layup. His vision will be key when the double teams come. And they will.

Trey looks tired. Must be hard with the weight of so many players on his back. Right on cue, he checks out for Chris Barnes. I am good.

New Orleans is begging for Georgia to take control of this one with silly turnovers. Drazen misses a 3 but Ebukets Ayanorah with the board and putback. This is happening so often that it may actually be strategy. The fans are getting into it and New Orleans is being sloppy. Georgia have to take over now. They have to. Still down 44-45.

Update 8:40 A three! It really happened! Drazen snaps the cold streaks AND gives Georgia the lead. Sadly, it was ruled that Draz had a foot on the line. Still, Georgia has the lead 46-45. Trey, obviously mad that the streak lived on, drains a three. Finally, things are going the Dawgs’ way. Trey with the steal and Ebukets with the old fashioned layup-off-the-back-of-the-rim-that-goes-in-the-air-and-drops-in-somehow. 51-45 Dawgs.

Update 4:38 You know things are going well for Georgia when Jeremy Price hits a jumper and looks good doing it. McPhee now running the point. He puts up a jumper that Price rebounds and puts it in. Humphrey just outdid his teammate, Tyrna, flopping completely and gets the call. Definite Oscar candidate. Justice prevails as he misses the first to the crowds delight. Dustin Ware is back in.

Someone behind me keeps falling for pump fakes and calling out “shot”. What an idiot.

Travis Leslie hasn’t had a great night offensively but just slapped away a Humphrey layup attempt. He was in the air for about 18 seconds. Slight embellishment. Slight. Georgia continues to own the glass, Dawgs up 55-50.

Update Vince Williams jumps about 4 feet towards the basket when he shoots a jumper. As a result, he’s fallen into his defender twice and hit the deck.

Ricky McPhee finally gets it going with a rainmaker from the corner, which is agonizingly answered by New Orleans. Not to be outdone, McPhee gets in the lane for a smooth layup. Stegeman is at it’s loudest. The refs miss a blatant foul on Tyrna which makes up for his floppery earlier. With under a minute left, Georgia has the ball with a 4 point lead. Luckily, the scouts next to me have bailed so be damned with holding in emotion. Not that I was trying very hard in the first place.

New Orleans is being forced to foul because, unlike the first half, they are only at 3 fouls. Dustin Ware and Ricky McPhee take hacks and now McPhee goes to the line with 44 left. He made the first one and then pointed at Billy Humphrey. Sorry, I dozed off for a second and got back into my dream. But he did make one free throw.

Great defense from Georgia force a turnover and Dustin Ware is at the line for a 1 and 1. He makes both to give Georgia a 63-56 lead with 33 ticks left. I can breathe.

Back to breath holding again as New Orleans hits a 3 to narrow the lead to just 4 with 22 seconds left. Apparently things only happen in measurements of 11 seconds. Stegeman now Jumping Around. Draz goes to the line. He makes both. 65-59.

New Orleans scampers around and put up a layup that really should have gone in. Guess who’s there for the board. Trey Thompkins. He goes to the line with 7 seconds left (streak ending) and drains both. 67-59. It’s over.

Dawgs win 67-59!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That’s all for me. Look out for more WUOG live-blogs at every Georgia home game.