Sports

UGA mens basketball lost another close one tonight against South Carolina. The Dogs lost 77-78 to a South Carolina team coming off an upset of number 1 Kentucky who beat number 23 ranked Vanderbilt earlier in the day. The loss drops Georgia to 9-10 overall and 1-5 in the SEC with 4 of those losses by 10 or less points.

The Dogs lead by as many as 9 points in the final 10 minutes of the game, but the charging Gamecocks came back and tied the game with the magnificent play of Senior Devan Downey. Downey posted 33 points by raining in threes in front of a home crowd at the Columbia Life Arena, which came to life in the second half. Behind the play of Downey and an upbeat home crowd the Dogs were unable to overcome what seems to be a disease characterized by symptoms of not being able to “Finish the Drill.”

Coach Fox’s has been quoted saying that there are no “moral victories” for his team after a near upset of Kentucky. However, let this loss serve as another motivational factor for the Dogs who have played many great teams close this year. One of those great games they won posting a victory over a then number 8 ranked Tennessee. Despite the win over Tennessee and magnificent showings against Top 25 ranked Kentucky and Ole Miss, the Dogs need to know that to compete in the SEC and be an NCAA Tourney team they will have to start winning those close games.

I have faith that Coach Fox will mold this team into the potential that they have shown; however, the Bulldogs will have to play off their leash the rest of the season if they want to make it to the NCAA tourney, which is still a possibility.

The next game is at home against Arkansas (9-11) Wednesday night at 7.

Per ESPN

Word from the Gators coach is that he’s feeling better and will probably be coaching come spring. This news is just the latest in what has been a very odd month or so for Coach Meyer.

First came news that, after a tearful breakdown in front of his family, he was resigning for health reasons. Then came word the resignation was being toned down to a “leave of absence” (after Gators’ AD realized he couldn’t replace a guy like Meyer).

While the Gators have named an interim head coach during Meyer’s “leave,” Urban hasn’t gone anywhere. According to published reports, he is still active in the recruiting process including contacting recruits.

So, was Meyer’s “leave of absence”/resignation legit? Or, was it a cheap ploy to grab headlines and motivate his players before the Sugar Bowl?

Hello and thanks for logging on to WUOG! I’m Robert Inskip and I’ll be taking care of our Live Blog coverage for the Dawgs and Vols. Tip off is at 5:00. The game is a sellout so you can just follow along with me…the next best thing! After picking up a huge win over then #20 Georgia Tech on the 5^th, the Dawgs have dropped three straight SEC contests – at #3 Kentucky, vs. #21 Ole Miss, and at Mississippi State. The most recent was perhaps the most painful, as the Dawgs held a double-digit lead at halftime over the Mississippi State Dawgs.

The Vols, meanwhile, have climbed all the way up to #8 in the rankings in what has been quite an emotional month for the program. On New Years Day, a gun and drug related arrest occurred that led head coach Bruce Pearl to dismiss start guard Tyler Smith from the program, and suspend three other players. On the court, however, the Vols have reeled off seven straight wins, including a win over then top-ranked Kansas. Oh yeah and some guy named Kiffin left. So it’s been quite an emotional roller coaster for Vols fans. But at least Knox County is a safer place now and they’ve got a top 10 basketball team.

It’s nice to feel a buzz back here in Stegeman. Let’s hope the Dawgs can deliver. Just saw Mark Richt walk in. Word is Matt Stafford got tickets as well. On a more depressing note there is a fair number of neon orange clad people seating behind me in the upper level. This of course is another reason the Dawgs need to deliver – so I don’t have to have “Rocky Top” drilled into my brain all evening.

(more…)

Tyler Smith in happier times

Its certainly been a rocky year on Rocky Top. Tennessee’s basketball program is 15-2 and ranked No. 8 in the country, but the road to the top ten has not been without bumps. On New Years Day, star player Tyler Smith and three others were arrested for drug and gun charges. Smith has been dismissed from the team and center Brian Williams remains suspended for this game. Cameron Tatum and Melvin Goins have returned to practice, but neither has seen court time since their return from suspension.

Georgia fans should be well aware of the damage legal woes can inflict on a basketball program. Over the past handful of seasons, the Bulldogs have seen more than their fair share of players brought in on an assortment of charges. Tennessee, however, doesn’t seem too distracted by the goings on off-campus. Since the incident, the Vols have been unstoppable, amassing a seven game winning streak that they take into Stegeman Coliseum tonight.

(more…)

I want to take a moment to look at James’ longing for Zac Swansey. While we’re all aware of his unhealthy obsession with awkward white guys, wanting Zac Swansey on this team is a mistake. Fox’s system relies heavily on unselfish players that don’t turn the ball over. With less than 2 turnovers a game, Dustin is doing a pretty good job of running the point in Fox’s offense.

James already mentioned that Swansey’s game consisted wildly driving the lane and hocking up ill advised shots. Somehow I don’t see that fitting in with what Coach Fox is trying to do. Then again, according to James, Swansey was a clutch player. I absolutely hate the idea of “clutch,” its the biggest sham ever released on Western society. (more…)

Ben Bussard returns to Heatin’ Up and endures my conspiracy theories surrounding the bizarre Urban Meyer coaching “Situation”.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Have I mentioned how much I love basketball season? I know I haven’t this semester, mainly because I forgot to write a column last week (oops), but even if I have previously, it bears repeating: I love basketball season. It’s where this (http://bit.ly/6FCcXP), this (http://bit.ly/7IJ2sW) and this (http://bit.ly/8nYOnI) happen. I know that Athens is a football town, and it probably always will be, but Coach Mark Fox is doing his best to make basketball relevant for Bulldogs again. And he’s doing a damn good job. (more…)

Sundiata Gaines aka my favorite Georgia basketball player ever joined Heatin’ Up to discuss his time in Italy, the D-League and how he took out the Cavs.

If you haven’t seen his buzzer beater yet, shame on you…but here’s the link http://bit.ly/6pIsBE

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

As you know by now, Todd Grantham was hired by Head Coach Mark Richt last night. Check back here for any and all updates.

Here’s the conference call with Coach Richt and Coach Grantham

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Here the Friday Pregame Show breaks down Grantham and Richt’s conference call

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Georgia held a teleconference on Friday to introduce new Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham. Currently the defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys, Grantham has an extensive pedigree of coach experience including working with Virginia Tech and Frank Beamer, Michigan State and Nick Saban, the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and more. Grantham will coach with Dallas for the remainder of their season.

Head Coach Mark Richt said that he was very excited about the hiring of Grantham. “I’m as excited as I can be,” said  Richt. “I know this process took a little while, but in the end we got the right man for the job — I’m 100 percent certain of that and 100 percent confident in Todd’s ability to get the job done.”

When asked what about UGA is appealing, Coach Grantham said, “The thing that excites me about Georgia is I love the passion and the excitement of the fans around the program.”

Grantham is responsible for one of the most feared defensive fronts in the NFL headed by Demarcus Ware. Coach Grantham will bring that scheme, a 3-4 (three down lineman and 4 linebackers) to UGA to become the base defense. He said repeatedly that his defense would be a very aggressive 3-4 that will attack the blockers and fill the gaps. Grantham said that he will coach the linebackers, meaning that current defensive line coach Rodney Garner will most likely be retained.

With signing day in the near future, Grantham offered his initial message to recruits, “My initial message is, if you’re excited about being an aggressive defense, about being coached extremely hard, being technically sound at your craft– because really as a player, you’re trying to develop your craft — and if you’re excited about enhancing your performance and developing your craft, then you’re going to have fun at the University of Georgia.” Both Richt and Grantham expressed their goal and desire to have a tough, aggressive defense that will get after the opponent. I asked Coach Richt what he expects in next season’s first game against Louisiana, “I expect they’ll get after it,” said Coach Richt. “With Georgia, we say ‘GATA.’ That means get after their you-know-what. Coach Grantham brought and confidence and pedigree that sure impressed this Dawg fan.

I am absolutely stoked about a possible return of the Junkyard Dawg mentality from back in the 1980s, and it’s only January. I can’t wait for the first beautiful Athens day when Defensive Coordinator Grantham makes his debut between the hedges. Welcome to  Bulldawg Country, Todd!

Reporting for WUOG- 90.5 FM,
Dayne Young

Jeff Owens joins Heatin’ Up to talk about this past season, how much he enjoyed beating Tech and his preparations for the NFL.

Shout out to the recorder for making my intro sound so awesome.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.