Sports

BULLDAWGS WIN! 64-48!

SECONDS LEFT: The fans are on their feet giving much love to the Dawgs as the buzzer takes us home!

1:32 The mood is setting up nicely for a UGA win, as the ref chats with Leslie before the in-boud to Ware.  A sub is made to the joy of the fans, #12 Matt Bucklin in the game!

3:21 At the timeout, the fans still pound for a well-to-do UGA, and we see SC attempt some slick ball handling to little avail as UGA continues steady gameplay.

4:23 An SC out-of-bounds pass nearly topples a cameraman, as UGA maintains control here late in the half.  The tempo has turned smartly intermittent, as moments of disciplined energy are paced with time-shaving ball handling.

5:15 UGA’s energy concretes their defense into some clean blocks, but some noise under the rim sends SC’s 44, Sam Muldrow to the line and he picks up two.

5:50 UGA’s still playing with focus and confidence through the 64-40 GEORGIA LEAD.

6:34 Both teams collecting fouls this half, SC at 10 and UGA at 6.  Robinson on the line for 1, feels those Magic Fingers and delivers.  UGA quickly recovers the ball as we see UGA heating up and SC losing steam.

6:34! YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!  A BREAKAWAY BY TRAVIS LESLIE AS HE PASSES BEHIND THE BACK TO A GERALD ROBINSON LAYUP FOR A LOGISTICAL POWERHOUSE OF A PLAY, LEAVING SC SEARCHING!  UNBELIEVABLE!

7:58 SC gets a good look on a three and Ellington delivers.  Thompkins causes a beautiful SC turnover and Leslie, D-Ware, and Robinson finesse the ball to Thompkins for a jumper!

8:25 LESLIE ANNIHILATES A LONG DEUCE!

9:00 Thompkins stands unwavering like a Greek sculpture as SC attempts to draw a foul.  The tables turn as SC picks up a technical and Georgia picks up more points.  57-37 GEORGIA.

9:49 A half-court cornering double team on UGA’s Sherrard Brantley brings Mark Fox to the rescue with a timeout.  A solid Robinson pounds his way to the court but a quick SC hand strips it.

10:38 Robinson checks back in, getting a quick touch and a some solid volleys between him and Thompkins give THOMPKINS A RIDICULOUS SLAMMER!

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Zach Lowe from Sports Illustrated joins the Friday Pregame show to discuss the madness of the NBA trade deadline.

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These are some very interesting numbers in regards to the success of major college football programs.

The list is pretty self-explanatory. It lists programs that have the most games played versus top 30 programs, most wins versus top 30 programs, percentage of games played against top 30 programs and percentage of victories against top 30 programs.

Michigan and Notre Dame are one and two when it comes to all-time college football wins, but 23.1 and 28.8 percent of their wins are against top 30 programs. Now, compare that percentage to Auburn’s  43 percent, Georgia’s 41.2 percent, and Alabama’s 37.9 percent.

See the numbers on Sports with Mike

Say what you want to about Mark Richt and his coaching ability, but the fact remains is that there isn’t a better man running a college football program in the SEC than Mark Richt.

Richt, is a man of faith, and is very open about that. For that, I commend him. But in this piece I will show a different side of him that isn’t being reported or talked about in the mainstream media.

It’s not about a player getting arrested, and Richt punishing him. It has nothing to do with X’s and O’s or winning football games. What this story shows is how a man won in the game of life.

You can read the story of James Eunice on Sports with Mike

It can’t be said enough that in America there are two seasons: football season and waiting for football season.

I know it is only February, and the college football season will begin in 198 days, but it is never too early for college football predictions.

Each team begins the season with a record of 0-0, and each week the number of teams without a loss and a chance of a national championship decreases.

Every head coach of every team wants to be featured in the picture on the left come next January. But that will only come true for one team.

The goal of having an undefeated season starts now in the offseason, but in this piece I will tell you when that dream will end for every team except one.

For one team, that dream will become a reality in New Orleans on Jan. 9. Read the article to find out which team that is.

All fans can agree that hoisting the crystal ball at the end of the season is the goal for every team. (more…)

Georgia Men’s Tennis Coach Manny Diaz joins the show from Seattle to talk about his team’s progress and expectations this season.

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WEGL’s Drew Bonner joins the show to discuss the tragedy at Toomers Corner.

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At halftime, the Georgia Bulldogs thought they had Vanderbilt guard John Jenkins figured out. An hour later, they were sitting in the locker room in shock, having witnessed one of the greatest second-half shooting performances this season.

Jenkins scored all 21 of his points in the final 14 minutes, and Georgia blew a 14-point second half lead, losing 64-56 at home to 18th-ranked Vanderbilt.

The Commodores improved to 19-6 (7-4 SEC) and took over second place in the SEC East. The Bulldogs fell to 17-8 (6-5), dropping yet another crucial conference game at Stegeman Coliseum.

Jenkins, Vanderbilt’s leading scorer, was held scoreless on 0-5 shooting in the first half, but he erupted in the second, hitting five three-pointers and bringing the Commodores back in a game that looked all but lost when Georgia went up by 14 points with 14:34 left to play.

“We knew at some point he was going to come in and get hot,” Bulldogs guard Dustin Ware said of Jenkins. “He’s a great shooter. You’re never going to completely shut a guy like that out.”

The whole Vanderbilt team was lights out from deep in the second half, going 9-12 from long range. It was a remarkable turnaround from a first half in which the Commodores shot a dreadful 8-37 (21.6%). They stayed close, however, with dominant rebounding. They enjoyed a 49-32 rebounding advantage over Georgia and snagged 23 offensive boards, which they cashed in for 18 second-chance points.

“We won the (rebounding) battle the first game,” Georgia coach Mark Fox said after the game, “and they probably put an emphasis on it. They just killed us.”

A three-pointer by Travis Leslie put Georgia up 53-40 with 9:48 to play. From then on, Vanderbilt went on a 24-3 run to finish the game. This included a 15-2 stretch in which the Commodores hit five three-pointers, four by Jenkins.

Gerald Robinson led the Bulldogs with 15 points. Ware added 12, going 4-6 from three-point range. Leading scorer Trey Thompkins struggled all night, finishing 2-10 with eight points.

Center Festus Ezeli had a big game for the Commodores, putting up 10 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks. Rod Odom chipped in 11 points.

The Bulldogs led for nearly the entire game, and when Sherrard Brantley hit a three to give the Bulldogs a 40-26 lead with 14:34 left in the game, Georgia looked to be running away with it.

But Jenkins responded with his first three to end an 11-0 Georgia run. Both teams then caught fire from deep, combining for six threes in a 2:35 span where the Commodores answered each Georgia three with one of their own.

Jenkins finally gave Vanderbilt the lead back on a lay-up with 2:50 left to play. The Bulldogs couldn’t get any shots to go down, and Jenkins sealed the win at the free throw line.

“Definitely another tough loss,” Robinson said. “It just all comes down to being able to play all 40 minutes. We played hard. We just weren’t able to hold on to it.”

The loss ends a string of three consecutive SEC wins for the Bulldogs, their longest such streak in four years. The Commodores have now won four straight games.

This loss doesn’t help Georgia out as they try to make a bid for their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2008. And with road trips to Tennessee and Florida next on the schedule, it’s clear that the Bulldogs still have work to do.

“At this time of year, you’re always trying to get as many wins as you can,” Ware said. ”Every game is big. We’re definitely looking to get as many as we can.”

Final Score: Vanderbilt 64, Georgia 56. It was a tale of two halves for the Commodores. In the first, they shot 8-37. In the second, they hit nine three-pointers. John Jenkins exploded in the second half, scoring all 21 of his points in the final 14 minutes. The ‘Dogs led by as many as 14 in the second, but they let this game slip away in a big way. On fire for the first part of the second half, the Bulldogs went ice cold, managing just three points in the last 9:30 of the game. This loss won’t help the Bulldogs’ Tournament hopes, but it’s a huge road win for Vanderbilt, who now has sole possession of second place in the SEC East. A full recap of the game will follow soon. Thanks for reading, everyone.

Vanderbilt 60, UGA 56, 0:11 left in second half–Fans are heading for the exits as Jenkins hits two free throws. Another miss by the Bulldogs, and they have to foul. A technical foul is called on the Bulldogs, and fans are throwing things onto the court.

Vanderbilt 58, UGA 56, 0:21 left in second half–Vanderbilt gets a series of offensive rebounds but can’t cash them in. Leslie misses a shot at the other end, and the ball goes out of bounds to Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt 57, UGA 56, 1:32 left in second half–Timeout, Georgia. A truly remarkable turn of events. Jenkins hits a tough lay-up while being fouled to give Vanderbilt its first lead since the 15:43 mark of the first half. Thompkins gets to the line but makes just one of two. Price gets whistled for his fourth foul, and Ezeli makes one of two.

UGA 55, Vanderbilt 55, 3:26 left in second half–Jenkins just refuses to miss a shot. His fifth three-pointer of the second half ties the game up for the first time since the opening minutes. Georgia held a 14-point lead at the 14:13 mark of the half, but that has completely evaporated thanks to lights out shooting by the Commodores. The Bulldogs are taking much longer to get into their offensive setup. This one is going down to the wire.

UGA 53, Vanderbilt 52, 4:40 left in second half–Timeout, Georgia. The Bulldogs have led almost the entire game, but the lead is now down to one. Jenkins hits yet another three-pointer as the shot clock expires. Tinsley adds a three of his own, and Mark Fox has no choice but to try to rally his team.

UGA 53, Vanderbilt 46, 7:38 left in second half–Timeout, Georgia. John Jenkins is officially on fire after hitting his third three of the half with 8:43 to play to cut the Bulldog lead to seven. Ezeli continues to deny the Bulldogs access in the paint, bringing his block total to six. Neither team seems interested in paint penetration at the moment, though. Not when they’re hitting outside shots at this rate.

UGA 53, Vanderbilt 43, 9:30 left in second half–One of the craziest games in the SEC this year. All of a sudden, neither team can miss. Both have made five threes in the second half. Jenkins, who was scoreless in the first half, hit a three with 13:14 left to end an 11-0 Georgia run. Dustin Ware hits his fourth triple of the night, but that was quickly answered by Jeffery Taylor’s trey. Robinson, Odom, Leslie, and Jenkins all hit threes within a minute and six seconds after that.

UGA 37, Vanderbilt 26, 15:22 left in second half–Timeout, Vanderbilt. Stegeman comes alive as the Bulldogs score eight straight points. Price converts a three-point play off a nice feed from Leslie with 16:26 to go. Ware follows that up with his third three-pointer of the game. The Bulldogs finally get some points in transition as Robinson grabs a long rebound and takes it all the way for a lay-up.

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