Sports

Quotable Quotes

Head Coach Mark Fox

On the loss: “It’s a hard fought game, tough  loss. Really  a  tough  loss. Have  to  credit  Alabama. They  made  the plays late. We just didn’t close the game. We had some chances at the foul line, for instance, and but really, we didn’t rebound the  ball  in  the  second  half. I  thought  for the first time maybe all year we saw some signs  of  fatigue  in  the  gut  of  the  second half. But   you   have to give Alabama credit, they played really hard and won the game.”

On calling the time-out in the final seconds of the second half: “We wanted to get the ball in the  front court for that  reason alone.  Didn’t want to have to go the length of  the floor because of their pressure.  I thought that we would have a little more time than 0.8.  I thought we would  get the timeout with a couple seconds. As a matter of fact, I think when  I first hollered, it was around 2 seconds,  I think I was trying to glance at the  clock, but the referee went  to the  monitor and obviously got it right.  Ended up with 0.8. The ball went in.  So, sure, I mean, I wish I hadn’t  called  it,  because the ball went  in. But, you know, that’s a tough, tough break.”

More on fatigue and how that may have affected free-throw shooting down the stretch: “I probably  should have  played  more  guys.    But  this  was  a hard-fought  game  and  I  rolled  the  dice with those kids who have carried us so far this year.  But their pressure wore on us. Second game in two days, and you really didn’t  see  the  effects  of  it,  I  don’t  think, until the second half. And   then   we   coughed   it   up   a couple times just with some turnovers we hadn’t  had  all  year.  Threw  one  in  the corner right there out of bounds that they got  and  went  in  there  and  we  just  fouled them.  And we haven’t made that play in a while. But  you  got  to  credit  their  defense for  being  pretty  relentless.    And  I  don’t know  if  fatigue  was  a  factor  on  the  free throws,  we  missed  a  handful  there  in  the gut of it.”

On whether or not his team is NCAA tournament worthy: “I think we’re a tournament team. I don’t think we had to have  this  game to be in the NCAA tournament. Our  RIP,  I  think,  going  into the  day  was  probably  –  when  we  started the  tournament  it  was  in  the  30s. But  a top 40 RPI, a top 40 schedule, a winning record away from home, a winning record in the SEC.  And we avoided bad losses. So  I  think  the  things  that  the  committee has traditionally asked us to do, I think that we   have   put   together a resume that answers all those questions, and we don’t have a lot of negatives on there. So I think that we are a tournament team.  If  I  don’t  call  that  timeout  and  the ball  goes  in,  you  know,  you  don’t  get  to ask that question. That’s how close it is. But this team, I think, they have put themselves  in a position  to  get  serious consideration.”

Dustin Ware

On Alabama’s increased pressure in the second: “They were  really good defensive team. They really started trying to pressure the ball a lot and trying to  keep  it  out  of  my  hands  and  out  of Gerald’s hands. I thought Trey really did a good job of handling for us, but in the end they just made the plays and we didn’t.”

On whether or not he heard the whistle when he let off his shot with seconds to go: “No, I  honestly didn’t. I  thought  it  was a clean shot, but then I saw kind of the referee waving it off, so I knew coach had called a time out.”

Trey Thompkins

On whether or not Georgia is an NCAA team: “To be honest with  you, it  would be  nice to be  in  the tournament, but that’s  out  of  our  hands right now.  I can’t tell you whether we are or not. Hopefully we can be selected.  It will be a great opportunity if we do get it, but that’s not up to us anymore. We have done everything we can.”

Final Thoughts

No matter how you quote it, this is a bad loss for Georgia.  When Travis Leslie finished an alley-oop dunk from Gerald Robinson with 7:33 remaining, Georgia, by all accounts appeared ready to wrap this game up, and send the tape to the NCAA selection committee.

But somehow, someway, Alabama found a way to not only get back in this game, but win it in over time.

Here are a couple reasons that happened:

-After the Oop: After Leslie’s highlight reel slam, Alabama went on a 19-5 run to close the half, including a 10 run from 5:20 to 3:19.  Like I said, most college teams would see that type of a play, see the scoreboard, and just start unlacing their shoes.  To their credit, especially to head coach Anthony Grant, this team kept fighting.

-Meeting the press: In an attempt to slow down Leslie and Georgia’s offense, Alabama went to a full-court press most of the second half.  It forced 9 turnovers in second half and in overtime.  However, that’s kind of a wash seeing that Alabama had the same amount.  Instead, Alabama’s press pushed Georgia up the floor, making them uncomfortable when they finally got in their sets.  Just really forced a lot of bad looks.  Grant tried to run the press in the first, but Georgia handled it a lot better.  Anytime you get Trey Thompkins and Gerald Robinson bringing the ball up the floor on a regular basis, you’re not playing good offense.  Nothing against those guys, but it makes your offense uncomfortable again and again.  That eventually adds up.  As in being on the wrong side of 19-5 run wrong.

-Free throws rear their ugly head again: After Georgia went 5-5 in the first half, Georgia went 7-13 for the rest of the game.  While that is not necessarily terrible, a lot of those misses came towards the end of the game, often on the front end of a pair of free-throws.  Make four of those, I’m blogging about how Georgia could beat Kentucky.

Just some quick thoughts on the two major themes of this loss.  The first one is why this team lost and, in my opinion, lost a lot of close games.  Fox mentioned fatigue.

Fatigue Problems

Now, from my perspective, this has been a problem for this team almost the entire season.  Fatigue affects a lot of things in basketball in addition to just being slow.  Shots fall short, free throws clank, hands get reckless and either cause a turnover or force a silly foul, you start blowing 10+ leads.

Sound familiar?

If so, it’s because these are a lot of factors that have attributed to Georgia’s close losses this season.  Whether it was Tennessee, Xavier, Florida, or Alabama.  I’ve never once gotten the feeling that this team was in great shape to win.  Now the Florida game was a bit different, that tip-in by Trey sent a rush of momentum Georgia’s way into the first overtime.  However, after Florida forced a second OT, it was extremely apparent this team was tired.  In all the games Georgia has blown a big lead, they’ve had a real problem hiding their disappointment.  Almost as if they were just as surprised and frustrated as their fans were.

Now, the big questions are why this team is fatigued.  If you’re looking for answers here, you’re not going to find them.  I’m not a physical trainer.  However, I do find it kind of interesting that in all of these games where UGA is up big and blows a lead, they are as good as done.  Not trying to criticize, just referencing the scoreboards.

NCAA Tournament

Now that Georgia is out of this thing, I’ve been using the opportunity to hang around the event, get the opportunity to see guys like Coach Calapari and Bruce Pearl in person, and how they interact with the media.  Extremely charismatic, if you wondering.

Coach Cal’s presser was interesting because he referred to Georgia and how they played a tough game against Alabama.  Even more, he said they deserve an NCAA bid.  I don’t have the exact quote, but he referenced the SEC in general, how all of the teams are extremely competitive amongst each other.

Just thought that was interesting.  Although, I’m not sure Coach Cal is the guy you want making a case for you to the NCAA.  On anything.

Here’s the thing.  I’ll say the same thing I said to James and Dayne on the Friday Pre-Game Show.  I’m not a numbers guy.  Joe Lunardi could be Albert Einstein for all I care.  So, the question now is whether or not this team passes the “eye test”.  Can this team, in one game, compete with the league’s best?  In my mind, yes.  They have competed in almost every Top 25 match-up they have played in.  And not just SEC games.  Notre Dame and Xavier had a tough time with the Dawgs.  In basketball, you need the ball to “bounce your way” sometimes.  That hasn’t happened in any of their competitions.

Get this team in the tournament, they have a shot to compete.  Probably not for a national title, but enough to cause those March upsets we all know and love.

Alright, that’s enough from me.  I’m disappointed UGA is out because I really had a good feeling heading into the weekend.  Unfortunately, it’s over.  Guess I’ll just have to watch basketball for free now.  Total bummer.

Final 65-59 Alabama

Just when you thought Georgia was over this.  Just when you thought Georgia was over blowing second half leads, and even worse, not knowing what to do when all of the sudden the team you’re beating by +10 is back in competition, this game happens.

Post-game thoughts to come.

1:54 OT 59-59

Georgia getting to FT line, but missing 1st of last two.

End of Regulation 53-53

Well, here we are folks.

3:33 49-42

It appeared Georgia was well in control of the game after an alley-oop by Leslie from Robinson.  But Alabama is

7:59 44-34 UGA

Internet is causing me problems.  Price and Thompkins getting pretty agressive inside on both ends of the floor.  Fox obviously trusts them sending them out there with three fouls a piece.

Leslie probably having the game of his life with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Still eight minutes left.

14:47 36-28 14:47

JaMychal Green causing trouble for Dogs as he takes his third trip to line this half.  Price and Thompkins having trouble not fouling.  Leslie keeping Georgia in game with two jumpers.

Halftime 30-21

Sloppy last couple of minutes for both teams.  Price having some trouble getting some inside looks to fall, but Leslie hits a jumper for last points of half.

So far, a pretty good effort from Georgia.  That 9-0 run may be what keeps Georgia ahead in this game.  Let’s see if they can make the defensive adjustments to slow down Alabama in transition, because that’s where most of their points are coming from.

Leslie is you leading scorer with 15 points in the half, Thompkins with 7 on 3 of 3 shooting.  Charvez Davis  leads Alabama with 6.

3:44 28-19

Robinson picked a nice time to end cold streak. After a Davis three ties it 19-19 at the 5:50 mark, Robinson hits a three then finds Dustin Ware on the left with a three of his own.  Not to be out done, Trey Thompkins gets in on the fun and hits a three to send UGA on a 9-0 run.

7:30 19-14

Things have slowed down a bit.  Another tough first half for Gerald Robinson.  Scoreless and 0-5 from the floor, including 0-2 from three.  And none of them look good when they’re coming out. Most airballs and clanks.

11:45 17-12 UGA

Travis Leslie is on an absolute tear right now with 12 points.  Said earlier in my pre-tweeting that a big game is needed from him.  With Tony Mitchell out with two fouls, Dogs look to take advantage.

Hey folks, back in the Dome again as Georgia heads into it’s second-round match up against Alabama.

Of course, this is the second time these teams have met in the past week.  Last Saturday, the Dogs came up short in a 65-57 loss to Tuscaloosa.

That loss sent Georgia spiraling down the SEC East rankings and placed them as the fourth seed in this tournament.  As for that other tournament, questions began to arise as to whether or not Georgia would make the cut.  And instead Alabama would likely take their place.

A lot of people are saying this is a “play-in” game.  I’m not to sure about that, but, for dramatics sake, let’s just pretend it is.  Regardless, a win here would be a strong step forward as the winner here goes on to presumably play Kentucky in the semis.  If there is anything that a tournament format guarantees, it’s that a team can get hot.

That’s all for pre-game.  Follow me on Twitter for more updates.  I’ll also be checking in throughout the game to answer questions or talk about something I’m seeing.