- Here's my game story from Georgia's loss Saturday at Alabama.
Mark Fox remained steadfast about his team's NCAA chances:
“If it’s the body of work, like they talk about every year, then we’ll see. But we obviously can’t rest on our laurels right now.”
The loss dropped Georgia's RPI rank to 40, which is still solid territory, but I think that first-round game is pretty important now.
And who will that first-round game be against? We'll know after the Tennessee-Kentucky game, which is at noon. The two scenarios:
- If the Vols win, then Georgia is pushed to the fifth seed and will play Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. The winner of that game goes on to face Florida in the quarterfinals.
- If the Vols lose, then Georgia is the fourth seed and will play Auburn at 1 p.m. on Thursday. The winner of that game goes on to face Alabama in the quarterfinals.
Still, Georgia is ensured of at least finishing in a tie for second place in the East. That's pretty good for a program that's finished fifth or sixth the past six years.
- One more note: Alabama's RPI is now 80, jumping 10 spots after beating Georgia. This is why the Crimson Tide are becoming the most intriguing team for selection Sunday. Yes, no SEC team that was eligible has ever been left out with 11 league wins or more, and Alabama has 11. But no team with an RPI below 65 has made it as an at-large since the RPI began being tracked. Alabama lost to St. Peter's, Providence, Iowa and Oklahoma State, and beat nobody out of conference.
But let's say Georgia plays Alabama again in the quarterfinals, and Alabama wins again, then loses in the semifinals. At that point, it would be tough to argue that Georgia belongs in and Alabama doesn't. Does that help both teams, or hurt?
- Finally, as we approach the start of spring practice, here's another update for you on Georgia's strength and conditioning program, this time centered on the nutrition changes.
“The first week people kind of didn’t know what to expect. But now you might be away by yourself, and you’ve got a chance to eat McDonald’s, and you don’t do it,” Boykin said. “Because you’re dedicated to your body, and I think people are really buying into it right now.”
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7 comments:
So who exactly was supposed to be working with the football team with their nutrition in the past?
This basketball team is extremely frustrating. They keep winning just enough to make the "next" game a big deal, but they never get over that hump. I'm talking about the UT game (home), UF game at home, Xavier, Vandy games, and now this Alabama game.
We just don't seem to have a killer instinct and I really think it starts with Thompkins.
(I suppose it has to be said that this statement is not an indictment of Fox or the program. I like how we're doing, but I think it's fair to say this team hasn't reached full potential).
I think the BBALL team has played very well when the totality of the talent we have on the floor is taken into consideration, especially when compared with the rest of the SEC East.
Trey Thompkins, on a hurt foot, had a double double yesterday.
This unit ominously reminds me of Hugh Durhams early 80 Dawgs that made the final four. 20 wins heading into the tourney...and got scorching hot! Ala and KY are beatable and a SEC tourney title is very possible.
Vladdy, Your unadulterated optimism and enthusiasm is commendable. I really wish I could look at this team and feel the same way. I see a team with some talent, but serious flaws in focus and effort every couple of games. They seem to throw out total effort for couple of games, then inexplicably come out completely flat and uninterested the next. I've been waiting all season for a fire to light and a stretch of inspired play to begin, and I'm still waiting. I think they have the ability to beat AU and Bama and then be a team nobody wants to play in game three. What I expect to see is a good effort against AU and a flop against Bama. Hope I'm wrong!
If we beat Auburn, we will beat Bama too.
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