2001-2002 UGA Mens Basketball Outlook
As the Dawgs begin
the 2001-2002 basketball season with an exhibition game against on November 5,
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we take an in-depth look at the big changes that have happened on and off the
court and the prospects for this season.
we left off:
The Georgia men's
basketball team wrapped up a comeback season with a return to the NCAA Tournament
before ending the year with a loss to Missouri. On the surface, a 16-15 record
might not be one for the scrapbook, but a several ingredients made the 2000-2001
season memorable:
record in 1999-2000 had lowered expectations for the program to sickly levels.
The NCAA Tournament was the goal but after the previous season, the postseason
was pretty much a pipe dream.
efforts of big men Shon Coleman and Anthony Evans personified a fight in this
team that got fans interested.
to a winning record both overall and in the SEC against the nation's toughest
schedule.
streak in January propelled the Dawgs from obscurity to the Top 25 and further
into the Big Dance.
against ranked Tennessee and Florida shocked the conference. A sweep of Tennessee
and Vanderbilt enabled the Dawgs to have a .500 record in the SEC East - one of
the toughest six-team groups in the nation with Kentucky, Florida, and Tennessee.
Tech in Atlanta gave UGA a modest two-game streak over Tech and a 4-2 advantage
since the series left a "neutral" floor in 1995.
from Robb Dryden and big impacts from freshmen Rashad Wright, Stephen Thomas,
Chris Daniels, and Ezra Williams gave the Dawgs the role players they needed to
balance the contributions of Coleman, Evans, and Layne.
With some big conference
wins and despite an inexplicable losses to South Carolina (twice) and LSU, the
blue-collar Dawgs earned their way into the NCAA Tournament and also earned a
good deal of national respect and recognition for the way in which they came through
a tortuous schedule.
The positive from
last season is that the program finally broke through and gave some legitimacy
to what Jim Harrick is building. The Dawgs had impressive wins against an impressive
schedule and were rewarded accordingly.
The negative is
that the core of that team is gone. Only four players with significant experience
from last season remain on the roster, and only one of the top five scorers from
a year ago is back. The entire frontcourt is gone except for Stephen Thomas. The
situation closely resembles two years ago in Harrick's first season where D.A.
Layne was the only playmaker returning and the Dawgs were forced to use walk-ons
and midseason transfers to survive a rough season. In that 1999-2000 season, newcomers
Evans and Coleman prevented the year from challenging the 1962 New York Mets for
futility. In 2001-2002, newcomers will also have to have a big impact in order
for the team to have any chance at success.
returns:
Guards
PG Rashad Wright
(6'0" Soph. - 4.7 PPG, 3.3 APG, 1.5 Asst/TO)
Last season, neither Adrian Jones nor D.A. Layne appeared to be comfortable handling
the point guard duties after Moses White left the program. Out of options, Harrick
turned to true freshman Rashad Wright. Wright was never a threat to be a scoring
machine, averaging under five points per game. But he filled a critical role handling
the ball and getting it to the scorers. The offense did not flow nearly as smoothly
when Wright was out of the game. As important, Wright was one of the top defenders
on the squad and handled quality opposing guards such as Tony Akins well.
WG Ezra Williams
(6'4" Jr. - 12.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 37% 3PT in SEC)
The 1999-2000 season was made tougher knowing that Ezra Williams had to miss the
season with academic problems. Finally able to play last season, Williams lived
up to his hype and emerged as the second-leading scorer behind Layne. If Ezra
had something to improve on from last season, it was consistency. He would disappear
for a few games but also took over plenty of big games with unconscious shooting.
With Layne gone, the Dawgs will look to Williams as the main source of points,
and he will likely be the first objective for opposing defenses to neutralize.
SG Mike Patrick
(6'4" Jr. - 1.5 PPG)
Patrick became a celebrity of sorts in 1999 when Harrick started the former walk-on
early in the season. Patrick has always been known for his effort and intensity,
but it is unknown what role he'll have on this year's team with the real needs
being on the frontcourt.
Forwards
WF Chris Daniels
(6'7" Soph. - 3.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG)
Daniels was touted coming into his freshman year as an inside-outside wing forward
who could use his size down low but could also step outside for jumpshots. He
provided valuable minutes last season when Georgia wanted to go with a quicker
lineup. Daniels impressed with his fluidity and athleticism and became much more
confident in his offense as the season went on. This year, Daniels looks to move
from a role player to a key member of the starting frontcourt.
PF Steve Thomas
(6'8" Soph. - 2.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG)
Thomas, along with Daniels, was a big contributor as a freshman and provided an
option when the Dawgs wanted to go a little quicker than a lineup of Evans or
Dryden. Where Steve impressed most last season was on the defensive end both as
a shotblocker and rebounder in his limited playing time. Thomas's quick reflexes
and good vertical jump made him a presence. His offense will have to continue
to improve as a starter this year.
WF Ryan Pevey (6'5"
Sr.)
Pevey has seen very limited time since transferring into UGA a couple of seasons
ago and appeared in only eight games last year. That probably will not change
much this season.
Centers
Georgia returns
no true center (and no player taller than Thomas's 6'8").
Guards
PG Tony Cole (5'11"
Jr.)
Cole has bounced around from prep school to community college over the past couple
of years but has hopefully gotten his academics enough to stick in Athens. Cole
was originally recruited and signed by Harrick at Rhode Island in 1999 but did
not qualify. What he might bring to the table is the threat to score out of the
point guard role. Georgia since G.G. Smith has either had point guards without
much scoring output or has had to put scorers like Layne at point to get more
offense into the game. If Cole can handle and distribute the ball plus contribute
more than eight or ten points, he should challenge Wright for the starting PG
role.
Forwards
WF Jonas Hayes
(6'6" Soph.)
Jonas is a transfer from Western Carolina (along with twin brother Jarvis). He
should be able to help at either forward spot and in the middle in a pinch, but
Jonas will most likely be counted on for depth on the blocks providing a backup
for Thomas or Daniels.
WF Jarvis Hayes
(6'6" Soph.)
Jarvis was voted Freshman of the Year in the Southern Conference in 1999-2000
before sitting out last year as a transfer. He averaged over 17 points per game,
but the most important thing was his consistency - he had no fewer than 12 points
in any SoCon game. Depending on the mix of guards Harrick chooses to use or if
he decides to use a three-guard lineup, Jarvis could be a starter at small forward.
Even if he doesn't start, he will get plenty of minutes on the frontcourt.
Walk-ons
G Mike Britton
(6'4" Fr.)
Britton comes to Athens from Rockford, Illinois.
WG Richard Wehunt
(6'4" Jr.)
Wehunt has put up some big scoring numbers at smaller schools like North Georgia
before coming to Athens for his final two seasons. UGA says that he scored 696
points as a sophomore at North Georgia in 2000, ranking 2nd nationally among all
NAIA Division I players. He might find a role as a sharpshooter off the bench.
- Inactive Players
This season could
go up or down a lot depending on the fortunes of three players whose status with
the team is uncertain entering the first game. These are three potential starters,
so any resolution concerning their status will have a huge impact on the team's
prospects.
G Michael Dean
Liggons (6'2" Fr.)
Liggons is a scoring machine from NW Georgia whose reputation as an offensive
sparkplug approaches the fanfare given to D.A. Layne several years ago. The team
was counting on him to help shoulder, along with Ezra Williams, some of the scoring
vacuum left by Layne's departure. Unfortunately, Liggons ran into transcript problems
and was not admitted to UGA for Fall Semester. It is expected Liggons will join
the team at the end of the semester in early December, but since the Ezra Williams
saga, nothing is concrete until he sets foot on the court.
F/C Larry Turner
(6'10" Fr.)
The Dawgs went head-to-head with Maryland to land Turner, and his signing was
considered a key component to replacing the production down low of Evans and Coleman.
He and Thomas would be Georgia's only true post players. Turner's ACT score was
flagged, and he is in the same boat as Liggons - word is he may be able to join
the team in December, but that also is something that will not be known for certain
until it happens.
WF Damien Wilkins
(6'6" Jr.)
Wilkins, the nephew of Dominique, transferred to UGA from NC State after last
season leaving behind an ugly scene of bitterness and finger-pointing between
the Wilkins family and the Wolfpack staff. Wilkins came out of high school with
a lot of hype and skills and is hoping that Athens is the place where all of that
finally comes together under Harrick's tutelage. Under the NCAA's transfer rules,
Wilkins must sit out this season. However, circumstances around Wilkins's departure
from NC State may provide away around the transfer requirements. UGA is investigating
every way to get this talented small forward on the court, but it will be a longshot.
Unless something unexpected happens, Wilkins will most likely be someone to talk
about for next season.
Schedule
It's nowhere near
the killer schedule of a year ago, but the 2001-2002 slate for the Bulldogs is
still very respectable.
November is highlighted
by a tilt with Georgetown in the Tip-Off Classic (in Springfield, MA) in among
three other likely wins. South Georgia fans will get to see the Dawgs in Savannah
on November 21 against Georgia Southern.
Things get much
more heated in December beginning with Colorado. The Dawgs host Minnesota on December
7 and then host Georgia Tech just two days later. Following that Tech game, the
team heads on the road for almost a full month. They start with a stop in Mobile
to play South Alabama and then jet out to California to return a home-and-home
with Pepperdine. From California, it's on to Hawaii for the well-known Rainbow
Classic - the venue the Dawgs used to explode onto the scene in 1996. This year,
the Rainbow field also includes Iona, Holy Cross, Portland, Hawaii, Boston College,
Miami (Ohio), and Arkansas State. The Dawgs open that tournament with Arkansas
State.
After the Rainbow
Classic, Georgia leaves the nonconference part of the schedule and turns to the
always-difficult SEC. They'll have two weeks off to return home from Hawaii and
rest up before Vanderbilt comes to Athens to start the SEC season. Aside from
home-and-home games with SEC East teams, the Dawgs travel to LSU, Mississippi
State, and Auburn and host Ole Miss, Arkansas, and Alabama. One of the best things
about the SEC schedule this year is that the home game with Kentucky is on a Saturday
for the first time in several years.
Who are the tougher
teams on Georgia's schedule? According to ESPN's
preseason rankings, Georgetown and Boston College look to be the class of
the nonconference opponents with rankings in the Top 20. In the SEC, Kentucky
and Florida are preseason Top 5, meaning another brutal SEC East schedule. Tennessee,
Alabama, Ole Miss, and Arkansas are also getting some marginal preseason attention.
Honestly, it would
be a huge accomplishment for this year's unit to duplicate the postseason appearance
of last season's team.
A shift in styles
might be expected as well. In the past two seasons, the Dawgs have depended on
a consistent low-post offense punctuated by the set outside shot from D.A. Layne.
All of those elements are gone now. The Georgia personnel is now much more suited
to a faster tempo and a transition game. Daniels and Thomas are used to taking
things a bit quicker from their roles last season, and until Ezra becomes more
consistent from outside or Liggons becomes eligible, the lack of an outside jumpshooter
will mean that the Dawgs will have to turn to the penetration and slashing skills
of Williams, Cole, and Jarvis Hayes.
The Dawgs lose
a ton of offense from a year ago without many options to replace it. Ezra Williams
has been a big scorer at times but has yet to be consistent enough to be counted
on each night to lead the offense. There are plenty of role players in all elements
of the game, especially defense, but without Liggons and a proven scorer down
low, points will be hard to come by early on. Newcomers Hayes (both of them) and
Cole will have to fill the roles of scorers fairly quickly for this team to have
much success.
The early schedule
is more favorable than it has been the past two seasons. The Dawgs will find out
plenty about themselves against Georgetown, but the ACC battles with Wake and
NC State are gone, and Georgia State is a shell of last year's NCAA Tournament
team. Georgia Tech will be the usual rivalry-fueled war, and the Dawgs will be
looking to extend the winning streak over the Jackets to 3. Georgia has an outside
shot to win the Rainbow Classic, but Boston College will be tough to beat. Even
in their rebuilding state, the Dawgs look to be the second-best team playing out
there.
The SEC will be
just as tough as it was last season and possibly tougher. Florida and Kentucky
are still tops. Tennessee will be retooled under a dangerous young coach. Arkansas,
Alabama, and South Carolina should be matured into quality teams. Matching last
year's 9-7 conference mark will be very difficult.
Let's talk postseason.
If the Dawgs hope to make the NCAA Tournament this year, they can't afford but
three of four losses before the SEC schedule. Four nonconference losses plus a
.500 season in the SEC would put the Dawgs at about 17-12 heading into the postseason.
While the schedule is decent, it isn't the overwhelming test that last year's
schedule was which had a big role in getting the Dawgs a tournament bid.
As it begins, the
2001-2002 season looks every bit as much of a challenge for Harrick as his initial
season two years ago was. He must quickly meld promising but young talent in with
one or two returning stars. The competition will be tough, but there are a few
more opportunities against weaker teams than there have been the past two seasons.
Much focus will be on tuning this team for a big push in 2002-2003, but there
is enough talent on this year's team to make some noise, win some big games, and
have an outside shot at a return to the postseason.