UGA Announces Full Basketball Schedule

Georgia and the SEC released the men's basketball schedule today. All 16 of Georgia's SEC games will be televised. David Ching had the TV Schedule up first.

MemphisDog and I ended up being right on all the non-conference games by the time all was said and done. Really, we had the 12 of 13 right a month or so ago. But enough of slapping myself on the back. Here are some thoughts on the schedule:

The Positives:

• It's a big boy schedule -- I'd wager that less than 10 teams will play five BCS Conference members without participating in a pre-season tournament. Georgia has road games against Missouri, Virginia Tech and St. John's (Big East Challenge in Madison Square Garden). Plus, a neutral site game in Gwinnett vs. Illinois, and a home game against Tech. 15 of 29 teams played in the post-season last year. We'll know more about Fox's scheduling habits next year as only Saint Louis, UAB, Georgia Tech and Hawaii are on the books for 2010-2011.

• The Schedule Builds -- November is a build up to December which builds towards the insanity of January. There is a chance for the team to build up their confidence before facing the January gauntlet of SEC play plus at Missouri and vs. GT.

• Home Games on Friday Night before Football -- We face North Georgia in an exhibition on Friday, Nov. 6th. That's the day before the Tennessee Tech game. The season opener is against New Orleans on Nov. 13th the day before we face Auburn.

The Negatives:

• The best games are Away from Steg -- This is mostly Felton's fault. He knew we had Illinois at Gwinnett and an away game for the Big East Challenge this year. But he still booked games at Virginia Tech and at Missouri. I expect Fox to even the lumpiness of our scheduling out in the future.

• UAB nutty timing -- It's inexplicable that we're playing at UAB on a football Saturday. No one will watch that game, and I can't imagine it'll be televised. More than being disappointed with Fox on this, I'm baffled that Mike Davis at UAB could be so stupid to blow a home game like that.
  

Overall, the five biggest games are:

• Georgia Tech (home) - I'm pretty sure that we haven't lost to Tech at home since 1976 (The series returned to campus in the mid-90s). Tech is loaded, but you still can't lose to them at home.
  

• Alabama (home) - There's a segment of the fan base that will always compare Fox to Anthony Grant. This is a big game for perception.

• Ole Miss (home) - The first SEC home game. The students will be back on campus, and there's a chance to give them a big show in a winnable game.

• Florida (home) - I think this is the last SEC home game before the students go on Spring Break. More importantly, it looks like the highest profile winnable game on the schedule. There's an opportunity to show momentum and improvement by picking up a big win against the Gators at home.

• New Orleans (home) - You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

What's your reaction?

PWD