SEC Hoops Power Poll Ballot - Week of January 29th

1. Kentucky - Nothing to see here. Move along.
2. Florida - Gators are rolling. They might not lose again until the season finale against Kentucky. 
3. Vandy - Teams are figuring out Vandy. Can Stallings get the Commodores back to playing top 15 basketball?
4. Mississippi State - This team really confuses me. I'm starting to think the coaches take long stretches of games off. Still they are in the discussion for the top of the conference.
5. Ole Miss - We'll find out just how good this team is this week with two tough road games.
6. Alabama - Plays down to the level of the competition too much to be a contender for anything more than an NCAA bubble team.
7. Arkansas - Starting to look like the team is wearing out playing the super up tempo game.
8. LSU - The Tigers are competing, but might not win another game until late February with their schedule. Will Johnson still have his team by then?
9. Tennessee - Reverting to pre-conference schedule form. Still a talented team, but seems to play younger than they are.
10. Georgia - Woo hoo! Dawgs didn't lose this weekend. What's that? They were off? Oh.
11. Auburn - At least they have played South Carolina.
12. South Carolina - I wanted to reward them for their win over 'Bama, so I am not ranking them 13th. This week.

This week, you could put teams 4-7 and 9-12 and just shake them up. It is that close.

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T minus 23 hours until National Signing Day

Here we find ourselves 23 hours before National Signing Day. NSD is the last shot of methadone given before we are kicked out of our program, at least until Spring football. I don't expound on recruiting much, other than giving a snarky, usually ill informed, opinion about the outcome, but that doesn't mean I don't follow it and want Georgia to win at this as much as I do everything from football to tiddlywinks.

Having said that, the rational Tyler (call him The Narrator, if you like) knows the actual Scout/Rivals/ESPN/randomeblogyouveneverheardofbuteveryoneswearsisthebestatrecruiting rankings are just tools for those sites to talk/write about something to feed the voracious appetites of their readers. Addressing need is much more important to The Narrator than winning recruiting rankings.

That being said, it is important for Georgia to close strong. There are several 4-5 star players out there that would fill needs. Recruiting sites often miss on a 3 star player's upside. They rarely miss on 4 and 5 star players' downsides. If a guy is a 4 or 5 star, they it is likely they are the real deal.

My dream list for Georgia (and how likely the Dawgvent will explode at how they are being underused we are to see them in Athens in the Fall):
Dalvin Tomlinson - 8:45 announcement; 30% likely a Dawg, likely going to Alabama
Jaquay Williams - 8:45 announcement; 60% likely a Dawg, 40% Auburn
Josh Harvey-Clemons - 9am announcement; 90% likely a Dawg
Brandon Greene - 9:00 announcement; 40% likely a Dawg, 60% Alabama
Kenderious Whitehead - 9:00 announcement; 2% likely a Dawg, he's going to NC State
Josh Dawson - 10:00 announcement; 50/50 with Vandy
Cordarrelle Patterson - 11:30 announcement; 90% likely a Dawg
Avery Young - 2:00 announcement; 60% likely a Dawg, Auburn and Florida are even if he doesn't come to Athens.

And....the mystery recruit. The white whale of recruiting. It is hard to say if the rumors are true or if Georgia having an easy two unspoken for spots mean the class is fuller than we know. Honestly, if I had to say, there is a guy out there that has publicly committed to another school, but has told Georgia's coaches they are still very much in the hunt. Like everyone, I think it is a Dback. I'd say someone that is totally unexpected like Deon Bonner (due to his situation during the visit), Chaz Elder (who has a SC hat on for his Rivals picture) or Ronald Dabry (who hasn't really even mentioned Georgia in his many discussions with the media). I'd also throw Eligwe and Dillon Lee (he's already enrolled at 'Bama) in the discussion, as both have been committed to their schools for quite a while and both could see some immediate playing time. If I were forced to guess, I'd say Eligwe or Darby (note that Eligwe has postponed his decision until Feb 6 and made less than positive comments about UGA).

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And The Genius Blinked

When Tech threatened to pull the scholly offer from Antonio Crawford if he visited Miami, I thought he would be going to Coral Gables.  Why would a kid want to go to a school that would threaten such a thing? Yes, Coach Johnson, Certified Genius, had pulled offers based on commits visiting other schools, so visiting Miami seemed like the mere prelude to him not having the offer to go to Tech when he got home.

But Tech still wants him. Not that he cares. He's going to Miami. 

I thought it was interesting they didn't threaten the Adams kid when he visited Auburn, which led me to think about the threat to pull Crawford's offer.  Why do that?

And why did the coach that was recruiting the kid from Lanier County who's offer was pulled get fired?

Strange days in the Flats.

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Blutarsky's take on the death of the Johnson Doctrine.

ESPN's Chris Low on UGA's Offseason

I think Low makes a variety of interesting comments as he highlights players to watch this offseason as the Georgia Bulldogs gear up for another run at the SEC Championship.  He lists these players as guys to watch:

Isaiah Crowell
David Andrews
Nick Marshall
Damien Swann
Derrick Lott

My list would be:

1. Isaiah Crowell - Competition and conditioning can solve most of his problems*
2. Will Friend - UGA must be able to establish a running game
3. Kenarious Gates - The only returning upper classman on the OL
4. Damien Swann - Leading candidate to replace Boykin at CB
5. Aaron Murray - Must reduce his turnovers. Particularly when running.

Who are your top players to watch in the Spring?  Who are the guys who most need to step up? 

PWD

*Losing the phone number to Jasper's weed guy wouldn't hurt either. Allegedly. Obviously.

Alabama Fan Charged in BCS Case

I'm not going into the detail of what when down in the Bourbon Street Krystals, but Brian Downing has been charged with sexual battery in the incident.  Good.

His lawyers are a bit incredulous:

"The 18-year-old victim was never physically harmed and, in fact, was so intoxicated that he would have had no recollection of the incident, but for a video posted online," the lawyers wrote. "Any ‘harm' is entirely post hoc and amplified by media."

Fine. It was the media's fault.  But the media didn't put their 32YEAROLD BALLSACKONACOMPLETESTRANGERSFACEINPUBLICWHILEHEWASPASSEDOUT. Yeah, I have some strong views on that.  My guess is Mr. Downing won't have any problems with keeping the boys inside his pants during his time in Angola.

Tell you what, let the LSU fan put a sack of his choosing on Mr. Downing's face, and his lawyers' faces, in public and on ESPN. They could get Jim Gray and make a whole hour out of it.  Then just for funsies, still charge him with sexual battery because YOUDONTPUTYOURSACKONACOMPLETESTRANGERSFACEASSHOLES.
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On Football Recruiting

I typically don't write about football recruiting. I follow it with interest and need Georgia to do well, but I just don't like to write about it much. Yes, I know how important it is. Yes, it is interesting. I just can't get too worked up (at least until the week of signing day) about it.

There are plenty of very good places to get the information, including Michael Carvell's coverage for the AJC, or to see bloggers' takes on recruiting; I just don't have the inclination to devote my limited brain juice to it.

That being said, I find Coach Richt's approach very interesting. I have to say I haven't been happy over the past two months with the 'Georgia waited to offer' refrain we hear from some players. Now, for the second year in a row, it looks like the last week is setting up to be very interesting. Will Georgia get an in-home with Brandon Greene? If they do, will Saban, who is reportedly pissed at Greene's flirtation with UGA, fire him?

It is interesting that Saban, who cut a kid loose earlier because he was the '26th' guy in the class, would be mad at a kid re-evaluating his decision. That is the duplicity of the system we live in. Ask the Football Genius of North Avenue. That isn't to say Greene will forsake 'Bama for Georgia. That is to say the late push isn't a terrible counter strategy to the very early offer and push approach that other coaches employ. Will we continue to miss on very good players with our wait and see approach? Sure.

The next week will be very interesting, as we have a legit shot at significantly improving this signing class. It will also give an indication if the wait and see approach is worth continuing. Get one more offensive lineman and Josh Harvey-Clemons, that is a win. Get Greene and Young, plus Harvey-Clemons and some combination of either of the two Dawsons on defense, that is a huge win. Get those plus JaQuay Williams? Now I am dreaming.

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Georgia Plays Tough Against Cats

I'll not go into the break down of the game, except to say this: if Georgia plays with the same intensity and focus the rest of the season, we'll win nearly all of our home games and at least three road games.  We held Kentucky to their lowest point total since last season's national semi-final loss to UConn (when they scored two fewer points). We held Kentucky 20 points below their season average. Easily this was the best defensive game we have played all season.

Why did Georgia lose? Because we only have two (maybe three) players that would ever get significant playing time at UK.  At most. On any given night, one team can beat another. If we'd kept up the hot shooting, that would have happened last night. It didn't, and Kentucky's talented, deep, and more physically gifted players took over.  Between Davis' five blocks, his and Kidd-Gilcrist's eleven rebounds each, Georgia just had nothing to match the talent differential.

Now, this is a common refrain from nearly every team playing Kentucky. This isn't a post about Fox's success or lack thereof in recruiting. It does bear pointing out that recruiting has to be significantly improved if Georgia is going to consistently be in the NCAA tournament every year. We don't have to have six McDonald's All-Americans every year. Get a KCP every year and win recruiting battles with Tech, Clemson, FSU, 'Bama, Tennesee, and Vandy more often than not, we'll be a very strong tournament contender. And Auburn and Memphis. Especially Auburn and Memphis! Right now, we lose way more of those than we win.

For now, this team plays like the young team it is. That will improve, but we have to have another big recruiting win this season if we have any hope of being in the tournament discuss this time next year.
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SEC Hoops Power Poll - Week of January 22nd

This week's poll:


1. Kentucky Wildcats 96
2. Florida Gators 80
3. Mississippi St. Bulldogs 78
4. Vanderbilt Commodores 77
5. Alabama Crimson Tide 66
6. Mississippi Rebels 59
7. Arkansas Razorbacks 52
8. Tennessee Volunteers 41
9. LSU Tigers 34
10. Georgia Bulldogs 23
11. Auburn Tigers18
12. South Carolina Gamecocks 8

Unanimous agreement at number one and number 12. Near unanimous at 10 and 8. A jumble elsewhere.
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SEC Hoops Power Poll Ballot - Week of January 22nd

Another week of games, another week of parity in the middle of the conference.

1. Kentucky - Kentucky will lose a conference game this season. It won't happen this week with trips to Georgia and LSU.
2. Vandy - I am not sure how they lost at home to Mississippi State, but I am sure Stallings will figure a way to right the ship until the second game of the NCAA tournament.
3. Florida - With a trip to Oxford this week, we get to see if Florida's success is a product of the schedule to this point.
4. Mississippi State - The win at Vandy is a sign the Bulldogs are still relevant in the best of the rest discussion. Of course, there are four other teams that can say the same thing.
5. Alabama - It is hard to fault the Tide for a down week with three top 40 RPI teams on the schedule. Unfortunately, it does mean the have to be moved down with how closely matched the teams are.
6. Ole Miss - Col. Akbar's Bears better learn to close the deal or they will be a top seed in the NIT.
7. Arkansas - Youth was on display both with the good (a strong statement win over a tough Michigan team) and the bad (losing their will to live in a way worse than 20 point loss at Kentucky) this week.
8. LSU - Seriously, you could flip a coin on 8th. Georgia, Tennessee, and LSU are all that close right now. I went straight with RPI on these three.
9. Georgia - Too bad the Dawgs can't play the intensity they showed in the last 2 minutes against Mississippi for a full game. Since they don't, they find themselves in the bottom of the conference.
10. Tennessee - Dear Cuozno, that Stokes guy is good.
11. Auburn - Could have ranked them 8th, but conventional wisdom says they will revert to the team that only scored 35 points against Vandy.
12. South Carolina - How did they win 8 games? It's a miracle.

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A Simple Request

Beat Ole Miss this afternoon.  Col. Akbar's Bears haven't won on the road since the week after Thanksgiving. They've lost to Auburn...AUBURN...on the road. We need this win.

Play stout defense and do just enough with the offense, we win. Assle around with the ball and play slappnut defense, they win.  Pretty simple, right?

Tip is at 4pm at Stegeman.
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SEC Hoops Power Poll - Week of January 15th

The Power Poll is up.

1. Kentucky Wildcats 132
2. Vanderbilt Commodores 108
3 (t). Florida Gators 104
3 (t). Mississippi St. Bulldogs 104
5. Alabama Crimson Tide 103
6. Arkansas Razorbacks 72
7. Tennessee Volunteers 60
8. LSU Tigers 58
9. Mississippi Rebels 43
10. Georgia Bulldogs 33
11. Auburn Tigers 29
12. South Carolina Gamecocks 13

Overall, we think there are five clear top teams and one clear bottom team.  I wasn't way out of consensus, either, which means either I'm getting better at this, or the other voters are getting worse.  Or both.

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Richt Approves...

Of Georgia's defensive minded win over Tennessee in OT last night.  

During the game, I kept thinking this is ugly basketball.  Then it hit me: As ugly as it was, it was the brand of basketball Georgia has to play to win right now.  Yes, the running game is much more exciting. The problem with the running game is one of depth and defenders for Georgia. We are getting deeper with Marcus' reintroduction, but we still have foul issues (both Neme and Marcus had four in regulation).  We did run some, but only when it was absolutely there (think the Florveus dunk on the half court feed by Ware). 

So, that leaves us with having to play smart offensively, both from shot selection and from a ball protection standpoints. We finally did that a whole game (actually, a game +5minutes).  We also have to play aggressive defense, something we can do a bit more with Marcus back. The up side is we created a season high 20 turnovers, also a season high in turnovers by Tennessee, netting a 17-8 point differential on points off turnovers. Between that and slowing down the game, we got a win. 

Georgia still has a long way to go, but this was easily the best total team effort we've seen defensively. With what we saw in the loss to Vandy and this win, I have hope that there is something to look forward to. Tennessee isn't as good as Vandy, but with Maymon and Stokes in, they are much better than the team that lost to Oakland and College of Charleston.  They beat Florida and gave Kentucky all they could handle. Overall, this is a good win for the Dawgs, as they came back from a deficit late and put a decent team away. 

We get to try to make it two SEC wins in a row Saturday afternoon at Stegeman against Ole Miss. 4pm tip on the SECNetwork.

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SEC Hoops Power Poll Ballot - Week of January 15th

New basement dweller. Same folks at the top. Majic 8ball in the middle and bottom. Road wins are kind of like Big 12 footbal defense: a great theory, but not a reality.

1. Kentucky - The 'Cats will lose a game in the conference at some point. They tried really hard to do so Saturday at Tennessee.
2. Vandy - Just win baby. Bet the Georgia game made Stallings hair fall out some more. 
3. Alabama - If this team learns to play consistent offense, they will be a tough out.
4. Mississppi State - I honestly thought they were over rated. A gutsy win over Alabama made me realize I might have been wrong.
5. Florida - Still not sure wins over the dregs of the conference should mean anything. At least they are beating the dregs of the conference.
6. Arkansas - Anderson will have big success at Arkansas. He has a young team that isn't mentally tough enough to both play his punishing style of basketball and focus on playing to win. They will be very dangerous the later it gets in the conference slate.
7. Mississippi - Not sure what to do with the Bears. On one hand, I think they are a talented basketball team. On the other, they sure don't play like it sometimes. They are 7th by default since I don't think they are in the top 6 or the bottom 5.
8. Tennessee - Starting to show signs of life. Martin has them playing to the top of their potential and that isn't a good thing for the teams that had the Volunteers marked as a sure win.
9. LSU - Rumors of Trent Johnson's demise were both exaggerated and premature. Which is what she said.
10. Georgia - I would like to say something positive about the Dawgs: I love their mascot.
11. Auburn - Well, at least I can use basketball instead of basektball for them.
12. South Carolina - Could have had them 8th. Could have had them 13th. The bottom of the conference is just that bad.

It isn't a stretch to say the SEC could have only 3 teams in the NCAA tournament. It isn't a stretch to say the SEC could have 8 teams in the NCAA tournament. 

BR-549

The one nugget about the Justin Taylor having to wait to sign with Alabama story that was interesting had nothing to do with Alabama. Saban deciding someone else is better than a kid that hurt his knee in August of his senior season, then telling him he'll have to wait until next year to sign a scholarship he's been relying on since last February, isn't news. Hell, it isn't even surprising. Effective, in that the kid shut down his recruiting and other schools left him alone. Not surprising.

Also not surprising? Tennessee's approach:  "Tennessee came through and I only talked to them one time. They gave me a number and the number didn’t even work."

Boy, that Dooley guy sure knows how to make folks feel the love.
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Tasty Kool-aid Mix

I'm not sure if this is some sort of photoshoped video or what, but if this is real? Damn.  If Marshall is as fast as Malcolm Mitchell. Damn.

Thank goodness Justified is on tonight or might go into full fledged Kool-aid making mode.
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Picture of Paul Westerdawg

Per request. He's in this picture.

Dawgs Play Significantly Better...but Still Lose

Dawgs lose on the road 77-66 to Vandy.  While it was an eleven point loss, it was more like a four or five point game that free throws made into a bigger win. Vandy definitely was rattled by the Dawgs ability to stop the inside game and by Caldwell-Pope's shooting.  It was good to see Coach Fox's substitutions and him playing guys that are hot instead of worrying about guys fouling out.  Free throws are still a concern, both in numbers missed and the numbers the other team are taking. Not counting the 8 attempts during the last minute or so, Vandy still had 15+ more attempts than Georgia. Georgia shot 80% on 20 attempts, so that part of the misery that was the Florida game was much, much better.

Not saying it was a moral victory, but I have to say this game was the best effort from the team from start to finish against a quality opponent we've seen all season.  We play this way during every game, we'll sneak up on someone we have no business beating. We almost did it yesterday. I'll not get into the officiating (but boy, could I), but it was interesting to see Vandy's Taylor push his luck with the officials and get T-ed up at home.

This is partially the team I'd hope we'd see when we hired Mark Fox: Playing hard from whistle to horn, making good decisions with the ball, working the hot hand, and making the other team figure out what to take away.  Right now, we have a lot of growing to do before we will be a legitimate night in and night out threat to the big boys. We need to develop more of an offensive identity, even if it is a three point shooting team. However, if we continue to make the big boys earn their wins, get better every game and figure out a way to overcome some talent differential, and we'd have reason to look forward.  It won't hurt to get Marcus Thornton back soon.

Most importantly, we can't lay anymore steaming turds like we did in Gainesville Tuesday night. That just can't happen again.

Dawgs take on a very hot Tennessee squad at home Wednesday night at 8pm on the SEC network. We need a huge crowd, as this is a nearly must win if we have any hope of doing anything other than finishing the season just under .500.
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Not a Bad Weekend - Tebow, South Carolina and Tennessee

Yesterday was a good day for those searching for proof that God loves others the same way he does Tim Tebow: South Carolina picks up the first points in the Fulmer Cup. Also, the media's Tebowmania came crashing down in a cavalcade of cliches why Tim Tebow might be a super good dude, but he is a left-handed version of Byron Leftwich. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Byron might not be as medically talented as Tebow, but he does have a couple of cool rides.

Tennessee football. I think that is all I have to say about that, right?

There are few things I love more than Schadenfreude, if for no other reason than feeling superior to South Carolina/Tennessee fans and wearing ascots at parties and saying Schadenfreude. Schadenfreude.
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MotoGP, The Premier Class Of

MotoGP, the premier class of

Race For The MotoGP Class Is

Race for the MotoGP class is

As It Ever Gets In MotoGP,

as it ever gets in MotoGP,

Fulmer Cup Season or God, Now I am Depressed b/c it's The Off-season

There is no way around the fact that we are over 230 days until college football is back making our lives full and rich, much the way eating a whole pound of Kobe veal served by Jenn Brown's jeans does.  Now, the Fulmer Cup is active.

The Off-season sucks. I lose weight. I have money. I have whole days on the weekends to do stuff. I don't spend large parts of my week in Sam's Club trying to figure out if it was bourbon or sweet tea vodka we ran out of. I buy both just in case. I eat well. I miss seeing people.

Now, we have the Fulmer Cup to deal with, and Athens' finest haven't gone all Sheriff Justice on the football team in some time. I hate the off-season.

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SEC Hoops Power Poll - Week of January 8th

You can see the full poll here.


1. Kentucky Wildcats 60
2. Alabama Crimson Tide 51
3. Vanderbilt Commodores 45
4t. Florida Gators 43
4t. Mississippi St. Bulldogs 43
6. Arkansas Razorbacks 37
7. LSU Tigers 33
8. Tennessee Volunteers 23
9. Mississippi Rebels 19
10. Georgia Bulldogs 17
11. South Carolina Gamecocks 12
12. Auburn Tigers 7

I was dead on the top three and bottom three. The middle six, not so much as I had the number four team ranked 9th.
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Final Thoughts on the BCS Championship Game

Random stuff that went through my mind during and following the BCS National Championship Game:

• Alabama is the better coached team. No wonder LSU fans are still mad at Saban leaving Baton Rouge.
• I thought using the height difference between the Alabama receivers and the one LSU corner back that got thrown at a bunch was genius. It takes a lot of 'want to' to over come a seven inch height difference regardless of your moniker.
• I am convinced Alabama's defense is the best in the country in 40 years. Give props to Smart/Saban for coaching them up, but even Ted Roof could have coached that bunch up. There are no less than seven likely future NFL starters in that group. 
• There is some poetic justice to the number of FGs attempted (and made!) in the game, considering the number missed in the first match-up.
• Also, if Oklahoma State fans want to be mad, be mad at Alabama's kickers for missing all those kicks in the first game. They hit one of them in regulation and the Cowboys play Alabama in New Orleans Monday night.
• Any chance Bobby Hebert is East Bank BJ on the Tigger Droppings Board?
• You think this win might get Saban a bigger statue?

Finally, is it April yet? I already miss football.

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In MotoGP From The Motor

in MotoGP from the motor

Something They are Getting Right

House Resolution 1104 honoring the life of Larry Munson passed yesterday.

If any Sting Talk commie in the House speaks out against this, I might run for the Legislature to personally get on Higher Education and work to pull all funding from Tech. Yes, I am just that spiteful.
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.111

1 for 9

That is Georgia's free throw line for the 22 point loss at Florida last night. A full 100 points lower than Michael Jordan's batting average. 15 points below the Rams and Colts' records this season. They nearly missed more free throws than they had assists.

Those eight points won't make up for the 22 points, but it is illustrative of how far this team has to go before they are a legitimate threat to do more than fill another team's 40 minutes of play time twice a week.

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JacksonDawg Wins RichtFlair Open in a Rout

Spectacular performance, going 28-7 and pacing the field by 35 points.

Rank	Selection	Edit Points		W-L	Pts	Tie Breaker AL-LSU 21-0
1	JacksonDawg			28-7	545	21-13
2	papadoc19's picks			27-8	510
3	SimpleMan98's picks1			25-10	509	14-10
4	contrarian's picks			26-9	508	21-28
4	Bromig's picks			26-9	508	17-24
6	ChiliDawg's picks			25-10	506	28-24
7	prdawg01's picks			25-10	498	22-26
8	blaked04			23-12	495	20-17
8	mcaison's picks			25-10	495	14-24
10	BlueBowls			24-11	489	17-20

Thanks to all that participated this bowl season.
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MotoGP History The World Sport

MotoGP History The World Sport

Fox's Hounds are on ESPN Tonight

As part of their SEC Super Tuesday schedule. 7pm tip off from the O'dome in Gainesville. The 19th ranked Gators are coming off a loss to Tennessee on the road.
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2007 Moto GP Catalunya

2007 Moto GP Catalunya

SEC!SEC!SEC!

Send me some of that cas$ Nicholas. (Image: Hipple)

I'll leave discussion of parallels between the SECCG and the BCSCG and how things could have gone differently for Georgia to Blutarsky (and believe me, Nick Saban should send the number to his hair guy and part of his bonus check to Mark Richt for Georgia's first half game plan against LSU), but I have to question the LSU fan's thinking that putting Jarrett Lee in would have made things different. I'll buy the argument that he couldn't have done worse, but honestly does putting him in and having him do the same make it acceptable to do so?

I point this out to ask this question: If Lee hasn't supplanted Jefferson before the 3rd quarter of the national championship game, is merely standing on the sideline not facing Alabama's defense the thing that convinces you that he is ready to supplant the guy that has gotten you to that point? If he didn't win the job while he has had the chance to do so, I don't see how merely being available makes him suddenly The Answer.

To put it another way, is there anything about Hutson Mason standing on the sideline not facing SEC defenses that makes you think he should take Aaron Murray's place on the field in Georgia games?

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SEC Hoops Power Poll

I'll be participating this season, along with several more worthy bloggers, in the SEC Hoops Power Poll. Since I didn't vote last week, I get the benefit of one SEC match up per team to make some semi-informed decisions. After pondering my ballot, I don't think it helped.

By my view, there is one very, very good team in the conference.  There are two more that offer a strong combination of talent and coaching. Beyond that, at least for now, it is a hot mess. In other words, I'll probably just throw this ballot away and start over next week.

My SEC Hoops Power Poll Ballot for the week ending January 8th:

1. Kentucky - Kentucky's RPI will drop for the next two weeks as they feast upon the bones of the have nots in the conference.
2. Alabama - I'm a believer. Only Kentucky is more athletic. Only Kentucky has more talent. Only Kentucky is better, right now.
3. Vandy - We know Vandy is good, but when will they have that inexplicable loss that just leaves us wondering when Kevin Stallings is going to change hair jells?
4. Arkansas - The loss to Houston seems like it was so long ago. The win over Mississippi State begs the question: Are the Hogs good or the Dogs bad?
5. Mississippi State - It was nice while it lasted, but this looks more like a Stansbury coached team.
6. LSU - OMG, the Tigers won a conference game.
7. Ole Miss - We've been looking for the next team to challenge Auburn for the West's basement. Andy Kenedy's team is on the clock.
8. Florida - Dude, really? Tennessee?
9. Tennessee - Yes, I know they beat Florida. They've got a long, long way to go before I'll believe that was anything more than a fluke.
10. Georgia - Someone has to be king of the dip shits, right?
11. South Carolina - Hello, we are dip shits.
12. Auburn - Bad basektball team. Yeah, I misspelled it intentionally because it isn't fair to the other teams to use the term 'basketball team' when talking about Auburn besektball. 

I'll link it when it is released. Feel free to use big words to explain how badly I messed up.

TD

Http://motogp-f1-races.

http://motogp-f1-races.

I Guess I have to Root for the SEC in the BCS Championship

I have a confession. I am not an SEC homer. Yeah, I'll root for the random SEC team during an early season OOC game, save for Tennessee, Auburn or Florida. I'd root for the Soviet Union against Florida. Just the way I was raised.

However, during this run of national champions, I have been generally agnostic about SEC teams winning. I'll admit to a bit of pride at being a fan of an SEC team during this time, but nothing good comes from another Alabama or LSU national championship. Right now, the only real thing I am rooting for tonight is a good game. That and the under.

That feels good to get off my chest.
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Watch MotoGP Channel Online Tv

Watch MotoGP Channel Online Tv

View MotoGP U.S. Grand Prix

View MotoGP U.S. Grand Prix

Dawgs Drop Conference Opener to Alabama

Georgia's basketball program has a long way to go to be a major player in SEC basketball. The loss last night to Alabama is a good example of why. Last night also showed that we can compete in the conference, as we closed a 12 point halftime deficit to within 4 points by the mid point of the second half.  We did it with strong defense, particularly with Djurisic's play on JaMychal Green, and smart offensive sets.

Regretfully, we continue to go through long stretches of games where the offense looks stagnant and we end up taking a very low percentage shot as the shot clock expires. I am not sure if the issue is chemistry on the rotations or the play sets, but we seem to just fall apart during at least one 4-6 minute stretch every second half. We also have a tendency to pull out a player when he gets hot, something that is confounding to me. I know we have depth issues, but sometimes you just have to ride the bee, and trust your hot guy to stay out of foul trouble. Not like you can roll those fouls over.

Strangely, though, we were still in the game. The difference was Alabama's 3pt shooting. They had a season high...by halftime. The also hit over 15% more of their shots, although we got off more shots than they did. That and they out rebounded us 35-20. We played well with a team that will undoubtedly make the NCAA tournament and could make some noise in the SEC. Figure out a way to stop the five minute dead time in the second half, and we are on to something.

TD

Moto Gp

Moto Gp

SEC Hoops Opener

In case you haven't noticed (and judging by the numbers at Stegeman, you haven't...badabing!), Fox's Hounds have finished the pre-SEC schedule at 9-5. Breaking down the schedule, there is little rhyme or reason to the wins or the losses.

On the plus side, we have wins over RPI #64(?!?) South Dakota State, as well as Notre Dame, which is currently RPI#128 and USC, currently RPI#126. Both ND and USC will rise once they get into their conference schedules. On the negative side, we've lost games to #109 Cincinatti and #161 Georgia Tech (both RPIs there will move up, too). More damning, we've played very inconsistent basketball. We imploded against Tech, nearly did so against Deleware State and Winthrop, and haven't had any consistent full game offensive efforts yet. Our maddening propensity to go on 5-7 minute scoring droughts in the second half continues. In short, we've got a long way to go or the NIT is a mere pipe dream.

The upside is there are pieces that can come together. Caldwell-Pope is getting stronger, is becoming more of an explosive scoring threat, and is leading the team in scoring. Gerald Robinson is showing improvement in pass/shot selection. Marcus Thornton and Donte Williams are both getting better at going after the ball in rebound situations and showing more awareness when they get offensive rebounds.

Right now, Coach Fox's team is raw. We foul too much, take too many bad shots, rotate to cover the low post too slowly and lose our composure at times. I had hoped the non-conference schedule would work out some of the rawness and only time will tell if it has. Either way, the SEC schedule is here. Looking forward, I think the Dawgs have to have 9+ SEC wins, at a minimum, to have a legit NCAA shot, unless a couple of the non-conf wins or losses become substantially better.

Can we do that? Sure, if we play much better and smarter basketball. Fox's offensive is predicated on ball control and good shot selection. We have the ability to make any game a 63-59 type deal. I like our chances in those games.

Dawgs get their first shot at the SEC against a very good Alabama (11-3) team tomorrow night at 7pm. Coverage is on FSN.
TD

ACC: On the Clock for Relegation

Wow. I didn't think we'd ever see a more complete pantsing of an ACC team in the Orange Bowl than we did last season. I mean 70-33? Damn.

Bet Pitt and Syracuse wishes they had been a bit more patient.

As Mr. Sanchez at SnG put it: Clemson pulled a Clemson.

It was beautiful.
TD

McGarity on the Football Program

As fans, we spend a lot of time trying to get into the minds of those that are in charge of the football program. We agonize over why Richt did this or why Bobo called that play or why we are playing a soft zone and only rushing four.

One thing I am not wondering about this morning? Greg McGarity's thoughts on what we need to fix in the off season. I agree with Blutarsky's point that no amount of fretting over philosophy will change who Mark Richt is, nor will the person making the decisions about Richt's future and use of that philosophy make a change directly because of it. McGarity doesn't think the problem is philosophy. He knows the problem is approach and preparation.

From McGarity:

McGarity also urged fans upset over the Bulldogs’ 33-30, triple-overtime loss to the Spartans in triple overtime to keep the defeat in perspective. 

“Blair Walsh kicks a 42-yard field goal and we’re sitting here feeling great about ourselves,” McGarity said. “But would we have solved our running game problem? No. Would that have solved them being able to go on an 85-yard drive with no timeouts? No. So, I mean, the dynamics haven’t changed. It’s not going to matter diddly-squat when we start lifting weights in three weeks. If anything it’ll add more incentive for next year.”

I don't believe he thinks the issue is philosophy. I don't believe he thinks the issues are the individual running backs or individual blockers. I believe he thinks the issue is the ability of the coaches to put the players we have in a position to succeed, either by preparation, play calling or scheme (yes, I realize philosophy is reflected in at least two of those things; but I am talking about doing so successfully within the philosophy). At least two of those were suspect in three of the four losses. We saw the defense have issues with those things for first time in several games during the last two minutes of the game on Monday.

Greg McGarity said the right things to Coach Richt when he was hired. I believe he'll keep doing and saying the right things in the future. McGarity isn't telling Richt to be a different coach, to take more chances and be more Lesticles like. He is telling him that his program has to be able to do the things it takes to win games using the conservative game management approach, such as run the ball successfully and stop an opponent who has 85 yards to go with under two minutes to play.

We as fans might find that to be maddening, but it is what it is.

TD

At Least We Don't Live in Texas

I swear a friend who doesn't watch football thought this was a 30 Rock spoof.

He's got the career management skills of George Costanza. #firecraigjames

TD

Moto GP Galleries Ducati

Moto GP Galleries Ducati

Michigan State Review

At various times in the game, the Spartans' strength were on display, especially in the final quarter. Part of that was Michigan State's realization that one side of the field was open season for passing and one wasn't. The other part of that was Georgia's decision to simply keep running the ball into the strength of the Spartans' defense. Give credit where it is due, the Spartans' played the game to win. Georgia played to not lose, especially in the second half.
The Good:

• Boykin. Gonna miss you playa'. 
• Murray to King. Twice. 
• Good to see King's emergence after a season of all most. Great reason to look forward to next season.
• Jarvis, Smith and Ogletree's defensive performances.
• Stopping Michigan State's inside run game.
• Butler's punting.
• Continuing to go to the well with down field passes...in the first half.

The Bad:

• Halftime adjustments. What the hell? Surely they discussed the possibility of what would happen if Murray kept getting pressured. Which he did the whole game. It looked like our half time was spent watching a Designing Women marathon, again.
• Speaking of Murray getting pressured, in what world do we have a premier offensive line? I know depth was/is an issue, but half the running game issues yesterday (and most of the season, for that matter) can be laid at the feet of the line. All of the tackles for losses and sacks, save one, are on the line. Individually, they are all good players. As a unit? Meh.
• Second half play calling. Specifically, thinking we can't possibly keep throwing down field successfully.
• Under utilizing the quick pass plays to TEs and RBs.
• Dropping into a protection scheme with under two minutes to play when State had not moved quickly  against our regular defensive scheme all day.

The Ugly:

• 3 Overtime possessions. 11 plays. -9 yards. 3 points. I get Blutarsky's point about Richt and who he is, but the safe play is to go to what is working, not what hasn't. That isn't conservative, that is stupid. I'm not laying blame at Blair's feet, either. Kid has the yips. That is just the way it is. Also, he isn't responsible for blocking the middle of the line on a place kick. 

More than any game this season, this game was lost on the side lines. Yes, we had plenty of poor plays/decisions, but if we hadn't nutted up and decided to be super safe after Michigan State made their comeback, we win. 

TD

3 Questions Answered: Michigan State

First things first, congrats to Michigan State. They took advantage of Georgia's mistakes and turned them into points.  They are the best bowl opponent we've faced in the Richt era and probably since Ohio State in '92.  They played extremely well in the second half and their last TD drive was a thing of precision. 

1. Do we bring the 1st half team from the SEC Championship Game?  Well, we did for a while.  
2. Which team will approach the Outback Bowl with the proper attitude? Both teams showed up to play. There was nothing to make me think either approached the game with the wrong attitude. 
3. Will the drama at running back matter? Oh, God yes. I was wrong to think Georgia would do anything different. Hey, we saw Boykin and Smith run the ball some. We didn't do anything unique regarding scheme, play calling or philosophy, especially in the 4th Q. Clearly we weren't getting a push against their very strong defensive front, yet we kept running the ball when Michigan State dared us to pass. We never took that gamble late to ice the game. Very disappointing.

I'll get to the knee at the end of regulation and other things later. We played a tough opponent and lost a game that could have gone either way. Much like the South Carolina game, it was game we should have won. Unlike the South Carolina game, this loss happened on the sidelines and in the coaching box.

TD

You can't...

Run the ball when all you do is run the ball.

More tomorrow.
TD

Alpinestars MotoGP Protective Gear Explained

Alpinestars MotoGP Protective Gear explained

Jeremy Appleton presents the protective gear produced by Alpinestars for MotoGP racers and the technology used to improve safety at the highest

MotoGP Rewind: Laguna Seca

MotoGP Rewind: Laguna Seca

Capture the excitement from Round 10 of the MotoGP World Championship, the Red Bull US Grand Prix, in the latest free installment of MotoGP Rewind!

3 Questions: Michigan State

Didn't we just play Michigan State in Florida?

1. Do we bring the 1st half team from the SEC Championship Game? Michigan State isn't some crappy B1G team. They have the fifth best defense in the nation, and a couple of very fast linemen who will give our Oline fits. They have two receivers in BJ Cunningham and Keshawn Martin that you have to keep tabs on at all times, and a QB in Kirk Cousins that is good at finding the least covered guy. They have a running back capable of pounding the middle and some how making a one yard play become a 3.5 yard play.  We can shut Michigan State down and make this a grind it out ball game. We can let them dictate the tempo and have to play catch up. 
2. Which team will approach the Outback Bowl with the proper attitude? Make no mistake about it, of the two teams playing in Tampa tomorrow, Michigan State is the one more deserving of a CapOne bowl slot...or higher. They lost early to Notre Dame, got dominated by Nebraska (which ultimately ended up in the CapOne opposite South Carolina), and lost in the B!G championship game to Wisconsin in a squeaker. They also beat Wisconsin in the regular season. That cuts both ways, as the Spartans could come out flat and uninspired. If they give us that opportunity, it could get fun for us early.
3. Will the drama at running back matter? With a month to scheme, I would expect Bobo, et al, has done more than hope a demotion for Crowell+Samuel back+Malcome's renewed passion for playing=success. We saw some of that in the SECC with the DBs getting touches running the ball. I'm thinking a bit more of a philosophical change, though. Looking to use Murray's running abilities and the no-huddle/short passing game to keep them off balance. 

In the end, I'll take another 20-13 blowout, with us eating chunks of clock late in the game and giving the game over to our defense.  

TD

Happy New Year

2011 was a challenging year for Georgia, but ultimately the successes of the football program, the first at-large NCAA tourney bid for the men since pre-Tony Cole, the toughness shown by the baseball program after the injuries, and the continued excellence of the ladies' hoops program helped make it a strong one.

Yes, we lost Munson, but he'd hate to know we are doing anything less than celebrating his life. In his honor, I'll light a cigar today, but not wait until late, LATE, to do it.

Here's hoping 2012 brings each of you health, happiness and prosperity.  Here's hoping 2012 brings UGA plenty of banner raising ceremonies and plenty of blogging opportunities about the foibles of our rivals.

TD