Welcome to the Bulldawg Illustrated Hoops Report. It’s like trying to solve the world’s hardest puzzle. And that’s about what the Dawgs are at the moment. After dropping a heartbreaker at home this past Wednesday night in double OT to Arkansas, the Dawgs’ chances of making the Big Dance are on life support.
Right now, we’ve got several impressive wins and no real bad losses on paper. The closest thing to a bad loss is the home game versus the South Cacky-Lacky Lamecocks. That’s it. However, it doesn’t feel that way at all and perception is reality for lack of an original comment. It feels like every loss has been a sharp stick in the eye the wins are few and far between. We’ve got to figure a way to get this turned around. There’s still plenty of time. But if we don’t right this ship, then I’m not certain the staff will survive.
As someone that has supported Mark Fox over the years as the right man for this job, I really felt we underachieved last year. While we had a solid season, it was void of any major wins. We were 0-6 vs the top three teams in the SEC. Though five of the six were close, the outcomes were all the same. We’ve had a brutal two years of one possession losses. And while we did have the best out of conference schedule of Fox’s career this year, we’ve been very underwhelming in SEC play. We sit at 3-5. I think 9-9 gives us, at a minimum, a 50/50 shot to get in The Big Dance. However, 8-10 could be enough in the right scenario.
That would mean the Dawgs travel to Manhattan, KS and knock off a very good K State team on Saturday. If that happens, we’re back on the bubble and have a chance. However, it also gives us no room for error as far as upsets in conference tournaments. A loss means we’ve got to finish the SEC schedule going at least 6-4 and possibly having to win a game or two in the SEC tourney. That’s going to be tough when compared to our remaining schedule and level of recent play. But the talent is there. Speaking of talent, there’s a real puzzle for you.
How can Jordan Harris and Tyree Crump be averaging less than nine points a game between them? How can Rayshawn Hammonds have so many scoreless games? How can we only have one person in double digits in scoring? BTW, that guy was leading the SEC in points and rebounds last time I checked. But I digress…Anyway, Mark Fox is getting paid a lot of money to answer these questions. Right now, he appears to know as much as I do. That’s got to change and it needs to start Saturday. UGA should be at least 4-4 in SEC play right now to be on track to make the tournament. So our season is not totally off the rails. A win on Saturday has us right back in the conversation. A loss? Well, that’ll be like trying to put a puzzle together with a couple of pieces gone. Go Dawgs!
More Articles From Rob Sherrell
[pt_view id=”880f08db2j”]