A Sea Of Blue - Game Day: Kentucky At Georgia 03.07.2013Online Home of the Big Blue Nation: Kentucky Wildcats Sports for the Discerning Fanhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46621/aseaof-fav.png2013-03-08T00:22:36-05:00http://www.aseaofblue.com/rss/stream/38409452013-03-08T00:22:36-05:002013-03-08T00:22:36-05:00Postmortem: Dawgs Maul Cats
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<img alt="Ryan Harrow fouled out, and Kentucky fell to Georgia in Athens." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pCa29dPVM5vCTmuKH7M1laBCt6w=/0x861:2667x2639/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9297379/20130307_ajw_sz2_059.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ryan Harrow fouled out, and Kentucky fell to Georgia in Athens. | Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Kentucky went down to Georgia and got mauled by the Dawgs.</p> <p>Well, Wildcats fans, this was a bummer. Make no mistake, this team didn’t look to anyone like an NCAA team tonight, and we saw, as we have seen so many times this season, a group of young men trying to play a game that they seem to be completely unfamiliar with, at least at the Division I level.</p>
<p>My mind’s eye could see sophisticated fans, like so many in the Big Blue Nation, screaming at their televisions during the game, or grasping their hair (for those who actually still have some) and tugging at it, inventing new curses – not at the team, but at the product of their efforts. It was bad basketball, and with that, I flatter their labor unmercifully. Calling it anything else would be dishonest, and my capacity for BS’ing myself is all used up.</p>
<p>Congratulations to Georgia for winning the game. Saying that the Bulldogs played well would also be dishonest. Georgia shot 36.5% from the floor (but to be fair, 46.7% from three so their eFG% will be acceptable if not great), and they made 27-34 free throws for 79.4%. The 'Dawgs may not have played pretty basketball, but they did what they needed to do, and the only statistic that matters is the final score. They earned the victory by being more efficient with the easy shots.</p>
<p>What words should I write about Kentucky? Yeah, I could go on a pejorative rant about all sorts of things, and maybe everyone would agree that this team has completely underachieved, and worse, been disappointing not only to the fans, but to their own experience. How many of these young guys have ever lost this many games in a season? I don’t really know and I don’t much care. What I do care about is that Kentucky basketball, and the fans that make it special, feel every one of these defeats as though it was the loss of a body part, and just this moment, I’m feeling pretty darn dismembered.</p>
<p>What went wrong? Statistically, it was different than the last couple of games in that Kentucky won the rebounding battle and didn’t turn it over excessively. On the other hand, unlike other recent defeats, Kentucky shot the ball abysmally, managing just 37% from the floor, 23% from the arc, and 56% from the line, which they only managed to visit 18 times. This game was lost primarily by a lack of offensive execution, rather than a non-existent defense, turnovers, or rebounding that has been the recent trend.</p>
<p>That isn’t to say the defense, ballhandling, or rebounding were great, but they were at least minimally acceptable. Kentucky forced Georgia into numerous horrible shots, and managed to get quite a few good looks themselves. Unfortunately, the Gods of Basketball Offense were not feeling the Wildcats tonight, and most of those open looks wound up careening off the the goal, or missing it entirely. Kyle Wiltjer even managed to shoot an air ball so wide of the mark it almost missed the entire court.</p>
<p>I’m not going to go into the NCAA implications, because after this, there are none, not really. Kentucky isn’t an NCAA team, and I can see many of you out there staring at that statement as though it was uttered by an idiot, because only an idiot, in the basketball sense, would think such a palpable observation worthy of mention. Alas, it falls to me to make sure the low-information fan is not confused by the historic record of the team these young men represent.</p>
<p>If I seem harsh, I don’t mean to. These are youths we are talking about, by and large, and we have seen many young teams struggle worse than the Wildcats have this year. When John Calipari undertook his great experiment of bringing in talented young guys and promptly sending them off to the NBA a mere six months or so later, we all accepted the possibility that this could happen. Most of us embraced it, and most of us will continue to embrace it even when it doesn’t deliver as planned. Human beings, especially ones who have barely achieved legal majority, are anything but a finished product.</p>
<p>Yes, we are disappointed and frustrated, but that’s all part of being a fan – the reality is that you fail to grasp the brass ring far more often than you succeed, and in spite of the traumatic experience of going from an NCAA championship to an NIT team (at best), the journey is why we do it, not just the result. Even football fans who don’t care for basketball watch the NCAA tournament.</p>
<p>No, the dream isn’t quite dead, but I have surrendered my hopes to the precious present in front of me. What I see is a team without a leader and without self-confidence. They try to play well, but they don’t believe in themselves, or in each other. For whatever reason, this young team is just like almost any other good, young team in America, not the amazing titans of last year. It’s tough to go from great to average, but that’s where we are. It’s probably not even remotely fair to expect such an achievement to be repeated, but for whatever reason, we do.</p>
<p>We will continue to support and cheer for this team, in this space, until the last game is done. Most of us will not give up on them, but most of our expectations are now dust, blown away with the March winds. Watching without expectations will be a different experience for some of us, at least in recent history, but speaking for myself, that’s where I’ll be.</p>
<p>All this aside, this is our team, and these are our young men. They have seen more adversity than any other Wildcats team in the last three years, and though they have struggled to handle it, most teams of their years and experience probably would as well. So instead of giving them the business, I think it best that we embrace what we have and move on. I am fresh out of hopes, but I am not out of love for the guys that wear the Blue and White, no matter the score.</p>
<p>Go, ’Cats!</p>
https://www.aseaofblue.com/2013/3/8/4077884/kentucky-wildcats-62-at-georgia-bulldogs-72-postmortemGlenn Logan2013-03-07T19:59:41-05:002013-03-07T19:59:41-05:00Kentucky 25, Georgia 31: Second Half Game Thread
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<p>Kentucky has played with good energy, but very little intelligence. As a result of a lucky shot, the Wildcats are down five to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/georgia-bulldogs">Georgia Bulldogs</a> at the break.</p>
<p>Honestly, this is the most frustrating team to watch I have ever seen. They do the dumbest things in the most straightforward situations. Yes, it's youth, but as a fan, I find myself cringing away from the sight of such poor basketball.</p>
<p>Such is our lot this year, I guess. Kentucky is still well in this game, and they hung in a long time with three starters on the bench. You can look at that as a positive, but the the negative is that the starters were arguably playing better from the bench, and that gives me no joy.</p>
<p>Well, at this point I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. If we somehow win, it will be great, but part of me argues, "To what end?" To <b>whatever </b>end, I guess.</p>
<p>Go, 'Cats!</p>
https://www.aseaofblue.com/2013/3/7/4077122/kentucky-25-georgia-31-second-half-game-threadGlenn Logan2013-03-07T18:50:04-05:002013-03-07T18:50:04-05:00Kentucky at Georgia: Live Game Thread
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<p>It's win or NIT for Kentucky tonight, unless they can take the SEC tournament.</p> <p>Biggest game of the year? Maybe not. One of the most important games Kentucky plays in the SEC this year? Oh, yeah.</p>
<p>Game particulars as follows:</p>
<table style="width: 200px; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><tbody> <tr><td><img src="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/kty/sports/m-baskbl/auto_bsimini/8256133.jpeg" height="93" alt="Gameday" width="216"></td></tr> <tr><th style="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: #0060a9; color: #fff; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; padding: 3px;">Gameday Information</th></tr> <tr><td style="padding: 5px;">Kentucky at Georgia<br> Thurs., March 7 - 7:00 p.m. ET<br> Athens, Ga. <br> Game Notes: <a href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/kty/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/release/release_20130306aaa.pdf">UK</a> <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fget.adobe.com%2Freader%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aseaofblue.com%2F2013%2F3%2F7%2F4076850%2Fkentucky-wildcats-at-georgia-bulldogs-live-game-thread" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="http://grfx.cstv.com/graphics/icon-acrosmall.gif" border="0" height="10" alt="Get Acrobat Reader" width="9"></a> | <a href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/kty/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/release/release_20130306aaa_geo.pdf">UGA</a> <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fget.adobe.com%2Freader%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aseaofblue.com%2F2013%2F3%2F7%2F4076850%2Fkentucky-wildcats-at-georgia-bulldogs-live-game-thread" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="http://grfx.cstv.com/graphics/icon-acrosmall.gif" border="0" height="10" alt="Get Acrobat Reader" width="9"></a> </td></tr> <tr><th style="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: #0060a9; color: #fff; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; padding: 3px;">Coverage</th></tr> <tr><td style="padding: 5px;">TV: ESPN<br> Radio: <a href="http://www.ukathletics.com/multimedia/affiliates.html">UK IMG</a><br><a href="http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/832136/kentucky-vs-georgia">Live Video via WatchESPN<br> </a><a href="http://www.ukathletics.com/allaccess/?media=365093">Online Audio</a><br> <a href="http://www.ukathletics.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mbaskbl.html?event=1172462&school=kty&sport=mbaskbl&camefrom=&startschool=&">Gametracker</a> <br> <a href="http://my.textcaster.com/ServePopup.aspx?id=1594">Text Updates</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table>
<p>At this point, there are only three things I want to see:</p>
<ul> <li><p>A game where Kentucky does not turn the ball over like the are afraid to shoot it;</p></li> <li><p>A game in which Kentucky plays like their season depends on it – because it might;</p></li> <li><p>A game in which the Wildcats act like a team that really does want to take a shot at the NCAA Tournament.</p></li> </ul>
<p>Honestly, right now I have no idea what to think, but what I think I know is that if Kentucky doesn’t win this one, they will probably need to win the SEC Tournament to get to the Big Dance. That may be wrong – a victory over Florida on Saturday would surely undo some of the damage – but that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.</p>
<p>Go, ’Cats!</p>
https://www.aseaofblue.com/2013/3/7/4076850/kentucky-wildcats-at-georgia-bulldogs-live-game-threadGlenn Logan2013-03-07T16:37:45-05:002013-03-07T16:37:45-05:00Preview: Cats and Dawgs
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<img alt="Ryan Harrow and Alex Poythress cannot be shrinking violets tonight." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/w9LMFSj0GTZNBtrea9mDPnK4-QY=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9276365/20121215_lbm_sf6_051.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ryan Harrow and Alex Poythress cannot be shrinking violets tonight. | Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Tonight in Athens, Georgia, Kentucky's NCAA Tournament fate depends largely on the outcome of the game against the Bulldogs.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/georgia-bulldogs">Georgia Bulldogs</a> are Kentucky’s penultimate SEC opponent this year, and in a departure from recent meetings, this one means something. It has been years since Georgia and Kentucky played an important SEC game, and this game is pregnant with significance for the Wildcats.</p>
<hr style="color: #4169E1; background-color: #4169E1;">
<p><i> </i></p>
<p style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold"><i>RELATED: <a href="http://www.dawgsports.com/">Dawg Sports</a></i></p>
<p><i> </i></p>
<hr style="color: #4169E1; background-color: #4169E1;">
<p>What makes this game so notable is that if the Wildcats defeat the ‘Dawgs, they are guaranteed a <b>double-bye</b> into the SEC Tournament. Believe me, with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/florida-gators">Florida Gators</a> coming up as Kentucky's final SEC contest, winning this game is critical not just to an easier conference tournament, but also to Kentucky’s hopes of even being invited to the NCAA Tournament. A three-game losing streak at year's end in conference, which could happen very easily if the Wildcats drop this one, is not going to impress anyone on the NCAA Selection Committee.</p>
<h4 id="season-so-far">Season so far</h4>
<p> </p>
<table cols="3" border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup width="167"></colgroup>
<colgroup span="2" width="68"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT"><b>Rank and Records</b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#0062AB"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">UK</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">UGA</font></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT"><b>RPI</b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">#52</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">#125</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT"><b>Strength of Schedule</b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">#71</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">#55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT"><b>Overall</b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">20-9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">14-15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT"><b>Conference</b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">11-5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">8-8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT"><b>Home</b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">15-2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">11-6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT"><b>Away</b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">4-6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">3-7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT"><b>Top 25</b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">0-4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">0-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT"><b>RPI Top 50</b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">1-4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER">0-6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4 id="series-history">Series history</h4>
<p>Kentucky and Georgia have played 140 games in history, and Kentucky has won 115, with Georgia managing only 25 victories. Georgia is typical of Kentucky’s SEC opponents with a low winning percentage historically against the Wildcats.</p>
<p>To find a period where the ’Dawgs can claim a 3-game winning streak against Kentucky, you have to go all the way back to February 1923-February 1925. In the 88-year interregnum between then and now, there have been no 3-game winning streaks for Georgia. But from 2002 to 2004 the ’Dawgs did go 4-3 against the Wildcats.</p>
<p>The most points scored by a Bulldog against the Wildcats was 38 by Litterial Green in January of 1991. The most points scored by a Wildcats player against Georgia was 42 by "Dinner Bell" Melvin Turpin in March of 1984.</p>
<h4 id="personnel">Bulldog Personnel</h4>
<p> </p>
<table cols="13" border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup width="35"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="178"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="71"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="45"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="41"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="37"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="61"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="47"></colgroup>
<colgroup span="4" width="45"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="63"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">NO</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">NAME</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">STATUS</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">POS</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">HT</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">WT</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">CLASS</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">PPG</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">FG%</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">RPG</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">APG</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">SPG</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">BPG</font></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="RIGHT">15</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">Donte' Williams</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">S</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">F</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">225</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">JR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">5.3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">46.7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">4.9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">1.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="16" align="RIGHT">31</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">Brandon Morris</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">S</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">F</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">205</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">FR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">37.1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">2.2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="RIGHT">32</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145395/john-florveus">John Florveus</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">S</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">F-C</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-11</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">240</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">SR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">2.6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">54</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">3.2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="RIGHT">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145393/kentavious-caldwell-pope">Kentavious Caldwell-Pope</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">S</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">G</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">205</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">SO</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">18</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">44.1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">6.9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">1.8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">2.1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="16" align="RIGHT">11</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">Vincent Williams</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">S</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">G</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">165</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">SR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">4.9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">36.4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">1.6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">2.2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="RIGHT">42</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145397/nemanja-djurisic">Nemanja Djurisic</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">MR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">F</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">230</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">SO</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">7.7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">39.2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">3.9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">1.4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="16" align="RIGHT">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175879/charles-mann">Charles Mann</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">MR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">G</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">205</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">FR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">6.6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">35.8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">2.8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="RIGHT">23</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123584/sherrard-brantley">Sherrard Brantley</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">MR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">G</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">187</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">SR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">3.4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">33.7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">1.2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">1.1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="16" align="RIGHT">41</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145396/john-cannon">John Cannon</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">R</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">C</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-10</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">240</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">SO</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">2.8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">51.7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">1.9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="16" align="RIGHT">5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145394/tim-dixon">Tim Dixon</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">R</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">F</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">225</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">SO</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">52.2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">2.3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="RIGHT">10</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/185855/taylor-echols">Taylor Echols</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">R</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">G</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">160</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">SO</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="16" align="RIGHT">12</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175881/kenny-gaines">Kenny Gaines</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">R</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">G</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">195</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">FR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">3.6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">38.5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="RIGHT">24</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175883/houston-kessler">Houston Kessler</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">R-RS</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">F</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">215</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">FR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" colspan="6" align="CENTER" valign="MIDDLE">Likely Redshirt</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="16" align="RIGHT">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">Marcus Thornton</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">MR-UI</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">F</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">6-8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">235</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">JR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">3.8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">36.4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">4.4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="RIGHT">0.9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" colspan="13" height="16" align="CENTER" valign="MIDDLE"><br></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="16" align="LEFT">S</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" colspan="12" align="LEFT" valign="MIDDLE">Starter</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="16" align="LEFT">MR</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" colspan="12" align="LEFT" valign="MIDDLE">Major reserve</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="16" align="LEFT">R</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" colspan="12" align="LEFT" valign="MIDDLE">Reserve</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT">RS</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" colspan="12" align="LEFT" valign="MIDDLE">Redshirt candidate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="16" align="LEFT">U</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" colspan="12" align="LEFT" valign="MIDDLE">Unavailable</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="16" align="LEFT">I</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" colspan="12" align="LEFT" valign="MIDDLE">Injury</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Georgia is a team with good size everywhere. The only real undersized player on the roster is point guard Vincent Williams at 6’0". Sherrard Brantley is a bit small for a shooting guard at 6’2", but he is mainly on the floor for his aggressive defense and solid 3-point shooting. Brandon Morris (4 ppg, 2.2 rpg) could also start instead of Brantley, making the ’Dawgs bigger at 6’7".</p>
<p>Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (18 ppg, 7 rpg) is the true shooting guard and star of this team, and he is a very good one, averaging almost 38% from the arc, and spending 83% of the available minutes on the floor. Caldwell-Pope does not have an extremely high usage rate, as you might expect from the star of the team, but he, reserves Nemanja Djurisic (7.7 ppg, 4 rpg) and Charles Mann (6.6 ppg, 3 rpg) all get about an equal number of touches.</p>
<p>The center, John Florveus (2.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg) doesn’t get a lot of time, but at 6’11" 240#, he brings plenty of extra size to the linupe. Donte Williams is a shot-blocking threat at 1.2 blocks/game.</p>
<h5 id="injuries">Injuries</h5>
<p>Georgia: Marcus Thornton is out indefinitely with a knee injury and will likely undergo surgery.</p>
<p>Kentucky: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175893/nerlens-noel">Nerlens Noel</a> is out for the year with a torn ACL.</p>
<h4 id="four-factors-and-ken-pomeroy-tables">Four Factors and Ken Pomeroy Tables</h4>
<div style="margin:0px auto;text-align:center">
<a href="http://statsheet.com/mcb" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;color:#999;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:11px">NCAA Basketball Stats</a><br><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://statsheet.com/charts/chartlets/2013/03/07/mcb_games_2013_03_07_2013_03_07_kentucky_vs_georgia_147863.js"></script>
</div>
<p>Also, via <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kenpom.com">Kenpom.com</a>, a comparison of some major factors:</p>
<table cols="5" border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup width="106"></colgroup>
<colgroup span="4" width="87"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" rowspan="2" height="32" align="CENTER" valign="MIDDLE"><br></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" colspan="2" rowspan="2" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#0062AB" valign="MIDDLE"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">Kentucky with ball</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" colspan="2" rowspan="2" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23" valign="MIDDLE"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">Georgia with ball</font></b></td>
</tr>
<tr></tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="33" align="CENTER"><b>Category</b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#0062AB"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">Kentucky<br>Offense</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">Georgia<br>Defense</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#EE1C23"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">Georgia<br>Offense</font></b></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="CENTER" bgcolor="#0062AB"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">Kentucky<br>Defense</font></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT">Efficiency</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/summary.php?s=RankAdjOE">106.2</a> 4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/summary.php?s=RankAdjDE">99.8</a> 6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/summary.php?s=RankAdjOE">96.4</a> 10</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/summary.php?s=RankAdjDE">101.9</a> 10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT">Tempo</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/summary.php?s=RankAdjTempo">65.8</a> 6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT"><br></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/summary.php?s=RankAdjTempo">61.6</a> 12</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT"><br></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" colspan="5" height="18" align="CENTER" valign="MIDDLE"><b>Four Factors</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT">Effective FG%:</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankeFG_Pct">53.1</a> 3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankDeFG_Pct">45.3</a> 3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankeFG_Pct">47.7</a> 8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankDeFG_Pct">44.4</a> 2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT">Turnover %:</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankTO_Pct">21.0</a> 10</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankDTO_Pct">17.3</a> 11</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankTO_Pct">23.5</a> 13</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankDTO_Pct">14.7</a> 14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT">Off. Reb. %:</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankOR_Pct">34.3</a> 4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankDOR_Pct">29.6</a> 5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankOR_Pct">31.3</a> 8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankDOR_Pct">33.5</a> 12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT">FTA/FGA:</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankFT_Rate">45.9</a> 2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankDFT_Rate">39.4</a> 10</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankFT_Rate">47.7</a> 1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/stats.php?s=RankDFT_Rate">30.4</a> 4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" colspan="5" height="18" align="CENTER" valign="MIDDLE"><b>Miscellaneous Components</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT">3P%:</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankFG3Pct">35.2</a> 3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankFG3Pct&od=d">35.1</a> 12</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankFG3Pct">37.7</a> 2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankFG3Pct&od=d">31.1</a> 4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT">2P%:</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankFG2Pct">53.2</a> 3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankFG2Pct&od=d">40.7</a> 1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankFG2Pct">43.3</a> 13</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankFG2Pct&od=d">43.6</a> 3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT">FT%:</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankFTPct">65.1</a> 12</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankFTPct&od=d">70.0</a> 10</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankFTPct">70.6</a> 5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankFTPct&od=d">71.5</a> 11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT">Block%:</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankBlockPct">10.0</a> 6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankBlockPct&od=d">12.6</a> 4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankBlockPct">10.2</a> 7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankBlockPct&od=d">15.2</a> 1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" height="18" align="LEFT">Steal%:</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankStlRate">9.7</a> 8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankStlRate&od=d">8.1</a> 11</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankStlRate">12.4</a> 13</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000;" align="LEFT">
<a href="http://kenpom.com/teamstats.php?s=RankStlRate&od=d">6.5</a> 13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5" height="16" align="CENTER" valign="MIDDLE">Conference only. Numbers to right are conference ranking</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><br>The Four Factors tilt toward Kentucky, and Georgia’s big weaknesses are the same as Kentucky’s – turnovers and offensive rebounding. Georgia turns the ball over more, and rebounds worse on paper than UK, but the Wildcats aren’t likely to put any real pressure on their guards in this game.</p>
<h4 id="game-analysis">Game analysis</h4>
<p>Georgia is almost exclusively a man-to-man defensive team, although they are not known for a tremendous amount of pressure like the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/arkansas-razorbacks">Arkansas Razorbacks</a>. That may change tonight in view of what happened to the Wildcats in Fayetteville, and I would not be surprised to see some traps and even some full-court pressure to try to dislodge the ball from the shaky UK ballhandlers.</p>
<p>The Georgia offense is a hybrid version of Phil Jackson’s version of the Triangle offense, the famous Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Laker offense innovated originally by Maurice "Tex" Winter. Describing the Triangle offense is beyond the scope of this article, but you can read more about it <a target="_blank" href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7346315/chuck-klosterman-phil-jackson-tex-winter-death-triangle-offense">here</a>.</p>
<p>This offense will present a lot of problems for Kentucky for one big reason – movement. UK, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175899/alex-poythress">Alex Poythress</a> in particular, has a tendency to move very straight-up, and that makes them vulnerable to the bumps and screens the triangle puts up. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175895/archie-goodwin">Archie Goodwin</a> is going to have to deal with Caldwell-Pope bouncing him off screens on fill cuts, and Goodwin has struggled to guard players like that all year. Caldwell-Pope doesn’t need an open shot, he can make his own, and he is just as tall and long as Goodwin.</p>
<p>The good news for Kentucky is that outside of Caldwell-Pope, the Bulldogs are not a particularly talented or extraordinarily athletic group. Unfortunately, teams of that description have been able to beat Kentucky all year by simply out-executing them, or alternatively, just plain playing harder.</p>
<p>Georgia has little to play for other than pride, and Kentucky probably understands that a loss in this game is almost a sure ticket to the ignominity of the NIT. Whether that will be enough to motivate Kentucky to get to the 50/50 balls first is anybody’s guess – it sure wasn’t against the Razorbacks.</p>
<p>This game will come down to one of two things – execution and hustle. The Wildcats have been executing well on offense – that is, when they don’t turn the ball over, which is an unnervingly frequent outcome – and to do so tonight would put them in a position to win.</p>
<p>However, as we have seen time and time again, the Wildcats’ hustle is a sometime thing, not an every-game thing. If this happens to be like Arkansas or Tennessee where they come into Athens timid, the Bulldogs will win this game. Kentucky is favored by a small number, but this team has demonstrated that it doesn’t have the kind of intensity it takes to win tough games. If the going gets tough in this one, it could be bad news for Kentucky fans.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if Georgia fails to show up like they did against <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/south-carolina-gamecocks">South Carolina</a> the other day, this game will be an easy one.</p>
https://www.aseaofblue.com/2013/3/7/4076388/kentucky-wildcats-at-georgia-bulldogs-game-previewGlenn Logan