Auburn: post mortem

I hate Auburn.

How much?  I root for Florida when they're playing Auburn.  Even in football.  So if this writing has some extra edge to it, you have my apologies.  Anything positive said about the Tigers will be done while fighting my gag reflex.

There is no sugarcoating that loss.  It was terrible.  There were two games left on the schedule that Georgia simply had to win, and that was one of them.  We'll get into the implications at a later time (hint:  Georgia's back on the bubble with one foot out), but for a team that thinks it's tournament-worthy, it was an inexcusable loss to a very bad team:

• Before we go all negative, great tribute to "Sweater Guy."  When I was in school, we called him "White Sweater Guy."  I've also heard him called "Jumping Jack Man."  He's since changed outfits and seats, but his loyalty has never wavered.  Georgia did everything but win the game for him.  Of course, he's been a season ticket holder for 31 years, so maybe a loss was actually more appropriate...*sigh*...
• Don't make the mistake of thinking that game was lost in the last 5 minutes.  It wasn't.  Georgia actually scored 11 points in those 5 minutes, which, 98% of the time, would be enough to hold a 9-point lead.  Auburn just got red hot (they didn't miss a shot the rest of the way).  It happens.  No, that game was lost in the first five minutes, when Georgia missed 4 layups and a dunk.  I don't know if it was lack of focus, or just bad luck, but you simply cannot have that when you're fighting for something.
• Georgia took 12 more shots than Auburn, had 7 more offensive rebounds, went 18-21 from the free throw line, and had 2 less turnovers.  That should equate to a 15 point win.
• The season, at this point, is going to come down to the guards.  Kenny showed flashes last night, but I suspect he'd tell you he's not playing well enough on the offensive end.  J.J. Frazier has mostly disappeared since his outburst at Mississippi State.  Charles Mann's struggles are well documented.  Thornton, Maten, and Forte are going to provide enough in the paint, but games will be won and lost with those guys.  If they don't get it figured out, expect an NIT berth or, best case, a quick exit from the tournament.
• Jumping passing lanes and dunking:  good Cam.  Turnaround, fadeaway baseline jumper:  bad Cam.
• However you feel about him, Cinmeon Bowers is fun to watch.  He's big, he's bulky, and he runs like a gazelle.  The man is actually dangerous in the open court.
• I'm not one to dredge up the past with these kids, but the FSU chant when Bowers was at the line actually showed good awareness by our student section.
• Actually, the whole crowd was great yesterday.  I hope everyone had fun despite the outcome.
• Did you think Georgia had a chance with 1.8 seconds left?  I didn't.  Trayvon Reed did absolutely nothing on the court - he went 10 minutes without a single rebound!  However, he is tough to get the ball in against.  It was a struggle all day.
• It's easy to see why kids like playing for Bruce Pearl.  He was up and down the bench all day congratulating the entire team when something went well.  At one point, Auburn scored out of a timeout, and Pearl went to everyone on the bench and high-fived them, yelling, "Points out of a timeout!"  He is about as opposite of Coach Fox as he could be.

The game came down to their best scorer against our best defender, and their scorer won.  Sometimes you just have to live with that.  It's the fact that the game was that close at all that is nauseating.

Nemi Djurisic deserves a tournament berth.  Marcus Thornton deserves (another) one too.  This means South Carolina is as close to a must-win game as there has been all season for Georgia.  Be there, and be loud.  They need you.