Auburn: post mortem

I almost just cut-and-paste my Vanderbilt post mortem, but Georgia showed enough life in the last few minutes to make that impractical.  I apologize in advance for the tone of this post.

That the team eclipsed its first half point total in the last 5 minutes of the game clearly demonstrates the biggest problem with this team and presents the most obvious solution:

• Mark Bradley beat me to this, but he says exactly what I've been thinking ever since the LSU game: why does Georgia look so much better in desperation mode?  The answer should be obvious.  Mark Fox's sets aren't working.  When the Bulldogs run the offense as designed, they stagnate, and the shots are terrible.  When they run and ad lib, the shots are better.  J.J. Frazier is free to pull up in the lane where he is absolutely deadly.  Guys like Kenny Gaines are able to create shots that they can make as opposed to force shots they cannot.
• So why won't Fox turn his team loose?  The cynic in me thinks he'd rather give up 70 points and lose than give up 80 points and win.  That's insane, right?  It can't be true...can it?
• Because yes, when you go faster, you give up more points.  But something is not working right now, and I'm very hesitant to blame the players, because when things are at their worst, it looks like they're simply doing what their coach tells them to do.
• Auburn is not a good team.  In fact, they are a bad team.  Yes, they hit a lot of 3-pointers, and that's literally their only chance at winning games this year.  But when Cinmeon Bowers left the game with 2 fouls, the ball should have entered to Yante Maten and/or Derek Ogbeide every single time down the court and Georgia should have run up the score from there.
• That didn't happen, of course, because Maten inexplicably rode the pine almost the entire first half.  Mark Fox said he "wasn't playing well."  I'm no coach, and maybe he wasn't playing well...but it's almost like Fox is creating excuses as the game goes on.  "We might lose this game, so I'll bench our best player and use that as an excuse in case we do."  Too cynical?  Again, it probably is.  But every game is must-win right now, and he's just not coaching like that's the case.  It's hard to watch.
• This really isn't a post mortem, is it?  It's just me complaining.  Sorry.
• J.J. Frazier and Kenny Gaines average a combined 22.1 field goal attempts/game, and Georgia averages under 70 points/game.  Against Auburn, they combined for 30 shots and Georgia scored 81 points.  Hmm...
• With the exception of Ogbeide, the freshmen are playing with 0 confidence right now.  With the season lost, Fox may want to consider rectifying that in the last four games.
• This loss wasn't quite as bad as the home loss to an undermanned Vanderbilt team a few years ago.  Does that count as a silver lining.

Georgia has put up 3 50+ point halves this season.  Two of them came in losses.  This is not a coincidence.  The team plays better when they dig a big hole because they have to play differently.

The formula for this team seems simple to a dumb fan like me: go fast, and allow Maten, Gaines, or Frazier to take the first good look they get.  I'm certain it's not that easy, but I'm also certain that whatever Fox and his gang are doing is way too hard.

[DawgNation]

Auburn: post mortem

There are losses that are so bad, they simply have to be "thrown out."  Texas A&M was one such game.  Sometimes the other team plays so well, and beats you so thoroughly, that there's almost nothing to learn.  You just move on.

The win over Auburn feels like that.  Georgia beat a relatively bad, desperately shorthanded team soundly, and there's almost nothing to be learned.  Move on:

• As much as I fret about Mark Fox's ability to take the program to the next level, another sellout would suggest that people are at least paying attention.  It was a good crowd that never really had a chance to affect the game because the outcome was hardly in doubt.
• Aren't you glad J.J. Frazier and Yante Maten are coming back next year?  Many saw Maten's progression coming, but Frazier has taken his game to a level very few saw coming.  He didn't even play all that well on Saturday and he still led the team in scoring.
• Then there's Maten, who throws up one of the quietest 12/12 lines imaginable to go along with 5 blocks.  I say quiet not because it didn't matter, but because it looks so easy you hardly notice.
• To me, one of the biggest plays in the game was Frazier drawing the offensive foul right before halftime.  Instead of Auburn dribbling out the clock and perhaps cutting the lead to 6 points, Georgia had a chance to extend it even further.  Smart play by a wily veteran.
• Auburn is going to live and die by the 3-point shot, and boy did they die a spectacular death on Saturday.
• Derek Ogbeide needs to learn to defend without fouling, and he needs to do so quickly.  He's not very useful sitting on the bench.  The fact that he grabbed 5 rebounds in 6 minutes certainly whets the appetite for more.
• It sure seems like E'Torrion Wilridge has turned some sort of corner.  He looks confident running the offensive sets, and his defense remains strong.
• Some people will hate me for saying this, but I love watching Cinmeon Bowers play.  Bruce Pearl started him at point guard!
• With that said, watching Yante Maten block his shot three possessions in a row was gratifying.  Good defense, big man.
• I bet Connor O'Neill wants those free throws back...
• Devon Gales got the biggest cheers of the night, and deservedly so.  I got choked up explaining to my wife who he is and what he's gone through.  It's wonderful the way the entire Bulldog Nation has embraced him.

Let's be clear - that game was boring, but I'm not complaining.  Good teams beat bad teams, and it doesn't always look pretty.  If Georgia is going to be a good team, we should expect and celebrate such games.

With that said, a whole different level of play will be required to spring the upset Tuesday night.  Will the Bulldogs finally step up and announce their intention to dance?

Auburn: post mortem

How much did that game mean to Georgia?  Probably not much from an NCAA Tournament standpoint.  But to a delicate fanbase and a team facing yet another injury, that win was just what the doctor ordered.

Now here we sit, with 20 wins for the second straight season, a double-bye for a second straight season, and a feeling that the season, while fun, isn't quite over yet.  These are strange times indeed:

• How much is Georgia going to miss Nemi Djurisic next year?  With almost all of their scoring injured or in foul trouble, he carried the Bulldogs on his back in the first half.  It's at least the second time this year that Georgia led at the half even though it felt like they were behind by 10.
• Not only did Georgia dominate the glass, they also held Cinmeon Bowers to a mere 5 rebounds.  His production has certainly slowed down the last few weeks, but that's the kind of board work that's going to be required from here on out to survive and advance.
• 19/21 from the free throw line.  9/9 for Charles Mann.  That's going to win some basketball games.
• Seriously, Charles Mann was fantastic.  Much has been said about his selflessness this season, and it's all true, but Georgia needed him on offense Saturday and he delivered.  Auburn really had no answer for him in the paint.
• Marcus Thornton is shooting over 80% from the free throw line over the last 10 games in which he has played.
• Great to see Juwan Parker out there playing meaningful minutes.  There is obviously rust, but it's easy to see how good he can be if he gets another full summer under his belt and returns to health.  Just a little more lift on that jumper is going to make his a legitimate scoring threat.
• More than a few times lately, Taylor Echols has committed some bad turnovers (the Tennessee game comes to mind).  He needs to clean that up come tournament time.
• How good is KT Harrell?  It looked like he was going to will the Tigers to a win, and I was prepared to tip my cap to him for doing so.  I don't know what Auburn's record would look like without him, but it wouldn't be pretty.
• I have to applaud the Auburn fans.  They put butts in the seats to watch a bad team lose a lot of games.  That's what an exciting coaching hire does for you.  If there's little to no improvement next year?  That shine will start coming off in a hurry.

So Georgia has at least two games left.  If you had asked me how I'd feel in this situation before the season, I would have said satisfied.  But now here we are, and I want more.  This team is capable of playing on Sunday in the SEC Tournament and Saturday/Sunday in the NCAA Tournament.  This should be fun.

Game card: Auburn

Opponent:  Auburn
Record:  12-18 (4-13) 
Best player:  KT Harrell
Line:  Georgia -6

Why Georgia will win:  Georgia is better than Auburn, and they still have something to play for.  While the Tigers are playing out the stretch, the Bulldogs are fighting for a tournament berth.  Georgia may not have beaten Kentucky, but they should have seized some confidence and momentum from the game.  If so, they'll win easily.

Why Georgia will lose:  Auburn's last win was...at Georgia.  Kenny Gaines almost certainly won't play in this game, either, and that means KT Harrell will probably get loose.  He's a guy you just can't afford to leave open.  Georgia is probably in the tournament no matter what, so they may not be mentally checked into this one.

What I think will happen:  With or without Gaines, Georgia should win this game.  Auburn has been a house of horrors, though.  Tigers win again, 68-65.

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.

Game card: Auburn

Opponent:  Auburn
Record:  11-13 (3-8) 
Best player:  Cinmeon Bowers
Line:  Georgia -11

Why Georgia will win:  Auburn comes in having lost 7 out of 8, many by double figures.  The Tigers are going to get better under Bruce Pearl, but the talent isn't in place yet.  Georgia put together a really nice game in College Station where they limited turnovers and mental mistakes, and the result was a big 9-point road win.  If Gaines and Mann play well for a second game in a row, the Bulldogs should win comfortably.

Why Georgia will lose:  Make no mistake:  this is a dangerous Auburn team.  They went into LSU and won, and they just dropped 87 points on Arkansas in a loss.  When they're rolling they can score with anyone.  Cinmeon Bowers is a rebounding machine, and KT Harrell is lights out from 3-point land.  If either of those guys gets going, it could be a long afternoon.

What I think will happen:  I haven't heard yet if Antoine Mason (son of Anthony) will go today.  If he does, I don't see Georgia covering a line like that.  If he doesn't (and no one would blame him),the Bulldogs should roll.  I'll split the baby and say Georgia wins 75-69.

Pearl gets going

Few doubted that Bruce Pearl would infuse some talent into a historically mediocre Auburn program, and those who did may soon be proven wrong.  Pearl has gotten commits from two big-time 2015 forwards in the last week.

However, I'd rather focus on what happened Saturday night at midnight:  Pearl's show-cause penalty expired, and Auburn faithful gathered to celebrate.  You can't tell me they don't deserve each other.

You may choose to view that however you please.  Me?  I'll take the cynical view, shake my head, and hope Bruce Pearl gives Auburn even more to "celebrate" in a year or two...

h/t ESPN

Never change, Bruce

Presented (mostly) without commentary:

Power forward Cinmeon Bowers from Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla., became the first prospect to commit to coach Bruce Pearl at Auburn on Saturday.

Bowers signed with Florida State in November but was released from his national letter of intent in January after he was arrested for allegedly eating marijuana in order to conceal it from police officers during a traffic stop. Charges were later dropped.

If I end up posting a lot about Bruce Pearl, it is probably because I want any and every excuse to share my favorite Pearl moment with the world:

Auburn and Bruce Pearl?  This is going to be fun.

h/t MrSEC.com

Pearl to Auburn

Bruce Pearl is going to be the next coach at Auburn:

"I'm humbled and blessed to be back in the game that I love," Pearl told the school's website. "I don't know how long it will take, but it's time to rebuild the Auburn basketball program and bring it to a level of excellence so many of the other teams on campus enjoy."

Is there a chance he'll build Auburn into a powerhouse?  Absolutely.  The man can recruit and the man can coach.

Is there also a chance he'll have his first NCAA violation under his belt by next fall?  Absolutely.  If you've never read his history, now would be a good time.  Let's just say if another coach has a chance to bust him, don't think it won't happen.

We do know the SEC just got tougher.  That's a good thing for the conference and, by extension, should be a good thing for Georgia basketball.

h/t ESPN