Georgia Bulldogs 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Post Season

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Georgia Bulldogs

Southeastern Conference (14-17, 5-11)

Seed: #

Big Wins: 1/5 Georgia Tech (73-66), 1/23 Tennessee (78-63), 2/6 Vanderbilt (72-58)

Bad Losses: 2/3 Arkansas (68-72), 2/10 at Auburn (63-82), 3/6 at LSU (48-50)

Coach: Mark Fox

Why They Can Surprise:

Georgia has had a couple young stars emerge and lead this team to some good wins. But this is still a young team and that has also led to some bad losses. Coach Mark Fox has done a good job beginning the rebuilding process and he has Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie to thank for the immediate success. Thompkins was good as a freshman during the 2008-2009 campaign, but he is playing great as a sophomore. The 6-10 Lithonia, Georgia product leads the team with 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds and keeps getting better. Not only can he battle anybody in the Southeastern Conference in the paint, but he can step outside and consistently hit the mid-range jumper.

Travis Leslie is the other superstar. A year ago the 6-4 wing showed his potential and athleticism, but now he is turning that into production. Leslie is a terrific slasher and it is around the basket, or at the charity stripe, where he does most of his scoring. Leslie is even a solid defender who can nab some steals and block some shots. But it does not end there…he is a good passer too and a great rebounder for a player of his size. It is Leslie’s ability to help Thompkins on the glass that makes Georgia a very good rebounding team.

Why They Can Disappoint:

The Bulldogs have a couple capable outside shooters in Ricky McPhee and fellow backcourt starter Dustin Ware, but both have been relatively inconsistent this season. The team as a whole makes less than five three-pointers per game. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but this is not a team that creates turnovers and there are many times when the offense needs a spark and since it will not come from an easy bucket off a turnover, it needs to come from McPhee or Ware hitting the long ball. While McPhee scores more, Ware has the capability of getting into the paint and finishing or finding his teammates.

Who To Watch:

While Thompkins and Leslie handle most of the rebounding, the Bulldogs have plenty of other options in the frontcourt. Albert Jackson is the usual starter in the paint. The 6-11, 265 pound senior lost some weight to become more agile and it has paid off on the defensive end of the floor. He is still a good rebounder, but he is also a better athlete now and that has led to more blocked shots. Chris Barnes is another experienced big body who can clog the paint. He is not much of a scorer, but he is a capable rebounder. Jeremy Price is the best interior scorer besides Thompkins and all three of those forwards have started some games this year. With experience like that, Georgia has a deceptively strong frontcourt.

Probable Starters:

Dustin Ware, Sophomore, Guard, 8.2 ppg, 3.4 apg

Ricky McPhee, Senior, Guard, 9.6 ppg, 1.9 apg

Travis Leslie, Sophomore, Guard, 14.8 ppg, 2.5 apg, 6.8 rpg

Trey Thompkins, Sophomore, Forward, 17.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.2 bpg

Jeremy Price, Junior, Forward, 7.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg

Key Roleplayers:

Ebuka Anyaorah, Freshman, Guard, 2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg

Chris Barnes, Junior, Forward, 3.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg

Albert Jackson, Senior, Center, 3.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.1 bpg

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 68.4 (189^th in nation, 11^th in conference)

Scoring Defense: 69.2 (194, 7)

Field-Goal Percentage: 45.8 (61, 7)

Field-Goal Defense: 43.2 (173, 9)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.9 (286, 11)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: na

Free-Throw Percentage: 71.9 (76, 2)

Rebound Margin: 4.5 (46, 2)

Assists Per Game: 13.8 (117, 7)

Turnovers Per Game: 15.3 (279, 12)

Joel’s Bracket Says: