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UGA HOOPS
Though I tend to focus my attention almost solely on football, I am very much a fan of all University of Georgia sports. I've never added any content to Natesdawgs.com for basketball, baseball or other sports, but I most definitely stay up-to-date with them. There are many sports at UGA that are fun to follow and they are perennially among the nation's best: gymnastics, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, baseball, women's basketball, etc. Unfortunately, men's basketball has not been a topic of conversation in which UGA fans and alumni can hold their head high. Not only has the last 10 years (since Tubby's controversial departure) been mired with poor play on the court, it has also involved academic scandal and NCAA sanctions. I hoped and tried to believe that Dennis Felton was the man who could lead us out of the Harrick era and into an era of national rankings and NCAA tournament berths. Guess now I'll have to hope for the next coach to be "that guy."
Felton was the disciplinarian we needed at Georgia following the Harrick and Tony Cole humiliations. After leading Western Kentucky to the NCAAs, it was thought that Felton could also attract and develop the talent needed to do the same at UGA. 4 and a half seasons and a 48% winning percentage late, UGA is conducting a head coach search. Yes, Felton deserves credit for the improbable run to the 2008 SEC Tournament title, but let's be honest. Every team can get on a run, and that's all that was. A great run by another sub-par team.
And I don't want to hear a word about unrealistic expectations. UGA has a state-of-the-art practice facility, and we are still talking about the same campus-life that attracts top 10 football recruiting classes year after year. I've heard countless analysts, fans and friends say that UGA football would be a top 10 team every year if they just keep the top talent in the state. Well, basketball should be no different. Scout.com has a good article right now discussing this same fact. The state of Georgia's top prep basketball talent almost never makes its' way to Athens, and that is simply inexcusable.
UGA is a football school, plain and simple. But so are Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, and Texas. So, in an extremely talent-rich state, there is no reason a UGA basketball coach should get a pass for mediocrity when the UGA football coach is hearing rumblings following a 10-win season.
Felton was the disciplinarian we needed at Georgia following the Harrick and Tony Cole humiliations. After leading Western Kentucky to the NCAAs, it was thought that Felton could also attract and develop the talent needed to do the same at UGA. 4 and a half seasons and a 48% winning percentage late, UGA is conducting a head coach search. Yes, Felton deserves credit for the improbable run to the 2008 SEC Tournament title, but let's be honest. Every team can get on a run, and that's all that was. A great run by another sub-par team.
And I don't want to hear a word about unrealistic expectations. UGA has a state-of-the-art practice facility, and we are still talking about the same campus-life that attracts top 10 football recruiting classes year after year. I've heard countless analysts, fans and friends say that UGA football would be a top 10 team every year if they just keep the top talent in the state. Well, basketball should be no different. Scout.com has a good article right now discussing this same fact. The state of Georgia's top prep basketball talent almost never makes its' way to Athens, and that is simply inexcusable.
UGA is a football school, plain and simple. But so are Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, and Texas. So, in an extremely talent-rich state, there is no reason a UGA basketball coach should get a pass for mediocrity when the UGA football coach is hearing rumblings following a 10-win season.