12/16/17 5:45pm
Photo: Dale Zanine
Hoop Dawgs Fall to the Minutemen
By: Joshua Grosh
This was not the best of games one will see from this Georgia team – hopefully it will be one of the worst (so the future will be brighter). The game was never truly close as UMass surged to a 16-2 lead to open the game and never looked back – never even relenting their double-digit lead to UGA. In all honesty, the Hoop Dawgs should not have let it get this bad – they missed countless opportunities to bring the game within striking distance but simply could not make a basket. UMass even gave up a quick 10 fouls within the first 8 minutes of the second half and began turning the ball over with more regularity – yet still Georgia could not capitalize. The team was dreadful shooting, making only 35.5% of their field goals and 35.3% of their 3-pointers while UMass was 50% and 54.5% respectively. UMass even out rebounded the Dawgs by 10 rebounds. Maten played admirably with 20 points while regularly guarding a man near 70 or so pounds heavier than him – so doing so while exhausted. His play was incredible for potential NBA scouts. The only other threat scoring wise was Jackson with 14. The other players on the team never topped 8 points and 4 players never made a basket. For contrast, UMass had 5 players over 10 points.
This is by no means to be critical of the team because while yes, this game was disappointing, the Dawgs are still 7-2 with three quality wins already on the season and a tough gauntlet ahead of them. If the team can use this game as a learning experience, it can help refocus the Dawgs to be a better team down the stretch. They will need players like Hightower, Harris and Crump to step up in their play for Georgia to be a more dangerous team – for they need more guard play outside of Parker who also did not have one of the best games. Ogbeide did not have a big game himself so that also hurt Georgia. If the team can regroup and refocus, we will see some great things for this year’s Dawgs – they have the talent and ability, they must execute.
Top players for Georgia:
Yante Maten – 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, only 1 foul.
William Jackson II – 14 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 2 fouls.
Look Ahead:
Georgia plays Georgia Tech (4-4) on Wednesday, December 19th at Stegeman Coliseum at 9:00 P.M. Georgia is currently favored leading into the game at a health 70%. Tech is currently on a three-game losing streak but has a chance to turn the tide in a game against FAMU on the 17th.
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