DawgsOnline
Since 1995 - Insightful commentary on the Georgia Bulldogs

Post A happy ending on Senior Night

Thursday March 3, 2011

With all of the highs and lows this senior class has experienced, they’ll fondly remember their final game at Stegeman Coliseum. Georgia shook off a slow start to put away LSU 73-53 and post the program’s first official 20-win season in over a decade.

The Dawgs fell behind by as many as nine early on, but they soon put the brakes on the LSU scoring and gradually caught up.  Georgia took a modest 30-25 lead into halftime, but they didn’t waste much time extending the lead after the break.  Georgia started the second half with a great deal more intensity and activity on both ends, and several transition baskets helped the Dawgs pull away.  LSU closed to within as few as 11 with about four and a half minutes left, but Georgia held their ground and never let the lead fall back into single digits.  The large lead allowed Mark Fox to take his seniors out one by one to be honored by the crowd. 

Forget bracketology or scoreboard-watching: Georgia doesn’t need much help at this point.  They’re in great shape thanks to winning these past two can’t-lose games.  Other teams like Colorado, Maryland, and Memphis couldn’t get it done tonight against lesser opponents, but Georgia did what they’ve done all year: cash in these types of games.  Other observations:

  • Price played like it was his last time on this court. He sat after an early foul, but his two quick baskets after reentering the game seemed to get the Georgia offense going. He had three of the team’s first four baskets, and that was enough until the rest of the his teammates started scoring.  Price knelt to kiss the court as he left the game for the last time, and his performance was worthy of that kind of emotion.   
  • It was positive to see Gerald Robinson so active.  He looked to drive, led the break, and chipped in three steals.  He scored 16 points without a three-pointer, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
  • Barnes also had a nice Senior Night by his standards.  Six points and six rebounds were a nice contribution.
  • Georgia eventually became disruptive on defense.  Especially effective was the posts showing out on high ball screens.  LSU guards often were forced into a walk, a bad pass, or just a change in plans. Several of those poor choices resulted in transition chances for Georgia.
  • Ware keeps getting it done from behind the arc. No reason why he shouldn’t attempt 5-8 outside shots a game.
  • Something was affecting Trey, and we learned afterwards that an injured toe leaves him questionable for Alabama.  He’s played with some degree of injury most of the season, but it was good to be able to sit him down for most of this one.
  • And how about Bucklin?

Comments are closed.