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UGA's Defense Lacking in Win over The Citadel

November 12, 2019
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ATHENS - Georgia got up seven points just before the final break in the game against The Citadel. 

The problem wasn’t that Georgia was only up seven - it was that Georgia had already allowed 83 points. 

83 points with four minutes to go?

Let that sink in. 

The good news is that Anthony Edwards can dig you out of a hole. After a five-point spurt that started with Edwards’ and one, and the game was just a little too far out of reach for the Charleston-based school to get back into it. 

The problem here is the defense. This has been the No. 1 criticism of Tom Crean’s teams for some time according to folks that know his history. Georgia might be able to outscore the likes of South Carolina’s military college, but in the SEC… and against quality foes that you need to beat in order to get into the NCAAs, this defense isn't going to work. 

And the thing is defense is about wanting to do it. Georgia, for so long under Mark Fox, had a problem with offense… you can’t teach offensive skill. You can work on it, but for the most part either you have it or you don’t. 

Defense is another thing all together. It is about being OK with physically pushing the other person out of the way to get a rebound without fouling. It is about dropping to the level of the ball, and then jumping to help. It is about fighting over screens, and hedging hard to defend against screens, and then busting your ass to get in the right position. 

Two games into things things, with UGA being as young as they are, I understand them not understanding why defense matters so much. It will be up to Crean to teach them that, and up to them to learn. 

Small schools like The Citadel are going to chunk a lot of threes, and the Bulldogs made a lot of them tonight. But allowing nearly 90 points against a Southern Conference team is not good enough. UGA won 95-86, but the game was close because of the Dawgs’ defense. 

The Citadel has only played twice this season, but in their only outing this year managed to score 76 points at home on Saturday in a loss to UNCA. The Citadel knocked in nearly half of their shots on Tuesday night - hitting 42% of threes. 

They also out rebounded the Dawgs. These sorts of metics are not good looking. Winning is, but winning ugly will only work so long. This team must get better at defending - the results as the season goes on depends on it. 

Discussion from...

UGA's Defense Lacking in Win over The Citadel

3,905 Views | 3 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by Teddybulldawg
MidseasonFromm
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I agree with the defense big time.

One of the players after the game said Citadel ran to the 3 point line more than the paint during fast breaks, which the team usually didn't practice against.

This probably led to more chances in the paint.

Glad to hear that these things can be corrected. I am hoping that Crean can do it.
SidViciousDawg
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We fell from #61 to #197 in defensive efficiency in Crean's rookie season and that was with Clax!! Keep hope alive but Crean's track record is pretty consistent on the defensive end. Perhaps his recruiting and offensive philosophy can make up for weak defense.

Fans always clamor for the more exciting faster paced style of play but look at the Final Four Teams from last season and where they ranked in Defensive Efficiency.

Texas Tech #1
Virginia #6
Michigan St #17
Auburn #86 is the outlier but still far from #197

Duke #6, Kentucky #30, NC #34.... We have to find the want to and somehow strive for Top 100 at a minimum.
Teddybulldawg
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Georgia needs to build its roster any way we can. Crean knows what is up with out defensive problems. It's mostly knowing what to do and fundamentals. A lot of that will get better as we trim the rotations and gel. Still, we really only have one post that wants to be post player. 2 of them think they are shooting guards. We are going to have to play like Auburn. The sooner we learn to play a little zone and learn to switch, we'll be better.
I did see some nice things last night stealing the ball and converting those into baskets.
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