Georgia Bulldogs
Overall rank: #10
Conference rank: #2 SEC
Georgia Team Page
It was a disappointing way to end the season for Georgia’s women’s basketball team. The Bulldogs were perceived to play the tougher of the two schedules by virtue of being in the Southeastern Conference. Marist had other ideas, and as a result the Bulldogs ended their season with a quick first-round tournament exit. That won’t likely be the case this year. With Georgia bringing back a ton of talent, the season will likely be longer in Athens this time around.
2011-12 record: 22-9, 11-5
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Andy Landers
Coach Record: 877-289, 793-268 at Georgia
Strengths:
There are two critical milestones this season that will make Georgia play that much harder. If the Bulldogs win seven games, Landers will have 800 career victories at Georgia and cement his place among the top coaches of all time. If Georgia can win just one more game from last year that would give Landers 900 wins overall. He’d love nothing more than to get both of those milestones in the same season. Six of the top seven scorers are back, including leading scorers Jasmine Hassell and Khaalidah Miller, and the two-leading ball-passers and ball-stealers are back in the form of Anne Marie Armstrong and Jasmine James.
Weaknesses:
The team’s assist-to-turnover ratio isn’t where Landers would like it. Georgia had 392 assists last year but committed 462 turnovers, and Landers would like nothing more than for those numbers to reverse. Free-throw shooting was just over 65 percent, and that number could stand to improve. Those are the only two areas that need to be worked on, as the Georgia team is otherwise pretty good.
Final Projection:
It happens all the time in tournament play where a 13 seed knocks off a four seed, and last year was no exception because Marist topped Georgia in the first round. The Bulldogs start off with a tough game against Rutgers, but the non-conference schedule should pose no threats. Another season of over 20 wins should come to Athens with little difficulty, but how well Georgia ultimately does in the tournament is up to the team itself.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
Jasmine Hassell, Senior, Forward, 13.0 points, 5.7 rebounds per game
Khaalidah Miller, Junior, Guard, 12.4 points, 58 steals for the year
Anne Marie Armstrong, Senior, Forward, 11.5 points per game, 92 total assists
Jasmine James, Senior, Guard, 10.6 points and 4.7 rebounds
Erika Ford, Sophomore, Guard, 5.5 points
Madness 2012 Women's Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#50 Marjorie Butler
#76 Shacobia Barbee
#125 Tiaria Griffin
#141 Merritt Hempe
#155 Kaelyn Causwell
