Georgia Bulldogs
Overall Rank: #30
Conference Rank: #7 SEC
Georgia Team Page
Three points. There is no doubt the Georgia women’s basketball team remembers the bittersweet end to last season. If it had scored three more points, it would have tied California. Four more points and Georgia would have been in the Final Four. Instead, Georgia’s season started strong and ended frustratingly short of a Final Four bid. The Jasmine color (as in Hassell and James) the team had last year is now gone, and it is hard to say what will replace the scoring power those two provided. Georgia is liable to take a big hit thanks to the loss of those standouts, not to mention a tough SEC that should be tough to go through without many losses.
2012-13 Record: 28-7, 12-4
2012-13 Postseason: NCAA (lost to California in Elite Eight, 65-62, in overtime)
Coach: Andy Landers
Coach Record: 823-275 at Georgia, 905-296 overall
Strengths:
There was no question Georgia loved playing at home last season because it won 15 of 16 games under its own roof. It didn’t do badly in neutral-site games, either, as it went 5-2 overall. This was in part due to a 5.86 turnover margin, which meant the team forced nearly six more turnovers than it committed. That was good enough to rank ninth in all of Division I women’s basketball. Georgia was particularly good at rebounding, and even though Hassell is gone Shacobia Barbee and her second-best 212 rebounds are back for more. Barbee’s 87 assists are also huge for a team that has many holes to fill.
Weaknesses:
We have already documented how the loss of Hassell and James costs the team about 24 of its 66 points per game from last season. The Bulldogs will have more trouble with shot blocking because of Anne Marie Armstrong’s absence (1.06 blocks per game). Although its 66.6 free-throw percentage isn’t bad, it ranks about two-thirds of the way down from the top. Georgia’s ability to shoot free throws is compromised by the loss of Hassell and James, and the team needs to develop more help from the line.
Final Projection:
Hassell and James’ scoring loss, combined with the loss of Armstrong’s blocking skills, could mean Georgia takes a big stumble in the standings this year. Georgia does have a lot of 3-point shooting skill coming back with the return of Khaalidah Miller and Tiaria Griffin. Hard teams like Georgia Tech on the non-conference schedule will make it very tough for Georgia to get off to a strong start, not to mention there are six SEC teams above Georgia whose chances appear to be better. Still, don’t count Georgia out yet. The SEC is tough enough that many tournament teams will come out of here.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
Khaalidah Miller, Senior, Guard, 27.8 percent 3-point shooting
Tiaria Griffin, Sophomore, Guard, 7.3 points per game
Shacobia Barbee, Sophomore, Guard/Forward, 87 assists and 85 steals
Erika Ford, Junior, Guard, 5.3 points per game
Merritt Hempe, Sophomore, Forward, 38.1 percent shooting
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 66.3 (87th in nation, 7th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 53.9 (28, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 39.9 (116, 10)
Field-Goal Defense: 36.3 (55, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.7 (196, 9)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 27.9 (226, 8)
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.6 (245, 10)
Rebound Margin: 3.3 (81, 5)
Assists Per Game: 14.1 (76, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.9 (30, 1)
Madness 2013 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#119 Samantha Glodis
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