Barbee Calm, Cool & Accomplished
January 15, 2015 | Women's Basketball
By Ashleigh Shay
Imagine, being the first person in Lady Bulldogs' history to lead the team in average points, rebounds, assists and steals. Then step back for a moment, and realize you were the only player in the SEC and one of seven players in the entirety of Division I women's basketball to lead your team in those stats last season.
"Words can't even describe it. It's awesome" said No. 20 Shacobia Barbee about her accomplishment.
At the time, she did not think much about it during the 2013-14 season when her averages 12.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.6 steals all paced the Lady Bulldogs. She was more concerned with staying focused on the games. Though after the season ended, and she started to look, all she could say was "Wow."
Barbee's focus, however, is not compromised by her achievement. She still sees staying focused as her biggest challenge for this season and the next. She says there is always pressure, but not letting people on the outside see that is what helps her play and remain calm. Her biggest piece of advice is to not think about what is going on outside of the game - focus on the moment, what you are trying to do and what it will take to disrupt the other team to win the game.
Barbee's goal this year is to concentrate on what her team needs her to do to win the game, as well as build them up around her and execute positive effects.
It is safe to say she is doing all of these things so far. Last Sunday at Auburn, she put up a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds to help her team beat the Tigers. That was her team-best third double-double of the season and 10th of her career.
When asked about how the season is going, the junior guard and forward only had positive things to say. She sees that the team has come together as a whole. Barbee believes individuals have stepped up their game right from the beginning and the season the team is headed in a good direction - a direction that Georgia should continue to go in.
Barbee's success has stemmed from her growing and maturing as a player. This improvement has not gone unnoticed. In non-conference play, she ranked No. 7 in the SEC in field goal percentage at 49.6 percent but was just 3-of-11 in the league opener at Mississippi State. After a scoreless first half, Barbeee contributed nine points after intermission. She also held State's leading scorer to just five points, 11 under her average.
"Everything doesn't always go your way on the offensive end," Andy Landers said following the Mississippi State game. "Cobi would probably be the first person to tell you she left some points on the table tonight, but she has matured to the point to where she can continue to play hard, continue to lead, continue to get things done even when things are going well for her offensively."
Things have gone well and are continuing to go well for this junior. A bruised knee did not stop her from putting up 12 points against Missouri last Thursday and she came out full force against Auburn on Sunday. Great things seem to be on the horizon for the humble and well-accomplished Shacobia Barbee. And Vanderbilt should be no exception.
The Lady Bulldogs will take on the Commodores this Sunday, January 18 at 2 p.m. in Steegman Coliseum. Without a doubt No. 20 will continue to excel and appear as if she is not breaking a sweat doing it.
Ashleigh Shay is a sophomore from Wall, N.J., who is intending to major in public relations and also pursue a sports media certificate from UGA's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. She is in her first year as a student assistant with the UGA Sports Communications office.
"Coming Attractions" is a weekly feature published on georgiadogs.com spotlighting a UGA student-athlete who will be competing in a key home event during the upcoming weekend. Previous stories include:
August 28 - David Andrews (football vs. Clemson)
September 4 - Carly Hamilton (cross country in Bulldog Invitational)
September 11 - Tirah Leau (volleyball in Benson Hospitality Invitational)
September 18 - Mariel Gutierrez (soccer vs. Vanderbilt)
September 25 - Toby Johnson (football vs. Tennessee)
October 2 - Emma Sonnett (soccer vs. Tennessee)
October 9 - Jared Markham (swimming & diving vs. Alabama)
October 16 - Gaby Smiley (volleyball vs. Kentucky and Tennessee)
October 23 - Bella Hartley (soccer vs. Kentucky)
October 30 - Olivia Ball & Ian Forlini (swimming & diving vs. Florida)
November 6 - Megan Spencer (volleyball vs. Arkansas)
November 13 - Kolton Houston (football vs. Auburn)
November 20 - Yante Maten (men's basketball vs. Troy & FAU)
November 27 - Damian Swann (football vs. Georgia Tech)
December 4 - Marjorie Butler (women's basketball vs. Michigan State)
December 18 - Tiaria Griffin (women's basketball vs. Furman)
December 25 - International Bulldogs (men's basketball vs. Mercer)
January 7 - Maddie Locus (women's swimming & diving vs. Texas)
