University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Building Foundation In Practice
October 20, 2015 | Men's Basketball
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
Like any big project, building and developing a basketball team takes time. New pieces have to be evaluated and molded before they can be put in place, adjustments have to be made for lost pieces and nothing can happen until a solid foundation is in place.
That's the essence of the first few weeks of practice.
The Georgia men's basketball team, which opens its season in less than a month, against Chattanooga on Nov. 13, is now in its third week of preseason practice. Bulldogs coach Mark Fox, now entering his seventh season in Athens, said he's seen progress, though perhaps not always in a straight line.
"You know there's going to ebbs and flows, and not every day is a great day," he said last week. "That doesn't mean that on the days that aren't as good you're not still getting better. We had a terrific first week and the second week we haven't played as well - but you need to have times where you don't play well, so that you can learn."
Those ebbs and flows, Fox said, are happening everywhere.
"The play's not where it needs to be yet, and most teams in the country, if they're really honest, would probably say the same thing," he said. "We're not playing like we will play later in the year, but we need to make progress and that's what this time of year is for."
Making progress and building momentum toward the start of the season, that's where the Bulldogs are now.
"Just as we get more comfortable you can definitely tell a difference, maybe not day to day, necessarily, but definitely week to week," said junior forward Houston Kessler.
Georgia, coming off back to back 20-win seasons, must replace a pair of senior leaders and integral starters in forwards Marcus Thornton and Nemanja Djurisic. The post duo combined for 23.3 points and 12.5 rebounds a game.
As much as Thornton and "Neme" contributed in the stat sheet, their leadership was just as important. Along with all those points and rebounds, their presence in the locker room and on the practice court must also be replaced.
"I think we have two really good seniors right now who are stepping up vocally and trying to be the leaders on and off the court, and I think they're doing a pretty good job right now," said sophomore forward Yante Maten, referring to senior guards Charles Mann and Kenny Gaines, who have started since they were sophomores.
The Bulldogs have four freshmen in guard William "Turtle" Jackson II and forwards Derek Ogbeide, E'Torrion Wilridge, Mike Edwards and Connor O'Neill. First and foremost, Fox said, they "have to learn how to play at both ends." There's your foundation.
"The first thing any team must do is come up with a stable defense, and right now our defense is not there from top to bottom," Fox said. "At the same time, you're trying to develop you offense, which takes longer. And there's a lot to teach."
And time spent teaching is something Fox greatly enjoys. Just as a lot of players are more into practice than others, the same is true of coaches. Some can't wait for the opening tip so they can try to solve the riddle of that night's game, while others are most at home with a whistle in their mouth and a list of items to be taught during practice.
"If we're in a gym I'm the happiest; whether it be practice or a game, that's what I love to do," he said. "I think we can get a lot more work done in practice. As a coach, you can have a great impact this time of year, so we do lots of planning, lots of review each day and forethought into the next day. We're trying to make an impact."
With new players and veteran players in new roles, there's a lot of work still to be done. One thing Fox has liked seeing is the offseason progress that players made.
"I think we have a lot of guys who are better. I think Charles looks like he's a better player, even as a senior. I think Yante's a better player than he was a year ago. I think Kenny Paul Geno's really taken a step forward," Fox said. "I think we have a lot of guys that have gotten better in the offseason and that was important for us. But now it's about all the individuals becoming a team and playing a way that this team can find success."
Before the Dogs open against the Chattanooga Mocs, they will host an exhibition against Armstrong Atlantic on Nov. 6.
John Frierson is a staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can follow him on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
