University of Georgia Athletics
Dog Notes: Gaines Quiets Top Hog
January 23, 2016 | Men's Basketball
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
Everyone on the court looked worn out at the end Saturday night's hard-fought game. Even the crowd of 10,523 at Stegeman Coliseum probably felt a bit weary following the Georgia men's basketball team's 76-73 overtime win over Arkansas.
Georgia senior Kenny Gaines, who played a game-high 40 of the 45 minutes, sounded afterward like someone who'd given everything he had to give. And he'd given plenty.
Not only did Gaines contribute mightily at the offense end, hitting four 3-pointers and scoring 16 points, but he answered a challenge in a huge way on defense. Arkansas' leading scorer, Anthlon Bell, came in averaging 17.1 points per game — seventh best in the SEC. It was Gaines' charge to keep Bell under wraps.
So how did he do? Bell made two free throws with 16:05 left in the first half and he hit a 3-pointer soon after. Bell hit another 3 with 9:00 to play in the half, giving him eight points for the game. And that's what he finished with, going scoreless for the final 34 minutes.
"I feel tired, but I was glad I could get the job done and do whatever we needed to win," said Gaines, who sounded as if he barely had the energy to speak.
Georgia coach Mark Fox was much more effusive.
"I thought Kenny Gaines' defense was terrific," said Fox after the Bulldogs improved to 11-6 overall and 4-3 in SEC play. "He gave up two 3-point shots in the first half and none in the second half and overtime. It's one of the things we challenged him with and he was terrific at that end, and he made, obviously, his share of plays at the offensive end, too.
"He played like a senior certainly should play."
Bell came in shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 46.7 percent (56-for-120) on 3s. At the end of the opening half he was 2-for-3 on 3s, his only shots from the field. With Gaines all over him the rest of the way, Bell only attempted two more shots. That's five shots from a player that entered the game averaging 13.3 per game.
It was a standout defensive performance, though not the only one. Fox credited senior Charles Mann for also playing really well at that end.
That Gaines shot well against the Hogs (9-10, 3-4) should not come as a surprise. Gaines came into the game, the fifth against the Razorbacks in the senior's career, a combined 10 of 20 from 3-point range against the Hogs. That's some sharp shooting.
He was equally sharp Saturday, making 4 of 8 3-point attempts. Gaines, who now has made 171 career 3s, one shy of No. 8 on Georgia's all-time list, is a 37.8 percent 3-point shooter for his career. He didn't have an explanation for why he's a 50-percent man against the Hogs.
"I think it's just time and opportunity," he said. "Whenever we need it, I just try to get a basket in. I don't think it has anything to do with just because it's Arkansas."
Frazier Battles Migraine
J.J. Frazier spent most of Saturday night doing J.J. Frazier things: hitting 3s, attacking the basket and being one of the most entertaining and energetic players in the SEC. And he did it all — scoring a game-high 26 points and nabbing a game-high three steals — will dealing with a migraine headache.
It sure didn't show as he went 8-for-15 from the field, 4-for-9 on 3s and also grabbed four rebounds and handed out three assists. Fox said Frazier told him about the migraine a couple of minutes into the game, which would have been shortly after the junior hit his first 3 of the night.
"He is such a competitor," Fox said. "If ever competitor could have the heart of that guy, they would have an advantage from the start. His competitiveness and his will to win carried him through a lot of discomfort today, and it's also contagious."
With a little more than a minute left in overtime and Georgia leading 70-67, The 5-foot-11 Frazier drove down the left side and laid the ball in amid heavy traffic, also drawing a foul. He was knocked to the ground on the play and looked toward the rowdy UGA crowd as he sat up, as if to say, how'd you like that one?
Frazier missed the free throw (more on that in a moment), but it was an acrobatic play that not too many can make — but is right out of his playbook.
"He mentioned (the migraine) to me, but I know J.J.'s tough, a tough-minded kid, so I knew he would play through it," Gaines said.
So Many Misses
Saturday's game between two teams very eager to get above .500 in SEC play featured high drama, great effort and some clutch plays. It also featured some pretty rough free-throw shooting from both sides.
Georgia ended up 16 of 30 from the line — though Frazier did knock in two with 6.5 seconds left, part of a 6-for-10 night for him — while Arkansas was 17 of 28. Georgia was 2-for-7 in overtime after going 10 of 17 on the second half.
The Bulldogs have had trouble at the line in four of their last five games and as a team are now shooting 68.4 percent.
"I don't think we've got a major problem there," Fox said. "It's an area we need to continue to work on, but it's not an epidemic yet."
What's Next?
The Bulldogs hit the road next week for a Tuesday night visit to LSU, which is led by freshman sensation Ben Simmons. The Tigers (12-7, 5-2) got 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists from Simmons in their 72-70 win at Alabama on Saturday.
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
