Dogs Host Hogs At Stegeman on Tuesday Night

Tuesday, January 23

Athens, Ga.

6:30 PM

University of Georgia

Arkansas

Buy Tickets

January 22, 2018 | Men's Basketball

Georgia Basketball Game Notes
Georgia (12-6, 3-4) vs. Arkansas (13-6, 3-4)
Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. ET
Stegeman Coliseum (10,523) in Athens, Ga.
Listen: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network. (Flagship: WSB AM 750 Atlanta; Satellite: Sirius 137; XM 190. Scott Howard, play-by-play; Chuck Dowdle, analyst; Tony Schiavone, Producer)
TV: SEC Network (Roy Philpott, play-by-play; Brooke Weisbrod, analyst)
Video: SECN+

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Pos	No.	Name	PPG	RPG

Georgia Bulldogs
Coach: Mark Fox
157-124 in 9th season at UGA
280-167 in 14th season overall
G	10	Teshaun Hightower	3.0	1.4
6-4; 180; Fr.; Lithonia, Ga.
G	0	William Jackson II	9.4	2.6
6-4; 185; Jr.; Athens, Ga.
G	3	Juwan Parker	8.0	3.3
6-4; 205; R-Sr.; Tulsa, Okla.
F	1	Yante Maten	19.6	9.1
6-8; 243; Sr.; Pontiac, Mich.
F	34	Derek Ogbeide	7.3	5.8
6-8; 245; Jr.; Atlanta, Ga.

Pos	No.	Name	PPG	RPG

Arkansas Razorbacks
Coach: Mike Anderson
141-80 (7th season at UA)
341-178 (16th season overall
G	0	Jaylen Barford	19.2	4.2
6-3; 202; Sr.; Jackson, Tenn.
G	31	Anton Beard	10.4	2.4
6-0; 198; Sr.; N. Little Rock, Ark.
G	20	Darious Hall	5.2	2.9
6-6; 202; Fr.; Little Rock, Ark.
F	2	Adrio Bailey	4.9	2.9
6-6; 204; Soph.; Campti, La.
F	10	Daniel Gafford	12.2	6.5
6-11; 234; Fr.; El Dorado, Ark.

TEAM COMPARISON

GEORGIA		ARKANSAS
69.9	Points per game	85.1
+4.1	Scoring margin	+8.5
43.2	FG pct.	49.3
38.2	FG defense	43.8
32.1	3FG pct.	39.8
30.8	3FG defense	35.1
5.9	3FGs per game	8.0
71.4	FT pct.	66.7
16.3	FTs per game	15.6
+6.4	Rebound Margin	-0.4
12.8	Assists per game	15.7
0.94	Assists-to-TOs	1.44
4.8	Blocks per game	4.6
4.6	Steals per game	6.5

The Starting 5...

In stats for league games, UGA leads all Power 5 schools nationally in FG defense (.358).
UGA has four top-50 RPI wins, which is more than 17 teams in last week's AP poll.
UGA was at No. 51 in Monday's NCAA RPI, one of 10 SEC teams in the top-55.
Yante Maten currently leads the SEC in scoring (19.6 ppg) and rebounding (9.1 rpg).
Juwan Parker, the only DI MBB player with a master's, is 3rd on UGA's career FT pct. leaders list.

Dogs Host Hogs At Stegeman

A road-heavy portion of Georgia's schedule is interrupted on Tuesday when the Bulldogs host Arkansas at Stegeman Coliseum. Georgia is in the midst of a stretch of five road outings in a seven-game span.

The Bulldogs opened that stretch with a victory at LSU last Tuesday before falling at No. 17/20 Auburn on Saturday.

Georgia slipped to 12-6 overall and 3-4 in SEC play with the setback at Auburn.

Yante Maten, who last Thursday was named to the 25-player Midseason Watch List for the Wooden Award, leads the SEC in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 19.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

Maten has been a picture of consistency for the Bulldogs.

In 18 games this season, he has 17 double-figure outings, with eight double-doubles and nine 20-point performances.

Over 81 games played since the beginning of his sophomore year, Maten has produced 73 double-digit scoring performances, with 31 20-point and five 30-point outings, as well as 23 double-doubles.

William "Turtle" Jackson is the Bulldogs' second-leading scorer overall at 9.4 ppg, with 10 double-figure games. Juwan Parker has been Georgia's second-best point producer in SEC games at 9.0 ppg.

Arkansas sports a 13-6 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the SEC.

The Razorbacks are led offensively by Jaylen Barford, who is third in the SEC in scoring at 19.2 ppg. Daryl Macon (15.8 ppg), Daniel Gafford (12.2 ppg) and Anton Beard (10.4 ppg) also are scoring at a double-digit pace for Arkansas.

Entering Today's Game Among UGA's Career Leaders

Yante Maten is...

26 points from No. 7 J.J. Frazier
57 points from No. 6 Bob Lienhard
69 rebounds from No. 6 Lavon Mercer
14 FTs from No. 4 J.J. Frazier
112 FTs from No. 3 Litterial Green
144 FTAs from No. 3 Alec Kessler
72 blocks from No. 2 Charles Claxton

Series History With Razorbacks

Arkansas owns a 21-15 lead in the all-time series with the Bulldogs; however, Georgia sports a 9-5 edge here in Athens.

Last season, Arkansas defeated Georgia, 85-67, on March 4 in Fayetteville.

J.J. Frazier led Georgia with 24 points, including knocking down all 13 of his free throw attempts on the day.

Arkansas quickly pushed a one-point halftime lead to nine with 17:30 remaining, and Georgia never pulled closer than seven points thereafter. Frazier picked up his fourth foul with 15:07 left in the game, and the Razorbacks expanded their advantage to 14 points over the next two minutes.

In the most recent meeting in Athens on Jan. 23, 2016, Frazier topped the 20-point barrier for the fifth time during the 2015-16 campaign, pouring in 26 points in Georgia's 76-73 overtime victory against Arkansas before a sell-out crowd.

Yante Maten recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Kenny Gaines added 16 points for the Bulldogs.

Georgia finished the first half on an 11-3 run to grab a three-point advantage at the intermission and had a strong opening to the second period to extend the lead to as large as eight points with 12 minutes left.

The Razorbacks rallied and took their first lead of the half at the 5:29 mark. That represented the first of five lead changes - and five ties - in the waning moments of regulation.

Georgia led 74-68 with 31 seconds in OT left but did not seal the victory until Anthlon Bell's 3-point attempt just past halfcourt failed to draw iron.

Last Time Out

Auburn rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat Georgia, 79-65, at Auburn Arena on Saturday.

The Bulldogs controlled the opening half, gradually building a 40-24 lead on a Juwan Parker 3-pointer with 1:41 left in the half.

Auburn trimmed two points off that margin prior to the intermission and then exploded on a 21-4 run to open the second stanza.

After trailing 59-45, Georgia rallied to trim the margin to 64-59 at the 3:57 mark, but Auburn answered with a three-point play on its next possession.

Seniors Yante Maten and Juwan Parker led the Bulldogs on the offensive end with 17 and 16 points, respectively.

Ratin' Maten A Popular Task

Preseason recognition was consistent and plentiful for Yante Maten.

Maten was ranked as one of the nation's top-25 players by three different online ledgers during the preseason. CBSsports.com put him No. 22, ESPN.com listed him No. 23 and NBCsports.com tabbed him No. 24.

Maten was tabbed preseason SEC Player of the Year by the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and a panel of SEC and national media. The media named Maten, Texas A&M's Robert Williams and Missouri's Michael Porter, Jr. as co-player of the year.

Maten was included on watch lists for the Wooden Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy, Naismith Trophy and Senior CLASS Award.

Maten also received a good bit of preseason All-America recognition.

Jay Bilas included Maten on his first-team, and he also earned All-America props from the Blue Ribbon Yearbook (third team), www.collegesportsmadness.com (fourth team) and NBCsports.com (honorable mention).

Dogs' 'D' The Nation's Best?

Georgia has traditionally been one of the SEC's - if not the nation's - most consistent defensive teams under Mark Fox.

The Bulldogs finished in the SEC's top-3 in field goal percentage defense - both overall and in SEC action - during five of Fox's first eight seasons in Athens. Georgia led the league in FG defense in stats for SEC games only during both 2013-14 and 2015-16.

This season, Bulldogs lead the SEC in FG defense (.382).

Georgia's defensive performance during SEC play has been among the best in the nation among Power 5 conference teams. In stats for league games only, UGA not only tops the SEC in both scoring defense (63.3 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (.358) but ranks among the top-5 nationally among Power 5 conference teams.

Through Sunday's games, Georgia's FG percentage defense in league play was tops in the nation among Power 5 schools, while the Bulldogs were fifth in scoring defense.

The top-10 rankings for Power 5 teams in each stat is listed below.

Rk.	Team	PPG
Scoring Defense
1.	Virginia	52.6
2.	Purdue	60.9
3.	Ohio State	61.8
4.	Ga. Tech	62.2
5.	Georgia	63.3
6.	Notre Dame	63.4
7.	Missouri	63.5
8.	Alabama	65.6
9.	Michigan	65.7
10.	Oregon State	66.1

Rk.	Team	Pct.
FG Pct. Defense
1.	Georgia	.358
2.	Michigan State	.369
3.	Alabama	.370
4.	Syracuse	.375
5.	Virginia	.378
6.	Ohio State	.383
7.	Nebraska	.387
8.	Purdue	.388
9.	Louisville	.390
10.	Ga. Tech	.402

A little More On The Dogs' SEC 'd'

Georgia's defensive performances dominate the "opponent low" information in SEC superlatives for conference games.

Alabama's 46 points are the fewest by any league team in league action to date.

Georgia has induced three of the four lowest field goal totals in SEC play - 16 by South Carolina (second fewest) and 17 by both Kentucky and Alabama (third fewest).

Georgia has forced the two of the three lowest FG percentages in conference games - .271 by South Carolina (lowest) and .298 by Alabama (third lowest).

Bulldogs' Bench Producing

Last season, Georgia's bench outscored its opponents' reserves nine times in 34 games.

This season, the Bulldogs' non-starters have produced more points than their counterparts in 13 of 18 outings.

Georgia's bench finished 2016-17 with a -95 scoring margin.

This year, the Bulldogs are +66, a massive swing of 161 points.

SEC Hoops Moving Forward

This season, the SEC has certainly continued its upwardly trending national reputation.

That increased respect was front and center at the end of the last season.

The SEC received five bids to the 2017 NCAA Tournament, the fifth-most of any conference, and then proceeded to tie the ACC (which had nine NCAA teams) for the most wins during "March Madness" with 11.

Three SEC schools reached the "Elite Eight," including an All-SEC East Regional final between South Carolina and Florida.

Georgia and Arkansas are among a slew of SEC teams with 2018 NCAA aspirations. And those hopes are very well warranted.

The league is extremely well represented in the NCAA's RPI. In Monday's edition, 10 teams were in the top 55 - No. 8 Auburn, No. 12 Tennessee, No. 20 Kentucky, No. 24 Florida, No. 26 Alabama, No. 32 Arkansas, No. 33 Texas A&M, No. 36 Missouri, No. 51 Georgia and No. 53 South Carolina.

All told, 13 of 14 teams were included in the top-100.

Bulldogs Sport Quality "Ws"

Georgia's NCAA resume is bolstered by some solid victories.

The Bulldogs' own victories over four teams in the top-50 of the latest edition of the NCAA RPI - No. 26 Alabama, No. 40 Saint Mary's, No. 46 Marquette and No. 47 Temple.

The only teams with more top-50 wins than Georgia are Purdue with six and Duke, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, Villanova and Xavier with five each.

Hightower Shines In First Start

Freshman Teshaun Hightower certainly made the most of his first career start at LSU last Tuesday, producing career-high efforts for points (8), rebounds (3), steals (2) and minutes played (27) in Baton Rouge.

Eight of the 15 players on the Bulldogs' current roster secured starting spots as freshmen - seniors Yante Maten and Juwan Parker, juniors Mike Edwards and Derek Ogbeide, sophomores Tyree Crump and Jordan Harris and freshmen Rayshaun Hammonds and Hightower.

Parker Checks Off Another Item

Juwan Parker has enjoyed an extremely productive five years in Athens.

The redshirt senior from Tulsa earned his bachelor's degree in two and a half years, received his master's last summer and - perhaps most importantly - became engaged to Aliyah Johnson, an All-American jumper for the UGA track & field team, last fall.

Parker produced the best outing of his Georgia career on Jan. 3 against Ole Miss, when career-high outputs of 18 points and 11 boards supplied him with his first career double-double.

Parker did much of his damage from 3-point range. He made more 3s against the Rebels (four) than he did in the first 12 games combined (three). Parker was 4-of-4 from behind the arc and scored three more points at the line after being fouled on yet another three attempt.

This Turtle Starting Quickly

William "Turtle" Jackson entered the season with two double-digit scoring performances in 66 games played at Georgia.

He has done so in 10 outings during the 2017-18 campaign.

Jackson produced a quartet of career-high scoring outputs in the first five games (from 10 points entering the season to 11 to 13 to 16 to 17). In fact, he reached double figures in the scoring column in the first half alone of the first two games.

Jackson had 11 points - all in the first half - against Bryant.

Against USC Upstate, Jackson scored first-half 10 points and added three more following the break.

That mark lasted two games until Jackson put up 16 points versus Cal State Fullerton...and then topped that with 17 points less than 24 hours later against San Diego State.

While his scoring has increased from 2.8 ppg entering the season to 9.4 ppg, Jackson continues to do much of his damage from behind the 3-point arc. This season, 30 of his 57 field goals (52.6percent) have been 3-pointers. For his career, 55.9 percent (66-of-118) of Jackson's makes from the floor have been 3s.

Maten Earns SEC Accolade

Yante Maten was named the SEC Player of the Week on Dec. 26, after leading Georgia to decisive victories over Georgia Tech and Temple. The senior forward from Pontiac, Mich., averaged 27.0 points and 9.0 rebounds while connecting on 56.7 percent of his shots from the floor in those contests.

Those performances had historic implications. Maten joined Georgia's top-10 career rebounding leaders in the outing against Tech and then ascended into the Bulldogs' top-10 career scoring leaders versus the Owls. Maten is one of only four Bulldogs included on both of UGA's career top-10 ledgers for points and rebounds.

The performance against Temple represented Maten's third 30-point, 10+ rebound outing of his career. Since 1996-97, Bulldogs have posted six such performances - three by Maten and one each by Trey Thompkins, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jumaine Jones.

The SEC Player of the Week recognition is Maten's second of his career. He also was honored on Jan. 2 last season.

Crump's Career Night Lifts Dogs

Tyree Crump's career-high 17 points against No. 21 Saint Mary's all came during the second half and overtime.

Crump had struggled mightily up until that point, connecting on just 8-of-32 (.250) shots from the floor and 5-of-24 (.208) from 3-point range through the first five and a half games.

Crump knocked down back-to-back 3s in a 37-second span early in the second half and went on to connect on 6-of-10 shots overall and 4-of-6 3-pointers the rest of the way.

Much like Turtle Jackson, Crump has done most of his damage from 3-point range. This season, 18 of his 28 makes (64.3 percent) from the floor have been 3-pointers. In his career at Georgia, 37-of-61 field goals (60.7 percent) are trifectas.

Dogs Go Viral...In A Bad Way

Georgia played through a stomach ailment that plagued 11 of 15 players on the Bulldogs' roster during the Wooden Legacy.

The illness originally hit around 2:00 a.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 24 following the win over Cal State Fullerton. About half the team, including multiple starters, were among the original group. Even more became ill after the San Diego State game.

Georgia entered its matchup with Saint Mary's with five unaffected players; however, Turtle Jackson, one of those, became ill in the first half and was forced to the locker room.

Still, the Bulldogs battled to force overtime against the Gaels and eventually win.

"It was a team win," Mark Fox said. "We've had a tough couple of days. We had 10 guys get the stomach flu up until tip time today, and we turn around in the first half and our point guard, who hadn't had it, gets sick. To battle through that the last couple of days and to compete tonight like a unit like we did and beat a very good Saint Mary's team, I'm extremely proud of our players."

Parker Heats Up In Cali

Redshirt senior Juwan Parker put together three solid outings over the Thanksgiving holiday at the Wooden Legacy.

In Georgia's first three games of the season, Parker averaged just 2.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 12.0 minutes while shooting 20.0 percent from the floor.

In California, Parker averaged 12.0 points, 3.3 boards and 20.3 minutes and connected on 52.6 percent of his field goal attempts.

Hammonds Gets Nod For Opener

Rayshaun Hammonds became the first freshman to start the opener for Georgia since Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in 2011-12.

Hammonds was expected to do so after he got the nod for both of the Bulldogs' exhibitions, including a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds versus Valdosta State.

Hammonds also enjoyed an impressive "official" debut versus Bryant, scoring 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor.

That was the highest output by a UGA freshman in an opener in a decade and a day - since Jeremy Price scored 18 points against Jacksonville State on Nov. 9, 2007.

FYI, Caldwell-Pope, who signed an $18- million contract to play for the Lakers this season, had 15 points in his debut vs. Wofford.

While Hammonds became the first freshman to start an opener in six years, freshman starters is nothing new under Mark Fox.

Six members of 10 returning letterwinners also started as freshmen - seniors Yante Maten and Juwan Parker; juniors Mike Edwards and Derek Ogbeide; and sophomores Tyree Crump and Jordan Harris.

Foxes Donate Almost $20K

Head coach Mark Fox and his wife Cindy donated $1 to charity for every fan who attended the Bulldogs' three November home games. The amount was split equally between the Boys and Girls Club of Athens and the Clarke County Mentor Program.

The Foxes contributed $18,976 to those groups ($9,488 to each). Georgia drew 7,387 fans for the opener against Bryant - UGA's biggest crowd for a season opener in a decade - as well as 5,369 for the Upstate date and 6,220 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Mark Fox announced their effort in an Oct. 12 tweet.

Cindy Fox is on the board for Clarke Mentors, which recruits community volunteers to mentor children who attend the Clarke County School District. Derrick Floyd, director of operations for the Athens Boys and Girls Club, was a letterwinner for the Bulldogs from 1980-83 and today serves as the official scorer for Georgia basketball games and the SEC Tourney.

"Those groups are working to try and make the next generation better and to make society better," Mark Fox said. "If we can give them a little help, that's great."

Bulldogs Are HomeGrown

More than half of Georgia's roster played high school hoops in the Peach State - Tyree Crump (Bainbridge High School), Rayshaun Hammonds (Norcross High School), Jordan Harriss (Seminole County High School), Christian Harrison (Woodward Academy), Teshaun Hightower (Collins Hill High School), "Turtle" Jackson (Athens Christian), Connor O'Neill (Blessed Trinity High School) and Derek Ogbeide (Pebblebrook High School).