Saturday, March 6
Athens, Ga.
2:00 PM
University of Georgia
14-11,7-11SEC
79
vs
89
Alabama
21-6,16-2SEC
1
2
F
Alabama
30
59
89
Georgia
36
43
79
Georgia Loses to No. 8 Alabama, 89-79, in Regular-Season Finale
March 06, 2021 | Men's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. -- The University of Georgia men's basketball team closed out the regular season with an 89-79 loss to No. 8 Alabama on Saturday afternoon at a sold-out, socially-distanced Stegeman Coliseum crowd of 1,638.
Sophomore Sahvir Wheeler led Georgia in scoring, tallying his seventh double-double of his career with 18 points and 10 assists. Freshman K.D. Johnson had his 11th double-figure game of his collegiate career with 16. For the 12th time this season, sophomore Toumani Camara had 13 points, the 27th double-digit output in his last 40 games dating back to last season.
"We self-inflicted a few things with our missed free-throws, with our not guarding the ball as well," Georgia head coach Tom Crean said. "We didn't get the guard rebounds that we needed to get in a game like this. We competed heavily. We followed the game plan. We got better this week. We were bringing that to life. That 15-2 run hurt us, obviously, in the second half, but it never felt like we wouldn't come back from it either. The margin for error, with our lack of size and sometimes our lack of shooting, is always going to be tough, and it's always going to get lower when you're playing against a team like that. There were many times that we were doing exactly what we had prepared for, could do, and wanted to do."
With strong defensive efforts from both teams, the first two minutes of the contest remained scoreless. Alabama's John Petty Jr. put up the first points of the game. Junior Tye Fagan and Camara broke the dry spell with back-to-back layups. Graduate P.J. Horne drained a three to hand the Bulldogs their first advantage. A jam from Johnson followed, putting Georgia up 9-5.
The Bulldogs heated up the half with points from sophomore Jaxon Etter and Camara, opening up a 9-0 run and 14-point Georgia lead. The Crimson Tide narrowed the score slightly before the Bulldogs stretched their lead back to double-digits. Alabama responded, scoring the last six points of the half, sending Georgia to the locker room with a 36-30 lead.
Alabama started back with nine unanswered points, taking back its first lead since the 15-minute mark of the first half. Johnson connected a pair of critical 3-pointers closing the Alabama advantage to three.
While the Crimson Tide was able to climb to a 10-point lead, the Bulldogs were able to stay within striking distance as multiple players tallied double-digit performances. Leading into the final minute of the contest, a key 5-0 Bulldog run Crimson Tide lead narrowed to three. Georgia attempted one last comeback effort in the final seconds, but Alabama sealed the game with a 7-0 run.
"I appreciate the fans, the students the way they came," Crean added. "I wanted it for these students too, with the year that everyone has had. It hits close to home in so many areas with the Georgia students being so limited in being able to come in. I was really appreciative of Josh Brooks doing this and President [Jere] Morehead supporting it, and the work John Bateman did. I appreciate all of that. It was a tremendous atmosphere, but we just have to continue to control the things that we can control."
Up next, Georgia travels to the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. to start play at the 2021 SEC Tournament. The Bulldogs will be the No. 10 seed, slated to play on Thursday, at 7 p.m. ET against the No. 7 seed Missouri on SEC Network.
Georgia Basketball Postgame Quotes
Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Georgia head coach Tom Crean
On overall thoughts on the game…
"There were a lot of different things inside of the game, but under a minute, it was 82-79, and they hit a tough three, a challenge three to put it up. We self-inflicted a few things with our missed free-throws, with our not guarding the ball as well, we didn't get the guard rebounds that we needed to get in a game like this. We competed heavily. We followed the game plan. We got better this week. We were bringing that to life. That 15-2 run hurt us, obviously, in the second half, but it never felt like we wouldn't come back from it either. The margin for error, with our lack of size and sometimes our lack of shooting, is always going to be tough, and it's always going to get lower when you're playing against a team like that. I reason that they're so good, is that they make you pay for your mistakes. Not every team makes you pay for your mistakes, but they make you pay if you make a mistake. There were many times that we were doing exactly what we had prepared for, could do, wanted to do. With all that being said, it's right there 82-79, and they hit a tough shot. If that shot comes off, we're going the other way, and it's another story. I'm disappointed for these guys because the week of work that they put in, and it wasn't just the week of work for this game, it's a week of work to get ready for next week as well. I really wanted them to have a big win like this, but we just didn't get it. I appreciate the fans, the students, the way they came. I wanted it for these students too with the year that everyone has had. It hits close to home in so many areas with the Georgia students being so limited in being able to come in. I was really appreciative of Josh Brooks doing this and President [Jere] Morehead supporting it, and the work John Bateman did. I appreciate all of that. It was a tremendous atmosphere, but we just have to continue to control the things that we can control. We shoot free-throws every day. We shot them for probably 20 minutes this morning. There's no question that we can make free-throws. We have made free-throws, but in a game like this you need every one of them that you can get, and we just didn't get them."
On Alabama's depth…
"They have tremendous depth. I think that's the real separator in this league this year. When you look at the upper echelon of teams, that there's very little drop-off when you go to the bench. Keon Ellis would be starting for quite a few teams in this league. I've said this so many times, Nate [Oats] has done a fantastic job of taking the players that he inherited, making them better, and recruiting around it. I said this to our staff. He has Herbert Jones, and nobody else does. That's what it would almost be like if you imagine Nicolas Claxton being in his senior year, improving the way he did in his first year, controlling the game. Herbert Jones can control the game defensively, and he can control it with his driving. He's a very unique player. We had that with Nicolas [Claxton] a couple of years ago, so I know that the impact of having a guy who can just change the game in so many ways. Their ability to shoot the ball, and they really don't bring anybody in off the bench that can't shoot the ball. You have to honor those guys, with the exception of a couple of the bigger kids. You have to honor those guys and be where they are, and if you can't control the dribble, that puts you at a real disadvantage."
On what changed in the second half of the game...
"A little bit of controlling the dribble not as well as we needed to—that was the thing. We zoned a little bit, and we lost them a couple of times and the got a three in the corner which we were okay with. When you are in a one-three-one zone, that is the one shot that is going to be the hardest to contest; but you can live with that. But, there were some other things where they were getting a little too much penetration. For the most part, we stayed with our man and we challenged the shots, but when the ball is coming down the pike there and you have to overhelp–you must kick it out. They're a unique team because he [Nate Oats] doesn't have—with the exception of one or two guys, and it is very rare that it's one or two guys on that team, where guys can't make threes consistently. I know that feeling. We had it like that at Indiana [University]. It is a really, really great feeling when the whole court is spaced and there is really not a lot that the defense can do about it—when the ball is moving like that. They have that right now. That is why controlling the dribble is so important."
On if it's a tough balance to compete well but still not win...
"I mean no. It is always hard when you know your team is a better shooting team than what they are showing, especially at the foul line. Guarding the ball—we needed to get that 15-2 run stopped a little quicker. That type of stuff. But no, we had a great week of practice. There was not a doubt in my mind we were locked in and ready to go in this game. Not a doubt in my mind. The practices this week were not just to prepare for this game—when you have a week like that you have to get ready, even though you already know who you are playing you have to make sure that you are adding, getting better, and seeing some sustainable growth. I am disappointed in the loss, there is no doubt about that, but I am not discouraged in our effort or our work. Like I said, both teams turned it over, both teams made mistakes, they shot it better in the second half than we did. But, it is 79-82 with under a minute to go."
On how hard it was for their team…
"That makes a difference but then again, it really comes down to the one-on-one battle of guarding the ball. The way they play, right? Because they're trying to isolate you, drive, get to the rim, create mismatch, get you to over help so they can kick it out. They play a lot of one-on-one basketball to get you in that rotation, so you have to make sure you're controlling the dribble the best that you can and not get into the rotation. If they pass it to the next guy, they knock it down. It's certainly different when you have better room protection, we missed a lot of close shots today. I think I am going to be—when I see how many lay-ups we miss that will probably hit. We had plays at the rim that we just didn't get finished. I wish we had more—a game like this you have got to have more than seven offensive rebounds. There's no question they've got tremendous size, they've got skill they've got depth. That creates issues."
On setting intensity for the beginning of game…
"Yeah, we were aggressive, I don't ever worry about that. You just want to come out and be established. Establish the defense, establish you're going to drive the ball and not come out and settle for three. In their first four minutes, I think their last seven games, they were averaging five threes, before their first TV time out with a high of seven. They're going to come out and shoot the ball, so you're going to come out and guard the ball, so you don't have to get into an over-help situation and I hought we did that."
On the rebounding margin…
"We didn't get enough guard rebounds. I mean that is what that is, you know we didn't—you got to have the guards come in and block out better with your bigs and the guards get the rebounds, and that is the number I look at, the difference on who plays the one, two, or three for them versus who plays the one, two, or three for us, and that was the difference. So, they should rebound like that, they are big, I mean they are athletic, I mean they are really big. We have got to be able to get in there and have more offensive boards, but we certainly need to have our guards come in and do a better job at defensive rebounds."
#2 Sahvir Wheeler | Sophomore
On how he felt the team played today…
"It was a good game. We had good spurts and good sequences in the game. We forced them to 22 turnovers, but we also had 20. At the end of the day, it came down to one possession, it was 82-79 with a minute left and he hit a tough shot. So, we did some things that put ourselves in that situation where we were up, and we weren't able to sustain that lead. But also, they went up nine or 11 and we brought it back, so it was a back-and-forth game and a tough loss. We have to work on some stuff."
On if he takes something positive after today for playing Alabama close…
"I'm not a moral victory kind of dude, I'm win or lose. You either win a game or you lose a game, and we did great things in the game to put us in a position to win, but at the end of the day, we did not win that game. So, I feel the same way because we lost, and I want to win."
On if he attributes the bad free-throw shooting to how much energy was expended on defense...
"We came out defensively with some intensity, so I'm sure that caught them by surprise. But, then again, they had to expend some energy for that comeback in the second half. It was just a game where we didn't make free throws and they didn't make free throws. I think we need our free throws a little more, especially when we didn't shoot the three as well as they did, I think they went 8-10 in the second half. It was tough."
On how he feels the team is looking heading into the SEC Tournament…
"It's disappointing a little bit. We can take some good things; we played some good basketball at spurts, but I think it's tough. We were trying to win this game to go into the SEC Tournament with a win, but this is one of the best leagues in the country, so you always have to focus on the next game, you have to break down film to see what you did wrong, learn from it, and come to practice the next day with the mindset to get better and focus on the next day and the next game."
On the impact of the increased student attendance today…
"I was going to shout them out at the end, but I always want to give a big thanks to the students and everyone who came to the game. It was much appreciated, we felt your energy and fed off it. It's always great to have Dawg Nation, knowing that they're going to have your back. We definitely felt it and hopefully, sometime soon in the near future we can have everyone back at the Steg[eman Coliseum] again.
On how much defense affected today's game…
"We knew that Alabama could really score the ball, and we can score as well. Their thing is moving the ball, making you rotate to make that one more pass. Our thing is to control the dribble, keep the guy in front of us, and not have to rotate to make them take tough shots. Since we jumped out to the early lead, they also had to play some defense too, so that it wouldn't get away from them too much. It was a defensive game, and it was an intense game. In the second half the scoring picked up a bit, and we weren't able to get some stops when we needed them, and we weren't able to execute when we needed to."
On the team's defensive improvement today…
"I like where we were. To force 22 turnovers is always a plus, but we got outrebounded. That's not something that I think happens often, typically we don't get outrebounded by that margin—I think they were plus 13 or 14. That's something that we have to clean up, and also on the rebounding point, we only had seven offensive rebounds. That might be a season-low, so there are some things that we did good defensively. In the first half, we made them take tough shots and forced 22 turnovers, but also in that stretch where they came back, we had little defensive lapses. The main thing is being consistent on defense throughout the whole game, keeping our guy in front, making them take challenged twos, and rebounding the ball to finish the possession with a rebound."
#0 K.D. Johnson | Freshman
On the positives from the game…
"We were down quite a bit, probably about six or eight, at the one- or two-minute mark, but we kept fighting and got it down to about three or four. For us to keep fighting, playing together the whole time is one thing that we need to improve on a little bit. That's probably what would've gotten us the win in the end. But with a few mistakes, it came down to this, and Alabama executed at the end."
On the future of this team…
"I feel really great about our future - the guys coming back, those of us playing together this year. I didn't get to play the [first] half of the season, so being able to play the second half, I think we've been able to get a little closer later on in the season. So, I think we will have a great season next year."
On the three-point shooting efficiency from both teams…
"The threes were a great part of the game, but at the end, I was trying to help Justin [Kier] on the drive, and I came back at fast as I could, but he just made a tough shot."
On where he can improve his game…
"Playing the whole game. Some games I have spurts, but then I fall off in the second half. So, just playing the whole game and staying consistent with myself, I think I am improving on that."
On Alabama's production in the second half…
"We had a great first half playing against the Alabama offense, and then in the second half we had a few mistakes when coming down and getting stops. We just didn't get to it."
On the beginning of the SEC tournament next week…
"I feel great! We had a good game, and that's the team that won the league [regular season], so losing by four or five [ten] was much better than the game we played against them last time. So, closing that deficit, closing out the game, with the first half that we had, I think if we played like that the whole game, then I feel really good about the SEC tournament."
Alabama Head Coach Nate Oats
Opening Statement…
"I thought Georgia really came to play. At the start of the game, they were a lot more ready than we were so give a lot of credit to Coach [Tom] Crean, his staff and his players for coming like they did. I thought our guys didn't play a particularly good 10-minutes or so. Whatever point, it was 29-15, there was eight minutes to go in the first half. I thought from that point on, we really picked it up. So, the first 12-minutes didn't go well, last eight of the first half and the start of the second half. I think we finished on a 15-7 run and started the second half on a 15-2 run—30-9 turned a 14-point deficit into a seven point lead. That was good, we just can't afford in Nashville to come out like we did tonight. JQ [Jahvon Quinerly] didn't have a particularly great first half, I thought he was dynamite in the second half. He had 18 points in the half, which is what he is more than capable of. I thought they had a real hard time keeping him out of the lane. He played great. Herb's [Jones] foul trouble kind of limited his minutes in the first half. I thought the way he started the second half which gave us some energy and being super aggressive on offense, getting downhill, finishing at the rim. I thought he imposed his will on the game. Then, I also want to give credit to some guys. Darius Miles comes into the game, and we make a run there in the first half, getting some energy. Jordan Bruner is a guy that has been battling injuries. We haven't said much but when he was out with his first knee injury, he was ready to come back in two weeks, he worked his tail off and he ended up hurting his other knee. That's why it took almost six weeks, he ended up having surgery on both knees. So for him to have surgery on both knees, fight back, do everything he could to come back and help his team. He ended the game plus 18 in the 15 minutes he played. He was huge in that run in the first half. He was big for us both halves really. Some credit goes to some guys that maybe haven't gotten as much notoriety as they've had. I think this is a team that pulls for each other. When we went small with Bruner and [Alex] Reese, I thought Reese gave us some good minutes during the second half. Bruner, Reese, [James] Rojas and Juwan [Gary] we're all out there, we played Herb at the five and were switching everything and all four of those guys were just all about us winning the game. To go 16-2, tying the best record in SEC history at Alabama, shows a lot about what this team is made of. Proud of the guys. We have to get back to playing better, more like the second half more than the first half going into Nashville, hopefully that first game Friday morning."
On what the message was to the guys at half…
"Told them to make shots, I guess. I told them great end of the half. The last eight minutes was great. We have to play like those eight minutes instead of the first 12. If we come out and play like those eight, the score will take care of itself. Then the other thing you see when you play hard and you're focused and locked in like we were the last eight minutes of the first half and the second half, everything goes a lot better on offense too. We went 8-10 from three because you're just locked in and are playing hard, take good shots. Our points per possession went from a .7 to a 1.4 from the first half to the second half. If you just get locked in and you're worried about the right things and are playing hard—Jahvon [Quinerly] I thought defensive intensity picked up in the second half and then his offense followed. I thought everybody's intensity level rose, that's what we told them. Let's just play like we did those last eight minutes. That looks a lot more like Alabama basketball than the first 12, and the score will take care of itself."
On overcoming turnovers…
"I thought guys were not ready to play, and it shows up on offense and defense. I think 22 turnovers are a lot. To score 89 points in a game where you have 22 turnovers means, when you were not turning the ball over, you were pretty good and efficient. If we get those turnovers down, I think we will get our offense back where it needs to be."
On the offensive confidence heading into the SEC tournament…
"I hope this second half offense and defense carries over into a full game in Nashville. That is what I told our team. We looked like we felt like we could play in the second half. The ball was moving around. We were making shots. We still had too many turnovers in the second half. We had 11 in each half. We were making shots. I think you make shots at a higher clip when you are just locked into the right stuff. Guarding and playing the right way, and the offense will take care of itself. We have really talented players. JQ [Jahvon Quinerly] may be the most talented guard in the league when you put everything together, knocking down threes, getting the ball in the lane, finishing assists, I think that when he is just locked into guarding people and letting the offense flow, he is really good. Herb [Jones] was the same way. I thought [John] Petty had a great night tonight. He had 15 points. I thought he was locked into the right stuff, especially in the second half. He was the one guy that came out and gave us a boost in the first half. We would have been in some serious trouble in the first half, if Petty did not play like he did early."
On the strong defensive play to end the first half…
"I think that is what we have to hang our hat on, the defensive side of the ball. The shots may not drop. They dropped in the second half, and we have to do a better job with the turnovers. The one thing that can be constant is the defensive effort, and it was there for about 28-minutes. You look at what the score was. To win the game by 10, for 28-minutes out of the game, you have to outscore them by 24, because you are down 14 after the first eight. I think that is a lot more how we play. We have to come out and play better at the tip on Friday."
On the clutch shooting from the bench…
"That three was huge. To have guys you can put on the floor that do not start, we end up with 33-points off of the bench. I told you guys at the beginning of the year that we are not necessarily starting our most talented five players. That is not how we have ever operated. It does help to have guys that come off of the bench and play great like Keon Ellis, [Jahvon] Quinerly, Juwan [Gary], Ro [James Rojas] and [Alex] Reese. We have a pretty deep team. Darius Miles was great tonight."
On the schedule for the next couple of days…
"We do not play until Friday, so we are going to give them tomorrow off. They are going to come in with the trainer and get some treatment and try to get their bodies right. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, we practice here [Tuscaloosa, Ala.], and then we go up to Nashville. Those days, particularly Monday and Tuesday will probably be a little more about ourselves. We will sit down and see what Mississippi State has done differently since the last time we played them, particularly Kentucky since it has been a little while since we have played them. We need to do some stuff in practice to prep, but we really have to be about us. Taking care of the ball, getting ourselves right. We will not know until the night before, so we will have the Mississippi State scout and the Kentucky scout both in. We will probably take Tuesday for Mississippi State and Wednesday for Kentucky or vice versa. Thursday, we will do a little of both. Thursday we will watch them play. It is probably what we have done in the past in the MAC [Mid-American Conference] at Buffalo. We had byes like this. Last year, we did not have the bye, so we knew who we were playing leading in the whole time."
#13 Jahvon Quinerly | Sophomore | Guard
On overcoming turnovers…
"Like coach said, it is not coming out ready to play 100-percent—some bonehead mistakes in the beginning of the game, just being careless with the ball. I feel like, in the second half, we took better care of the ball. We got the ball moving around a little bit more. Obviously, our offense took care of itself."
Sophomore Sahvir Wheeler led Georgia in scoring, tallying his seventh double-double of his career with 18 points and 10 assists. Freshman K.D. Johnson had his 11th double-figure game of his collegiate career with 16. For the 12th time this season, sophomore Toumani Camara had 13 points, the 27th double-digit output in his last 40 games dating back to last season.
"We self-inflicted a few things with our missed free-throws, with our not guarding the ball as well," Georgia head coach Tom Crean said. "We didn't get the guard rebounds that we needed to get in a game like this. We competed heavily. We followed the game plan. We got better this week. We were bringing that to life. That 15-2 run hurt us, obviously, in the second half, but it never felt like we wouldn't come back from it either. The margin for error, with our lack of size and sometimes our lack of shooting, is always going to be tough, and it's always going to get lower when you're playing against a team like that. There were many times that we were doing exactly what we had prepared for, could do, and wanted to do."
With strong defensive efforts from both teams, the first two minutes of the contest remained scoreless. Alabama's John Petty Jr. put up the first points of the game. Junior Tye Fagan and Camara broke the dry spell with back-to-back layups. Graduate P.J. Horne drained a three to hand the Bulldogs their first advantage. A jam from Johnson followed, putting Georgia up 9-5.
The Bulldogs heated up the half with points from sophomore Jaxon Etter and Camara, opening up a 9-0 run and 14-point Georgia lead. The Crimson Tide narrowed the score slightly before the Bulldogs stretched their lead back to double-digits. Alabama responded, scoring the last six points of the half, sending Georgia to the locker room with a 36-30 lead.
Alabama started back with nine unanswered points, taking back its first lead since the 15-minute mark of the first half. Johnson connected a pair of critical 3-pointers closing the Alabama advantage to three.
While the Crimson Tide was able to climb to a 10-point lead, the Bulldogs were able to stay within striking distance as multiple players tallied double-digit performances. Leading into the final minute of the contest, a key 5-0 Bulldog run Crimson Tide lead narrowed to three. Georgia attempted one last comeback effort in the final seconds, but Alabama sealed the game with a 7-0 run.
"I appreciate the fans, the students the way they came," Crean added. "I wanted it for these students too, with the year that everyone has had. It hits close to home in so many areas with the Georgia students being so limited in being able to come in. I was really appreciative of Josh Brooks doing this and President [Jere] Morehead supporting it, and the work John Bateman did. I appreciate all of that. It was a tremendous atmosphere, but we just have to continue to control the things that we can control."
Up next, Georgia travels to the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. to start play at the 2021 SEC Tournament. The Bulldogs will be the No. 10 seed, slated to play on Thursday, at 7 p.m. ET against the No. 7 seed Missouri on SEC Network.
Georgia Basketball Postgame Quotes
Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Georgia head coach Tom Crean
On overall thoughts on the game…
"There were a lot of different things inside of the game, but under a minute, it was 82-79, and they hit a tough three, a challenge three to put it up. We self-inflicted a few things with our missed free-throws, with our not guarding the ball as well, we didn't get the guard rebounds that we needed to get in a game like this. We competed heavily. We followed the game plan. We got better this week. We were bringing that to life. That 15-2 run hurt us, obviously, in the second half, but it never felt like we wouldn't come back from it either. The margin for error, with our lack of size and sometimes our lack of shooting, is always going to be tough, and it's always going to get lower when you're playing against a team like that. I reason that they're so good, is that they make you pay for your mistakes. Not every team makes you pay for your mistakes, but they make you pay if you make a mistake. There were many times that we were doing exactly what we had prepared for, could do, wanted to do. With all that being said, it's right there 82-79, and they hit a tough shot. If that shot comes off, we're going the other way, and it's another story. I'm disappointed for these guys because the week of work that they put in, and it wasn't just the week of work for this game, it's a week of work to get ready for next week as well. I really wanted them to have a big win like this, but we just didn't get it. I appreciate the fans, the students, the way they came. I wanted it for these students too with the year that everyone has had. It hits close to home in so many areas with the Georgia students being so limited in being able to come in. I was really appreciative of Josh Brooks doing this and President [Jere] Morehead supporting it, and the work John Bateman did. I appreciate all of that. It was a tremendous atmosphere, but we just have to continue to control the things that we can control. We shoot free-throws every day. We shot them for probably 20 minutes this morning. There's no question that we can make free-throws. We have made free-throws, but in a game like this you need every one of them that you can get, and we just didn't get them."
On Alabama's depth…
"They have tremendous depth. I think that's the real separator in this league this year. When you look at the upper echelon of teams, that there's very little drop-off when you go to the bench. Keon Ellis would be starting for quite a few teams in this league. I've said this so many times, Nate [Oats] has done a fantastic job of taking the players that he inherited, making them better, and recruiting around it. I said this to our staff. He has Herbert Jones, and nobody else does. That's what it would almost be like if you imagine Nicolas Claxton being in his senior year, improving the way he did in his first year, controlling the game. Herbert Jones can control the game defensively, and he can control it with his driving. He's a very unique player. We had that with Nicolas [Claxton] a couple of years ago, so I know that the impact of having a guy who can just change the game in so many ways. Their ability to shoot the ball, and they really don't bring anybody in off the bench that can't shoot the ball. You have to honor those guys, with the exception of a couple of the bigger kids. You have to honor those guys and be where they are, and if you can't control the dribble, that puts you at a real disadvantage."
On what changed in the second half of the game...
"A little bit of controlling the dribble not as well as we needed to—that was the thing. We zoned a little bit, and we lost them a couple of times and the got a three in the corner which we were okay with. When you are in a one-three-one zone, that is the one shot that is going to be the hardest to contest; but you can live with that. But, there were some other things where they were getting a little too much penetration. For the most part, we stayed with our man and we challenged the shots, but when the ball is coming down the pike there and you have to overhelp–you must kick it out. They're a unique team because he [Nate Oats] doesn't have—with the exception of one or two guys, and it is very rare that it's one or two guys on that team, where guys can't make threes consistently. I know that feeling. We had it like that at Indiana [University]. It is a really, really great feeling when the whole court is spaced and there is really not a lot that the defense can do about it—when the ball is moving like that. They have that right now. That is why controlling the dribble is so important."
On if it's a tough balance to compete well but still not win...
"I mean no. It is always hard when you know your team is a better shooting team than what they are showing, especially at the foul line. Guarding the ball—we needed to get that 15-2 run stopped a little quicker. That type of stuff. But no, we had a great week of practice. There was not a doubt in my mind we were locked in and ready to go in this game. Not a doubt in my mind. The practices this week were not just to prepare for this game—when you have a week like that you have to get ready, even though you already know who you are playing you have to make sure that you are adding, getting better, and seeing some sustainable growth. I am disappointed in the loss, there is no doubt about that, but I am not discouraged in our effort or our work. Like I said, both teams turned it over, both teams made mistakes, they shot it better in the second half than we did. But, it is 79-82 with under a minute to go."
On how hard it was for their team…
"That makes a difference but then again, it really comes down to the one-on-one battle of guarding the ball. The way they play, right? Because they're trying to isolate you, drive, get to the rim, create mismatch, get you to over help so they can kick it out. They play a lot of one-on-one basketball to get you in that rotation, so you have to make sure you're controlling the dribble the best that you can and not get into the rotation. If they pass it to the next guy, they knock it down. It's certainly different when you have better room protection, we missed a lot of close shots today. I think I am going to be—when I see how many lay-ups we miss that will probably hit. We had plays at the rim that we just didn't get finished. I wish we had more—a game like this you have got to have more than seven offensive rebounds. There's no question they've got tremendous size, they've got skill they've got depth. That creates issues."
On setting intensity for the beginning of game…
"Yeah, we were aggressive, I don't ever worry about that. You just want to come out and be established. Establish the defense, establish you're going to drive the ball and not come out and settle for three. In their first four minutes, I think their last seven games, they were averaging five threes, before their first TV time out with a high of seven. They're going to come out and shoot the ball, so you're going to come out and guard the ball, so you don't have to get into an over-help situation and I hought we did that."
On the rebounding margin…
"We didn't get enough guard rebounds. I mean that is what that is, you know we didn't—you got to have the guards come in and block out better with your bigs and the guards get the rebounds, and that is the number I look at, the difference on who plays the one, two, or three for them versus who plays the one, two, or three for us, and that was the difference. So, they should rebound like that, they are big, I mean they are athletic, I mean they are really big. We have got to be able to get in there and have more offensive boards, but we certainly need to have our guards come in and do a better job at defensive rebounds."
#2 Sahvir Wheeler | Sophomore
On how he felt the team played today…
"It was a good game. We had good spurts and good sequences in the game. We forced them to 22 turnovers, but we also had 20. At the end of the day, it came down to one possession, it was 82-79 with a minute left and he hit a tough shot. So, we did some things that put ourselves in that situation where we were up, and we weren't able to sustain that lead. But also, they went up nine or 11 and we brought it back, so it was a back-and-forth game and a tough loss. We have to work on some stuff."
On if he takes something positive after today for playing Alabama close…
"I'm not a moral victory kind of dude, I'm win or lose. You either win a game or you lose a game, and we did great things in the game to put us in a position to win, but at the end of the day, we did not win that game. So, I feel the same way because we lost, and I want to win."
On if he attributes the bad free-throw shooting to how much energy was expended on defense...
"We came out defensively with some intensity, so I'm sure that caught them by surprise. But, then again, they had to expend some energy for that comeback in the second half. It was just a game where we didn't make free throws and they didn't make free throws. I think we need our free throws a little more, especially when we didn't shoot the three as well as they did, I think they went 8-10 in the second half. It was tough."
On how he feels the team is looking heading into the SEC Tournament…
"It's disappointing a little bit. We can take some good things; we played some good basketball at spurts, but I think it's tough. We were trying to win this game to go into the SEC Tournament with a win, but this is one of the best leagues in the country, so you always have to focus on the next game, you have to break down film to see what you did wrong, learn from it, and come to practice the next day with the mindset to get better and focus on the next day and the next game."
On the impact of the increased student attendance today…
"I was going to shout them out at the end, but I always want to give a big thanks to the students and everyone who came to the game. It was much appreciated, we felt your energy and fed off it. It's always great to have Dawg Nation, knowing that they're going to have your back. We definitely felt it and hopefully, sometime soon in the near future we can have everyone back at the Steg[eman Coliseum] again.
On how much defense affected today's game…
"We knew that Alabama could really score the ball, and we can score as well. Their thing is moving the ball, making you rotate to make that one more pass. Our thing is to control the dribble, keep the guy in front of us, and not have to rotate to make them take tough shots. Since we jumped out to the early lead, they also had to play some defense too, so that it wouldn't get away from them too much. It was a defensive game, and it was an intense game. In the second half the scoring picked up a bit, and we weren't able to get some stops when we needed them, and we weren't able to execute when we needed to."
On the team's defensive improvement today…
"I like where we were. To force 22 turnovers is always a plus, but we got outrebounded. That's not something that I think happens often, typically we don't get outrebounded by that margin—I think they were plus 13 or 14. That's something that we have to clean up, and also on the rebounding point, we only had seven offensive rebounds. That might be a season-low, so there are some things that we did good defensively. In the first half, we made them take tough shots and forced 22 turnovers, but also in that stretch where they came back, we had little defensive lapses. The main thing is being consistent on defense throughout the whole game, keeping our guy in front, making them take challenged twos, and rebounding the ball to finish the possession with a rebound."
#0 K.D. Johnson | Freshman
On the positives from the game…
"We were down quite a bit, probably about six or eight, at the one- or two-minute mark, but we kept fighting and got it down to about three or four. For us to keep fighting, playing together the whole time is one thing that we need to improve on a little bit. That's probably what would've gotten us the win in the end. But with a few mistakes, it came down to this, and Alabama executed at the end."
On the future of this team…
"I feel really great about our future - the guys coming back, those of us playing together this year. I didn't get to play the [first] half of the season, so being able to play the second half, I think we've been able to get a little closer later on in the season. So, I think we will have a great season next year."
On the three-point shooting efficiency from both teams…
"The threes were a great part of the game, but at the end, I was trying to help Justin [Kier] on the drive, and I came back at fast as I could, but he just made a tough shot."
On where he can improve his game…
"Playing the whole game. Some games I have spurts, but then I fall off in the second half. So, just playing the whole game and staying consistent with myself, I think I am improving on that."
On Alabama's production in the second half…
"We had a great first half playing against the Alabama offense, and then in the second half we had a few mistakes when coming down and getting stops. We just didn't get to it."
On the beginning of the SEC tournament next week…
"I feel great! We had a good game, and that's the team that won the league [regular season], so losing by four or five [ten] was much better than the game we played against them last time. So, closing that deficit, closing out the game, with the first half that we had, I think if we played like that the whole game, then I feel really good about the SEC tournament."
Alabama Head Coach Nate Oats
Opening Statement…
"I thought Georgia really came to play. At the start of the game, they were a lot more ready than we were so give a lot of credit to Coach [Tom] Crean, his staff and his players for coming like they did. I thought our guys didn't play a particularly good 10-minutes or so. Whatever point, it was 29-15, there was eight minutes to go in the first half. I thought from that point on, we really picked it up. So, the first 12-minutes didn't go well, last eight of the first half and the start of the second half. I think we finished on a 15-7 run and started the second half on a 15-2 run—30-9 turned a 14-point deficit into a seven point lead. That was good, we just can't afford in Nashville to come out like we did tonight. JQ [Jahvon Quinerly] didn't have a particularly great first half, I thought he was dynamite in the second half. He had 18 points in the half, which is what he is more than capable of. I thought they had a real hard time keeping him out of the lane. He played great. Herb's [Jones] foul trouble kind of limited his minutes in the first half. I thought the way he started the second half which gave us some energy and being super aggressive on offense, getting downhill, finishing at the rim. I thought he imposed his will on the game. Then, I also want to give credit to some guys. Darius Miles comes into the game, and we make a run there in the first half, getting some energy. Jordan Bruner is a guy that has been battling injuries. We haven't said much but when he was out with his first knee injury, he was ready to come back in two weeks, he worked his tail off and he ended up hurting his other knee. That's why it took almost six weeks, he ended up having surgery on both knees. So for him to have surgery on both knees, fight back, do everything he could to come back and help his team. He ended the game plus 18 in the 15 minutes he played. He was huge in that run in the first half. He was big for us both halves really. Some credit goes to some guys that maybe haven't gotten as much notoriety as they've had. I think this is a team that pulls for each other. When we went small with Bruner and [Alex] Reese, I thought Reese gave us some good minutes during the second half. Bruner, Reese, [James] Rojas and Juwan [Gary] we're all out there, we played Herb at the five and were switching everything and all four of those guys were just all about us winning the game. To go 16-2, tying the best record in SEC history at Alabama, shows a lot about what this team is made of. Proud of the guys. We have to get back to playing better, more like the second half more than the first half going into Nashville, hopefully that first game Friday morning."
On what the message was to the guys at half…
"Told them to make shots, I guess. I told them great end of the half. The last eight minutes was great. We have to play like those eight minutes instead of the first 12. If we come out and play like those eight, the score will take care of itself. Then the other thing you see when you play hard and you're focused and locked in like we were the last eight minutes of the first half and the second half, everything goes a lot better on offense too. We went 8-10 from three because you're just locked in and are playing hard, take good shots. Our points per possession went from a .7 to a 1.4 from the first half to the second half. If you just get locked in and you're worried about the right things and are playing hard—Jahvon [Quinerly] I thought defensive intensity picked up in the second half and then his offense followed. I thought everybody's intensity level rose, that's what we told them. Let's just play like we did those last eight minutes. That looks a lot more like Alabama basketball than the first 12, and the score will take care of itself."
On overcoming turnovers…
"I thought guys were not ready to play, and it shows up on offense and defense. I think 22 turnovers are a lot. To score 89 points in a game where you have 22 turnovers means, when you were not turning the ball over, you were pretty good and efficient. If we get those turnovers down, I think we will get our offense back where it needs to be."
On the offensive confidence heading into the SEC tournament…
"I hope this second half offense and defense carries over into a full game in Nashville. That is what I told our team. We looked like we felt like we could play in the second half. The ball was moving around. We were making shots. We still had too many turnovers in the second half. We had 11 in each half. We were making shots. I think you make shots at a higher clip when you are just locked into the right stuff. Guarding and playing the right way, and the offense will take care of itself. We have really talented players. JQ [Jahvon Quinerly] may be the most talented guard in the league when you put everything together, knocking down threes, getting the ball in the lane, finishing assists, I think that when he is just locked into guarding people and letting the offense flow, he is really good. Herb [Jones] was the same way. I thought [John] Petty had a great night tonight. He had 15 points. I thought he was locked into the right stuff, especially in the second half. He was the one guy that came out and gave us a boost in the first half. We would have been in some serious trouble in the first half, if Petty did not play like he did early."
On the strong defensive play to end the first half…
"I think that is what we have to hang our hat on, the defensive side of the ball. The shots may not drop. They dropped in the second half, and we have to do a better job with the turnovers. The one thing that can be constant is the defensive effort, and it was there for about 28-minutes. You look at what the score was. To win the game by 10, for 28-minutes out of the game, you have to outscore them by 24, because you are down 14 after the first eight. I think that is a lot more how we play. We have to come out and play better at the tip on Friday."
On the clutch shooting from the bench…
"That three was huge. To have guys you can put on the floor that do not start, we end up with 33-points off of the bench. I told you guys at the beginning of the year that we are not necessarily starting our most talented five players. That is not how we have ever operated. It does help to have guys that come off of the bench and play great like Keon Ellis, [Jahvon] Quinerly, Juwan [Gary], Ro [James Rojas] and [Alex] Reese. We have a pretty deep team. Darius Miles was great tonight."
On the schedule for the next couple of days…
"We do not play until Friday, so we are going to give them tomorrow off. They are going to come in with the trainer and get some treatment and try to get their bodies right. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, we practice here [Tuscaloosa, Ala.], and then we go up to Nashville. Those days, particularly Monday and Tuesday will probably be a little more about ourselves. We will sit down and see what Mississippi State has done differently since the last time we played them, particularly Kentucky since it has been a little while since we have played them. We need to do some stuff in practice to prep, but we really have to be about us. Taking care of the ball, getting ourselves right. We will not know until the night before, so we will have the Mississippi State scout and the Kentucky scout both in. We will probably take Tuesday for Mississippi State and Wednesday for Kentucky or vice versa. Thursday, we will do a little of both. Thursday we will watch them play. It is probably what we have done in the past in the MAC [Mid-American Conference] at Buffalo. We had byes like this. Last year, we did not have the bye, so we knew who we were playing leading in the whole time."
#13 Jahvon Quinerly | Sophomore | Guard
On overcoming turnovers…
"Like coach said, it is not coming out ready to play 100-percent—some bonehead mistakes in the beginning of the game, just being careless with the ball. I feel like, in the second half, we took better care of the ball. We got the ball moving around a little bit more. Obviously, our offense took care of itself."
Team Stats
Bama
UGa
FG%
.485
.468
3FG%
.455
.421
FT%
.650
.565
RB
45
32
TO
22
20
STL
10
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
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Monday, September 22
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Georgia Basketball - Dylan James - Media Availability
Monday, September 15
