Loran - Smith
Loran
The last home game of the basketball season had something for everyone, including a malfunctioning clock and one or two negatives all of which were blown away by Catchings & Company, a one-man firm if you peruse the stat sheet, but in actuality a cog in the well-oiled team machine of one Mike White. He says less and gets more accomplished than any coach who has ever been in the head basketball coaches’ chair in dear old Athenstown. It is like finding fault with the Pope. Hard to do. I’m not the resident expert, but I have enjoyed this team about as much as any which has represented UGA since the basketball Bulldogs happily took leave of Woodruff Hall, better known as the “Dump, the Dump, Dump, Dump” in 1963.
A low-key aficionado, this court boss obviously can communicate with his charges, and they obviously respect him and his way. Damn Good Coach, Damn Good Coach. So often that results in a Damn Good team.
I can’t remember having so much fun—sitting court side with two serious UGA basketball aficionados, Kevin Price and Mike Cheek. They played the game in their youth, and they follow the team with deep and abiding passion. Next week, they will be in Nashville. They, too, like this team, have heart for the game and love the Dawgs.
From the very beginning, there was this indication that Georgia was primed to leave a good taste in the mouth of the home team fans as they now move into SEC competition and ambition to enjoy a berth at the Big Dance.
There are better teams with more physical advantage and depth—more overall talent—but I can’t be convinced that there is one with more heart and soul.
It has been a fun team to watch, and as I settled down just after action got underway, I soon was in a confident mood. The Dawgs got a nice lead early on and built on it as though they were possessed to make their last outing at The Steg one to remember. They succeeded.
There was Blue Cain, who sometimes functions with a magic touch under the basket, playing taller than his listed 6-5 height. And how ‘bout those rebounds? Georgia posted a 40-30 edge. Sometimes there is a thing called hustle that can make a difference in the rebound tally.
Somto Cyril, used his 6-11 height to his advantage, and his multiple dunks were met with the greatest of spectator affection. They were timely and devastating. Wow! Has a big man ever been more of a team player in Athens? He simply does not hog the ball as a man of his dimensions is sometimes won’t to do. He will pass the ball off and let his teammates make a statement.
Jordan Ross, Smurf Millender, Kareem Stagg, Jake Wilkins (son of Dominique) and others made key plays as Damn Good Teams do, and they were continued from page
never more on edge or confident. Timing for big playmaking against a worthy opponent has never been more propitious.
Once the Dawgs got ahead, they were never more efficient in answering any success by Alabama. Even when the shot clock malfunctioned, they took it in stride. They were not flummoxed in the least.
The man of the hour, Kanon Catchings, has a lot of upside that had benefitted this Georgia team with a lot of high moments in his career, but nothing to date like versus Alabama.
He finished with 32 points that had him a doting presence on the court on both offense and defense. He stole the ball; he flipped a behind-the-back pass that led to points and kept the sold-out crowd on its feet much of the night.
Then there is the intrigued with his name. It is of English origin which means to “seize or capture” and dating back, the name was associated with those who were skilled at hunting and trapping.
I have no idea if he has ever been on a hunting outing, but whatever his vocations are in life, he will never have an outing to surpass his overwhelming performance at The Steg earlier this week. It was a splendidly “catching” moment.
This was a memorable evening, worthy of bronzing – but not Catchings’ hands. He’s going to need them at the Big Dance.
