Georgia Basketball: Bulldogs defeat Bryant in season opener
The Georgia basketball team overwhelmed the Bryant Bulldogs Friday night. The Bulldogs confirmed the strength of its frontcourt, led by Yante Maten. Left are questions about the Georgia backcourt.
The Georgia basketball team celebrated the official round ball re-opening of the renovated Stegeman Coliseum with 79 to 54 win over Bryant Friday night. The Bulldogs took the lead less than a minute into the season opener. Five minutes later, Georgia led 11- 2 and flipped on cruise control.
Y’ante Maten scored what Georgia fans expect to be the first of many double-doubles this year with 21 points and 12 rebounds in 23 minutes of play. The SEC’s Preseason Player of the Year showcased a new explosiveness and a retooled jump shot in his restricted playing time.
Turtle Jackson scored 11, all in the first half. Georgia freshman forward Rayshaun Hammonds started and scored 17 with seven rebounds.
Hammonds revealed the size and skill that made him a top 50 national recruit. The lesser-regarded freshman, Nicolas Claxton, delighted the crowd with three blocks, scoring six points and claiming eight rebounds.
The long, lean Claxton, a Bulldog legacy, is athletic and skilled. If he can leverage his length into strength, Claxton will be a factor for the Bulldogs throughout the season.
As expected, Georgia dominated up front. The Bulldogs out-rebounded Bryant 59 to 35 and outscored Bryant 32 – 12 in the paint. The Bulldogs did give Georgia Head Coach Mark Fox something to complain about, as Bryant scored 22 second chance points to Georgia’s 15.
Even more to complain about, Georgia shot 59 percent on free throws.
Backcourt Questions Remain Unanswered
The question mark for Georgia basketball this year is guard play, and the overflow crowd of students and the unusually high number of early season paying attendees learned little.
Jackson, a junior, and freshman Teshaun Hightower split 38 minutes at the point while attempting to replace the departed and beloved JJ Frazier. Jackson made 4 of 11 shots, 3 of 7 on three-pointers, and Hightower made 2 of 6, 1 of 3 on threes. Tyree Crump scored six points on 2 of 3 shooting, all three-point attempts, in 16 minutes.
Forward E’Torrion Wilridge started alongside Jackson at the shooting guard spot. Wilridge also started in the exhibition.
The 6’6” Wilridge began his career at Georgia at small forward and contributed late last season in the post. Wilridge’s curious start at the shooting guard spot gives Georgia a strikingly tall lineup. Wilridge scored a point on two free throw tries, had 3 nifty assists inside, and committed 2 turnovers in 19 minutes.
The Wilridge story, and the 2018 story of Georgia’s guards, is so far a mystery. The Bulldogs need answers at guard, and right quick.
Next: Georgia 2017 - 2018 Basketball Preview
The Georgia basketball team entertains USC-Upstate Tuesday night at 7:00. USC-Upstate fell to 15th ranked Minnesota 92-77 Friday night .
The Spartans will bring a high-powered three-point attack led by guard Mike Cunningham, the team’s leading returning scorer from last season.