Posts tagged Travis Leslie
Trey to Stay May Not Be the Way
Mar 30th
Coach Mark Fox certainly changed the attitude of the Georgia Bulldogs basketball program in his first year. Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie were a big part of the turn-around. Both players are now considering their options regarding turning pro, or remaining in school.
Tim Tucker has a great primer on the time line for under-classmen making their decisions.
Most would agree Travis Leslie should stay in school. His game is still too raw to solicit a guaranteed NBA contract. Thompkins is closer, but no sure fire first round pick. Under normal circumstances, both would probably stay in school. But this year, things are different.
ESPN.com’s Eammon Brennan explains why:
In 2010, lots of people who’d be better off not entering the NBA draft are going to, with utmost certainty, be entering the NBA draft. Prepare yourself.
Why? Quite simply, the NBA’s potential lockout looms over the 2011 season and the 2011 NBA draft like the big money-sucking vacuum out of that weird animated Goodyear commercial that’s been on every tournament telecast since March 18. With the chance the draft won’t be around next year, or, if it is, that teams won’t be able to offer their draftees contracts until an ongoing dispute between owners and the NBA players’ association is settled, pretty much everyone who has even an outsider’s shot at the NBA this year is going to be testing those waters early and often.
It is easy for me, or anyone not faced with this decision, to sit here and say Trey should stay in school. Obviously his game would benefit with another year of tutelage, but lure of the NBA has to be difficult to pass up.
I will not be surprised at all if Trey declares. It all depends on who he listens to. Coach Fox is sure to suggest he is better of staying. I have no doubt there are many around Trey telling him he is ready, especially those that stand to benefit from his success.
Whatever he decides to do, I pray he makes the right decision.
Not Exactly Textbook Tourney Play, But a Tornado is on the Way
Mar 12th
The Georgia Bulldogs knocked off the Arkansas Razorbacks 77-64 in the first round of the SEC tournament. The best of the Bulldogs was on display, as was the worst. Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie combined for 44 points. Georgia’s guard play and lack of depth were cause for alarm.
Guard play has been an issue for the Dawgs all year. Dustin Ware has really improved his game, but beyond Ware we have no ball handlers capable of beating the press. Vincent Williams, in 5 minutes of playing time, produced 2 turnovers while his “shift” (still have Olympic Hockey on the brain) produced three others. Five turnovers by the Dawgs in Williams five minutes.
As if that is not bad enough, Thompkins, Leslie and Ware all logged 35 minutes of game action in last nights 10:00 pm affair. Vanderbilt, tonight’s opponent, was probably comfortably tucked into their familiar beds prior to the game’s conclusion.
The conference’s template for beating the Dawgs has been to press them in the 2nd half. I fully expect Kevin Stallings, Vandy’s SEC Coach of the Year, to bring full court press from the opening tip. We are going to be tested.
If we are to have a chance several things must happen. Vincent Williams needs to shake last night off and have the game of his life. Travis Leslie has got to knock down free throws. We have to win the turn-over battle. Albert Jackson needs to take advantage of another day. Trey Thompkins needs to fire his team up. Great things happen when Trey plays with emotion.
It should also be noted a tornado producing weather system has moved into Tennessee.
Whatever it takes, Dawgs, whatever it takes.
12
T
UGA
40
37
77
ARK
32
32
64
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
STARTERS
MIN
FGM-A
3PM-A
FTM-A
OREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
PTS
Jeremy Price, F
10
2-3
0-0
1-1
3
4
0
0
1
0
4
5
Travis Leslie, G
35
8-13
0-0
5-11
4
6
2
2
1
5
3
21
Trey Thompkins, F
35
8-17
1-2
6-7
4
14
6
1
1
1
4
23
Dustin Ware, G
35
3-10
2-5
2-2
0
1
1
1
0
2
1
10
Ricky McPhee, G
33
3-8
2-6
2-2
2
5
1
0
0
2
3
10
BENCH
MIN
FGM-A
3PM-A
FTM-A
OREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
PTS
Chris Barnes, F
23
2-4
0-0
0-0
2
7
0
2
0
1
3
4
Ebuka Anyaorah, G
8
0-0
0-0
2-3
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
2
Vincent Williams, G
9
0-1
0-0
0-0
0
0
1
1
0
2
1
0
Albert Jackson, F-C
11
1-2
0-0
0-0
1
2
0
0
0
2
5
2
Drazen Zlovaric, F
1
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
TOTALS
FGM-A
3PM-A
FTM-A
OREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
PTS
27-58
5-13
18-26
16
41
11
7
3
16
25
77
46.6%
38.5%
69.2%
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
STARTERS
MIN
FGM-A
3PM-A
FTM-A
OREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
PTS
Michael Washington, F-C
26
5-11
0-0
10-14
2
3
0
0
1
1
4
20
Marshawn Powell, F
28
3-7
0-2
4-6
3
6
1
0
1
4
2
10
Courtney Fortson, G
32
6-13
1-3
3-5
1
3
1
1
0
2
3
16
Rotnei Clarke, G
24
0-4
0-4
4-4
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
4
Stephen Cox, G
2
0-1
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
BENCH
MIN
FGM-A
3PM-A
FTM-A
OREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
PTS
Jemal Farmer, G-F
7
0-1
0-1
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
Glenn Bryant, F
5
0-0
0-0
4-4
1
3
0
0
0
0
2
4
Marcus Britt, G
12
0-1
0-0
0-0
0
3
0
2
0
2
1
0
Stefan Welsh, G
18
1-4
0-2
0-0
0
1
1
1
0
1
2
2
Delvon Johnson, F
21
1-1
0-0
0-0
0
4
1
0
3
1
3
2
Julysses Nobles, G
25
3-6
0-0
0-2
0
3
2
4
0
1
3
6
TOTALS
FGM-A
3PM-A
FTM-A
OREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
PTS
19-49
1-12
25-35
7
26
6
9
5
13
25
64
38.8%
08.3%
71.4%
Dawgs 76, Tide 70 – Fox 1, Grant 0
Feb 21st
The Mark Fox Georgia Bulldogs snatched near certain defeat from the Anthony Grant led Alabama Crimson Tide. I thought the Dawgs were about to get run out of the gym prior to a defensive stand that began with about 7 minutes to play.
Defensive stand? Yes, Bama had 59 points at the 7:08 mark. They has 65 at the 0:48 mark. The tide scored less than a point a minute during the stretch. That is defense and it was the difference.
In a game when the SEC’s best free-throw shooting team had hit on only 2 of 12 at one point, it is amazing we pulled this one out. The defense and a committed crowd pulled this one out.
It should be noted a great many in the sell-out crowd dressed as empty seats. Those less camouflaged made their presence known.
It wasn’t a perfect performance by any stretch. Turnovers we have become accustomed to, missed free-throws is something we have not witnessed since conference play began.
Ricky Mchee got another early hook in favor of Ebuka Anyaorah, Ebuka once again provided a spark. This time, however, McPhee responded in a big way. He played solid defense, kept his turnovers down to 2, and stayed on the floor totaling 35 minutes.
In the stretch run the offense ran through Trey Thompkins. He placed his team on his capable shoulders and would not be denied. In deed, Trey can be credited for knocking the lid off the bucket from the free-throw stripe.
When Trey did miss, Travis Leslie was their to tally the two.
But this was Thompkins’s game, scoring 21 points and grabbing 17monster rebounds. One thing that will not show up in the stats is the energy and enthusiasm Trey provided when it was needed most. The smile on his face had to produce confidence in his teammates.
Actually, Thompkins was the man on the court. This game belonged to the men cashing checks.
Both Alabama and Georgia went searching for new basketball coaches following last season. Alabama’s Mal Moore, and Georgia’s Damon Evans conducted their searches in drastically different fashions. Moore struck quickly and nabbed the high profile Grant. Evans was much more methodical and plucked a diamond from the unknown rough.
In the post title I credited Fox one, and Grant none. Of likely greater significance, it should be noted Damon Evans took a lead against Mal Moore this Saturday afternoon.
Top Performers Alabama: M. Torrance 20 Pts, 3 Ast, 1 Stl Georgia: T. Thompkins 21 Pts, 17 Reb, 3 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
STARTERS
MIN
FGM-A
3PM-A
FTM-A
OREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
PTS
Tony Mitchell, F
14
1-5
0-3
1-2
0
3
0
1
0
0
3
3
Senario Hillman, G
33
4-9
1-4
2-2
0
2
1
1
0
4
3
11
Chris Hines, F
28
1-1
0-0
3-5
2
6
0
3
0
3
5
5
Anthony Brock, G
32
3-6
2-4
2-4
0
0
3
3
0
0
3
10
JaMychal Green, F
31
6-14
0-0
4-5
4
11
0
1
1
4
4
16
BENCH
MIN
FGM-A
3PM-A
FTM-A
OREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
PTS
Mikhail Torrance, G
29
5-9
3-6
7-7
0
0
3
1
0
1
2
20
Ben Eblen, G
1
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Charvez Davis, G
15
1-3
1-3
0-0
0
2
1
1
0
0
1
3
Justin Knox, F
17
0-5
0-0
2-2
1
1
0
1
0
2
1
2
TOTALS
FGM-A
3PM-A
FTM-A
OREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
PTS
21-52
7-20
21-27
7
25
8
12
1
14
22
70
40.4%
35.0%
77.8%
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
STARTERS
MIN
FGM-A
3PM-A
FTM-A
OREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
PTS
Travis Leslie, G
34
7-14
0-0
2-4
4
7
5
1
0
2
1
16
Chris Barnes, F
23
4-4
0-0
2-3
2
5
2
0
3
2
4
10
Ricky McPhee, G
35
4-10
3-7
2-2
0
6
1
0
0
2
2
13
Dustin Ware, G
34
1-4
1-1
4-4
0
0
7
0
0
2
0
7
Trey Thompkins, F
38
9-12
0-0
3-9
4
17
3
1
1
3
4
21
BENCH
MIN
FGM-A
3PM-A
FTM-A
OREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
PTS
Ebuka Anyaorah, G
11
1-2
1-1
0-0
0
1
1
0
1
2
0
3
Vincent Williams, G
6
0-1
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
Albert Jackson, F-C
10
2-3
0-0
0-2
2
2
0
0
1
0
2
4
Jeremy Price, F
9
1-3
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
1
0
4
2
TOTALS
FGM-A
3PM-A
FTM-A
OREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
PTS
29-53
5-9
13-24
12
38
19
2
7
14
18
76
54.7%
55.6%
54.2%
Secured by