The last home game of the basketball season had something for everyone, including a malfunctioning clock and one or two negatives, each of which was 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 Coach Mike White.
White says less and gets more accomplished than any coach who has ever been in the head basketball coach’s 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 that has represented UGA since the basketball Bulldogs happily took leave in 1963 of Woodruff Hall, better known as the “Dump, the Dump, Dump, Dump.”
A low-key aficionado, this court boss can obviously communicate with his charges, and they clearly 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 as sitting court side with two serious UGA basketball aficionados, Kevin Price and Mike Cheek. They played the game in their youth and now follow the team with deep and abiding passion. Next week, they will be in Nashville. Like this team, they, too, have heart for the game and love for the Dawgs.
From the very beginning, there was an indication that Georgia was primed to leave a good taste in the mouth of the home team fans as they moved into SEC competition with the 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 there is one with more heart and soul.
It has been a fun team to watch, and as I settled in just after the action got underway, I soon found myself in a confident mood. The Dawgs had a nice lead early on and built on it as though 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 to his advantage, with multiple dunks met with the greatest of spectator affection. They were timely and devastating. Wow! Has a big man ever been a more team-oriented player in Athens? He simply does not hog the ball as a man of his dimensions sometimes does. 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 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, not flummoxed in the least.
The man of the hour, Kanon Catchings, has plenty of upsides that have benefited this Georgia team with plenty of high moments throughout his career, but nothing to date like versus Alabama.
He finished with 32 points, giving him a doting presence on the court on both offense and defense. He stole the ball, then 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 intrigue with his name. It is of English origin, meaning to “seize or capture,” and dates back to being associated with those who were skilled at hunting and trapping.
I have no idea if Kanon 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.