It may be time for another team meeting just for Georgia basketball players.
The Bulldogs (9-6, 2-6 SEC) suffered a 83-59 loss in South Carolina (4-5, 2-3) on Wednesday night in Columbia.
Gamecocks coach Frank Martin changed his defense, putting his defenders on the track and blocking the gaps, challenging Georgia’s perimeter game.
It was a good bet, as the Bulldogs hit only 4 of 26 shots (15.4%) beyond the 3-point line.
“I would say that they did it for lack of respect for our shot,” said UGA coach Tom Crean. “They didn’t come to get us. But at the end of the day, we lose open bids. “
Freshman KD Johnson led the Bulldogs with 14 points out of 5 out of 14 shots, while Sahvir Wheeler had 9 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists and Andrew Garcia had 10 points and 5 assists.
Jermaine Couisnard led South Carolina with 18 points.
The last time UGA suffered a defeat like this, a 95-77 setback for Auburn on January 13, the players held a meeting to discuss mutual responsibility.
The next meeting may be about shooting. UGA entered the game ranked 233rd in the country, hitting the 3-point ball, reaching 32%.
That number will drop, as two of Georgia’s top transfers have been filmed overnight. Virginia Tech’s transfer, PJ Horne, went 0-to-7 in the 3-point streak against South Carolina, and George Mason, Justin Kier’s transfer, was 0-4 beyond the arc.
“PJ and Justin having zero for nights from the three that hurt us, because we need these guys to take the pictures,” said Crean. “But we did not keep our commitment to defend the ball or the transition defense, as we were missing shots.”
Georgia lost 36-26 at halftime, just 1 of 12 shots beyond the hoop in the first 20 minutes
The Bulldogs achieved a 14-8 lead before the Gamecocks started working back into action, using their defense to force 12 turns in the first half.
A Toumani Camara dunk at the 6:39 mark gave UGA its final lead of the game in 19-18, before the Gamecocks made a 14-0 run in the next 3 ½ minutes.
Camara was plagued by many problems throughout the night, suffering three fouls in the first half and scoring the fourth with more than 15 minutes of play.
“When Toumani Camara is in trouble, we are not very good,” said Crean, aware that each team knows that one of the keys to beating Georgia is to put its great quality man in trouble. “It is difficult to win when he is playing only 19 minutes. He can provide many things for us. “
Georgia receives Ole Miss at 6 pm on Saturday at the Stegeman Coliseum. The Bulldogs beat the rebels 78-74 on January 16 in Oxford, Mississippi.
Georgia coach Tom Crean