Tag: tom crean uga

Report: Tom Crean once told Utah Jazz star he wasn’t good enough for NBA

Report: Tom Crean once told Utah Jazz star he wasn’t good enough for NBA, let alone Power 5 basketball

Tom Crean, the Georgia men’s basketball coach who previously worked at Indiana and Marquette, is having a rough tenure in Athens.

Crean has slightly improved his record through three seasons at Georgia, but just recently had the bottom fall out in recruiting.

Despite having former five-star and No. 1 overall draft pick Anthony Edwards on the roster last season and a more experienced lineup this year, Crean has failed to even sniff a postseason berth.

Now, the longtime head coach has lost the majority of his starting lineup from last season in Sahvir Wheeler, Toumani Camara and Tye Fagan.

Georgia head coach Tom Crean works with guard Sahvir Wheeler (2) during the first half of the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament game against Missouri at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, March 11, 2021.

Mo Ga Sec 031121 An 01

This leaves Crean with an empty roster headed into the final weeks of 2021 recruiting and the offseason.

To make matters worse, Crean was recruiting 13th out of 14 in the conference just last week.

Now, it appears there is legitimate traction to the rumors that Crean’s coaching style and attitude are affecting the program.

UGA Wire has discovered that Crean reportedly sent a disturbing text to former Louisville star Donovan Mitchell while at Indiana.

Mitchell, one of the key front-runners for MVP in the NBA this season, chose Louisville over Crean’s Hoosiers and a few other top-ranked programs during his recruitment.

UGA Wire has learned that Crean reportedly sent Mitchell a text multiple paragraphs long, telling the point-guard he just wasn’t good enough for the NBA, after the former Brewster Academy product committed to Louisville.

To Crean’s credit, Mitchell was slightly underrated by most scouts coming out of high school, but it’s still perplexing to think a former blue-blood coach would text a high school kid something like that.

I mean, really? Who does that?

This isn’t the first time Crean has been under fire for bashing players either …

Back in Crean’s first season, the coach had a meltdown following a home loss to Ole Miss, which left several members of the team upset in the locker room. Crean had to apologize for the language he used towards the team and already lost a lot of fans in year one.

Since Crean’s texts to Mitchell, the point guard has gone on to drop 25 on Crean’s former team for Louisville and become the face of the Utah Jazz franchise.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 31: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Louisville Cardinals shoots the ball during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers in the Countdown Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 31, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Oh by the way, he is about to sign a $195 million contract extension too …

Add this to the list of things Tom Crean has done to hurt his reputation and persona in the college basketball world.

I mean, my goodness. Who would want to play for this guy?

Just look at some of these Crean outbursts at former players over the years …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WGEtObvpgk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQW0epDCfhs

And there’s always this gem of an article:

It would be one thing if Crean was recruiting like expected and improving this program from the Mark Fox era at Georgia. However, he’s done the complete opposite.

What an embarrassment for the University of Georgia, the men’s basketball program, the players who have to put up with Crean and the long-suffering fans.

End this disaster …

It’s time to end the Tom Crean experiment

The Tom Crean experiment needs to be over in Athens

Just last week, Georgia basketball coach Tom Crean lost point-guard Sahvir Wheeler to the transfer portal after leading the SEC in several key stat categories.

The rising junior was expected to lead a more experienced Georgia team onto the floor next season with fans hoping to see Crean develop his roster into an NCAA Tournament caliber ball club.

However, the Dawgs have lost practically their entire starting roster to the transfer portal, with KD Johnson and Jaxon Etter being the lone role players returning.

Couple that with the fact Crean was recruiting 13th out of 14 teams in the SEC and you already had a massive problem on hand in Athens.

Then comes Sahvir Wheeler’s ‘Top 10’ announcement on Monday. Wheeler was rumored to be looking into playing closer to home, but it is now clear the point guard just wanted a new environment.

Wheeler’s comments here add even more concern for fans of the Bulldogs, who were already pulling hair out from Crean’s efforts leading the program.

The general consensus amongst much of the Bulldog faithful is that Crean will get one more year due to his massive buyout at $7.2 this season. If Georgia elects to fire Crean without cause next year, that figure drops down to $3.1 million.

However, it is well past time to let Crean go.

The program is in complete disarray, worse than where it was when Crean found it just three years ago.

Georgia has nothing left to lose by firing Crean, as the current recruiting class is still in the basement of the conference and expectations for 2021-2022 are at an all-time low.

It’s understandable that Georgia is a football-first school in terms of financial spending, given the sheer size of the fanbase and the revenue football brings in.

However, if Sanford Stadium can receive 436 upgrades over a few years and 257 other football-related buildings can be built, then Crean can be let go and Foley Field improved for students on campus.

Make the decision, Georgia. Either get rid of Crean and go hire Jonas Hayes or simply state you are too cheap to fire Crean and waiving the white flag on your men’s basketball program.

And remember, I’m not saying the Dawgs have to compete with the likes of Duke, Kentucky, UNC, UCLA and Kansas here.

I’m simply stating that Georgia can do better in basketball without Tom Crean.

Go get Hayes, hire a few former players like JJ Frazier as assistant coaches and make a run at the NIT’s and NCAA’s.

Firing Mark Fox was supposed to be a move towards relevancy in men’s basketball. Instead, it has turned this program completely on its side.

The only excuse one can make for Crean at this point is his $7.2 million buyout. Auburn football paid Gus Malzahn over $21 million to go away. Malzahn was still finishing above .500 every year with two SEC West Division titles and a trio of wins over Alabama.

What has Crean done for Georgia basketball other than landing the homegrown Anthony Edwards, who was already projected No. 1 in the NBA Draft before playing for Crean.

If you can’t shore up the money to get Crean out of Athens, then maybe there shouldn’t be a men’s basketball program on campus.

Right now, this program is the equivalent of Vanderbilt football or Missouri baseball to the conference. Being a Top 5 academic school in the SEC, with the recruiting hotbed of the Atlanta metro and the financial strength UGA has, there is no excuse to be this bad year-to-year in men’s basketball.

Get rid of Tom Crean or go give the basketball funding to Scott Stricklin and the baseball program to make consistent runs at SEC Championships and Omaha.

Heck, Joni Taylor and the women’s basketball team could use that funding too.

Make the move, Georgia. We’re bound to read a tweet from Crean on building DWade or Victor Oladipo here shortly. Maybe some of his former Georgia players can eventually make that wall of his instead of receiving a cardboard cut-out…

Geesh.

Nations No. 1 PF, Georgia native Jabari Smith to announce commitment Friday

Jabari Smith of Tyrone, Georgia is set to make his college decision this Friday, choosing between UGA, Auburn, LSU, UNC and Georgia Tech.

5-star power forward Jabari Smith is set to commit between Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Georgia Tech and UNC on Friday, according to reports by TiptonEdits and later  confirmed by ESPN.

Smith is rated as the No. 1 power forward and the No. 1 recruit in the state of Georgia in the 2021 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.

Georgia basketball coach Tom Crean has experience in keeping star basketball players in-state and signing them to play for the Bulldogs.

Possible 2020 NBA No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards did just that for the Bulldogs last year when the Atlanta native signed with Georgia and was named SEC Freshman of the Year in his one season with the Bulldogs.

247Sports currently predicts Smith will sign with Auburn.

Check back here Friday for updates on Smith’s commitment.

Georgia basketball sets season attendance record

Anthony Edwards and company have helped the Georgia Bulldogs basketball program set their single season attendance record.

In what’s been an up and down basketball season to say the least, the Georgia Bulldogs have set their record for single season attendance. At 15-14 the Dawgs have had a somewhat disappointing season. UGA had arguably their best basketball recruiting class ever and is now 12th in the SEC.

Fans can pat themselves on the back for supporting the team throughout a tough season. A huge factor in Georgia’s impressive attendance is freshman stud Anthony Edwards. Edwards is projected as the top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Georgia basketball coach Tom Crean thanked the fans following the Dawgs’ win over Arkansas this Saturday:

Anthony Edwards and Tom Crean have helped energize Georgia’s program, but can the Bulldogs make a run in the SEC Tournament. Georgia will have to win the SEC Tournament in order to make the NCAA Tournament.

Georgia set a new attendance record last season. With better home attendance, UGA will win more home games and have a better team. Georgia has gone an impressive 12-4 at home this season.

The fans are making a difference as they do throughout college basketball (look at home-away records for every team). Georgia can get even better at home. Elite teams in the NCAA rarely lose at home. Tom Crean and the young Bulldog team will be better on the road next season. This year’s 3-8 record won’t cut it for UGA to make the NCAA Tournament.

Feb 1, 2020; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs guard Anthony Edwards (5) encourages the crowd to make noise during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies during the first half at Stegeman Coliseum. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Edwards has been a treat to watch!

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Twitter reacts to Georgia basketball’s upset win over Auburn

The Georgia Bulldogs and Anthony Edwards knocked off the 13th ranked Auburn Tigers 65-55 in Athens.

The Georgia Bulldogs and Anthony Edwards knocked off the 13th ranked Auburn Tigers 65-55 in Athens. The win is a bright spot in Georgia’s up and down season. Hopes were high following UGA’s big-time win over Memphis before conference play begin.

Tom Crean and the Dawgs have struggled in SEC play, but with this upset win they’re now 13-13 overall. They’ll have to win the SEC tournament to make the NCAA tournament. Still, it was the biggest win of the year for Bulldogs and it came at the expense of hated rival Auburn.

Georgia fans rejoiced on social media:

UGA hoop’s win wasn’t the only upset of the night:

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UGA basketball lands prime-time game versus Kentucky

Georgia Bulldogs versus Kentucky Wildcats basketball tip-off, TV. Anthony Edwards and UGA host the 17th ranked Wildcats.

The Georgia Bulldogs basketball team will be playing the Kentucky Wildcats in prime-time in their second game of 2020. Anthony Edwards is a likely culprit for the Dawgs getting more prime-time attention.

Tom Crean and the Bulldogs are 9-3 to start the season including 8-0 at home. Georgia faces a tough two game stretch to tip off 2020: they travel to 9th rated Memphis and then 17th rated Kentucky comes to Stegeman Coliseum. Will Georgia be able to continue their perfect home stretch?

The Kentucky game will tip-off at 9:00 P.M. and will be aired on ESPN:

It’s an important for the Dawgs to win one of these two games. With UGA currently 70th in the NCAA’s NET Rankings, the Bulldogs need a quality win to pad their NCAA Tournament resume.

Georgia additionally must aim for a winning record in conference play. With a 10-8 or better SEC record, the Bulldogs would have better tournament hopes. Last season, Florida and Ole Miss made the NCAA Tournament after going 9-9 and 10-8 in conference play respectively.

This week should help Dawg fans ease the pain of the end of football season. Let’s enjoy Anthony Edwards while he’s here!

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