Tag: uga hoops

Anthony Edwards scores career-high 34 points, has message for doubters

Former Georgia basketball star Anthony Edwards put on a career-high performance, scoring 34 points in a Minnesota Timberwolves victory.

Former Georgia basketball superstar Anthony Edwards set another career-high in points this Sunday night, dropping his new best of 34 in a Minnesota Timberwolves 114 – 112 win over the Portland Trailblazers.

The game stayed close for its entirety, the biggest lead for either team in the first three quarters being just six points.  In the fourth quarter Edwards had a collision with Trailblazers center Enes Kanter which caused him to miss some time.  He then checked in and went off, going for 13 points in the fourth including an explosive dunk to give Minnesota a 10-point lead.

Watch:

Edwards has now scored at least 19 points in his last seven games, beginning to silence the doubters who believe the T-wolves should’ve taken LaMelo Ball with the first pick.

“To talk about who they should have took No. 1, they took me. It’s over. It’s nothing to talk about. On to the next. We’re trying to win basketball games at this point. Whoever is still talking about that, they can just kick rocks, I guess.”

This is what last year’s No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft had to say when talking to reporters about the comparisons to him and Ball.

The Timberwolves are now 2-6 under new coach Chris Finch and have won two of their past three games.  The grass is starting to turn greener in Minnesota, and it all starts with the spark that is Anthony Edwards.

Georgia basketball’s K.D. Johnson named to SEC All-Freshman team

Georgia basteball guard K.D. Johnson was named to the SEC All-Freshman team today by league coaches. Details here.

Georgia guard K.D. Johnson was named to the coaches’ SEC All-Freshman team today.

The freshman is the Bulldogs second-leading scorer at 13.6 points per game behind sophomore guard Sahvir Wheeler, who also received league honors. Wheeler was named second-team All-SEC after averaging 14 points per game and leading the league in assists per game (7.2).

Johnson, from Atlanta, Ga., signed with the Bulldogs as a four-star recruit from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., in the Bulldogs No. 33 ranked recruiting class of 2020.

Johnson only played 15 games, but was an absolute firecracker for the Bulldogs and recorded the most 20-point game performances in the SEC this season, including a 24-point game versus No. 8 Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Via Georgiadogs.com:

It’s an honor and I’m very happy that I made the team, but I’m focused on the team and the game that’s ahead of us on Thursday,” Johnson said. “I’m excited about the award, but I’m more excited about the run we’re about to try to go on to get to ‘March Madness.’ We’re just taking it one game at a time.”

Johnson and the Bulldogs are the 10th seed in the 2021 SEC Tournament and are set to face seventh-seeded Missouri on Thursday night at 7 p.m.

Georgia upset then No. 20 Missouri 80-70 on Feb. 16 in Athens.

 

Check out the “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” podcast here! J.C. is joined by Georgia legend Rennie Curran in this special episode.

 

 

Georgia basketball drops season finale to No. 8 Alabama 89-79

Georgia heads to the postseason after a season finale loss to No. 8 Alabama 89-79 . Details and more here.

Georgia basketball finishes the season with a 14-11 record (7-11 in the SEC) with Saturday’s 89-79 loss at home to No. 8 Alabama.

The 2021 SEC regular-season champions beat the Bulldogs 115-82 on Feb. 13 in Tuscaloosa, but Georgia played much better today in Athens, even leading 36-30 at halftime before being outscored 59-43 in the second half.

Georgia was led by sophomore guard Sahvir Wheeler, who finished with 18 points in 38 minutes and added 10 assists, extending the single-season UGA record for assists in a season to 180.

Georgia sophomore forward Toumani Camara added 13 points and 7 rebounds and freshman guard K.D. Johnson was the only other Bulldog to score in double digits with a 16-point performance off the bench.

Four Alabama starters scored in double-digits. Senior guard John Petty Jr. led the Crimson Tide with 15 points and added 7 rebounds and sophomore guard Jaden Shackleford was Alabama’s second-leading scorer, finishing with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.

Georgia may have been able to hang with Alabama a bit longer if it weren’t for the Bulldogs’ free throw shooting woes. UGA shot just 13 of 23 from the line.

With the loss today, Georgia has secured the 10th seed in the SEC tournament and will play the 7th seed on Thursday at 7 p.m. against an unnamed team.

 

 

Check out the “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” podcast here! J.C. is joined by Georgia legend Rennie Curran in this special episode.

 

 

 

 

Former UGA basketball star Nic Claxton drops career-high vs. Spurs

Former Georgia basketball star Nic Claxton is breaking out for the Brooklyn Nets. Details here.

Former Georgia basketball center Nic Claxton put up a career-high 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting in 17 minutes played as the Brooklyn Nets defeated the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 on Monday night.

Just last week, Claxton made his season debut after missing the Nets’ first 32 games due to knee tendinopathy, now, the Greenville, S.C., native is making a serious impact.

Claxton followed Monday night’s career-best performance with another big game in a win versus the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

In just 16 minutes played, the Nets’ 2019 second-round pick put up 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting and added eight rebounds.

Claxton’s efficiency of late is hard to ignore and it’s great to see the former Bulldog back in action after battling injuries the last two seasons.

In his time at Georgia (2017-2019), Claxton averaged 8.4 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game, while earning second team All-SEC honors in 2019, when he led the SEC in blocks (81) and blocks per game (2.5).

You can catch Claxton and the Nets next game at home on Thursday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. versus the Boston Celtics.

 

 

Former Georgia star Anthony Edwards struggles in Timberwolves loss

Former Georgia star Anthony Edwards did not have his best game against the Bucks.

After going viral earlier this week thanks to a massive dunk, which was followed with a hilarious postgame interview, former Georgia basketball star Anthony Edwards is beginning to look like he was worthy of being the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Last night, though, in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Edwards struggled. He shot just 3/13 (3/8 3PT) and had 4 turnovers while scoring just 9 points in 28 minutes. Minnesota would lose the game 139-112.

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

The Timberwolves rookie has had a solid first year, posting an average of 4.1 points per game, but he had his best showing to date last week against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Versus Los Angeles, Edwards put up 28 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal while shooting 5/10 from deep.

NBA legend Dwayne Wade has high praise for former Georgia Bulldog ‘Ant-man’ Edwards

Anthony Edwards took Georgia basketball by storm when he signed with coach Tom Crean and the Bulldogs as the highest-rated prospect in UGA hoops history. He went on to win SEC Freshman of the Year and earned All-Freshman team honors in his only year …

Anthony Edwards took Georgia basketball by storm when he signed with coach Tom Crean and the Bulldogs as the highest-rated prospect in UGA hoops history.

He went on to win SEC Freshman of the Year and earned All-Freshman team honors in his only year in Athens before becoming the Georgia basketball’s first NBA No. 1 overall pick, cementing his name in UGA athletics history books.

But, of course, ‘Ant’ didn’t stop there. He went to the Minnesota Timberwolves as the No. 1 pick and has proved he belonged there.

So far, the rookie leads all first-year players averaging 14.6 points per game while averaging  3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest.

‘Ant’ has made such an impact already that NBA legend Dwayne Wade, widely considered one of the best two-guards in NBA history, had strong words for Edwards’ play.

“I definitely think he can be a better player than I was. He has all the tools.” – Dwayne Wade

Anytime a 13-time All Star, who is one of the best players ever at his position, calls you out and praises you for being better than him – things are looking great.

You can catch Edwards and the Timberwolves’ next game versus the Toronto Raptors on Fox Sports and NBA League pass on Friday at 9 p.m. ET.

Anthony Edwards has impressive game against Lebron James and Lakers

Former Georgia basketball star Anthony Edwards goes for a career night against Lebron James and Lakers in their second career matchup.

Two No. 1 overall NBA Draft selections went at it Tuesday night in a very exciting matchup.  Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers got the best of former Georgia guard Anthony Edwards and his Minnesota Timberwolves, but not without a fight.

Edwards, who was selected first overall by the Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA Draft, put on a show against arguably the greatest basketball player to ever walk the planet, dropping a career-high 28 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal.

Midway through the third quarter, tied up at 68 a piece, Edwards lined up James and cashed a three pointer right in his grill to put Minnesota up three.  You could see Edwards’ excitement oozing out of him after hitting a shot most kids can only dream of.

WATCH:

Lebron closed the gap and took care of business, winning by a score of 112-104.  He finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists on 65% shooting.

Edwards is playing very well so far, averaging 14.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists.  He still trails fellow rookie LaMelo Ball, who leads all rookies in points, rebounds and assists per game.  Edwards is currently second in rookie points per game, trailing Ball by just a mere .05 points.

Georgia women’s basketball faces tough test in Texas

The Georgia women’s basketball team will face a tough test in Texas

The Georgia women’s basketball team travels to College Station on Sunday for a significant test against Texas A&M.

At No. 8 in the country, the Aggies will enter the contest as the favorites over the No. 22 Bulldogs, who have started to heat up under head coach Joni Taylor.

Georgia suffered an unexpected loss to LSU on senior night Thursday, but can rebound in a big way at A&M.

Catch the game live on the SEC Network at 5:00 PM ET.

Georgia basketball off to best start since 1982-83 Final Four team

Tom Crean and the Georgia men’s basketball team are off to an impressive 7-0 season start.

The Georgia men’s basketball team is off to its best start since the 1982-83 Final Four team.  The Dawgs have come out hot in 2020, winning seven games straight to put them at 7-0.

Head coach Tom Crean is now in his third season with the Bulldogs and is already completely shifting the culture of Georgia basketball.  He recruited Anthony Edwards, who went No. 1 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft and now has Georgia undefeated so far in 2020.

Crean is showcasing a very balanced roster of talent, having five players average ten or more points.  Sophomore forward Toumani Camara is leading the charge for the Dawgs in the stat book, averaging 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.  He is also shooting the ball efficiently at 52.9%.

Senior guard Justin Kier is finding his role and stepping up big for the Bulldogs, averaging 12 points on 48.1% shooting, 4.8 rebounds and 4 assists through seven games.

So far, the Dawgs have beat Florida A&M, North Georgia, Jacksonville, Montana, Samford, Cincinnati and Northeastern.  This is definitely the easier portion of their schedule, as they have a full slate of SEC matchups coming up that will put them to the test.

Georgia will face the 5-3 Mississippi State Bulldogs next on Dec. 30.  ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives UGA a 45.7% chance of coming out on top in that game.

LeBron James congratulates former Georgia Bulldog on new deal

LeBron James congratulates former Georgia Bulldog basketball star Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on signing a new deal with the Los Angeles Lakers

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Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James credited former Georgia Bulldog great Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for helping the Lakers win an NBA Championship this past season. Los Angeles defeated the Miami Heat in a six-game series, where Caldwell-Pope was often Los Angeles’ third option behind James and Anthony Davis.

Following the Lakers’ championship, Caldwell-Pope was set to enter free agency. He earned leverage after his impressive postseason and had interest from numerous teams in the NBA. Now, per The Athletics’ Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Lakers are re-signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a three year, $40M deal.

Caldwell-Pope is set to make an average of $15M over the next two seasons, and he has a partially guaranteed third year in the contract. He’ll look to win more championships in Los Angeles.

James congratulated his teammate on his new deal via his Twitter account:

The Lakers are happy whenever James is happy, so it is a great deal for L.A., which will still have a large role for Caldwell-Pope.

Here’s how the basketball world reacted to Caldwell-Pope’s new contract with the Lakers:

This lineup is already a little bit outdated, but the Lakers are looking stacked:

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