Georgia Basketball: What We Learned From the UGA Cagers in 2015

Mar 3, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center

(44) fights for a rebound with Georgia Bulldogs forward

(42) and forward Marcus Thornton (2) during the first half at Stegeman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

While talent rules the court, experience and maturity matter.

Basketball ability is a unique blend of skill and athleticism. With maturity, skills are honed, roles developed, strength maximized and movement economized. With a few exceptions, the Bulldogs started games with two seniors and two juniors on the floor.  It is no coincidence that Georgia won 20 regular season games and played only one freshman, the talented Yante Maten.

While Georgia was a tad short on talent, its best players were juniors and seniors and that advantage earned the Bulldogs their spot in the NCAA Tournament.

In the past, Georgia basketball reached the NCAA Tournament only to rebuild with youth. Such will not be the case next year. Georgia will lose the two senior posts, Djurisic and Thornton but will keep every player at every other position. This is what makes “wait ’till next year” different.

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