Georgia Basketball – “We’re not a Basketball School”

After a tough loss to Belmont, Mike Stowe looks at this viewpoint so many fans have about Georgia Basketball.

“We’re not a basketball school. ” As a long time fan of UGA sports, I am hearing this more and more lately about the Georgia Basketball program. I usually hear it when I start asking questions about how to take that next step to improve it. Georgia has one Final Four appearance. Seasons like this one where the Dawgs looked like a legit tournament team but yet ended up with an early exit from the NIT have unfortunately become the norm.

There have been plenty of good players to wear the red and black through the years. Straight up ballers like Dominique Wilkins, the Hayes brothers, JCP, J.J. Frazier and Yante Maten…..and yet no national championship. And the excuse I keep hearing? “We’re not a basketball school”.

I go to games every year in Stegeman and shake my head as I look at all the empty seats ( unless Kentucky is the opponent). We are in a state that is loaded with high school basketball talent. Athens is a great location to visit and watch a good college basketball game. I know the majority of funds go to football, but there’s some for hoops as well. But, “we’re not a basketball school.”

I’ve watched as Kentucky won title after title. I know they’re a different animal and it may be unrealistic to expect those kinds of results. But South Carolina made the Big Dance this year and is coming off a first round win. Florida has two national championships. FLORIDA!!! Before Billy Donovan, they were “not a basketball school”. Is Coach Fox the right guy to get us where we need to be? I’m not 100% sure about that or not.

Next: New Bulldogs: Isaiah Wilson

But at some point, “we’re not a basketball school” needs to quit being used when discussing the underachievement of the basketball program. That’s just an excuse for mediocrity. Or maybe I should just accept it. Embrace it. When I see players who are absolutely deserving of consistent success and a fan base that wants the same, I’ll just repeat those same words. Whenever the Dawgs have another disappointing season, I’ll just say, “We’re not a basketball school”.