Georgia basketball: for all of Fox’s faults, at least he isn’t leaving a scar on the program
Georgia basketball is in the closing weeks of a disappointing season. But at least the Bulldogs aren’t in the news for any of the controversies that have taken over college basketball.
Say what you will about Mark Fox’s coaching and recruiting ability. But the Georgia basketball program is in a better place today than it was when Fox took over in 2009. Not only have the Bulldogs averaged more wins annually under Fox than they did under previous head coach Dennis Felton, but the program has managed to steer clear trouble.
Unlike seemingly the rest of college basketball. And it seems as though the NCAA is about to hit a few programs very hard. There has not been any word around Athens about recruits and their families getting paid. No sexual misconduct of any kind. No players have continued to play despite committing crimes. Mark Fox appears to run a clean ship.
Even though we are disappointed with the results this season, the Bulldog Nation must be thankful that we don’t have to go through the embarrassment that so many other fan bases will have to endure soon. One of those programs likely to face harsh punishment from the NCAA is Auburn, a top-25 team and a Johnny-come-lately.
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Unlike South Carolina, they didn’t build themselves through the NIT, the Tigers just came out of nowhere. That drew suspicions from the NCAA which prompted an investigation that will almost certainly lead to sanctions.
The situation is much worse in Arizona where the Wildcats are have not only been paying players, but have also allowed much worse offenses go unreported. Then there’s the mess in East Lansing where the Spartans and the NCAA themselves turned a blind eye to sexual misconduct. And do we even need to mention Louisville?
Everywhere you look, another college basketball program is finding themselves in trouble. But not Georgia. Whoever takes over the program after Mark Fox will take the reigns on a stable program, with good enough talent on campus, and even better talent on the way in 2019. More importantly, they will take over a program that is not on probation.
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Fox’s legacy may be that of being an under-achiever to some, possibly the majority of the Georgia fan base. But to the others, he is the coach who led Georgia to three-straight 20-win seasons, and five post season appearances. Only one Georgia basketball coach has done better. And of course, he’s kept the program out of trouble when so many other coaches around the nation have failed to do so. For that, he certainly deserves our thanks.