Where It's At

It's going to be 70 degrees here at the GRH offices in Athens today, which is odd considering there's still blocks of ice thawing on the side of the road from last week's winter storm. That's just how the weather is in Georgia sometimes though. Here's what it this sudden thaw really mean though. Spring sports are starting to get into swing and winter sports are starting the home stretch. It was a big weekend here in Athens. UGA baseball had its first home series, the basketball team played in its biggest game of the season, tennis played in the indoor championships with some startling results, softball hosted its second tournament in as many weeks, and the SEC Swimming Championships have taken up residence just down the hall. I have always loved collegiate springtime. There's something going on almost every day. Pair that with the impending basketball finish, The Master being right around the corner (and good golf weather in general), and pitchers and catchers reporting means we're breaking out of the doldrums of winter and into the warm promises of spring. Here's this week's brain droppings...

1) #WinOut - Lord McFather is convinced UGA still has a chance to go to the Big Dance this year and I suppose, technically, he's right. They could still win the SEC Tournament and go. If you read yesterday's Who's Who, you'll note that we at GRH don't think very highly of the SEC as a men's basketball conference. Currently there are 2 teams that are deserving to go (UF and UK). Missouri can make a case. Tennessee could make a case. But that's about it. However, knock off UT in Knoxville tonight and I may say differently. This would give the Hoop Dawgs a 15-10 record with all winnable games remaining on the schedule (Mizzou is the toughest but it's at home but Arkansas and LSU on the road aren't gimmes). 20-11 may be enough but I think that's a tall order. My thoughts are that this team should be NIT bound this year and I feel as if they have a very good chance at that. Next year should be the target for a potential run in the Big Dance but we'll see.

2) #CardiacCuse - Sticking with basketball, has anyone been paying attention to all of the close calls the #1 team in the land has had to endure. Buzzer beats from 10 feet behind the 3 point line. Last second steals and lay-ins. Syracuse is working hard to stay undefeated. Maybe harder than a #1 team should work. I think Jim Boeheim is one of the best in the game and no one runs a 2-3 like the Cuse but I just can't help to think they're an early exit from the tourney at this point. I like watching though so I hope they prove me wrong though. Right behind them are three very good teams in Florida, Wichita State (also undefeated), and Arizona (I know they lost the other night but it was in dramatic fashion on the road in double OT against a decent opponent that happened to be a rival). The end of college basketball season is shaping up to be a good one.

3) #DEFENSE - If you watched the NBA All-Star game you didn't see any. 163-155 is a ridiculous score for any basketball game but it was fun to watch. It's funny in a sport where players only care just enough to get through the regular season and then amp it up in the postseason. It seems to me there's no in between. I'm a huge fan of basketball and want to see it played well. That really only happens in the postseason in the NBA. And if I'm not getting basketball in its purist form, then I want a ridiculous game like the one from Sunday. Honestly, we're not that far from the All-Star game being Rock and Jock basketball from MTV. Maybe that's not that bad of a thing.

4) #LockingDown - Don't look now but the 1990's powerhouse that was the Atlanta Braves have decided to spend some money. And they happen to have done so to keep some locally grown talent from going anywhere else. The first contract was the small but important one of Jason Heyward. He only got a 2 year deal but his new contract will expire at the same time as Dan Uggla's. If the Braves want to keep him then they'll have the money. Of course, he'll have to prove he's worth it in the next two years and not Jeff Francouer all over again. Additionally, the Bravos signed long term deals with Freddie Freeman, Julio Tehran, and Craig Kimbrel solidifying the middle of the batting order, the front of the rotation, and the 9th inning closer. The Braves are still a young team but may have just kept the pieces in play for a nice run over the next few years.

5) #TEAMme - In news from lesser followed sports, the UGA men's tennis team took an interesting loss to the University of Texas over the weekend. After falling behind 3-1, the team roared back in individual matches to tie 3-3 with one point remaining and UGA serving for the match. On match point the UGA player incorrectly called a ball out when it was in and the point was awarded to the Texas player who went on to win the match in a tiebreaker. One of the great coaches at UGA, Manny Diaz suspended the player for the remainder of the tournament after his subsequent outburst at the official. Tennis at heart is an individual tournament but Coach Diaz's reaction is a good reminder that individual actions cost the team. In turn, UGA went on to lose twice more in the consolation bracket but may be a better team in the long run because of the experience. The NCAA Tennis Championships are in Athens this year and the team always plays well in front of a home crowd. Just remember that in May.

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