Vandy up next

As most know, playing up in Nashville is always a tough task, partially because Vandy usually has a very solid basketball team but secondly because of the strange look of that arena-having the benches under the baskets instead of on the sides. This makes it hard for the coach to have contact with his players if they are on offense opposite to his bench-which of course is going to happen for one half of the game. Many talented UGA teams have gone up there and come back with an L. Looking at the Commodores this season, they are sitting at 11-3 and until this past week, were ranked in the polls. This week they are still receiving votes in both major polls, while we cracked the top 25 in the AP poll and would be in the top 30 in the coaches poll.

Vandy has beaten the likes of UNC, Nebraska, WKU and Marquette all at home, in fact they have not lost a home game yet this year. They have lost three games on the road including @WVU, Missouri, and most recently at South Carolina in the conference opener. Next up for them is @Tenn so as you can see, this is really a must win for them. They are led by John Jenkins, a very solid player averaging 18.5 pts on the season, he had 27 against South Carolina. They also have guard Jeffrey Taylor who while young last year was an explosive player, he averages 14.5 a game. Rounding out their trio of double figure scorers is Festus Ezeli, a 6-11 255 center that averages 12.6 pts a game and has blocked 32 shots on the season while also leading Vandy in rebounding. Sounds like Trey will have a big body down there as will Price and Barnes.

It is going to be a very tough challenge, heck it sounds like it is going to be tough for our team to even make it to Nashville in the first place, having to bus up there. But, we are on a serious roll having won 10 straight and Gerald Robinson is from Nashville, so he will be going home. I look for him to have a solid game, not going to predict a win but I do think we can certainly hang with Vandy. Tomorrow night, SEC network at 8pm we can see how this team will perform being ranked and playing on the road. Remember, last year we didn't win a road game at all, certainly not an SEC road game, this year we have 3 road wins already but we need to get the SEC road wins in hopes of helping our NCAA chances. If we lose, not the end of the world at all. But, if we win, this team can really start rolling along with Ole Miss up next.

Couple notes about football, in with Ramik Wilson, the LB from Tampa. Sounds like a late bloomer judging by his offers, especially his late offers. But, kudos for UGA making the evaluation on him, offering him early and getting him to commit. Out with Marcus Dowtin. A very talented football player but obviously a guy that had been in trouble while in Athens, a guy that complained openly to the media about playing time, a guy I have read did not have a great attitude-he has left the program and will transfer. Best wishes to him and hope he gets a shot to play at the next level. He will have one year left to play at the school he chooses, my guess would be a school up closer to his home in Maryland.