Football Staff Growing again

Asst. Coach and Football Operations Director now open.

No morale victories. Florida State 62. Georgia State 55. Final

Halftime from the Civic Center in Tally. Florida State 30. Georgia State 24.

Previewing the FSU Game: Tomahawk Nation Style

Link: http://www.tomahawknation.com/2009/12/15/1199094/preview-and-game-thread-georgia#storyjump

An opening in the Sun Belt?

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The University of New Orleans may become Louisiana's second school to begin a move from the NCAA's Division I to Division III.

UNO, the city's largest public university at 11,800 students and only about 100 students smaller than Tulane, announced Wednesday that it is considering such a drop.

The board of trustees for Centenary, a Methodist school in Shreveport with fewer than 900 undergraduate students, voted in July to make the switch, which requires approval by the NCAA.

Only five other schools have done so since 1981. Birmingham-Southern, which began the process in 2006, was the first in this decade.

Link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/11/11/new.orleans.ap/

My take and how it affects Georgia State: The Sun Belt (if it hasn't already) will contact our Athletic Dept. and guage interest.  I fully expect Tulane to drop down classifications as well.  There will be a choice of Conference USA and/or Sun Belt if we choose to go Division 1.  I beleive this is a great opportunity and it will be up to us and our fundraising efforts to make this jump.

Beyond the Box Score: Embarassing Loss to Winless FAMU 60-58

Good:
-Xavier Hansbro.  14 pts (7-14 fg), 7 rebounds.  All you can ask for from your starting PF.

Bad:
-Trey Hampton.  Mr. Inconsitency.  4 pts, 6 rebounds in 32 minutes.  No offense.  No help.
-Joe Dukes.  2-12 and 0-5 from 3.  Having an awful season so far and I really hope he can wake up. 
-Jihad Ali.  3-10 (10 shots in 18 minutes?!?) from the field.  Not good.
-11 assists, 13 turnovers.  Can't win with that margin.

Ugly:
-FAMU currently ranks #311 in RPI out of 320 teams and we were their first win.  Absolutely horrible.

Next Game: Tuesday night at Florida State.  Look for an absolute beat down.  I don't believe we keep this game within 20 points.  This is the best team on our schedule.

Halftime

Not a good start in Tally. FAMU 33. Georgia State 26.

2011 Basketball Recruit Donovan Ross grabbing interest from Georgia State

Vitals:
Height: 6'5
Weight: 188lbs.
High School: Ridgeland (Ridgeland, MS)
Position: SF

From Scout.com
"I'm receiving the most interest from Georgia State and Middle Tennessee State," said the 6-5, 188-pounder.

Scout.com Profile: http://mississippistate.scout.com/a.z?s=136&p=8&c=1&nid=4155193

My take:  He's widely considered one of the better juniors in the state of Mississippi and I'm glad we are on him early.

Georgia State Baseball Getting National Attention

Good to be the CAA King.  Ready to Dance again?

15. Colonial Athletic. The CAA is far from a bad conference, but it’s not the conference it was capable of being a few seasons ago. Georgia State is the rising program to watch out of this league.

Link: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/baseball/news?slug=kr-confrankings120809&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

More than 1,000 tickets sold on First Day for football

To reach 1,000 tickets on day one, with our inaugural game still 10 months away, is phenomenal," said Kosha Irby, Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs. "We have felt all along that the Georgia State community and the city of Atlanta are eager to support this football program, and today's success is tangible proof."

Georgia State after Northside-Warner Robins K Devon Pike

Ready to kick in the Dome?

Devon Pike of Warner Robins, GA is the senior and is considered to be one of the best kickers in the state of Georgia.  This would be a huge get after nearly getting Ryan Gates who went on to play for Gardener Webb and earn All-Conference honors last season.

We are up against Memphis and South Carolina for his services.

Georgia State Football Ticket Sales Underway

I've got mine.  Do you have yours?

Final from James Madison. Georgia State win 49-44.

Preview and Prediction: James Madison

The Dukes have a 4 game win streak going.  Let's put the brakes on that today.

Preview: CAA Opener on the road.  Absolutely crucial to get off to a good start in conference.  With a trip looming to Tallahassee where you are hoping to gain a split, this game could keep our heads above .500 until the New Year.

The Dukes have won 4 games in a row after dropping their first two games to Ohio State and Murray State.  In those 4 victories they've averaged better than 71 ppg which is of major concern because we do not currently have the offensive firepower to put up 70 points without a huge effort from both of front and back courts. 

Who to Stop: 6'5 Julius Wells is averaging 14 points and 5 rebounds per contest.  The kid has a license to pull as he averages 14 FGA in their first 6 games.  It will be very interesting to see who draws this defensive assignment as Wells is very active. 

Projected Lineup:
PG Joe Dukes
SG Trae Goldston
SF Jihad Ali
PF Trey Hampton
PF Xavier Hansbro

My Prediction: We finally break the trend of loss then win.  Panthers win 68-64.

Football Tickets On Sale Monday

Season tickets for the inaugural Georgia State football season go on sale on Monday, Dec. 7, and GSU faculty, staff and fans are invited to the Sports Arena that day to make their purchase or simply join in the excitement.

Georgia State athletics will open the third floor of the Sports Arena from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and all are invited to be among the first fans to purchase their season tickets. The first 50 fans who purchase their season tickets at the Dec. 7 kickoff event will receive free authentic mini-helmets, autographed by head coach Bill Curry.

The inaugural Georgia State football season kicks off on Sept. 2, 2010 versus Shorter at the Georgia Dome.

Fans attending Monday's event can register to win free inaugural season tickets, as well as many other prizes, including VIP experiences for the inaugural spring football game and GSU men's basketball games, authentic Panther apparel and autographed merchandise.

I'll be there.  Will you?

Could current DC John Thompson be in the running for the UGA DC job?

DC help wanted
Two coaches on the Alabama staff could be candidates for the defensive coordinator positions at Georgia and Florida State.

Crimson Tide linebackers coach Sal Sunseri could get a look at FSU. He and Jimbo Fisher worked together at LSU. Another possibility is West Virginia defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel, who worked with Seminole offensive line coach Rick Trickett in Morgantown.

Georgia may take a look at Alabama defensive Kirby Smart, a former Bulldog defensive back. Smart also could be on Florida State’s radar.
Other possible candidates for the Bulldogs’ job are Duke defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre and Kansas State defensive coordinator Vic Koenning. Georgia State defensive John Thompson could get in the mix, too.

Another name to watch for both spots is ex-Memphis coach Tommy West.

Link: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=td-newsflash120309&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

My take: I believe that Thompson is a possible choice but not probable.  Richt is going to go with guys that he's coached with first then branch out.  Look for Clemson's DC Kevin Steele to get in the mix as well.

Hofstra the latest CAA school to drop football

In a statement, university president Stuart Rabinowitz said "the choice was painful, but clear."


"The cost of the football program, now and in the future, far exceeds the return possible from an FCS program, which does not generate significant national interest," he said.

Interesting days ahead for our conference...

First Look at 2010 Commit Jevonta Maynor

Big Kudos for my man Saint for doing a run down.  The kid looks impressive.

Beyond the Box Score: Jacksonville Win

Largest Crowd of the Season took in our improving D

Quotes to Note: "Our guys did a great job defensively," said GSU head coach Rod Barnes. "Trae Goldston shot the ball really well in the first half, and then in second half, Xavier Hansbro came up with some really big baskets and big rebounds. I think his play down the stretch was the difference in the game."

Good:

-Panthers shot 50% from the field.  Continue to do this and we'll win a lot more.

-Trae Goldston went 4-5 from 3.  Absolutely crucial becuase we all know this kid can shoot. 

-James Fields is growing into a good defensive stopper.  The kid can stick to someone and harass him.  While many wanted to give up on him after a so-so freshman year (!), I told many to remain patient.  He's a winner and a tough Savannah bred player.

-Joe Dukes finished the game with 5 assists, 3 turnovers.  Improvement.

-Attendance of 1733.  Simple formula - Giveaways plus winning = Fans.  Here's hoping we can aim for 2000 after the holiday break.

Bad:

-Trey Hampton had no impact.  Playing 34 minutes, scoring 0 points and only grabbing 2 rebounds.  Not acceptable for a PF in Division 1 basketball.  I'll eat some crow and say Ousman Krubally should be starting and playing 25+ minutes per game.

-Dante Curry continues to be the great mystery.  Inconsistent playing time and he must not be playing well in practice.

-Justin Vincent is still too out of shape to play.  Hope we get him on the stationary bike and he drops some weight in the next few weeks.  We need his size.

Next Game: At James Madison on Saturday.  We open up CAA play against the Dukes.  They are similiar in style as they don't score a ton and the game should be in the 60s again.  They've won 3 in a row after starting the season with losses vs. Ohio State and Murray State.  We've got to slow down Julius Wells.  Mr. Fields, you are up.

Final from the Sports Arena. Georgia State beats Jacksonville 64-54.

Halftime from the Sports Arena. Georgia State 30. Jacksonville 21.

Preview and Game Thread: Georgia State vs. Jacksonville

This Dolphin has no bite

On paper, this looks like a great opportunity for a win.  The way we are going, it would fit the pattern.  We've alternated L, W, L, W, L, W, L this year.  Time for a W again.

Jacksonville enters the game 0-3 and giving up nearly 88 points per game.  This may actually give our guards an opportunity to get up tempo and push the ball.  My first goal is to score more than 70 vs. a Division 1 opponent.

Prediction: 72-58.  Panthers win.

Beyond the Box Score: Split in Mobile

Not the best place to spend Turkey Day

We beat Utay Valley State and lost to host South Alabama.  Overall, pretty much what I expected.  Xavier Hansbro played big against Utah Valley and was a non-factor vs. a shorter South Alabama team.  Consistently inconsistent.  Play this way and we'll finish exactly as I thought.  .500 overall.

Good:

-We improve our shooting as we crack the 40% for the season.

-Scoring more than 60 points vs. a Division 1 opponent.  Another improvement.

-Joe Dukes finally woke up and played well. 

-Trae Goldston finally gave us a scoring punch.

Bad:

-Dante Curry played well on Wednesday night with 10 points of the bench and only plays 7 minutes yesterday scoring 3 points.  Not sure what to think of him.  I'm afraid he'll never develop into an impact player.

-James Vincent played 1 minute and got 2 fouls.  Wow.  That's impressive.

-Speaking of fouls.  Georgia State - 24.  South Alabama - 11.  Something stinks.

We now sit at 3-4 (2-4 against Division 1 opponents).  Next up Jacksonville at home on Monday.  We seem to be Team Schizophrenic and I hope we can draw decently when there are no students on campus.

Final from Mobile. Georgia State 59. Utah Valley 52.

New info and Photos of Practice Facility

From Georgia State Sports site:
The biggest project is the new football practice facility which will open this spring at 188 MLK Drive. GeorgiaStateSports.com recently went over to the site that has come a long way since its dedication in November 2008. Fans can click the video link and watch a short two-minute video to see how the site is coming along. Photos have also been included in the photo album.


Construction of the new weight room facility on the second floor is also almost complete and should be ready to go in the near future.

Northeastern Drops Football. 7 Georgia natives could come to State.

Demetrius Biggs

Soph.

LB 6'0 195lbs.

Marietta, GA

High School: Played varsity football for two seasons at Marietta High School under James “Friday” Richards, serving as team captain in his senior season...played both wide receiver and defensive back...led the Blue Devils with 23 receptions and was named team MVP in 2006...named to the Marietta Daily Journal All-County Defensive second team and also earned All-City Offensive and Defensive honors...helped Marietta to back-to-back league championships as well as district titles in 2005 and ’06...also played basketball and ran track at Marietta High...track team won the state championship in 2006 after a runner-up finish in 2005.

T.J. Jackson

Soph.

WR 6'1 185lbs.

Newnan, GA

High School: Played varsity football for three seasons at Northgate High School under head coach Bill Luckie, playing wide receiver, defensive back and punter...named an All-County and All-Region wide receiver in 2006, while also earning All-Region honors on defense and special teams in his senior season...led the team in 2006 with 22 receptions for 520 yards, averaging over 23.5 yards per game and hauling in seven of the team’s 10 receiving touchdowns...also averaged 30.1 yards per punt as a senior...amassed 175 receiving yards and scored three touchdowns in his final high school game against Whitewater...also played two years of baseball, earning All-Region honorable mention honors as a center fielder in 2006.

Jocquez Fears
Soph.
DB 5'9 185lbs.
Fairburn, GA

High School: Played three seasons of varsity football at Creekside High School for head coach Kevin Whitley, serving as captain his senior season...named second-team All-Region his senior year...his team was a conference semifinalist his junior season...returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a single game during his senior year.

 
 
 
 
 
Steven Hunter
Freshman
DB 6'0 173lbs.
 
High School: Played three seasons of varsity football at Marietta High under head coach James Friday Richards...captained the team for one season...named the team’s Most Improved Defensive player his junior season...recepient of the 2008 Ben Wilkins Award for oustanding athletic and academic achievement...named Cobb County Touchdown Club Player of the Week in September 2008...once returned a fumble recovery 95 yards for a touchdown...also lettered in track & field and basketball for three seasons... in basketball, named Freshman MVP, won the 6th Man Award and helped the team to back-to-back region championships from 2007-08...in track, competed in the hurdles, high jump and pole vault and helped lead the team to region championships in 2007 and ’08 and the state championship in 2008.  

Derrick Brisbane

Soph.

LB 6'0 215lbs.

Newnan, GA

High School: Played four seasons of varsity football at Northgate High School under head coach Bill Luckie...was a linebacker and running back...named All-County and second-team All-Region as a sophomore...named second-team All-Area and second-team All-County as a junior...was the county Defensive Player of the Year his senior season...named All-County and second-team All-Region his senior year...holds the Northgate records for most tackles in a game (18) and is the second-leading tackler in school history with 326 takedowns...also played four seasons of varsity basketball and was on the track & field team for one season.

Chad Parham
Junior
DL 6'1 227lbs.
Fairburn, GA

High Schools: Played two varsity seasons at Creekside High School under head coach Kevin Whitley...as a senior, led Creekside to a second consecutive regional championship after being named to the All-State second team and the All-South Fulton first team...had 17 tackles in the team’s 2006 quarterfinal playoff loss against Marist...had 54 tackles and six sacks in the 2006 season...named to the All-South Fulton second team in 2005 as the Seminoles won the regional championship.

Tasi Suaava

Freshman

DL 5'11 268lbs.

Cleveland, GA

High School: Played four seasons of varsity football at White County High under head coach Gregg Seagraves...named first-team All-Region and first-team All-Area in both his junior and senior years...named team MVP as a senior and defensive line MVP as a junior...holds White County’s single-season sack record with eight in 2008...also threw the shot put and discus on the track & field team for two seasons.

Game Over in Statesboro

The folks in Statesboro should no longer be very nervous, they should be just plain scared.


From the Macon Telegraph article:
Hatcher spoke for approximately 30 minutes on Oct. 26 at the Atlanta Touchdown Club, and he discussed recruiting and how there were more schools recruiting Georgia in particular. He also lauded Georgia Southern as being a great school academically and spoke highly of Statesboro as a place to live.

That all went by the wayside when he was asked if Georgia State’s starting a football program would impact the Eagles’ recruiting.

“A good bit ... from them and the other Division I schools I mentioned and South Alabama,” Hatcher said. “They’re really racking up. There are more people out there trying to go after the same pool of players, and that makes it very difficult.” [As Atlanta's own Outkast said, "If you scared, say you scared."]

Hatcher may have been fine if he had stopped there, but he added to his answer.

“And at Georgia Southern we have a higher standard of admissions than the regular NCAA requirement,” Hatcher said. “To get guys in school (at Georgia Southern), you have to have a 1,000 (on the SAT) to just get in school, and for our football program, you actually need a 920 so that limits the pool a little bit from the 820 test score the NCAA requires.” [Excuses. Blaming academics at Fake GSU is absolutely laughable]

Oh yeah Chris Hatcher was fired yesterday. So much for being the football superpower. Yawn.

$450,000 Reasons to Play

This was not much different than the answer Georgia State coach Bill Curry gave to ESPN the Magazine when asked about playing Alabama.

So, one good reason for guarantee games is that good athletes get exposure to more noted talent and they get a chance to elevate their game to a higher level.

And there are other good reasons to play:

The money's good. The $450,000 check that Alabama will pay Georgia State will go a long way to covering the costs of Georgia State's football program. If your sports program is running a deficit, then another school might be willing to help close that financial gap for you.

Beyond the Box Score: IUPUI Loss

First of two Jaguars we will face in 6 days

Quotes of Note:

"It's a disappointing loss because we had opportunities at the end of regulation but we couldn't capitalize. Trae got a good look at the end, and I thought he might have been fouled, but that's the way it goes," said Georgia State head coach Rod Barnes.

"It's so important to get off to a good start in overtime, which we did when Joe came up with the steal, but we gave it right back to them on a defensive breakdown and from there, we let it get away."


Good:

-Played a good team even for 40 minutes. 

-Ousman Krubally brought it.  11 points and 13 rebounds.  If we could only put his energy into Xavier Hansbro.

Bad:

-Trae Goldston is a liability right now offensively.  2-9 and 1-6 from deep.  He's now shooting 25% from 3 point range.  So much for 3 point specialist.

-Dante Curry must really be fat and out of shape.  He can't sniff the court.  I don't expect him to be on this team at the end of the 1st semester.

Ugly:

-Joe Dukes had 6 turnovers. 15 assists and 17 TOs for the season. Absolutely unacceptable for a PG.

Next game vs. Utah Valley State on Wednesday in Mobile. Salvage a split this week and finally head home. 

My thoughts: This team really needs to learn how to score.  56 points per game vs. Division 1 opponents.  Let that sink in. We are arguably the worst team in Division 1 right now.

Beyond the Box Score: Howard win

Playing like his starting job depended on it

Quotes of Note: "We defended as well as we have in any game since I've been at Georgia State," said Panthers' head coach Rod Barnes. "It's exciting to play that kind of defense.

"Offensively, we executed better and got the ball inside, but we missed a lot of easy shots. With all the layups we had, we should have been able to shoot 50 percent. But I'm happy with the win, and very happy with the effort and energy on the defensive end. If we continue to defend like that, the offense will take care of itself."

Good:

-Win vs. Division 1 opponent (Our first this year).

-Trey Hampton took yesterday's bad game to heart and put up 12 points and 12 boards.  Bring these numbers on a consistent basis and we'll be in good shape.

-James Fields continues to play well off the bench. 

-Back to back good rebounding efforts including 16 offensive today.

Bad:

-Still not shooting well at all.  38% and 57 total points don't cut it

-Ousman Krubally should not start.  Ever. He's a bench player.

-Trae Goldston.  2-12 and 1-4 from the 3 point line.  This is not what we expected from our Sr. Guard.

Next game vs. IUPUI tomorrow at 1:15pm.

Beyond the Box Score: Drake Loss

Yet another Bulldog to dislike

Quotes of Note:

"It was a tough day for us shooting the ball," said Georgia State head coach Rod Barnes. "We've got to finish better around the basket. We got the ball to the rim, but too many times we couldn't finish.

"I'm happy that we made a run, but we're a better team than we showed today. This is a three-day tournament, so we've got to come right back tomorrow and play like I think we can."

Good:

-We get to play a bad Howard team tomorrow.

-Joe got loose for 20 points and Trae Goldston hit for 16

Bad:

-Xavier Hansbro and Trey Hampton combine for 0-12 from the field.  Absolutely terrible.

-Turnovers again kill us.  17 TOs will not work vs. quality teams.

Ugly:

-32.8% from the field.  Ugly shooting and 61 shots.  Just plain scary.

Final in Daytona. Drake 65. Georgia State 58.

Drake 35. Georgia State 27. Halftime.

TE Drew Pearson of Pepperell HS commits to Georgia State

Huge get.  Literally and figuratively.  This would be commit # 6.

From Scout.com:
Georgia State won a battle tonight against other D1 programs such as Arkansas State, Air Force as Pearson chose the new program in Atlanta.

" They really made me feel like a priority for them. From the time me and my Dad went down there the coaches made it very

Football Ticket Breakdown Released

Football season tickets will go on sale December 7th

Football season tickets will go on sale December 7th.

"The response to our new football program has been overwhelmingly positive, and we know that the Georgia State community is anxious to be a part of history in our inaugural season," said Director of Athletics Cheryl L. Levick. "Not only will our fans be able to cheer for the first football team in Georgia State history, but they will watch our new marching band and sing our new fight song."

The majority of the lower level seats at the Georgia Dome range in price from $72 - $125 for the seven-game package, with Georgia State faculty and staff receiving a 20 percent discount off those prices. Active military personnel also receive the 20 percent discount.


Premium mid-field season ticket packages range from $150 - $400, including a tax-deductible donation to the Panther Athletics Club (PAC). PAC members will also have access to Priority Parking.

Georgia State athletics also announced "The Huddle," an exclusive section of 300 ultra-premium seats located at midfield and priced at $2,500 per pair (must be purchased in pairs). The total cost includes a tax-deductible contribution to the PAC and provides season ticket holders with access to the exclusive Owner's Club, premiere Priority Parking and many other amenities.

Rest of the story: http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12700&ATCLID=204835339

Beyond the Box Score: Carver Bible College Win

Goldston dropping in a FT attempt

Quotes of Note:
"We're very happy to get the win, but we know we can play much better, especially defensively," said Georgia State head coach Rod Barnes. "Give credit to Carver; they like to get up a lot of shots and they've got some guys who are capable of scoring a lot, but we gave up too many easy baskets.
"We played well defensively in our first game, and we've practiced well, but tonight, we didn't play with the kind of cohesiveness on defense that we need.

Good News:
77-53. Panthers win.

Bad News:
-I cannot give credit to Carver.  They do not play Division 1 basketball and this game does nothing to prepare us for another out of conference game or CAA play.
-This same Carver Bible College team lost to Valdosta State on Monday night 122-79.
-Trae Goldston is continuing to struggle to find his shot.
-Joe Dukes turns the ball over 5 times.  Unacceptable.
-18 team turnovers do not cut it vs. any team.

Ugly News:
-Jamar Taylor and Mi'kyel Nero have yet to see the floor.  There is rumbling that Nero may be redshirting.  Both of these scholarships seem to be reaches and we are only one player better (Vincent) from the 208-09 team.  I see a net loss and we need a much better effort to have a shot to win a game in the non-conference schedule.

Halftime at the Sports Arena. 41-27. Good Guys.

Carver Bible College Preview & Prediction

Game #2.  We are at home which is good.  We play a team from the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) which will be playing the second game in two nights (they play tonight vs. Valdosta State, which beat the Cougers by 65 last season).  That's another good thing. 

On the surface, this seems like this should be an empty the bench and let everyone play game.  We all know how games vs. Shorter this year, Oglethorpe and Clark Atlanta last year went.  Easy on paper but as we know, games aren't played on paper.

Starting Lineup:
Dukes
Goldston
Lott
Hampton
Hansboro

We should have a sizeable height advantage and I expect us to pound the middle.  These guys should be tired and easily foul prone.

My prediction: 85-55.  Good Guys win.

Men's Basketball Eligibility Chart

2010

PG - Joe Dukes
SG - Trae Goldston
PF - Trey Hampton
PF - Xavier Hansbro
PF - Ousman Krubally
SF - Kevin Lott

2011
SG - Dante Curry
PG/SG - Marques Johnson
PF - Jamar Taylor

2012
PG - James Fields
SG - Mi'kyel Nero

2013
PF - James Vincent

2014 - Signed LOIs
SF - Harold Doby
SG - Jevonte Maynor
PG - Devonta White

*2 scholarships available for 2014.

Beyond the Box Score: NC State Loss

Ousman gave a Warrior Effort

Quotes of note: "It was a pretty good game for about 30 minutes, but we let it get away," said Georgia State head coach Rod Barnes. "Our guys gave great effort, but we came here to win a game, not just play hard."

Good:

-Ousman Krubally was an absolute force.  Wow.  I didn't think those two words could be uttered about someone weighing less than 200lbs. and playing in the post.

-Xavier Hansbro has put together nice back to back efforts.  I'll take 13 and 9 from my starting center any day.  Still needs to get comfortable 15 feet and in.

-Turnover numbers were better.  If we can stay in the 10-13 range we will be in every game we play this season.

Not so Good:

-FT shooting have to improve.  As many guys as we have that are able to penetrate, we need 20+ attempts per night.  The guys have to be aggressive in order to earn these.

-Jihad Ali played poorly and I'm glad Coach Barnes made the switch to Lott prior to the game.

Ugly:

-Joe Dukes and Trae Goldson continues to struggle finding their shot and both will really need to play better in order for our team to score. Games in the 50's and low 60's will result in another 20 loss season.

-Trey Hampton did not assert himself.  3 personal fouls and 3 turnovers in 10 minutes.  He'll lose his starting spot if this lasts more than this game.

NC State 69. Georgia State 53. Final.

NC State 32. Georgia State 29. Halftime.

Ali replaced in the lineup by Kevin Lott

Barnes indicates he hopes to fill 1 more scholarship in the early period.

Doby signs

Coach Barnes: "Harold is a great addition to our program, and we're really excited about his potential," said Barnes, whose squad opens the 2009-10 season tonight at NC State. "He is very versatile and athletic, and he's an excellent passer. He can play either forward position, but his future is at small forward, where we think he can really make an impact."

Doby is excited about it: "ALWAYS BEEN IN THE CAT FAMILY .............WENT FROM A JAGUAR(EAST AUGUSTA)TO A WILDCAT (LANEY)A WILDCAT TO A PANTHER (GEORGIA STATE).........."

Breaking Down the Pack with Jacey Zembal

Jacey Zembal covers Wolfpack basketball for TheWolfpacker.com and was kind enough to give me a few notes and what to expect tonight in Raleigh.

GSB: What kind of crowd should the Panthers expect?

JZ: I'd guess in between 13,000 and 15,000.  It's not likely to be a sellout but it's hard to say because it is the home opener.

GSB: What can we expect from NC State?

JZ: The Wolfpack will rely on 4 freshman heavily and Richard Howell [#61 player in the country according to Rivals.com] will likely be out until late November or early December.  Tracy Smith is the one constant.  He gets fouled heavily and rebounds the ball offensively.  Dennis Horner is streaky but a very good perimeter shooter. PG Javy Gonzalez came on late last season and in the last 10 games played really well.  Julius Mays has a high basketball IQ and can bust a zone. 

GSB: What style of play will NC State employ tonight?

JZ: The Worlfpack are primarily are halfcourt team but will look for transition opportunities.  Not really a pressing team. 

GSB: Is there any truth to the rumors that Coach Lowe is on the hot seat?

JZ: There is a vocal minority that are unhappy.  Overall the fanbase is please with the type of players that Lowe is bringing in.  I believe he's fine.  He's bringing in his type of players now because his first few years these players were from Coach Sendek's teams and now he can bring in his type of players and run his type of program.

For Entertainment Purposes Only: NC State Odds and Ends

NC State is a 10.5 point favorite tonight.  Over/Under is 127.

My Prediction: 71-58 NC State.

White and Maynor Sign LOIs.

DeVonta White at his signing day ceremony at Cenntennial High School

Georgia State Sports Release: http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12700&ATCLID=204831701

Men's Basketball Media Guide Available Online

NC State: Quotes and Notes

Game Notes:
https://www.nmnathletics.com//pdf4/654862.pdf?ATCLID=204830419&SPSID=53527&SPID=5655&DB_OEM_ID=12700

Notes from the Preview as well:

-Starting lineup will remain the same.

PG - Dukes

SG - Goldston

SF- Ali

PF - Hampton

C - Hansbro

Quotes to note:
NC State, coached by Sidney Lowe, returns two starters in Smith, a 6-8 junior forward (10.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg), and 5-11 junior guard Javi Gonzalez (6.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and welcomes one of the nation's top recruiting classes. [which will be without two of the four stud recruits for our game]

"I think Tracy Smith is one of the better inside players in the ACC [Smith is legit and should go for at least 20 against us]," said Barnes. "Their perimeter guys are young, but they gained a lot of experience last year and they shoot it well from the outside [we don't guard the 3 well, not good news]. And they've brought in a very talented recruiting class. [see note above, not really that great of a class and Sidney Lowe is feeling the heat]

""NC State runs some really good stuff, a lot of isolation plays that will really be a challenge for our defense. [We will rely on help D which is a major problem] And they're very aggressive on the boards." [Another issue as our inside guys, Hampton and Hansbro will not beat anyone on the glass]

Latest ESPN the Mag Coverage of Building the Program

It was a joke. Surely, it had to be. "It's our first year!" Bill Curry said into his BlackBerry. "No. We're not doing that."

It was February and the 67-year-old Georgia State coach, taking a break from Grandparents' Day at Sarah Smith Elementary School, near his Atlanta home, was talking to Bill McDonald, an associate athletic director at Alabama. McDonald had worked with Curry throughout the 1980s, at both Georgia Tech and Bama, but what he had just said seemed ridiculous. He wanted Curry's newborn Georgia State Panthers, who don't even start playing until next season, to plan a trip to Tuscaloosa and play the resurgent Crimson Tide.

"When is the game?" Curry asked.

"Nov. 20, 2010," McDonald replied.

"Come on," Curry told him. "Let's talk about 2012 or 2013."

"Nope. Take it or leave it."

"You can't be serious about this. We have mostly freshmen. Just give me another year, at least."

"Can't do it."

Rod Barnes Previews the Season with DC

Anything Dave does is a worthy read. No big suprises that jump out.

YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfIhzldrmuM

2010 Football Recruiting Update

A quick look at our verbal commits from my man SaintDK10:

LB Blake James Little Rock, AR Considered one of the top prospects coming out of Arkansas according to a Scout.com and was seriously looked at by Arkansas before he suffered a knee injury at the Bobby Petrino Football Camp at University of Arkansas of all places. His dad, Bruce James, was an All-American at Arkansas so this kid has great pedigree.
Link: http://rivals.yahoo.com/olemiss/football/recruiting/player-Blake-James-84723

DL Sherrod Loud, Worth County HS - Stud. Plain and simple. Offers from Louisiana Tech, Western Michigan, UAB and yes, Georgia Southern.
Link: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ucf/football/recruiting/player-Sherrod-Loud-103592

OL Tyler Pitt, Telfair County HS - Not much info on him other than that he's a 6-6 275 lbs. OT that is credited for being the best player on the Telfair County HS team. Honestly at this point with the way Curry and Co. are recruiting, any guy that commits and that there has not been much written about is probably just another guy that is flying under the radar.
Link: http://www.maxpreps.com/athletes/Bk4MEDk_F0mQOkBSxF79Eg/football-fall-09/profile-tyler-pitt.htm

TE Joey Gilkey, Etowah HS - Talk about flying under the radar, I don't know how this guy didn't get snagged by at least an ACC program, but the kid is #58 TE in the country according to ESPN. Apparently has a motor that never quits and is one of those guys that just "leaves it all out there."
ESPN link: http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=79771&season=2010&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncf%2frecruiting%2ftracker%2fplayer%3frecruitId%3d79771%26season%3d2010

CB Justin Hughes, Treasure Coast HS, Port St. Lucie, FL - According to Scout.com, he verballed to Troy in September, but must have changed his mind. He also had an offer from FIU. Seems like a solid get that will probably get used as a DB by us.
Link: http://rivals.yahoo.com/fiu/football/recruiting/player-Justin-Hughes-99704

Confirmed offers:
DT Danny Palmer, Lake Brantley, FL
6'4 240lbs.
Other offers include: Air Force, Navy, Northern Illinois, The Citadel
Link: http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=4280104

LB Eric Odonkor, Peachtree Ridge HS
6'0 220lbs.
Link: http://rivals.yahoo.com/auburn/football/recruiting/player-Eric-Odonkor-100994
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuQoZK0ANtY

Evaluating Our Fall Sports

As we approach the CAA tournaments in our fall sports, we give a detailed breakdown of each sport, the status of the team and my thoughts on the coaching situation.

Volleyball:
2009 Record - Currently sitting at 16-11 overall. 3-8 in CAA play.

Seniors on Roster: None

Coaching Situation: In his 5th year, Coach Webster has struggled to get out of the CAA cellar.

Moving forward: With only 2 matches in the regular season, Coach Webster's group in stuck in a 5 match losing streak. Not good considering this team was 13-3 going into October. Yes, this team won a total of 3 matches last season but 2 out of those 3 wins were in CAA play.

Men's Soccer:

2009 Record - Season Complete. 4-10-1. 2-9 in CAA play.

Seniors on Roster: 3 - F Stephan Minyono, MF/F Brett Cummins, MF Darryl Evans

Coaching Situation: 10 years for Coach Daser. 4 wins in 2009. 6 wins in 2008. 4 wins in 2007. 5 total CAA wins in 5 years.

Moving forward: Not really getting better. I do like the fact that he is getting his former players back in the mix but it former players don't help recruit better players or get you better in the conference. I'll be interested to see what the off season brings.

Women's Soccer:

2009 Record - Season Complete. 7-6-6. 1-5-5 in CAA play.

Seniors on Roster: 4 - D Marshett Clarke, D/MF Caitlin Smith, D Virginia Wood and D Kari Quinn

Coaching Situation: 10 years. 90 wins. 13 all-conference players and seven all-freshman honorees, while 58 of his student-athletes have been recognized with academic all-conference accolades.

Moving forward: Next steps for Coach Dom are to win the CAA. That's an obvious but extremely difficult goal considering they win 1 match this season.

Bill Curry to speak at Macon TD Club

The club meets at The Methodist Home for Children and Youth at 304 Pierce Avenue. The program begins at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, contact King Kemper at 750-7507 or Johnny Crawford at 471-8334 or visit www.macontouchdownclub.com.

Link: http://www.macon.com/160/story/909562.html

Settling the GSU Debate

"Never let facts get in the way of a good argument"

That's something I'd like to share with the cow poke and folks down in Statesboro.

From both schools websites:

Georgia Southern:

"...Ensuing decades found more name and mission changes: to Georgia Teachers College in 1939 and Georgia Southern College in 1959. Continued program and physical expansion, including one stretch, 1984-91 in which enrollment doubled from just more than 6,000 to 12,000 students. The institution would experience probably its biggest change in identity in 1990 when it became known as Georgia Southern University."

Georgia State:

...In September 1947, the school became affiliated with the University of Georgia and was named the "Atlanta Division of the University of Georgia." The school received its independence in 1955 and became the "Georgia State College of Business Administration." In 1961, other programs at the school had grown large enough that the name was shortened to "Georgia State College." It became Georgia State University in 1969.

1990 vs. 1969. I'll let you decide who the real GSU is. The University System of Georgia did in 1969.

Football Nuggets and Other Rumblings

President Mark Becker speaking to the Tampa Bay Alumni group dropped the following nuggets:

-The Falcons Visitor's Locker Room will be redone and rethemed for Georgia State. Imagine walking a recruit into the Georgia Dome and it has our logo, our colors in the largest FCS stadium.

-Speaking of the Georgia Dome, football seating will be restricted to the lower bowl (23,000) with students in one endzone and advertising banners in the other. We need to sellout the lower bowl to think about expanding into the higher levels.

-Homecoming game will be vs. Morehead State on October 2nd.

-We currently have 3,000 tickets committed for Alabama and trying to get more.

More notes to come...

2010 Men's Basketball Recruiting Update

4 days and counting until Early Signing Period Begins.

I'm very interested to see if Coach Barnes and staff can reel in another high school player as we already have 3 solid verbal commits.

PG DeVonta White

6'0 155lbs.
Centennial HS

ESPN's take: White is thin and small but his speed and quickness is what makes him special. He pushes the ball in transition with great pace and in the half court he weaves in and out of defenders to get into the lane at will.

Think: Herman Favors. Fearless driving to the lane and will need to get stronger to take the abuse but electric on the court.

SG Jevonte Maynor
6'1 165lbs.
South Gwinnett HS

ESPN's take: Maynor is a shooting guard in a point guard's body. He is a good athlete and is athletic for his size. He has a scorer's mentality. Maynor has good speed and quickness with the ball to beat defenders but his number one asset is his ability to shoot the 3 point shot.

Think: Trae Goldston. Great shooter and should immediately contribute.

Link on commitment: http://allmetrosports.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=373:south-gwinnett-shooter-stays-home&catid=52:aau-basketball&Itemid=86

SF Harold Doby
6'6 210lbs.
Oldsmar Christian (Orlando, FL)

ESPN's take: Harold is an excellent prospect who will contribute to Georgia State with his athleticism and passing ability from the small forward position. He is an excellent scorer in transition who can find teammates for easy baskets.

Think: Rashad Chase with dribbling ability and a 15 foot jump shot.

Youtube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etd8AzVYFO4

So what's next for the remaining two scholarships?

Losing Hampton and Hansbro, not knowing is Harris will arrive (my bet still is yes, by the way) and not being sure what Taylor can give us we must have an athletic power forward or center with some size.

Target:
PF Donte Williams
6'9 200lbs.
Miller Grove HS

ESPN's take: Williams is a long, thin, athletic power forward/center that plays with energy. He is a tough competitor that gets after it on the boards and gives his team extra possessions with his ability to offensive rebound. He is a tough competitor that will mix it up down low.

My take: If we are to land Williams (and pull him away from UGA amongst others), this would easily be the biggest recruiting coup in Georgia State history. He would play right away and we would dream of a front line of Williams, Harris and Vincent coming off the bench.

ESPN's Latest Video Entry

Video: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4426599

And Maynor Makes 3

Georgia State basketball coach Rod Barnes landed another Atlanta-area player for 2010recruiting class.

Javonte Maynor, a 6-foot, 170-pound shooting guard from South Gwinnett High in Snellville, committed to the Panthers earlier this month. Maynor is the third commitment and second Atlanta-area player for next season’s incoming class. He joins point guard DeVonta White of Roswell and 6-foot-6 swingman Harold Doby of Augusta.

“I actually made the decision a while ago,” said Maynor, who attended the Panthers’ exhibition game Tuesday night against Shorter. “I like the school and the other players and it’s close to home. And playing for Coach Barnes was a big attraction. He’s coached a lot of good players in his career and I think he can make me into the best player I can be.”

Read the rest of Chip Tower's article: http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2009/11/04/s-gwinnetts-maynor-third-to-commit-to-georgia-state/

What can we expect in Raleigh?

If we are to assume that Coach Rod Barnes stays with the same starting lineup up (Dukes, Goldston, Ali, Hansbro and Hampton) we will see a likely lineup that will have a size disadvantage.

Wolfpack's Lineup from last night's exhibition game vs. Division II St. Paul's (an 84-42 win by the home team).

6'0 Javier Gonzalez
6'7 Scott Wood
6'6 C.J. Williams
6'9 Tracy Smith
6'9 Dennis Horner

They also send 7'1 Jordan Vandenberg and 6'9 Deshawn Painter which will really hurt us in the rebounding department.

We do have a better guard play and hopefully should shoot quite a bit better than we did vs. Shorter. This team scored 73 points per game last season but had a rebounding advantage of nearly 3 ppg.

I'll give my prediction next week but I'm struggling to find many positives in our trip to the ACC heartland.

How concerned am I that we beat an NAIA school by 4 points?

Not really at all. It could have been worse.

We had a lead of 68-51 with only 3:27 to play. Our lineup at the time was:

Dante Curry
Jamar Taylor
Ousman Krubally
James Fields
Marques Johnson

As I suspected, not a starter in the bunch. Yes, they should have handled the last few minutes better. Curry missed 2 point blank layups and all of a sudden Shorter has rattled off an 11-0 spurt.

The effort will improve. As we talked about already, .500 in the CAA and overall would be a worthy goal.

Best 2009-10 Men's BBall Preview I've Seen

Georgia State Panthers
Last Season 12-20 (.375)
Conference Record 8-10 (8th)
Starters Lost/Returning 2/3
Coach Rod Barnes (Ole Miss '88)
Record At School 21-41 (2 years)
Career Record 162-150 (10 years)
RPI Last 5 years 161-238-232-283-230

COACH AND PROGRAMGeorgia State's season last year was a lot like a pot of chili: there were a lot of active ingredients that needed time to blend -- five transfers and two freshmen dotted the roster and held down a majority of the playing time.

The Panthers weren't a culinary delight early. In fact, they entered February with only three wins over Division I opponents. But by the time everything cooked down, the end result was pretty darned tasty. They won five of their final seven games, and the only two losses were to conference champion VCU.

"Our biggest problem was that we thought our seniors would play better early," said coach Rod Barnes, a former national coach of the year at Ole Miss. "It took longer to jell because it didn't give the other guys an opportunity to get into a rhythm."

PLAYERS
It's a shame more people don't see third-team All-CAA selection Joe Dukes (12.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.3 apg,) more often. The 6-1 senior is the kind of player you enjoy watching because he impacts the game on every level, on every possession.

Dukes led the Panthers in scoring, assists, minutes, and steals, and he was second on the team in rebounding. He prefers a power midrange game but can also shoot it from deep -- he hit 35 percent of his threes last year (25-of-72).

He may not garner the attention other guards in the conference do, but Dukes is every bit the player. His "problem" is that he is a coach's dream: his first priority is what Barnes needs to help the Panthers win.

"I told him we need him to be more assertive, more selfish," Barnes said. "Part of the problem last year was that he was trying to fit in and we didn't need him to fit in, we needed him to be the guy, to take a strong leadership role."

Trae Goldston (10.8 ppg, 1.7 apg, 1.5 rpg) is a cat-quick southpaw who, for the second straight season, was the Panthers' second leading scorer. The 6-1 senior carries an assassin's confidence and the shot to go with it. Goldston buried a three in the waning seconds to beat both Old Dominion and UNC Wilmington last year.In fact, the deep ball is Goldston's specialty. He is a career 39 percent marksman from behind the line, and an 82 percent free-throw shooter to boot.

"We want Trae to expand his game a little bit and not rely on the three-point shot," Barnes said.
"When defenders close out, he needs to put it on the deck and penetrate to pitch it or pull up from 15 feet."

The player that could change the season for Barnes is Trey Hampton (4.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg). The 6-7 senior was first on the team and 10th in the CAA in blocked shots (27) and is an athletic and tough player. Hampton connected on 48 percent from the field and is willing to get after it on the offensive end (40 offensive rebounds).

The change? Consistency and a little selfishness. Hampton blitzed UNC Wilmington with 12 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, an assist and a block last season. Barnes would love to see a little more of that.

"I get his back against the wall when I don't play him and he comes out and plays well, but then thinks 'hey I'm doing all right,' " Barnes said. "We need him to consistently score 10, 12, 8, 14 points; not 25 one night and four the next."

This is especially important for Barnes, because prized recruit Rashanti Harris will not step onto the Georgia State campus until at least December. The team will need a rebounder on the blocks, which is Harris's forte.

If he does show in December, Harris will need to blend with the team, not just in practice but in games. However Harris is a top 30 recruit with a devastating fierceness to rebound and a high motor. There is no doubt that his addition will be a boon to the Panthers, much a like baseball team picking up a prized starting pitcher in July.

If not Hampton or Harris, junior Dante Curry (6.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.0 spg) could be the difference-maker. Curry is an athletic 6-5 guard who can shoot and drive, which al-lows him to score in bunches. He has range (.350, 28-of-80 3PT) and is fearless -- he poured in 18 points in the defining game of the season, a February win at Northeastern. Oddly, he was just 17-of-33 (.515) from the free-throw line.Curry, a transfer from USF, battled a sore Achilles that limited his effectiveness all season. He stopped attacking the basket and settled for jump shots, but Barnes says he has a better all-around game than he showed.

Xavier Hansbro (4.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg), is a 6-10 senior and confusing talent. Hansbro has an array of post moves and is comfortable stepping out to the three-point line (11-of-50 from beyond the arc last season). Hansbro dropped 16 points against Bowling Green in his first GSU game, and repeated the effort against George Mason but reached double figures only two other times all season.

The confusion is figuring out how to turn it on and off.

Lanky, elbows-everywhere Ousman Krubally (2.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg) is a fun player to watch if only because he plays at one speed: full tilt. The 6-6 senior is a former walk-on and a fan favorite. He is also an effective offensive rebounder and defender -- he took three charges against Florida State.

Though he scores mainly on stick-backs and tip-ins (.660, 33-of-50 FG), Krubally can't be left alone. He averaged 9.0 points and 5.8 rebounds during GSUs late-season four-game streak. His free-throw accuracy is part of the legend -- Krubally was 15-of 34 (.440) last year.Sophomore James Fields (2.3 ppg, 1.0 apg, 1.1 rpg) is a big 6-3 guard who will primarily back up Dukes at point. Fields is one of the better defenders on the team, which may earn him additional floor time.

Kevin Lott (2.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg) is a 6-7 senior who gets farther from the basket with every game he plays. Lott came to GSU a post player, but he's drifted out to the three-point line as his career progressed. He took only one three his freshman season. Last year 12 of his 19 made field goals were threes, and Lott seldom strayed from the arc. The reduction in aggressiveness led to a reduction in production and thus playing time.

Redshirt sophomore Jihad Ali (3.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg in 2007-08) played his freshman season but chose to redshirt last year. The 6-5 lefty showed an all-around game in his first year. He hit 11 threes and contributed 26 assists, 16 steals and nine blocked shots.

Marques Johnson is a 6-5 junior guard on his third team. He transferred to GSU from NC State, by way of Tennessee. He played in only four games for Tennessee (2.0 ppg, 1.3 apg) before moving on to NC State, where his stats weren't much better in one season (2.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.2 apg). Johnson can play both guard spots and might have finally found the level of D-I where he can fill a consistent role.

Barnes has added three newcomers along with Harris that will vie for time. Mi'Kyel Nero is a 6-4 sophomore who plays out on the wing. He's from Brunswick (N.C.) Community College, where last season he averaged 10.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

Nero's teammate at Brunswick, 6-9 junior Jamar Taylor, is more of a banger. He averaged 8.1 points and 6.7 rebounds as a sophomore.

Barnes rounded out the roster with more size, 6-10, 230-pound freshman James Vincent. He's
from Northside High School in Columbus, Ga., where last season he averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
BACKCOURT: B
BENCH/DEPTH: B
FRONTCOURT: B
INTANGIBLES: B

Barnes will kick up the tempo. The Panthers were not a bad shooting team, didn't turn the ball over a great amount, and weren't terrible rebounders. However they still finished last in the conference in scoring (60.3 ppg). What's worse, Georgia State took the second fewest number of free throws and was the league's worst free-throw shooting team at 61.6
percent.

"We don't get enough attempts," Barnes said. "We're going to change. We've got to play a faster pace."

But Barnes has the continuity of a veteran team that played together last season. Take the momentum generated from last year and add the new ingredient to the mix, and the Panthers could be serving dinner earlier this season.

At worst, though, Barnes has already delivered a very important ingredient to rebuilding the Georgia State program last season: Hope.

What Dekalb County's Vote really means for Georgia State Football

If you haven't seen the story, in a unanimous vote earlier this week, Dekalb County rejected is a plan for the Falcons stadium on the old GM plant in Doraville.

http://www.ajc.com/news/doraville-doesn-t-see-170166.html

So what does this really mean for Georgia State football?

I believe it is two fold:

1) Contrary to popular belief, Arthur Blank will not just blow the Dome up and contruct a brand new facility on that site. The City of Atlanta will fight tooth and nail and real estate experts that I've talked to want an extension of the Georgia World Congress Center to rival Chicago and Orlando in efforts to attract even more convention business.

2) We will be forced to follow the Falcons wherever they land (my personal belief is up I85 or I985 closer to the Falcons practice facility). This would also increase our rent quite significantly and would really put us in a tight spot financially if we haven't increased fundraising significantly by then.

This gives us quite a dilemma. Should we be pushing hard for an intown stadium and even offer to help the Falcons or should we set aim on an exisiting in town stadium to renovate?