Furman is going to take their shot at an SEC team on Friday night- the last game before Christmas Break for the Southern Conference.
The Paladins have made an interesting addition in the last couple of games. Bryson Barnes (a 6-6 senior who played just 7.5 minutes per game and scored 2.5 points per game last year) has played the last two games, averaging 24 minutes and 18 points in those two games, including 26 in the win over Western Kentucky. Combine that with his eight rebounds per game and it is easy to see that he has been a huge addition. He not only had 26 points against the Hilltoppers, but also eleven rebounds, shot 3 of 3 from three point range, and made 11 of 14 free throws. He also had two blocks. In the loss to Presbyterian, he went 0 for 1 from three point range, while scoring ten, collecting five rebounds, and one block. So, Barnes is an interesting part of the equation for the Paladins at this point. He had been a valuable part of the team in his freshman and sophomore years, before fading last year. He's already scored more points than he scored all of last year.
Richard Brown is averaging 10.2 points per game, and is the leading scorer other than Barnes. He is also the team leader in assists, averaging 3.3 per game. He is shooting 47.5% from the field. Bryant Irwin is averaging 10 points per game, with 4.8 rebounds per game. Three more Paladins average over eight points per game. Charlie Reddick averages 9.6 points and 4.4 rebounds. Brandon Sebirumbi averaged 9.1 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field. Bobby Austin is averaging 8 points per game, three rebounds per game, and 1.8 assists per game.
Furman ranks 184th in the country in scoring and below 213th in field goal percentage. That looks high scoring and hot shooting compared to the Bulldogs. They rank 310th in scoring and 313th in field goal percentage. Ouch.
Gerald Robinson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope lead the Bulldogs in scoring. They are both averaging 13.6 points per game. Robinson averaged 3.3 assists per game. Caldwell-Pope averages 1.6 steals per game and 5.3 rebounds per game. Donte Williams averages 5.5 rebounds per game. Marcus Thornton leads the team in rebounding at 6.3 boards per game. Thornton is a really strange case. He is averaging 6.3 rebounds per game, but is shooting 13 of 52 from the field, or 25%, in 24 minutes per game.
Georgia has scored over 70 points only twice- in wins over South Dakota State, and in a win over Mercer on Tuesday night. The win over Mercer came on the heels of the win over USC over the weekend last weekend. However, that followed five losses in six games against California, Colorado, Cincinnati, Xavier, and Georgia Tech (the losses), while beating Notre Dame. The win over Wofford at the beginning of the year by 13 was a solid win for the Bulldogs as well.
KEYS TO THE GAME
--Does Barnes play like he did against Western Kentucky or Presbyterian?
--Rebounding. The team that collects more offensive rebounds could be huge, because offensive possessions are going to be big in this game, since both teams are struggling offensively.
--Offensive efficiency. Again, not turning the ball over will be key because possessions are one key to this game. Both teams just need to get their hands on the ball. Scoring the ball is going to be tough in this game, so not losing possessions to offensive rebounds or turnovers could be key.
LEAD PIPE LOCK PREDICTIONS THAT ARE SURE TO GO WRONG
--Robinson and Caldwell-Pope will have solid games.
--Thornton will present problems to Furman's defense, particularly their defensive rebounding.
--The Paladins balance will cause problems for the Bulldogs defense.
--Georgia 61, Furman 54. The Bulldogs are starting to play a bit better, coming up with their two best wins of the year over USC and Mercer in their last two games. They should continue to play solid basketball and that should be just enough to prevent the SoCon upset.
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