Expectations high for Bulldogs

Sixth in a series previewing SEC basketball teams.

— It didn’t take Mark Fox long to get Georgia out from under the radar.

One year after taking over a struggling program, Fox has the Bulldogs back on the road to respectability, at least as far as the media is concerned. The media voted Georgia to finish third in the SEC East andput two Bulldogs on the preseason All-SEC first team.

Fox is quick to point out that preseason predictions don’t amount to much once the ball bounces for real. It’s the same thing Fox told his players last year when the Bulldogs were the unanimous choice to finish last in the SEC East, which turned out to be accurate.

“You give anybody in this room - men’s coach, women’s coach, player, whatever - and ask them if they would rather be picked at the bottom or the top, they’ll say the top,” Fox said during SEC media day. “If you have expectations, it means you’re doing your job right. We like the fact that people believe in our team.

“I remind my team often not to believe what people said on the outside.”

Georgia’s positive preseason vibe is largely the result of Fox’s coaching acumen and the presence of juniors Trey Thompkins, a 6-10 forward, and Travis Leslie, a 6-4 guard. Thompkins, the preseason pick for player of the year, averaged 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore, and Leslie averaged 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds.

“Expectations are only expectations,” Thompkins said. “We want to be completely prepared to prove that we are deserving of everything we’ve gotten in the preseason.”

Fox said the selection of two players to the preseason team was a sign of respect for the progress the team has made in a short time. He also called the preseason vote a popularity contest similar to a homecoming court.

“They feel a buzz about their team, and I think that’s good,” Fox said. “They realize it doesn’t make any difference on game night.”

Thompkins and Leslie made the preseason All-SEC team, as the Bulldogs were the only team with more than one selection to the first team. The Bulldogs return four starters and have a nice package of newcomers that could alleviate some of the depth problems that hampered Georgia in 2009.

“We have to be a better defensive team,” Fox said. “Last year, we had to sit in a zone with our limited numbers. This year we won’t have to do that. That will hopefully enable us to win on the road.”

The Bulldogs had some notable victories last year - beating ranked teams Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Vanderbilt - but struggled on the road. Georgia was 0-8 in SEC road games and the Bulldogs’ only victory against a conference team away from Stegeman Coliseum came against Arkansas in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Nashville.

“You have to make progress in small steps,” Fox said.“Learning how to win was a step for this team, how to win a big game was a step for this team, how to win on the road is another step. We know this is a long run and we just try to keep taking steps forward.”

Thompkins said he believes the lessons the team learned last year will pay dividends this year. The Bulldogs were shorthanded but managed a respectable season through hard work and tough play.

“We were a tough team last year, and I think that toughness is going to carry over and be very evident this year,” Thompkins said. “I think we can get deep into the tournament. I’m proud of our team, but I’m not satisfied. We’re going to work hard every day to reach our full potential.”

Sports, Pages 23 on 10/28/2010

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