Bruce Pearl is speaking to the media Thursday afternoon to preview Saturday's game at Georgia. Here's a summary...
** The league is maybe as good as it's ever been. We might get nine teams in the NCAAT and really there are 11 teams including Georgia that are in range. They've had a good year. Their home losses -- ALA, UK, USC, UT -- they were all close. UGA is still fully engaged.
** UGA has a good backcourt. Their guard are good. They're good at the 4 and they've improved at the 5.
** UT has won five road games, UA, UK and USC have won four. We've won three. We have not played well on the road. We've not shot it well. But we have three more opportunities to dispel that. It's not going to be easy.
** We will be without Jaylin Williams. He will travel with us to UGA. The injury didn't do any major damage. After UGA, we'll go from there (game by game). Initially thought it could be 10-14 days but we'll see.
** Some of the best teams in our league has 3-4 really good guards. It takes more than just a couple playing well for us. There needs to be a step-up on the defensive end and we need to shoot it better. Our guards haven't shot well in SEC play.
** Our 38% FG defense is one of the best Pearl's ever had. Says a lot about our effort.
** Chaney Johnson is in almost every morning shooting. He'll have an opportunity to play more. Replacing Jaylin will be by committee. We've won when Jaylin has played well. Hasn't been the case when he hasn't played well.
** Held UK 20 under their average. You told me that and I think we should win. We can do a better job rebounding. We got to stop the shot and then get the ball. Limit 2nd-chance points.
** Took a couple of days off. Needed it mentally more than anything. We have five games left in regular season and players know they're all important. We can finish from 1-7 in the SEC.
** Bye week helped us get organized without Jaylin. We needed it. Been a grind since start of SEC play.
*****THAT'S ALL*****
** The league is maybe as good as it's ever been. We might get nine teams in the NCAAT and really there are 11 teams including Georgia that are in range. They've had a good year. Their home losses -- ALA, UK, USC, UT -- they were all close. UGA is still fully engaged.
** UGA has a good backcourt. Their guard are good. They're good at the 4 and they've improved at the 5.
** UT has won five road games, UA, UK and USC have won four. We've won three. We have not played well on the road. We've not shot it well. But we have three more opportunities to dispel that. It's not going to be easy.
** We will be without Jaylin Williams. He will travel with us to UGA. The injury didn't do any major damage. After UGA, we'll go from there (game by game). Initially thought it could be 10-14 days but we'll see.
** Some of the best teams in our league has 3-4 really good guards. It takes more than just a couple playing well for us. There needs to be a step-up on the defensive end and we need to shoot it better. Our guards haven't shot well in SEC play.
** Our 38% FG defense is one of the best Pearl's ever had. Says a lot about our effort.
** Chaney Johnson is in almost every morning shooting. He'll have an opportunity to play more. Replacing Jaylin will be by committee. We've won when Jaylin has played well. Hasn't been the case when he hasn't played well.
** Held UK 20 under their average. You told me that and I think we should win. We can do a better job rebounding. We got to stop the shot and then get the ball. Limit 2nd-chance points.
** Took a couple of days off. Needed it mentally more than anything. We have five games left in regular season and players know they're all important. We can finish from 1-7 in the SEC.
** Bye week helped us get organized without Jaylin. We needed it. Been a grind since start of SEC play.
*****THAT'S ALL*****
