About The Red and Black (Athens, Ga.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 2, 2007)
6 Friday. March a, 2007 I The Red a Black Stakes to return on Senior Day By PHILLIP KISUBIKA pkisubika@randb.com In recent seasons. Senior Day has been a time to cele brate the contributions of senior players and managers to the Georgia men's basket ball season. This year, the final home game of the regular season will carry significant weight for the Bulldogs, as the team is on the bubble of getting into the NCAA tournament. Also, there is a burden on the shoulders of one senior. Last Saturday, Levi Stukes was excited about the chance to play one more game at Stegeman Coliseum. “My whole college career has been one to remember,” he said at the time. "There’s so much stuff that I’ve done in college that when I sit down and think about it. I’ll be pretty happy with everything." Fast forward almost a week later, and now Stukes is mired in controversy heading into Georgia’s (17-11. 8-7 SEC) matchup with Tennessee (21- 9, 9-6) this Saturday in Athens. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald Thursday. Stukes was suspended for Wednesday's game at Kentucky, which the Bulldogs lost 82-70, after he missed a team weightlifting session and had a verbal altercation with a member of the team's strength and conditioning staff. Stukes did practice with the team on Thursday and will play in Saturday's game. Diamond Dogs attempt to avoid early miscues Bulldogs want to strike early By JAMIE CWALINSKI jcwalinsk@randb.com Tuesday night's come-from behind win against No. 22 Winthrop had some Diamond Dogs (4-4) deeming it a "defin ing victory" for a young team. As satisfying as the rally was. others saw the outcome as a chance to learn to avoid having to rally in the first place. ‘•(The win) shows we're resilient, but also that if we play more up tempo early, we won’t have to be in this posi tion,” third baseman Ryan Peisel said. A large part of avoiding the comeback is easy getting the bats going earlier in the game. In their last three contests, the Diamond Dogs have failed to score a run in the first five innings, overshadowed by the fact that they managed to win two of them with late runs. Just two Georgia regulars are batting over .300. The two sluggers are outfielders Matt Cerione at .385 and Jonathan Wyatt at .321. Though the offense has come through later in the game, the early slumps have coach David Pemo again tin kering with the lineup in preparation for a three-game home series with USC, which HMWfeMBUBftBHBSiJ r ttwmMvfkfiiWN | Sonde Wmlii'8.001.11:00 || m Sonde SdwlWij*. I 1 Hid VHViwHOpm.W I ZfMftwStrw mva-m Tiwnh Bopthi ow<6 ■ VOtMkrU - 706 W Ki r , I -I - oqj/doAaa I B/mil'OQMntanlS**i'rJ I! MnfcdiySM 4 MtaMNrt* t g jUlUfc} 1 U_, r C—... ■ WwWfJ Wft w.'BWV VHHKrifjUjfß sf ttevi-WwdoySom. 1 m 1 g- fondefridetax I I j | MEN'S BASKETBALL Senior Day Tennessee (21-9, 9-6 SEC) vs. Georgia (17-11, 8-7) When: 4 p.m. Saturday Where: Stegeman Coliseum Student Ticket Info: Student tickets will be sold today at the UGA Bookstore from 9 a.m. • 4 p.m. and Saturday at Coliseum Booth 4 from 2 - 4 p.m. Tickets are $2 each. All sales are cash only. University students will be allowed to purchase a maximum of four tickets, provided they show four valid UGA ID cards. Only student tickets remain available He is Georgia’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made and attempted, and he has aver aged 11.9 points per game over his college career. On Stukes’ return, junior guard Sundiata Gaines said, "He’ll bring some leadership on the court, and he expands the game for me ” Despite the controversy surrounding Stukes, the fact remains that it also will be forward Steve Newman’s final regular season game. Newman, the first player signed by head coach Dennis Felton when he came to Georgia, has averaged 5.1 points per game in his four years in red and black. Though he has seen a decrease in his time on the court, the Orlando, Fla. native has made some memories this season, including his heroics Georgia sophomore Nathan Moreau pitched in a loss to Perdue earlier this week begins today. As was the case Tuesday, look for Peisel to be batting second, shortstop Gordon Beckham to be at cleanup and catcher Joey Lewis to drop to sixth against the Trojans. “We (made the move) to take some pressure off Joey,” Pemo said Tuesday. "Gordon brings the most threat of power. We've got Peisel going, but he's not a typical four or five hitter.” A complete performance at the plate will be key as the Diamond Dogs look to gain a measure of revenge against the Trojans (10-7), who took two of three in Los Angeles last season. A frequent baseball power house, USC (like Georgia) enters the weekend as win ners of three of the last four while rebuilding under new coach and former major league catcher Chad Kreuter. Lefty Nathan Moreau (1-0, 0.82 ERA) will take the hill today, attempting to extend his dominating start, as opponents are bat ting just .091 against him in two starts. farapis Virw Owrrfc of fhml fl SundovßiklfSfodv9 Iftam ffi;: Henwf AwskK tO / fuming Smrtfi Grooms !§| 'Grwnn nw6l < <m '• N* I a " nwapomMuj Ml IMSLapiafcftfcUXlM I B mm 1 I OorpfirwwVixiwfWff I - -'I I A tm of sputtiwi (wnutm. I pfw wi wors)^ Awtiii/u/inw Sdfi B|i'A(lS IjimpkmV hm U !Wrffi| B mm | || (nnweMWiipflwfli I I Mrftmf 1000 ajji Sunday I S| wwwxwswwWiMfq - ] wuari-Mwm |; mm* ?'***', LINDY DUGGER TANARUS R . But A Georgia guard Levi Stukes battles Mississippi State's Dietric Slater for a loose ball. Stukes will return from a one-game suspension for Georgia’s game with Tennessee. Jan. 17 against Arkansas, when he sank the game-win ner. “I’ve had a great four years,” Newman said “It’s always been my goal to play in the (NCAA) tourna ment. Hopefully we can do enough to get on the good side of the tournament’s Women’s tennis prepares for Arkansas matchup The No. 12 Georgia women’s tennis team (7-0) will try to continue its stellar play as they travel to Fayetteville to take on the No 45 Arkansas Lady Razorbacks (6-2) today. On Wednesday Georgia put in an inspired effort that led to an upset over No 6 Georgia Tech, ending a two match drought against the Yellow Jackets. The last thing coach Jeff Wallace wants is for the team to let their guard down and over look Arkansas. “We can't have a letdown, that's number one,” Wallace said. “We’ve got to realize that now we are in the SEC race, and we’ve got to get over there and be mentally ready to get back out there to compete and battle.” Senior Natalie Frazier and sophomore Monika Dancevic played through exhausting matches on Wednesday, battling back from early deficits to win. According to Wallace, both players experienced minor injuries, and it is unclear if they will play during Friday's dual match. "No decision has been made right now,” Wallace said. “We've got to just get there and have our meeting and see how everyone is doing and make decisions at that point.” After playing Arkansas, the Lady Bulldogs will finish a tough stretch of three matches in five days as they I Ostisibs Vklor ljifbrr Churrh I Iflljjjnl (nr,tar f wtu J'Uw'ln VrlliTl HI KxkAn. I utKarii, 'vlH/tatif it4l/iu’ Stf> (vvb |H ”ww* I Fpvnn inivF>Hi|f WfdndeßiblrMyHp HaWWftauSVKIMS* - M V){ 5801 K 1 Bnttw ItawwiN MMip of Wh*J| mw>m 780 TomAyM tan, 6*50606 E fHi 1 ■ W U*ni ini, I *pW> nlllMn <DW HH® MWH. ■ Wjs|i|ggjVjteiu I To advertise your worship services, call: 706-433-30 1 1 SPORTS selection committee.” With a win against the Vols Saturday and two or three wins in next week's SEC Tournament in Atlanta, the Bulldogs still could make it to the Big Dance. "(Saturday’s game) is defi nitely a must win,” Gaines said. will travel to Baton Rouge to take on No. 51 LSU on Sunday. Jason Butt Equestrian team faces USC again The undefeated Georgia equestrian team will be heading to South Carolina this Saturday to face the Gamecocks for the second time this season. “In our minds. USC is one of our top competitors,” said head coach Meghan Boenig. Jessica Luton Georgia hosting Zone B dive meet Today Georgia hosts the three-day NCAA Zone B Diving Meet at Gabrielsen Natatorium. There are five Zone com petitions going on this week end, and the top 35 men and the top 41 women will advance to the NCAA Championships. Eight men and 11 of those women will come from Zone B. Today’s and Saturday’s meets begin at noon and Sunday's starts at 10 a m. Staff Reports ft... ,!7!im I* We’re open until 8 pm the week 2 / ■• before spring break! f ftl We do all wax inf) and hair services. \ flft m. .• ff t.,l[ l Jf,||l lll f M | M t l Jt l jt.t,A l f ll ftJlJJlL|^^^^^^ftA^^^^^^J,tJL > \ 1 FOOD COURT & MOVIE THEATER L Macy's • Sears • Belk • JCPenney Jf B Mon - Sat 10 am-9 pm H| Sunday 11am -6 pm HRH 3700 Atlanta Highway • Athens, GA 30606 706-549-5470 • georgiasquaremall.com Tennis begins SEC play with Ark., LSU By PARKER MORGAN pmorgan@randb.com After defeating many of the best teams In the nation during their pre-conference schedule, the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (10-0) begin SEC play this week end with matches against Arkansas (6-7) today and No. 20 LSU (6-1) on Sunday. “The SEC schedule is a grind,” said assistant coach Will Glenn. “It’s long and strenuous, and well keep working hard at practice. That’s the best way we know how to prepare.” Georgia faces an Arkansas squad that is struggling, having dropped four of its last five matches including a 1-6 loss at the hands of No. 23 Tulsa (7-3) whom Georgia recently defeated 7-0. The real test will come Sunday when the Bulldogs face off against LSU. The Tigers bring a talented ros ter to Athens, having two doubles teams ranked in the top 25. Georgia competed against LSU’s ranked dou- ICNNA FINOLAN | Thi Kri. a Bgu a ▲ Freshman Grace Taylor performs her floor routine during a meet against Auburn. Gym Dogs trek out, prepare for UCLA By MEGAN HARRISON mharrison@randb.com In the last road meet of the regular season, the No. 2 Gym Dogs (10-0-1) are look ing to see California and hit all four of the events. This Sunday, when the ladies of the blue mats take to the floor in Los Angeles to take on No. 6 UCLA (8-4), the team will try to improve on inconsistencies that have plagued the team recently. That may be easier to do with the competition. According to coach Suzanne Yoculan, the Bruins are a team the Oym Dogs are looking forward to the meet because the strong competi tion helps them perform better. MEN'S TENNIS No. 1 Georgia (10-0) va. Arkansas (6-7), today, 2:30 p.m vs. No. 20 LSU (6-1), Sunday, 1 p.m. All matches are at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. Admission is free. bles teams earlier in the year at the SEC Indoors with mixed results. John Isner and Josh Varela knocked ofT the No. 6 pair ing of Ken Skupski and James Cluskey in a dramat ic comeback, only to fall to the No. 25 duo of Colt Gaston and Danny Bryan in the finals. Gaston and Bryan beat Georgia’s No. 5 duo of Matic Omerzel and Travis Helgeson to reach the championship match. "(LSU’s) definitely a very tough, physical team,” Helgeson said. “We’re going into that match knowing we can win at each spot, but also that it’s going to be a grind at each spot.” “(UCLA is) healthier and stronger now,” Yoculan said, referencing the early season injuries and problems that marred the Bruins’ season. But the meet also is about Georgia being able to live up to the potential Yoculan sees in her team. If the team can post a mid-197, then it can drop a 196.1 score from a January meet which would improve the RQS for the team and overtake No. 1 Florida "If we cannot execute, we are not the best team in the nation, and clearly we are No. 2 right now," she said. Yoculan said the team can be No.l and win another championship. “If anyone’s doubting us right now, then they are mak ing a big mistake.”
