‘There are no excuses’: Why the 2020-21 Lady Bulldogs season will prove pivotal
A myriad of negative feelings could be expected as a team walks out of an arena after a 33-point loss to end a season. Georgia, on the other hand, ended its season in early March by walking out of Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville with optimism.
The Lady Bulldogs felt like a tighter SEC tournament contest could’ve been had with the nation’s top dogs, South Carolina, but it didn’t quite feel like a drubbing. Georgia hung around, competed and a glaring advantage in Gamecock depth took over after a few scoring runs. Georgia had a pulse of hope at certain times.
That’s against a South Carolina team that Lady Bulldogs head coach Joni Taylor could’ve seen competing for a national title, no less. Georgia finished 17-14 (7-9 SEC) and was not projected as an NCAA tournament team before the coronavirus pandemic canceled the postseason.
“It’s pretty disappointing that (the season) didn’t turn out how we wanted,” departing senior Stephanie Paul said in a phone interview. “I thought we could’ve been better. I still think we grew up a lot and made a good run at the end.”
Throughout the season’s final stretch, there were many reasons to justify progression and heightened morale as the basketball season screeched to a halt. Georgia won its SEC tournament opener against Alabama and planned to play in the postseason, likely the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
Taylor confirmed those plans to The Telegraph as she saw it as an opportunity to have “stretched ourselves and grown.”
▪ Forward Jenna Staiti, who will return to Georgia for a fifth season, erupted on a late-season tear. A size mismatch at 6-foot-5, Staiti had 15-or-more points in nine consecutive games and hit the 20-point mark in four straight. She found renewed confidence and trust from the coaches. It sets up for a senior season that could result in WNBA discussions.
▪ After a season-altering home loss to Missouri on Feb. 6, Georgia won five of its final eight games.
▪ A collection of role players emerged. Freshmen Chloe Chapman and Jordan Isaacs saw an uptick in playing time and production. Chapman evolved into a viable option for starter-like minutes in 2020-21 as a proficient two-way player with speed and strong passing.
“We did all of this without Que Morrison (who underwent labrum repair surgery) too,” Taylor said. “We were growing and peaking at the right time.”
A few months back, Taylor referenced Georgia’s youth. Five underclassmen averaged double-digit minutes, with Chapman leading the group at 14.4 minutes per game. One turn of the academic calendar later, Georgia’s inexperience turns into veteran leadership, and only one chance remains for many of them.
Four seniors — Staiti, Gabby Connally, Que Morrison and Maya Caldwell — lead a group of nine upperclassmen. Georgia will receive eligibility from UConn transfer Mikayla Coombs, who will wear the Lady Bulldog uniform for the first time as a redshirt junior.
The team dynamic changes drastically, and Georgia is in the midst of a rare postseason drought. (UGA last made the NCAA tournament in the 2017-18 season.)
Taylor knows it’s time to deliver.
“There are no excuses for us,” she said, after indicating the relief and advantage of having more depth. “This will be their second year driving the car, so you can’t say you’re inexperienced. We have to face ownership and be in the best position to make an impact on this program.”
The older players will mentor a pair of freshmen: four-star guard Sarah Ashlee Barker from Hoover, Alabama and three-star forward Zoesha Smith from Brunswick. At this time, Taylor said, the newcomers will not arrive on campus in June as originally planned. The university canceled face-to-face instruction for the summer term due to COVID-19, but plans to resume on a regular schedule by August.
“There’s so much experience and we’re adding on to what can make Georgia stronger,” Barker, a three-time state champion, told The Telegraph. “We have a chance to prove people wrong next year and be really good. Everyone knows the standard, but we have to work hard.”
Georgia also added Rutgers transfer Maori Davenport, a former five-star prospect. Davenport would have to sit out during the upcoming season, unless the NCAA Division I Council passes a one-time transfer waiver on May 20. The NCAA Division I Board of Directors said it did “not recommend potential changes,” according to an ESPN report on April 30.
With a pivotal season ahead for the Lady Bulldogs, Taylor needs success in building the 2021 recruiting class. Plenty of scholarships are available and a few of the nation’s top prospects are Peach State products.
Georgia was listed in the top-six of Sania Feagin, the sixth-overall prospect out of Forest Park, along with Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Louisville, South Carolina and Georgia Tech. Point guard Kayla McPherson, only a few miles away from Athens in Madison County, ranks as the 15th-best prospect on the ESPN HoopGurlz’ rankings. Westlake point guard Raven Johnson received 7A Player of the Year honors and is considering both in-state programs.
There are plenty of obstacles thrown Georgia’s way in a time of uncertainty, but its lone option is moving upward. From recruiting to earning a postseason berth, the next 10 months are vital for Georgia to inch closer to its glory days.
Therefore, players and coaches have to persistently ask themselves a question.
“Is this the type of legacy you want to leave?” Taylor said.
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 7:24 AM.