Lady Bulldogs defeat Mercer in Barbee's return
As Khaalidah Miller grabbed a stat sheet and sat down to field questions from reporters, she looked up with a huge smile on her face.
The first words out of her mouth, coupled with her ear-to-ear grin, showed just how happy the senior guard was to have one of her fellow guards, Shacobia Barbee, return to the backcourt in Georgia’s 72-41 win over Mercer.
“Well, we had Shacobia back,” Miller said.
After getting benched for the entirety of the season-opener, Barbee returned to the starting lineup, playing 34 of the game’s 40 minutes. She functioned as the centerpiece of Andy Landers’ offense, tallying 15 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, earning Barbee the fourth double-double of her Georgia career.
But most of all, she brought a passion and energy on the defensive side of the ball that even caused Landers to slap the scorer’s table in excitement in the second half after Barbee forced Mercer guard Sharnea Boykin to dribble the ball out of bounds off her own knee despite the game’s outcome no longer being in question.
“We just turned it up,” Barbee said. “We got up the line, got a bunch of steals, got hands on the ball. Pressure was the key, on ball defense pressure was the major thing. Getting up the line and getting easy baskets with steals and turnovers was pretty much it.”
Barbee’s presence on the floor was not only deeply felt, but much needed for a Georgia backcourt that is short two guards already in sophomores Tiaria Griffin and Marjorie Butler who’ve been suspended for the team’s first two games plus Ohio State on Oct. 17 after violating team rules.
“We got a player back tonight,” Landers said. “I told the team this after the game ‘Shacobia’s out there tonight; she wasn’t out there Sunday.’ Everybody is important. That normally is the case with any team.”
Barbee needed a little easing into her sophomore season debut, however.
The Bulldogs struggled early, shooting 3-of-20 from the floor in the first eight minutes of the contest. With Mercer’s Teanna Robinson recording six blocks in the paint in game’s first five minutes, it became clear Georgia’s offensive focus needed to operate through its perimeter game.
The guards, Barbee in particular, responded to the task.
At the 12:18 mark in the first half, Barbee had stayed relatively quiet. She was 0-for-1 from the floor, and most of the team’s offense up to that point centered on fellow guard Erika Ford who recorded the Lady Dog’s first seven points. But, with the score tied 9-9, Barbee grabbed a defensive rebound over two defenders and ran the length of the floor, distributing the ball to Krista Donald for an easy lay-up.
The quick spark gave Georgia its first lead of the game and jumpstarted a 28-6 run to end the first half, giving the Lady Dogs a 37-15 lead at the half.
“[The guards] shot the ball 50 percent from the floor, they defended very, very well. They ran the floor in transition and made good decisions,” Landers said. “We adjusted our game, which is exactly what you want to happen.”
From that point forward, the came became less about the scoreboard and more about playing controlled, enjoyable basketball. Landers noticed a huge difference in how his team approached this game, partially due to the return of Barbee, partially due to the entire team’s positive interaction through the contest.
“The best thing about the game tonight was they had fun,” Landers said. “They all had fun sharing the ball, passing, catching, got a fancy play in here or there. Even when they were guarding on defense it looked they were having fun.”
Barbee’s return proved to provide just the catalyst the Lady Dogs needed to take care of Mercer, moving Landers’ mark to 18-1 against the in-state foe.
With the return of two other guards looming, the intensified defense in Barbee’s return could shed light on the team’s success in that department going forward.
“It’s really just with or without me just having anyone come back and the energy is there, they’re excited for their first game, just doing little things like how I did last year,” Barbee said. “I think everyone’s defense stepped up tonight as well as getting transition and fast break points.”
As Khaalidah Miller grabbed a stat sheet and sat down to field questions from reporters, she looked up with a huge smile on her face.
The first words out of her mouth, coupled with her ear-to-ear grin, showed just how happy the senior guard was to have one of her fellow guards, Shacobia Barbee, return to the backcourt in Georgia’s 72-41 win over Mercer.
“Well, we had Shacobia back,” Miller said.
After getting benched for the entirety of the season-opener, Barbee returned to the starting lineup, playing 34 of the game’s 40 minutes. She functioned as the centerpiece of Andy Landers’ offense, tallying 15 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, earning Barbee the fourth double-double of her Georgia career.
But most of all, she brought a passion and energy on the defensive side of the ball that even caused Landers to slap the scorer’s table in excitement in the second half after Barbee forced Mercer guard Sharnea Boykin to dribble the ball out of bounds off her own knee despite the game’s outcome no longer being in question.
“We just turned it up,” Barbee said. “We got up the line, got a bunch of steals, got hands on the ball. Pressure was the key, on ball defense pressure was the major thing. Getting up the line and getting easy baskets with steals and turnovers was pretty much it.”
Barbee’s presence on the floor was not only deeply felt, but much needed for a Georgia backcourt that is short two guards already in sophomores Tiaria Griffin and Marjorie Butler who’ve been suspended for the team’s first two games plus Ohio State on Oct. 17 after violating team rules.
“We got a player back tonight,” Landers said. “I told the team this after the game ‘Shacobia’s out there tonight; she wasn’t out there Sunday.’ Everybody is important. That normally is the case with any team.”
Barbee needed a little easing into her sophomore season debut, however.
The Bulldogs struggled early, shooting 3-of-20 from the floor in the first eight minutes of the contest. With Mercer’s Teanna Robinson recording six blocks in the paint in game’s first five minutes, it became clear Georgia’s offensive focus needed to operate through its perimeter game.
The guards, Barbee in particular, responded to the task.
At the 12:18 mark in the first half, Barbee had stayed relatively quiet. She was 0-for-1 from the floor, and most of the team’s offense up to that point centered on fellow guard Erika Ford who recorded the Lady Dog’s first seven points. But, with the score tied 9-9, Barbee grabbed a defensive rebound over two defenders and ran the length of the floor, distributing the ball to Krista Donald for an easy lay-up.
The quick spark gave Georgia its first lead of the game and jumpstarted a 28-6 run to end the first half, giving the Lady Dogs a 37-15 lead at the half.
“[The guards] shot the ball 50 percent from the floor, they defended very, very well. They ran the floor in transition and made good decisions,” Landers said. “We adjusted our game, which is exactly what you want to happen.”
From that point forward, the came became less about the scoreboard and more about playing controlled, enjoyable basketball. Landers noticed a huge difference in how his team approached this game, partially due to the return of Barbee, partially due to the entire team’s positive interaction through the contest.
“The best thing about the game tonight was they had fun,” Landers said. “They all had fun sharing the ball, passing, catching, got a fancy play in here or there. Even when they were guarding on defense it looked they were having fun.”
Barbee’s return proved to provide just the catalyst the Lady Dogs needed to take care of Mercer, moving Landers’ mark to 18-1 against the in-state foe.
With the return of two other guards looming, the intensified defense in Barbee’s return could shed light on the team’s success in that department going forward.
“It’s really just with or without me just having anyone come back and the energy is there, they’re excited for their first game, just doing little things like how I did last year,” Barbee said. “I think everyone’s defense stepped up tonight as well as getting transition and fast break points.”
Georgia volleyball's path to NCAA Tournament toughens after LSU loss
Georgia’s path to reaching the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2004 became a little bit tougher with the team’s loss to LSU Friday night.
After the Bulldogs’ five-set defeat against the Tigers, Georgia’s record fell to 17-8 and 7-6 in Southeastern Conference play, dropping the team into sixth in the SEC.
The loss put a slight damper on the team’s postseason hopes, but with six matches left in the season, there is still plenty of time for the Bulldogs to get back on the winning track before the NCAA tournament field is finalized.
“We just have to maintain the same focus, not get too high off a win or too low off a loss — just keep the same consistency we’ve had all season,” senior Brittany Northcutt said. “We’ve had great success, better than we’ve ever had since I’ve been here.”
The 64-team NCAA tournament field is created from the 31 automatic qualifiers who win their conference. The remaining 33 teams earn at-large bids based on RPI, which is derived from winning percentage, strength of schedule and a variety of other statistical categories.
Georgia ranked 31st in the nation in RPI heading into Friday’s contest.
The Bulldogs were 37th in RPI when they made the NCAA tournament back in 2004, so a potential national tournament bid is well within reach.
“That was a goal for us,” Georgia head coach Lizzy Stemke said. “But, we’re really not talking about that because every match in the SEC is so important and every match for us right now is about improving and continuing to gain momentum.”
That path will continue Sunday when South Carolina comes to Athens to play Georgia in the Ramsey Center. The two teams faced off Oct. 11 in Columbia, S.C. with Georgia pulling out a dominant 3-0 victory.
“We have a game Sunday, so it’s a quick turnaround,” senior Allison Summers said. “We have to learn from our mistakes today. We have to make sure we make those changes quickly and come back Sunday and defend our home court.”
And home-court advantage is sure to play a huge role in the six remaining games of the regular season with four of the six set to take place in Athens.
The Bulldogs sport a 10-2 record at home this season with the team’s only home losses coming against Alabama Oct. 25 and Friday against LSU.
Georgia treasures the opportunity to make a final run for the NCAA tournament on its home floor.
“We’ve had a long season of traveling so far, so it’s great to be able to end most of our season at home,” Summers said. “This is the most I think. Of all my four years, we’ve never had this many fans. They are very supportive, extremely loud and have our back, so these last four games here, I’m very blessed and grateful to have this crowd behind me.”
Nonetheless, with Georgia’s first-legitimate chance of reaching the NCAA tournament in a decade, Bulldog players relish in the reality that their preseason goals are so near.
“I know everyone’s really excited, and that’s our main goal,” Northcutt said. “It’s been our goal for the past two years. It’s really cool to know we’re on the right track to do that. It was a tough one tonight, but we have to come back Sunday focused.”
Georgia’s path to reaching the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2004 became a little bit tougher with the team’s loss to LSU Friday night.
After the Bulldogs’ five-set defeat against the Tigers, Georgia’s record fell to 17-8 and 7-6 in Southeastern Conference play, dropping the team into sixth in the SEC.
The loss put a slight damper on the team’s postseason hopes, but with six matches left in the season, there is still plenty of time for the Bulldogs to get back on the winning track before the NCAA tournament field is finalized.
“We just have to maintain the same focus, not get too high off a win or too low off a loss — just keep the same consistency we’ve had all season,” senior Brittany Northcutt said. “We’ve had great success, better than we’ve ever had since I’ve been here.”
The 64-team NCAA tournament field is created from the 31 automatic qualifiers who win their conference. The remaining 33 teams earn at-large bids based on RPI, which is derived from winning percentage, strength of schedule and a variety of other statistical categories.
Georgia ranked 31st in the nation in RPI heading into Friday’s contest.
The Bulldogs were 37th in RPI when they made the NCAA tournament back in 2004, so a potential national tournament bid is well within reach.
“That was a goal for us,” Georgia head coach Lizzy Stemke said. “But, we’re really not talking about that because every match in the SEC is so important and every match for us right now is about improving and continuing to gain momentum.”
That path will continue Sunday when South Carolina comes to Athens to play Georgia in the Ramsey Center. The two teams faced off Oct. 11 in Columbia, S.C. with Georgia pulling out a dominant 3-0 victory.
“We have a game Sunday, so it’s a quick turnaround,” senior Allison Summers said. “We have to learn from our mistakes today. We have to make sure we make those changes quickly and come back Sunday and defend our home court.”
And home-court advantage is sure to play a huge role in the six remaining games of the regular season with four of the six set to take place in Athens.
The Bulldogs sport a 10-2 record at home this season with the team’s only home losses coming against Alabama Oct. 25 and Friday against LSU.
Georgia treasures the opportunity to make a final run for the NCAA tournament on its home floor.
“We’ve had a long season of traveling so far, so it’s great to be able to end most of our season at home,” Summers said. “This is the most I think. Of all my four years, we’ve never had this many fans. They are very supportive, extremely loud and have our back, so these last four games here, I’m very blessed and grateful to have this crowd behind me.”
Nonetheless, with Georgia’s first-legitimate chance of reaching the NCAA tournament in a decade, Bulldog players relish in the reality that their preseason goals are so near.
“I know everyone’s really excited, and that’s our main goal,” Northcutt said. “It’s been our goal for the past two years. It’s really cool to know we’re on the right track to do that. It was a tough one tonight, but we have to come back Sunday focused.”
Google Glass generates new strategy in journalism industry
Set the scene back to the 2012-2013 Super Bowl.
It’s the third quarter and Jacoby Jones just ran back a 108-yard kickoff return to give the Baltimore Ravens a 28-6 advantage over theSan Francisco 49ers. Every cameraman in the building with their heavy, expensive equipment, and multiple feet of extension cordage to help amplify the game’s sound, just shot the best photo or video they could’ve taken.
Then the lights shut off. Suddenly the story is no longer on the field. The story now is the darkness that has engulfed the Superdome. The story is the reaction of players and fans as they watch on — for 34 minutes — in disbelief that a power outage has just struck America’s biggest sporting event.
But there’s a problem. All of the cameramen are toting around pounds and pounds of equipment, trying to find the single best location to help gather the necessary shots to capture the perfect moment. With all of that equipment, no one can possibly portray just how people are feeling, interacting because the giant camera hiding the cameraman is preventing him or her from creating any personal communication with the story.
Google Glass changes that.
“I’ve said it time and time again,” broadcast journalist and Google Glass Explorer Sarah Hill said, “Glass, and all other devices like itfor that matter, will make satellite trucks and bulky equipment go extinct.”
Through the Google Glass Explorer program, everyday people were gifted the opportunity to go through a trial experiment of the wearable device. These users came from a wide realm of professions, planning to apply Google Glass to various parts of their daily lives.
The journalists that embarked on the Google Glass journeyed noted more positive disruptions than most. Content was easier to film. It was easier to deliver.
“Glass is a great hands free way to gather information, both images, video and audio,” Zane Cochran, a Google Glass Explorer since March, said. “As it becomes more common, I could imagine reporters using it to record interviews for them to use while creating stories later. In some circumstances, the first person point of view could make for a compelling story as well.”
Journalists no longer have to be hidden behind camera during interviews, constantly checking to make sure their arms are keeping the frame steady while inevitably detracting from the conversation by eyeing back and forth between the person they’re talking to and the camera shot.
Now, Google Glass streams what the cameraman see directly from his or her point of view with little interruption for the producer and consumer.
“Another purpose for Glass is to explore how we can seamlessly integrate technology into people's lives in a way that enhances their day to day activities, and not distract them. For example, when I used to get a text message, I could feel it vibrate and I'd have to dig through my pockets and find my phone, pull it out and check the message,” IHS research analyst Shane Walker said. “Admittedly, that's not the most disruptive thing in the world to do, but now with Glass I can simply glance up at the small screen above my eye and I can choose to respond to it or dismiss it.”
Just as things are simplified for basic media through Google Glass, such as smartphones, the possibility of streamlining usage regarding newsgathering is created as well.
Applications are currently being designed by Google Glass Explorers everywhere to simplify all things and news is at the forefront of that. News can now be easily customized to the specific consumer, and can be viewed or ignored so quickly that the modern-day perception that newsgathering can be too challenging is an afterthought.
Let’s say a Google Glass user customizes his or her device to receive all Boston-area local government news stories that are processed through the Google server. On that particular day, the mayor gave a speech regarding a former Civil Rights figure’s funeral service. The Boston Globe reporter covering the story posts it online and a notification pops up on said Google Glass user’s device with a headline.
Simply through verbal recognition, the user can, without his or her hands, open the article to read it or throw it into the depths of unread Google Glass notifications.
“It's possible now to deliver news that is customized to where they are and what they're doing,” Cochran said. “This is a power that the media will have to wield lightly and responsibly, however, otherwise they may find people tuning them out and turning them off.”
Ultimately, the journalism industry is continuously shifting to a world that faster is always better. Thanks to the size and easy accessibility of this particular device, the desire for enhanced speed is obvious.
“Wearable computing has been around for a while now, but it's only been recently that we've been able to reduce the size of the technology into a package small enough that is comfortable for people to wear,” Walker said. “It wasn't uncommon to see wearable computing researchers wearing large head displays and backpacks with computers in them. Now it is just so easy and fast.”
For journalism, though, the question is how media outlets will be able to make money using Google Glass.
While the usage is great, and will surely boost the amount of clicks a site get simply due to accessibility, the creators have instilled an amendment to the distribution of content that creates a major setback for the newspaper and television industries.
“Google has forbidden any kind of advertising on Glass, so I don't anticipate that [money making] will be through that,” journalist and Google Glass Explorer Ivan Lajara said.
Those types of questions will be answered in time as the world of Google Glass Explorers is expanding, and as the people who invest time into the development of the device continue to brainstorm ways to monetize the tool that can transform the journalism industry.
“Glass is becoming something that people hear about more and more every day. It's not to the point, obviously, where people get to see it every day. I still get stopped several times each week from people who are curious about it and have questions,” Cochran said. “I don't anticipate that there will be a day anytime soon when you'll walk down the street and everyone will be wearing Google Glass, but I think as time goes on, it will become common enough such that people don't do a double-take when they see someone wearing it.”
Set the scene back to the 2012-2013 Super Bowl.
It’s the third quarter and Jacoby Jones just ran back a 108-yard kickoff return to give the Baltimore Ravens a 28-6 advantage over theSan Francisco 49ers. Every cameraman in the building with their heavy, expensive equipment, and multiple feet of extension cordage to help amplify the game’s sound, just shot the best photo or video they could’ve taken.
Then the lights shut off. Suddenly the story is no longer on the field. The story now is the darkness that has engulfed the Superdome. The story is the reaction of players and fans as they watch on — for 34 minutes — in disbelief that a power outage has just struck America’s biggest sporting event.
But there’s a problem. All of the cameramen are toting around pounds and pounds of equipment, trying to find the single best location to help gather the necessary shots to capture the perfect moment. With all of that equipment, no one can possibly portray just how people are feeling, interacting because the giant camera hiding the cameraman is preventing him or her from creating any personal communication with the story.
Google Glass changes that.
“I’ve said it time and time again,” broadcast journalist and Google Glass Explorer Sarah Hill said, “Glass, and all other devices like itfor that matter, will make satellite trucks and bulky equipment go extinct.”
Through the Google Glass Explorer program, everyday people were gifted the opportunity to go through a trial experiment of the wearable device. These users came from a wide realm of professions, planning to apply Google Glass to various parts of their daily lives.
The journalists that embarked on the Google Glass journeyed noted more positive disruptions than most. Content was easier to film. It was easier to deliver.
“Glass is a great hands free way to gather information, both images, video and audio,” Zane Cochran, a Google Glass Explorer since March, said. “As it becomes more common, I could imagine reporters using it to record interviews for them to use while creating stories later. In some circumstances, the first person point of view could make for a compelling story as well.”
Journalists no longer have to be hidden behind camera during interviews, constantly checking to make sure their arms are keeping the frame steady while inevitably detracting from the conversation by eyeing back and forth between the person they’re talking to and the camera shot.
Now, Google Glass streams what the cameraman see directly from his or her point of view with little interruption for the producer and consumer.
“Another purpose for Glass is to explore how we can seamlessly integrate technology into people's lives in a way that enhances their day to day activities, and not distract them. For example, when I used to get a text message, I could feel it vibrate and I'd have to dig through my pockets and find my phone, pull it out and check the message,” IHS research analyst Shane Walker said. “Admittedly, that's not the most disruptive thing in the world to do, but now with Glass I can simply glance up at the small screen above my eye and I can choose to respond to it or dismiss it.”
Just as things are simplified for basic media through Google Glass, such as smartphones, the possibility of streamlining usage regarding newsgathering is created as well.
Applications are currently being designed by Google Glass Explorers everywhere to simplify all things and news is at the forefront of that. News can now be easily customized to the specific consumer, and can be viewed or ignored so quickly that the modern-day perception that newsgathering can be too challenging is an afterthought.
Let’s say a Google Glass user customizes his or her device to receive all Boston-area local government news stories that are processed through the Google server. On that particular day, the mayor gave a speech regarding a former Civil Rights figure’s funeral service. The Boston Globe reporter covering the story posts it online and a notification pops up on said Google Glass user’s device with a headline.
Simply through verbal recognition, the user can, without his or her hands, open the article to read it or throw it into the depths of unread Google Glass notifications.
“It's possible now to deliver news that is customized to where they are and what they're doing,” Cochran said. “This is a power that the media will have to wield lightly and responsibly, however, otherwise they may find people tuning them out and turning them off.”
Ultimately, the journalism industry is continuously shifting to a world that faster is always better. Thanks to the size and easy accessibility of this particular device, the desire for enhanced speed is obvious.
“Wearable computing has been around for a while now, but it's only been recently that we've been able to reduce the size of the technology into a package small enough that is comfortable for people to wear,” Walker said. “It wasn't uncommon to see wearable computing researchers wearing large head displays and backpacks with computers in them. Now it is just so easy and fast.”
For journalism, though, the question is how media outlets will be able to make money using Google Glass.
While the usage is great, and will surely boost the amount of clicks a site get simply due to accessibility, the creators have instilled an amendment to the distribution of content that creates a major setback for the newspaper and television industries.
“Google has forbidden any kind of advertising on Glass, so I don't anticipate that [money making] will be through that,” journalist and Google Glass Explorer Ivan Lajara said.
Those types of questions will be answered in time as the world of Google Glass Explorers is expanding, and as the people who invest time into the development of the device continue to brainstorm ways to monetize the tool that can transform the journalism industry.
“Glass is becoming something that people hear about more and more every day. It's not to the point, obviously, where people get to see it every day. I still get stopped several times each week from people who are curious about it and have questions,” Cochran said. “I don't anticipate that there will be a day anytime soon when you'll walk down the street and everyone will be wearing Google Glass, but I think as time goes on, it will become common enough such that people don't do a double-take when they see someone wearing it.”