The Red and Black

Head Coach Andy Landers argues with a referee at the Lady Bulldogs game against Alabama in February. (Monira Al-Haroun • The Red & Black) [Click to enlarge]

Coach Andy Landers, who has had 18 20-win seasons in his 23 years in Athens, was frustrated understandably by the team's 19-11 finish.

With a strength of schedule among the nation's Top 20, Landers' team clinched a No. 10 seed in the NCAA tournament, only to fall in the first round to No. 7 seed Old Dominion, 68-54.

Contributing to Landers' dismay was his team's inability to overcome early-season hindrances. It was plagued by the same mistakes in the postseason that he identified as its weaknesses from the outset.

Seven of the 13 athletes on Landers' roster were freshmen, and it was freshman Kara Braxton who led Georgia in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and steals. Braxton and 10 other returning letterwinners will be joined by a talented recruiting class this fall.

Landers recently had some time between meetings with his players to discuss the season's growing pains and the potential of his young team.

R&B: This is only the fifth year since you've been in Athens that Georgia hasn't won 20 games. Does that record reflect your overall opinion of the season?

Landers: Well, I think 19 games is who we were.

R&B: Were you surprised that the team jumped out to an 11-0 record to open the season?

Landers: Not really. With the combination of the schedule we were playing and the ability of our basketball team, it was possible that we could do that. I would not have been surprised had we been 9-2 during that run.

R&B: There was some question about whether the team would even get into the NCAA tournament. With the strength of schedule that you had, do you think you were underrated?

Landers: No. When you have 19 wins you put yourself in that situation. If you don't wish to be there, you win 22, 23 games or more and you clearly make your case during the season. We did not clearly make our case during the season. We were on the bubble, and I think rightfully so. So I thought all that was fair and just.

R&B: How disappointing was the loss to Old Dominion?

Landers: It was disappointing because we lost. It was also disappointing in that we started the exhibition season turning the ball over 30 times a game and in our last game of the year we were close to that number again.

R&B: Were there any surprises in terms of either athletes or just the way the season played out?

Landers: I don't ever remember having a year where we didn't improve in areas where improvement was necessary. We were too much the same team at the end of the year that we were at the beginning and that concerns me.

R&B: What do the seven freshmen have to build on?

Landers: I think the most important thing that they take from a year like this is that talent's only a small part of the equation. It's only important when we play hard and play together. It's only important when individual talent has come together collectively toward one goal. I think as much as anything, little things are extremely important and talent is the most overrated asset of all.

R&B: The incoming recruiting class has been touted as one of the nation's Top 5. What do you expect from them?

Landers: I'm anxious to see what kind of savvy, desire, intensity, work ethic and will or team consciousness they bring to the table. If they want to be a part of a successful basketball team and contribute the best way that they can, they're going to be valuable. If they come in with preconceived notions they're probably going to struggle some.

R&B: What are your expectations for next season?

Landers: I don't expect anything. I intend to fight and work our way back into that Top 5 group of teams in the country where we've been for most of the last 23 years and where I think we belong. That's the intention. If our players share that intention, that's where we'll be.

-- Compiled by Anne Milligan

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