Beyond the Hedges is awake from hibernation

It’s been a while since we wandered around the Classic City to see what all was happening beyond the hedges. Tomorrow is a big day for future happenings between the hedges, as we all know well. But with spring semester up and running, the busiest time of year on the University of Georgia athletics calendar is well under way. That means I need to stop stalling, and get to telling.

BASKETBALL

Men’s hoops has been a bit up and down, with their latest performance being a tight home win over Texas. Barring an unexpected run of improved form, this team is staring down another NIT bid at best. Although tonight’s game in Rupp Arena gives them a great chance to get a little notice for a better dance party. They travel to South Carolina on Saturday, for an ESPN 2 affair at 2 pm before their next home game Tuesday the 7th vs. Florida (also on ESPN 2).

The ladies haven’t been doing much better, dropping their last 5 before a Thursday trip to Arkansas in hopes of ending the skid. Bitter rival Tennessee comes to Athens Sunday at 4 in a game televised by ESPN 2 (the Deuce Loves Dawg Hoops!) for hopes of getting their season back on a good track.

GYMNASTICS

I’ll let the experts speak on this subject.

The Gym Dogs will conclude their 4-meet homestand this coming Friday, February 3, in Stegeman Coliseum against the 9th-ranked Kentucky Gym Cats. The meet will start at 7:00 PM and will be televised live on the SEC Network. This will be your last chance to see the Gym Dogs competing in the Classic City until March, so if you’re in the area, come out and cheer on Danna’s Dawgs as they keep building up to the postseason!

BASEBALL

The Diamond Dawgs are gearing up for their spring with an elite recruiting class added to the mix with less than three weeks to go until the home opening series with College of Charleston starting February 17th. They’ll take their show on the road the following week with games in Macon against Mercer before a three game set in Statesboro with Georgia Southern the weekend of the 24th.

Fans wanting to get a sneak peak of the Braves’ new home stadium, SunTrust Park, will get a chance when the Dawgs and Missouri face off on April 8th.

TENNIS

The season is underway, with the men already 3-0 and the women sitting 2-0 in the early going. Manny Diaz’s men took care of Tech in Atlanta before hosting Purdue and Washington in the ITA Kickoff last weekend. They’ll move on to the ITA Championship in Charlottesville, VA next month, but before that travel to Gainesville, FL for the SEC/Pac 12 Showdown and matches against UCLA and Southern Cal Saturday and Sunday afternoon. They’ll also make a trip to Columbus, OH and Ohio St February 12 before the ITAs.

Jeff Wallace’s women took care of New Mexico and Illinois in their ITA Kickoff, and will be in Clemson Saturday at 2:30 before heading to the National Team Indoors (aka the ITA) in New Haven, CONN next weekend.

SWIMMING AND DIVING

The weather hasn’t even warmed up yet and they’re almost out of the pool. Georgia swept Emory on Senior Day and swept Tennessee in their SEC season ender. They head back to Knoxville on Valentine’s Day for the SEC Championships, with the Last Chance Meet still to come in Athens at the end of February to make times that qualify for the NCAAs throughout March.

TRACK AND FIELD

The indoor season is underway, and with both the men and women ranked in the top 5 in the country, they’ve been smashing records so far in 2017. February will see a lot of time spent in the Music City, as they have the Music City Challenge on the 10th and 11th before the SEC Indoor Champsionships up there on the 24th and 25th.

The only home meets this season come in early April and early May.

GOLF

Once again, I defer to the experts when it comes to PGA Tour and the enormity of our success there. As for our student-athletes, the ladies get their season going in Puerto Rico on Valentine’s weekend. While the men will do the same, but it’ll be the following weekend in Puerto Rico for them.

SOFTBALL

The Lady Diamond Dawgs begin their 21st season on February 10th with Winthrop, Syracuse, and East Carolina all in town. ESPN and the SEC Network will carry nine of their games this year. Meanwhile, senior OF Sydni Emanuel, junior OF Cortni Emanuel, and sophomore 3B Alysa DiCarlo are all Pre-season All-SEC honorees.

VOLLEYBALL

Georgia hired US National team assistant and most recently head coach at Loyola Marymount Tom Black. Coming with him from the Lions will be assistant coaches Aaron Benning and Felicia Arriola. Black is already in town and at work.

EQUESTRIAN

The top 5 Horse Dawgs are back in the saddle, with their first home meets coming when South Carolina comes to Bishop on Friday at 2, followed by Delaware St coming here on Saturday at 10 a.m. They started the season on the road though, where they fell to second ranked Baylor last weekend.

Club sports and such

Congrats to the top ranked and playoff bound Ice Dawgs.

I miss anything? Oh yeah,

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS!