Tom Crean discusses outside pressures, scrutiny on performance

Georgia basketball coach Tom Crean finds himself under pressure on the hot seat after another slow start in year four. He is 47-63 and 15-46 in the SEC over his tenure and has not finished better than 10th in the conference.

A combination of transfer portal losses and decreasing on-court success over the past two seasons have led many wondering how long he and his staff will last. Tom Crean talked to reporters on Monday about the mounting pressure at Georgia.

“I really don’t hear it, but I’m sure it’s there,” Crean told reporters. “But to be completely honest with you, I don’t hear it, whether it’s social media, or those types of things. It’s not my first time down that road in the coaching life, and you learn from experiences. My focus is completely centered on the team and how we can get better and prepare for these games. That’s the most important thing. I learned that awhile back, and I have no intention of changing it.”

Despite talk of the hot seat, the players and staff remain focused on producing results each night in a tough SEC schedule which includes upcoming games against Arkansas, Auburn and LSU in February.

Georgia recently picked up its first SEC win since February of last season, beating Alabama 82-76 at home. They also defeated a preseason top 25 team in Memphis at home during the non-conference slate but are off to a 6-14 start and 1-6 start in the SEC.

The Bulldogs have managed to stay close to .500 at home, reaching a 6-7 record but remain winless in five road games and the two neutral site games this season.

Georgia celebrates SEC win

Over the past recent years, whenever you hear Alabama and the Georgia Bulldogs are playing, you think of the instant classics on the football field. Watching head coaches Nick Saban and Kirby Smart battle it out has been the SEC’s staple matchup for a few seasons.

However, Tuesday saw the two programs meet at Stegeman Coliseum, where Georgia was looking to get their first SEC win of the season. Six consecutive losses were behind the Bulldogs and a struggling Crimson Tide team traveled to Athens.

Despite falling down by six at halftime, Tom Crean’s squad was able to secure a comeback victory thanks to consistent free-throw shooting. Four Georgia players ended the night in double figures, led by guard Aaron Cook with 15 points. As a team, the Bulldogs went 24 of 30 from the charity stripe.

Getting the first SEC win of the season is always a cause for celebration. After the game, Georgia players, cheerleaders, and the mascot sang and danced to “Swag Surf” with the crowd.