Dogs seeking a spark in Harris

Senior guard hasn’t played because of a team suspension.

ATHENS — Georgia will be a tad closer to full strength tonight when it plays host to SMU at Stegeman Coliseum.

The Bulldogs (6-3) have regained the services of 6-foot-5 senior guard Jordan Harris, who missed the first nine games of the season for a violation of team rules. He is not a bit-part player. He has started 25 games in his career and emerged late last season as one of the team’s more dependable players. He averaged 7.8 points last season, including 11.5 points over a 10-game stretch in the middle of the SEC schedule.

But just because he was a significant contributor last year doesn’t mean Harris will be thrust into the Bulldogs’ plans. They’ve been disjointed at times as it is, and they’ll have their hands full with the Mustangs (8-1).

Meanwhile, Georgia hasn’t been running “the same old stuff ” this season. Coach Tom Crean is employing a “position-less basketball” strategy to take advantage of freshman Anthony Edwards’ unique offensive abilities and to overcome the Bull- dogs’ overall lack of size. Harris has been practicing with his teammates, but it’s not the same as competing alongside them and working in unison to stop a skilled opponent.

“The whole key is th at he comes in and just tries to integrate himself into what we’re trying to do,” Crean said. “(Harris needs to) be aggressive beyond the attack, really put his mind to defense, to rebounding, to moving without the ball. He’s definitely been improving as a shooter. But, again the lights are on now. You have to ease into it, and you don’t get it all back in one moment, right?”

Georgia can definitely use the help. Edwards has lived up to his lofty reputation and currently leads all Division I freshmen in scoring (19.8 ppg) and steals (2.2 pg). The Bulldogs are averaging 83.1 points per game, which ranks 12th nationally.

It’s in all other aspects of the game where Georgia needs help: Rebound- ing, shooting efficiency and defensive field-goal per- centage need to be vastly improved. It doesn’t help that the Bulldogs remain shorthanded without 6-9 soph- omore Amanze Ngumezi, who remains on indefinite suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

If nothing else, Harris’ energy and athletic ability should help. That’s really all Crean is asking for.

“He’s one of our better athletes, tremendous burst, firststep explosion,” Crean said. “He’s been there. Being able to get on the glass, becoming better at moving with- out the ball, being ready to shoot the ball. What we don’t need is live-ball turnovers. What we don’t need is trying to make plays that aren’t there. … Hit singles, not home runs.”

All of Georgia’s shortcom- ings were exposed the last time out, Saturday at Arizona State. The Bulldogs got a career-high 15 points from sophomore Tye Fagan, but only 13 overall and four in the second half from Edwards, who has been battling an ankle sprain, in the way to a 79-59 loss.