Connor Nolte

Its tournament time. I’m leaving today to hopefully spend the rest of my spring break in tropical Nashville, Tennessee. The SEC tournament starts today and we play at 8:45 central time.

I’ve really been looking forward to this trip.  I’m staying with an old high school teammate, Kreigh Bourff, who now works in Nashville.  I can remember going to Subway with him and another senior before practice every single day when I was just a sophomore. Whenever I look back to my high school days its not hard for me to see that I had some of the best teammates. Undoubtedly, I wouldn’t be where I am today without those guys.

One of the problems with me going to the tournament is that I only get tickets to the sessions that  the Dawgs are playing in. The conference tournament atmosphere is special to be a part of and I really wish I could sit in the gym for the next 96 hours straight. I know you’re thinking to yourself, “Connor, being the unbelievably awesome blogger that you are, why didn’t you get press passes?” Thats a good question and I think I definitely should have tried to do that.

Another problem with me going to the tourney is that the NCAA doesn’t allow me to sit on the bench or go into the locker room, so I’ll have pretty much no contact with my team. I do know that if I get to talk to them, my last resort motivational tool will be: “Listen up, I did NOT drive 4 hours and skip my brother’s game in the Final Four of the state tournament to see you lose in the FIRST ROUND!!!”

If anybody does need me to do that for motivation something is wrong with them. Conference tournaments are special.  You can play your way into the Big Dance (see:2007-2008 Dawgs)! Anything can happen and we have proved we can play with anybody in the conference.

Even when I was in the SoCon, the conference tournament was always an exciting place to be.  The energy in the city and arena is electric and I can’t wait to be there. That’s why I’m leaving in 5 minutes.

I leave you with the Game Day Trick Shot: Postseason Edition

Since I’ll be in Nashville and won’t be able to tape any more trick shots, this will serve as the trick shot for the entire postseason.

I don’t think I can put into words how great it feels for me to honestly say: there is NOWHERE in the WORLD I’d rather be than where I am right now.

A year ago, I was sitting in my dorm room having my own version of a panic attack contemplating my future.  I could either suck it up and play my last 2 years of eligibility at Furman, or I could decide to transfer, placing a financial burden on my parents by forfeiting my $60,000 scholarship and possibly end my college basketball career.

I knew I couldn’t live with the regret of not trying to play at my dream school, UGA.  Coach Fox got hired 3 days after I asked for my release and I’m here at UGA now and I thank God every day for the way it all turned out.

Before the Kentucky game on Wednesday I had the opportunity of a lifetime.  Charles Barkley, one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players EVER, came into Athens for the game.  Coach Fox talked him into coming extra early to participate in my Game Day Trick Shot project.  He was unbelievably gracious and hilarious as usual.

I’ll probably put up a post during the offseason with some details on the video shoot and some pictures. For now, let me know what you think of the video. Technically I’m leaking it 4 hours before March 6th but I can’t help it.

If you didn’t get that watch this:

I can’t believe its Senior Night already.  This is only my first season on this team but Senior Night has always been an emotional night for me.  I’m not going to be crying tonight or anything but its hard for me to see a player’s career come to an end.

Even though they are only a year older than me, I’ve looked up to Albert, Ricky, and Tyler since I arrived here. They were great teammates to me as I adjusted to UGA after my transfer. 

Albert is my roommate and he really helped me out when I first got on campus. I know its been a long unpredictable road for Tyler and Ricky, as they both transferred in from mid major programs like myself.

I’m proud of these guys and feel privileged to have had the opportunity to play with them this year. I hope that Bulldawg Nation comes out to the game early tonight to show their appreciation for their contributions to the program.

Ricky and Tyler make their debuts on the game day trick shot:

Super busy weekend.  My two best friends from my 2 years in Huntsville, AL came up for the game from Miss St. and Bama.  They witnessed our great win on Saturday vs. Florida.  They were impressed with the atmosphere in Stegeman and I can’t thank the fans enough.

My brother and my dad came up for the game and had a funny story from their (basically) courtside seats:

In the first half a fan yelled at Parsons, “Parsons! You can’t guard him (Travis Leslie)”. Parsons pointed at the scoreboard. I guess he was saying that Travis hadn’t scored yet or something because we were winning. Later after his NASTY dunk, he looked up into the stands, shrugged and said, “He can’t guard me either!”

Thankfully we got the last laugh.

On Sunday I went home to catch my sisters Georgia Tech intramural All Star game at Philips Arena following the Hawks/Bucks game.

I stopped by the house before the Hawks game for a couple hours and was just enjoying myself and relaxing.  My mom started yelling my name, “CONNOR, you have to come up here right now and look at these pictures!”

In my head I was seriously doubting the pictures would be more interesting than the new Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue that I found in my brother’s lair in the basement.

She had found some pictures from a Hawks game I went to on my birthday April 2nd, 2002.  I started looking at them and then I realized why she called me upstairs.  There I was, with my brother and sister looking goofy as can be in my bucks cutoff and a Wisconsin Badgers visor getting an autograph from Mark Pope of all people!

It just blows my mind.  I mean 8 years ago who could have ever guessed that I would be playing basketball at UGA and Mark Pope would be the Operations Coordinator?

This shot has been waiting to be posted on the site for about a month now.  I ended up ruining my camera trying to upload it the first time. I couldn’t find my charger and I was so excited to put the shot up that I tried to use the charger for my portable dvd player.  It ended up frying the camera and I lost the shot for good.

You might have noticed the video quality of the last few trick shots was pretty bad and thats because I had to use an old camera.  Coach Fox constantly reminded me that of all the shots his was the only one that got lost. We finally had time to video his shot and he was able to drain it twice.

I now present quite possibly the hardest game day trick shot yet:

Game day trick shot featuring my little brother Evan.

I had a great sports weekend.  We had a nearly full house on Saturday for our game vs. Alabama.  We came back from being down 13 at one point to win and I don’t doubt for a second that the fans played a huge part in that.

My alma mater, Milton High School, beat Wheeler for the first time since the 90s.  I posted the controversial video from OT yesterday.  They play for the region Championship tonight vs. Campbell.

Turns out, it wasnt just a rumor. My brother actually dunked on somebody.

If only the dude hadn’t tipped the ball back out of the net this would have been the nastiest dunk in Milton history that I’m aware of. He is my brother so that might be a little biased, but you have to understand that before the last 3 or 4 years there was an average of ZERO dunks PER SEASON.

Big time controversy at Campbell high school last night.  Milton and Wheeler were playing in the Semifinals of the region tournament.  Wheeler was down by 3 in overtime when Jelan Kendrick made this buzzer beater.  It was ruled a 2. What do you think was his foot on the line?

Home game today vs. Alabama.  Here are a few links for you and of course, the game day trick shot:

• “JJ Hickson could be the next Amare Stoudamire” (highlight video) - Crazy to think that a few years ago we matched up head to head. (I put up 31 pts, 9 rebs on him compared to his 28 pts and 7 rebs. I’m not saying, I’m just sayin…)
• Awesome video: Snowboarding Slam Dunk Contest
• I was on the Front page of the Red and Black yesterday.  I feel extremely honored.  Nick Parker did a great job writing the piece and Daniel Shirey is an awesome photographer. Both were great to work with.

I’ve been hearing it about my facial hair in the picture I posted on Monday from a few people.  I’ve been told I that I resemble a homeless person (thanks mom, I love you too!). You have to understand that there was literally a 0.01 % chance of me getting interviewed on camera. If I had known it was coming I would have shaved without a doubt.

I knew that it would be a problem from the moment the camera popped up in my face but there was no way I was turning down the interview. I also picked the goofiest looking screenshot and admitted that I looked like a fool in the picture.

I can’t wait to watch our game vs. Tennessee tonight.  Combine the facts that they’ve lost 2 in a row and we beat them here, and its not hard to see they’ll be especially hungry for the win.

Here’s the game day trick shot:

Half courter lying on my back.  Took 4 tries.

Once again, thanks to all the fans that came out despite the bad weather on Saturday. They stuck with us for the whole game even when things weren’t looking great.  My first thought was that the fans were the reason that we won the game.

However, lets look at some facts and you can decide for yourself what the real reason was:

• Friday January 22nd: Our SID Tim Hix shocks the world by summoning me to talk to the media.
• Saturday January 23rd: We shock bball fans around the country by beating #8 Tennessee.
• Friday February 12th: Tim Hix once again summons me for media and the fine folks at ISP have me do an on camera interview.
• Saturday February 13th: Georgia 66- South Carolina 61
• Requested for interviews: 2
• Wins on the day following said interviews: 2

You do the math…

I do have to confess that it took the perfect storm for me to get the on camera interview.  Ricky was doing his thing talking to numerous reporters at once, Trey was doing an interview over the phone, and I was standing against the wall doing my best impression of a guy waiting for a bus aka I was doing jack squat.

I’m pretty sure they just felt bad for me. Either that or they were just trying to see if the camera was working and if the light on the end of the camera was set to cause 100% blindness or just mild impairment.  I stammered my way through 3 or four questions but somehow made the video and I was able to grab this brilliant screenshot of me looking like a fool to prove it.

It snowed like crazy here in Athens but have no fear, the roads on campus don’t have ice on them.  Don’t let the weather keep you from coming to cheer on our team. As Coach Fox said on twitter, “If there ever was a team that prooves the home crowd makes a difference, its ours. Sun is shining & snow’s already melting, 4pm tip today .”

Here’s today’s game day trick shot: