CBE Classic 2011: Georgia Takes On California In Semi Final Match Up

Mark Fox's Georgia Basketball team is a part of the 2011 CBE Classic and will be taking on California in semi finals action on Nov 21 on ESPN2 in Kansas City. The winner of that match up will advance to face either Missouri or Notre Dame in the championship game.

Georgia will be a much different team this season after having to replace the likes of Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie, who moved on to the NBA. The Bulldogs return a talented backcourt with Dustin Ware and Gerald Robinson, but the frontcourt will be unproven. However, it is newcomer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope that ESPN.com writer Eamonn Brennan names as a player to watch.

At this point, Caldwell means more to UGA's long-term prospects than any immediate impact he may have on the floor. He was Mark Fox's first big-time recruit, one that could pave the road for a big-time talent boost in the coming years. In the short-term, though, Caldwell's performance will have a lot to do with whether Fox can hold on to a hard-earned spot in the SEC conversation.

That is great in theory but Caldwell-Pope's eligibility is in question and his availability for the tournament could be in jeopardy. California returns its top three players from a team that won 18 games last season. Coach Mike Montgomery's squad won't be overly talented but they will be experienced and will be a tough match up for the Bulldogs.