'Big Shot Z' shoots best in prime time

Jerry Tipton / Herald-Leader Staff Writer

As Kentucky knows only too well, there's a good reason Georgia guard Zac Swansey goes by "Big Shot Z." Among the notches on his three-point gun is the shot that beat UK in the Southeastern Conference Tournament last March.

So when asked about Swansey's knack for making clutch shots, UK Coach Billy Gillispie replied in a dry voice, "Yeah, I know he had the knack that one day."

Swansey's turnaround three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in overtime propelled Georgia to a 60-56 overtime victory over Kentucky.

"My nickname is 'Big Shot Z' ever since the Kentucky game," Swansey said. "At the end of games, (teammates) look to get me the ball."

That sensible thinking paid off against Wofford on Dec. 20 when Swansey made not one, but two three-pointers in the final 15 seconds to give Georgia an improbable 74-73 victory.

"Dec. 20 and I turned 20," Swansey said of a most memorable birthday. "I'll always remember the 20th (birthday)."

The first three-pointer against Wofford resembled the one against Kentucky because good defense left Swansey with no good option except to launch a prayer. Teammate Ricky McPhee was supposed to take the shot. "He went up in the air, kind of lost control of the ball and he kind of threw back to me," Swansey said. "I just shot it."

On the second, Swansey simply flung the ball from, oh, 35 feet and swished it through at the buzzer.

"Kind of cool," Swansey said. "It was my 20th birthday. So I guess it was kind of a birthday from God."

Swansey, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Dunwoody, Ga., credits his father, Ron, for instilling a take-charge attitude.

"That's the way I was brought up," Swansey said. "I want to be that go-to guy. It's something that just came naturally. I was always wanting to take the last shot. Whether I make it or I miss it, I want to be that man taking the last shot.

"Fortunately, the last couple I've taken have gone in. I guess you could say I'm kind of lucky."

Going back through high school, Swansey guessed that he's taken about nine last-second shots and made about half of them. "You just can't be afraid to fail," he said.

Curiously, Swansey hasn't been an especially dead-eye shooter. His career accuracy from three-point range is only 28.4 percent (19-for-67).

"Maybe I need to wait till the end of the game to shoot them," he said.

Three-point shooting is not at the top of Swansey's list of responsibilities. He's replaced do-everything Sundiata Gaines, who led Georgia through action and willpower the last four seasons.

When asked how Swansey is doing in the unenviable task of replacing Gaines, Georgia Coach Dennis Felton said recently, "He's coming along. He really is. He's looking like he has some experience under his belt.

"We don't expect him to be Sundiata. He's a different player. But we expect him to be a terrific point guard in his way."

Gillispie touted Swansey's improvement from a freshman who could only go to his right to a player who can go left, at least some.

Swansey expects Kentucky to seek revenge. But he noted how Georgia barely resembles the team that beat the Cats last March. With an 0-2 start in SEC play, the Dawgs aren't thinking of last year.

"We have to find a way to get a win in conference play," Swansey said, "and get on the board."

If a buzzer-beater is required, Georgia will look for Big Shot Z.

Meeks

■ Vanderbilt Coach Kevin Stallings, who only saw replay highlights: "Obviously, an incredible performance. He's an incredible player. He really is."

Incredible?

"The combination of speed, quickness and strength and durability. Then his shooting skills and ability to drive the ball. He plays every facet of offense just about as well as it can be played. I think he'll be a terrific pro."

■ South Carolina Coach Darrin Horn: "One thing I did see was the way the team reacted to him as soon as the buzzer sounded. I thought that spoke volumes because you can see a guy get 54 and maybe his teammates are not happy.

"I thought that said a lot about the kid and the team, as well."