With Caldwell-Pope back at shooting guard, Georgia could be back to relevant in the SEC

Big year ahead for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope? In his new full-time position, quite possibly. (Getty Images)

A quick glance at Georgia's season statistics from last season shows that Gerald Robinson, Dustin Ware and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all started at least 21 games, many of them together. What you might not know is that Robinson and Ware were both little guards.

"They were about your height," joked Georgia coach Mark Fox, noting I'm only 5-foot-8 with some strong gel in my hair.

Consequently, Caldwell-Pope played a lot of small forward out of necessity.

But that's not where he's best.

And that's not where he'll be this season because Robinson and Ware are gone.

"We've got Kentavious back at his natural two spot," Fox said by phone. "He's not playing the three anymore. So he's not gonna be outmanned every play against a bigger, longer guy this year, and it all just fits better now."

Which is among the reasons Fox seems genuinely excited about what's to come. Every player on the Georgia roster, for the first time ever, is a player Fox recruited, signed and enrolled, and the top four returning scorers -- Caldwell-Pope, Donte' Williams, Nemanja Djurisic and Marcus Thornton -- are all sophomores or juniors who averaged at least 20 minutes per game last season, meaning they're all experienced and almost certainly in the mix for the next two years as long as Caldwell-Pope, a former McDonald's All-American, doesn't apply for the 2013 NBA Draft.

Should Kentucky fans be nervous?

Probably not.

But it's reasonable to suggest the Bulldogs could be the surprise of the SEC -- they got votes in Wednesday's coaches poll -- and remain relevant in the league the next two years.

"I like my team," Fox said. "I like my team."