AUGUSTA–Georgia coach Mark Richt is starting off his spring speaking tour here tonight in Augusta at the Julian Smith Casino.

There are no blackjack tables, slot machines or cocktail waitresses, but folks are chowing down on barbecue. and chicken fingers

I got a chance to speak to Richt beforehand with a few other reporters.

Here are some highlights:

–Center David Andrews “really helped himself in the spring game,” Richt said when he played on both teams and went up against both John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers. “I think he played more plays than anybody on the field. He played close to 90 plays in that game. …Not to say that he ended up dominating the game, but he played well. It would be good for us if he was the guy that ended up becoming the center because I think (Dallas) Lee and (Chris) Burnette would be outstanding guards and (Kolton)Houstonreally could play guard or tackle. It looks like he has a chance to be a pretty decent tackle.”

Richt said Houston’s is not certain to be able to play this year after sitting out last year due to an unspecified NCAA issue, but Richt said “we’re confident that he’ll play.”

–Richt said he told Malcolm Mitchell again that he needs to be ready to play cornerback this season after playing receiver last season, but “anytime they go out and throw and catch, I think you should get some reps at receiver because we do want to play you both ways.”

Richt said he talked to the strength staff and nutritionist on Monday morning about “things we might need to do to increase his stamina and his hamstring. He’s had a couple of hamstring pulls. He had one last season and he had one in the spring. You just don’t want to overload him is the big thing. If you do, you don’t get him on either side of the ball.”

Richt said as “the season rolls on I’ve got a feeling with the temperature change and with the guys coming back, I think he’ll be more freed up to make more plays offensively, but in the beginning, he’s got to be ready to play DB.”

–The injury news couldn’t be much better.

“There’s not one guy on the team that has anything that should keep them from being ready in the fall when we start practice,” Richt said. “There may be one guy that may not be full speed by June 1.”

Richt said that one player may be defensive end Sterling Bailey, who is returning from a foot injury. Linebacker Brandon Burrows missed G-Day with a minor knee injury.

–

Georgia basketball coach Mark Fox isn’t here, but assistant Kwanza Johnson made the trip.

He said forward Marcus Thornton “is progressing pretty good” after undergoing knee surgery last month.

“I don’t know how long patellas usually are but they take a little bit of time,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a couple more months.”

Johnson wasn’t sure if Thornton  will be ready to play for the team’s trip to Italy in August.

Georgia is among teams awaiting for prized recruit Tony Parker from Miller Grove to reveal his choice. He’s scheduled a Monday announcement at his school.

Coaches can’t comment about recruits. Georgia has one scholarship remaining.

“We’re just out there working,” Johnson said. “If you just keep working, you see what happens. You feel like if you put a good effort in, good things will happen so we’ll see.”

–Please folow me at Twitter.com/marcweiszer