Are you ready for some….basketball? Georgia tips off its 120th men’s basketball season tonight, hosting Tennessee Tech in Stegeman Colisuem for a 7:30 pm matchup. You can stream the game on SEC Network+ or listen over the radio on the Georgia Bulldog Radio Network.
The Hoop Hounds already defeated UCF 114-76 in an exhibition game last week. That was the most points Georgia has put up against a D-I opponent since beating Charleston Southern, 116-59 in 1997. The Bulldogs were led in the exhibition opener by sophomore guard Blue Cain, who posted 20 points (including an impressive 5 of 6 from behind the arc) and freshman sensation Asa Newell, who scored 19 and grabbed 7 rebounds despite only playing about 23 minutes of game time.
The Red and Black are coming off an 2023-24 campaign that saw them earn their first postseason bid since 2017, advancing to the NIT semifinals. In Coach Mike White’s second season in the Classic City the Dawgs also reached the 20-win plateau for the first time since 2016. Georgia signed transfer and freshman recruiting classes that were each ranked among the top ten in the nation. It’s no stretch to say that the expectation is that White will pair the newcomers with veterans like Cain and Silas Demary (9.7 points and 3.8 rebounds a game in ‘23-’24) to build an NCAA Tournament team.
We won’t get much of a read on how realistic that goal is tonight. But there’s a clear sense that this Georgia program could be a sleeper in the loaded SEC. Until later…
Go ‘Dawgs!!!