Georgia Bulldogs vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Preview: SEC Opener

The Georgia Bulldogs have completed their non-conference slate, and it is time for SEC basketball to emerge. In their last outing, the Dawgs successfully defended the honor of Stegeman Coliseum in a 13-point win over Norfolk State, but the competition level takes a significant jump on Tuesday evening, as Georgia welcomes the Arkansas Razorbacks to Athens for the conference opener.

Arkansas enters with an 11-2 record on the season, but they are just 1-2 away from home. Our friends at KenPom have installed Georgia as a small favorite in this game, projecting a 4-point victory at home for the Bulldogs, but that is basically just the advantage gained by the home venue in a game that is a virtual toss-up from a talent perspective.

Mark Fox’s club has relied heavily on quality guard play from the trio of Charles Mann, Kenny Gaines and J.J. Frazier, but Arkansas boasts a big-time player in the frontcourt in Bobby Portis. Portis is a 6-foot-11 sophomore who leads the Hogs in both scoring (17.2 points per game) and rebounds (7.2 per contest) this season, and players like Marcus Thornton, Yante Maten and Nemanja Djurisic will have their hands full here.

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This is a game where the Georgia Bulldogs desperately need to perform well, simply because the non-conference slate does not give the program a great deal of respect nationally when it comes to NCAA Tournament consideration. There is a quality win against Kansas State to rely on, but much like a year ago, UGA will need double-digit wins (at least) in SEC play, and defending home court in the opener would be a great start.

Be sure to stay tuned to ATL All Day for updates throughout the day (follow us on twitter @ATLBeatBlog), and check back following the final buzzer for a full recap of the game.

Date: January 6, 2015

Tip-off Time: 7:00 pm ET

TV Channel: ESPN

Radio: 750 AM, 95.5 FM (Flagship), Full list of Local Affiliates

Live Stream: Watch ESPN (Click here)