Georgia Bulldogs host Winthrop Eagles tonight

The Georgia Bulldogs (3-3) will host the Winthrop Eagles (6-1) at Stegeman Coliseum tonight at 7:00 PM ET. The SEC Network will broadcast the game.

The Georgia Bulldogs are coming off a devastating home loss to the Kansas State Wildcats, falling at home to the Big 12 team 62-60 on a last second shot. Georgia sits at .500 through their first six games and will get a solid Winthrop Eagles to who are 6-1 tonight at Stegeman Coliseum.

Georgia has lost two of their last three games, albeit to two very good teams in the Seton Hall Pirates and the Kansas State Wildcats, but the Dawgs need to find some stability in the non-conference if they want to have an outside chance at making the NCAA Tournament. 20 wins on the year is still very much in play, but a near .500 record in the non-conference won’t help.

Fortunately, the Dawgs have decided to play some better teams in the non-conference and Winthrop is no different. The Eagles’ lone loss on the year came against the North Carolina State Wolfpack of the ACC in Raleigh, 87-79. Winthrop has made the NCAA Tournament many times before and could do the same in 2015-16 with another signature win in the non-conference versus the Georgia Bulldogs.

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Georgia will want to win this game for many reasons including getting back over .500, stopping a potential losing streak, not going 1-3 in their last four games. Also, this is the Georgia Bulldogs’ last game before finals, having 11 days off before facing in-state rival in the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at home on December 19th at 12:00 PM ET.

The Georgia Bulldogs play a ton of games at home early in the year, with only Seton Hall on the road in the bulk of the non-conference and a road date in Waco, Texas against the Baylor Bears in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on January 30th, 2016.

Amazingly, the Dawgs will only play two non-conference games away from Athens. If Georgia wants to get back to their winning ways, they will need to make protecting Stegeman a priority. A 3-2 record in the first five games isn’t exactly ideal home court advantage.

Next: Yante Maten: The inside presence UGA needs

To essentially close out non-conference play, UGA will play its next four games at home before traveling to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators on January 2nd, the same day the Georgia Bulldogs’ football team will face off on the gridiron against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

Georgia may have lost a heartbreaker at home to K-State on Friday night, but will need to bring it tonight versus a 6-1 Winthrop Eagles team. Here’s to getting back over .500. Let’s Go Dawgs!