Georgia Bulldogs host Georgia Tech on the hardwood
By John Buhler
The Georgia Bulldogs (4-3) will host their in-state rival in the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-2). UGA has lost four straight to Tech on the hardwood.
After a week plus off from their win over the Winthrop Eagles at home, the Georgia Bulldogs will once again play some hoops on the hardwood of Stegeman Coliseum when the Dawgs welcome in-state rival Georgia Tech for a Saturday afternoon tilt. Tipoff is at 12:00 PM ET and the game will air on the SEC Network.
Georgia has not had great luck against Georgia Tech head coach Brian Gregory and the Yellow Jackets, having not beat Tech in their yearly rivalry game since 2010. Tech has won the last two contests at Stegeman Coliseum over the last four years.
The Georgia Bulldogs sit a 4-3 thus far in the non-conference with wins over Murray State, High Point, Oakland, and Winthrop, but losses to three good teams in Chattanooga, Seton Hall, and Kansas State. Georgia Tech is 7-2 on the year with key wins over Tennessee, Arkansas, VCU in the non-conference. The Jackets two losses are to East Tennessee State and Villanova.
Georgia will have to get ready for one of the nation’s more efficient offenses, as Tech is 32nd in team offensive rating at 114.9. They are also in the top half of Division I in defensive efficiency with a 99.7.
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The Georgia Bulldogs will need to amp up their intensity after a long period without games in Saturday’s game. Georgia’s backcourt trio of J.J. Frazier, Kenny Gaines, and Charles Mann will need to shoot well from the outside to keep pace with the high-scoring offense of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Should the perimeter struggle for the Dawgs, they may look to pound the rock inside to sensational sophomore power forward Yante Maten. Maten’s ascendance in year two at Georgia bodes well for the Dawgs as they get closer to SEC play.
With Tech being a thorn in head coach Mark Fox’s side since 2011, hopefully the Georgia Bulldogs come out inspired to play a great game of basketball at home. UGA likely doesn’t want to drop three in a row at home to the Yellow Jackets on the hardwood.
Next: J.J. Frazier settling into sixth man role nicely
Outside of the Big 12/SEC Challenge contest with the Baylor Bears later this season, UGA is in the home stretch of their non-conference schedule with three more dates left before the start of the new year. Beating Georgia Tech at home could serve as a nice morale boost before Clemson on Tuesday and Robert Morris on the 29th to close out 2015. Let’s Go Dawgs!