Bulldogs Set To Host Kentucky, 1983 Final Four Reunion On Saturday – University of Georgia Athletics

TEAM COMPARISON

The Beginning 5…

• Eight totally different Canines have been used to comprise 11 totally different beginning lineups for UGA this season.
• UGA performed its final 2 video games with out main scorer Terry Roberts, who’s amongst SEC leaders in 6 stats.
• UGA will honor its 1983 Closing 4 workforce at halftime at Saturday, with 10 gamers and all 4 coaches readily available.
• UGA is ranked No. 2 nationally in bench minutes, with reserves logging 45.5 % of the Canines’ PT.
• UGA’s assist-to-TO ratio is up by +.24 since Thanksgiving, the perfect enchancment by an SEC workforce throughout that span.

The Opening Tip

The Georgia Bulldogs will host Kentucky’s Wildcats in a matinee matchup at midday on Saturday in Stegeman Coliseum. The competition will function an fortieth anniversary reunion for Georgia’s 1983 Closing 4 workforce.

Georgia is 14-10 total and 4-7 in SEC play this season; nevertheless, the Bulldogs are 11-2 at Stegeman Coliseum.

Mike White is now 18-3 all-time in Stegeman, an 85.7 successful proportion. He was 1-0 at Louisiana Tech and 6-3 at Florida earlier than arriving in Athens this season.

Kentucky is considered one of 5 SEC groups that Georgia will face on a home-and-home foundation through the 2022-23 season. The Bulldogs are at the moment 3-4 towards these foes, together with a 2-1 file in Athens.
 

Retaining An Eye On: Coming into As we speak’s Recreation . . .

Jailyn Ingram is…
• 10 factors from 1,500 for his profession

Justin Hill is…
• 84 factors from 1,000 for his profession
 

Collection Historical past With Kentucky

Kentucky owns a 131-27 benefit within the all-time collection between UGA and UK, together with a 44-18 edge in Athens.

Within the final matchup at Stegeman Coliseum on Jan. 21, 2021, Georgia snapped a 14-game dropping streak to Kentucky with a dramatic 63-62 victory.

The Bulldogs outscored the Wildcats 7-0 over the outing’s closing 109 seconds to safe the victory, their first over UK since March 7, 2013.

Graduate switch P.J. Horne scored on a layup with 1.3 seconds remaining to present Georgia the win.

Present Wildcat Sahvir Wheeler performed a key position within the Bulldogs’ victory that night, scoring 10 factors and meting out seven assists in a game-high 35 minutes of motion.

Georgia and Kentucky additionally met earlier this season on Jan. 17 at Rupp Area, with Wildcats rallying from an 11-point, first-half deficit en path to an 85-71 win.

Terry Roberts scored 21 factors – his third 20-point outing in 5 SEC video games – to guide the Bulldogs. Roberts additionally paced Georgia with 5 rebounds (together with Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe) and three assists. Kario Oquendo added 17 factors for the Bulldogs.

Oscar Tshiebwe scored 37 factors and grabbed 24 rebounds, the second-most boards ever by a Georgia opponent (behind the 27 by Vanderbilt’s Clyde Lee on Jan. 11, 1965).

The Bulldogs performed an distinctive first half, capturing 55.6 % from the ground and 88.9 % on the line en path to a 42-34 benefit on the intermission. Georgia’s first-half lead topped out at 11 factors on 4 events, lastly at 42-31 with 56 seconds left within the interval.

Tshiebwe scored the entire Wildcats’ factors in an 11-3 surge to drag Kentucky inside 45-43 simply 2:41 into the second stanza. He then gathered his personal miss off a free throw and assisted a CJ Frederick 3-pointer, which gave the Wildcats their first lead since 14-13.

After the sport was tied 57-57, Kentucky went on to outscore the Bulldogs 28-14 over the ultimate 11:26.
 

Scouting The Wildcats

Kentucky arrives in Athens at 16-8 total and 7-4 within the SEC.

The Wildcats had their six-game successful streak in league play snapped with a setback to Arkansas on Tuesday night time.

Oscar Tshiebwe leads Kentucky offensively (15.5 ppg) and on the glass (13.3 rpg). In truth, he enters the weekend because the nation’s high rebounder.

Three extra Wildcats are scoring at a double-figure tempo – Antonio Reeves (12.9 ppg), Cason Wallace (12.3 ppg) and Jacob Toppin (11.7 ppg).

Former Bulldog Sahvir Wheeler is averaging an SEC-best 5.6 apg. Wheeler has led the league in assists the previous two seasons as properly, meting out 7.4 passes-to-points per sport at Georgia in 2020-21 and 6.9 per contest at Kentucky final season.
 

Final Time Out

Braelen Bridges scored a career-high 26 factors, however Georgia nonetheless dropped a 78-74 determination to Ole Miss on Tuesday night time at Stegeman Coliseum.

Bridges was 11-of-15 from the sector on the night time and in addition grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to notch his third double-double of the season. Kario Oquendo added 19 factors, and Justin Hill chipped in 13 factors and a game- and season-high seven assists (with just one turnover).

The back-and-forth battle featured a minimum of 13 ties and 15 lead modifications. Georgia led for a majority of the competition earlier than Ole Miss used a 6-1 surge to go up 67-73 with 2:40 left and held off the Bulldogs the remainder of the best way.
 

Closing 4 Canines Again In City

Twenty-one members of Georgia’s 1983 Closing 4 workforce are anticipated again on the Coliseum on Saturday to have a good time the fortieth anniversary of their historic run by “March Insanity.”

Your entire teaching workers, led by hall-of-famer Hugh Durham, and 10 gamers from that roster are slated to attend. The ledger of Bulldogs contains Vern Fleming, the MVP of the 1983 SEC Event, and James Banks, the MOP of the East Regional in Syracuse, N.Y.

Georgia entered the SEC tourney in Birmingham that season because the No. 6 seed however proceeded to knock off Ole Miss, Tennessee and Alabama in successive days to safe the convention title and the Bulldogs’ first-ever NCAA Event bid.

Georgia made probably the most of that chance, reaching the Closing 4 in Albuquerque earlier than falling to N.C. State, the eventual nationwide champion.

The Bulldogs defeated VCU in Greensboro, N.C., within the Spherical of 32 to advance to the East Regional on the Provider Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.

There, Georgia knocked off top-seeded St. John’s, 70-67, and shocked second-seeded North Carolina and Michael Jordan, 82-77, within the “Elite Eight.”
 

Not The Solely Closing 4 in ’83

Many members of the Georgia Woman Bulldogs’ 1983 Closing 4 workforce – together with five-time Olympian Teresa Edwards – additionally can be at Saturday’s sport. That squad can be formally honored at halftime of Georgia’s matchup with Florida on Sunday afternoon.

Very similar to the lads, the Woman Bulldogs made probably the most of that March. Georgia was simply 4-4 in SEC play through the common season however bested LSU, Tennessee and Ole Miss to win the convention tourney.

The Woman Canines topped North Carolina, Indiana and Tennessee (once more) to safe their first Closing 4 look. Georgia then misplaced to Southern Cal (and Cheryl Miller) within the NCAA semis.

In 1983, Georgia turned the primary basketball program to have each its males’s and girls’s groups advance to the NCAA Closing 4. UGA held the excellence as the one college to take action for 16 years, till Duke did so in 1999.
 

Georgia’s 4 “3-Migos”

4 Bulldogs have made greater than 60 % of their subject targets from 3-point vary. Every member of that quartet has scored greater than half of their complete factors this season on 3-pointers as outlined under.

Jabri Abdur-Rahim is Georgia’s best 3-point shot maker, pulling down 1.5 3s per sport total and upping that to 1.7 3FGpg in SEC motion.
 

However They’re Not The Solely Ones

Along with the aforementioned quartet of profitable long-range shooters, three extra Bulldogs have transformed on greater than 10 3-pointers this season – Terry Roberts with 31, Kario Oquendo with 26 and Justin Hill with 15.

Georgia’s tally of seven Bulldogs with double-digit 3-pointers is Georgia’s most in 1 / 4 century – since eight Canines did so through the 1997-98 season.
 

And on the “Different” Finish

The Bulldogs enter the weekend ranked No. 21 nationally by holding their opponents to 29.8 % capturing from 3-point vary. Georgia is properly on its approach to having the most effective 3-point protection marks in program historical past as outlined under.

Solely as soon as within the 37 seasons because the arc was added nationally in 1986-87 has Georgia held its opponents to lower than 30 % from exterior the arc – 29.9 % in 1993-94.
 

Canines’ Double-Digit Beginning 5s

Georgia has blended and matched eight Bulldogs to comprise 11 totally different beginning lineups over 24 video games.

Most of these have been in non-conference play when Georgia used eight totally different quintets over the primary 11 contests. The Bulldogs battled by a collection of accidents and sicknesses that resulted in 16 DNPs by six gamers. In truth, the Notre Dame sport – Georgia’s eleventh outing – was the primary when the whole roster was out there.

After settling right into a constant quintet for 9 video games – from Notre Dame on Dec. 18 to Vanderbilt on Jan. 21 – the Bulldogs’ began a ninth and tenth totally different lineup towards Tennessee and South Carolina, respectively. The ultimate pairing got here at Texas A&M.

No Bulldog has began each sport, though three – Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, Kario Oquendo and Terry Roberts – have gotten the nod for each sport they’ve performed.

Solely 4 Bulldogs – Jabri Abdur-Rahim, Braelen Bridges, Justin Hill and Mardrez McBride – have performed in each contest this season.
 

Heaps Of Canines Lead Scoring

Six totally different gamers have led Georgia offensively in video games this season.

Together with ties in sure contests, Terry Roberts has paced the Bulldogs a team-high 10 instances. As well as, Kario Oquendo has been Georgia’s high level producer six instances, adopted by Mardrez McBride in 4 outings, Braelen Bridges in three, Justin Hill in two and Jabri Abdur-Rahim in a single.
 

Grateful We’re Much less Giving

Georgia’s ball safety numbers have taken a definite flip since Turkey Day.

The Bulldogs recorded extra turnovers than assists in every of the primary six video games previous to Thanksgiving, to the mixed tune of 62 assists to 99 TOs. That equated to a paltry 0.63 assist-to-TO ratio.

The Bulldogs have produced even or optimistic ratios in 13 of 17 contests since then and upped their a-to-TO mark to 0.87. Whereas that also ranks thirteenth within the SEC, the Bulldogs’ enchancment taking good care of the basketball since Thanksgiving is the perfect within the league.

Since Turkey Day, 9 of the SEC’s groups have produced a greater assist-to-TO ratio than of their video games previous to the vacation, however the Bulldogs personal probably the most optimistic up-tick as outlined under.

Though “Thanksgiving” looks as if a random line to attract, each SEC workforce had performed both 5 – 6 video games as of Nov. 24 so it appeared like a stable reference level to watch.
 

A Very Productive Bench

The Bulldogs who’ve come off the bench this season have scored 567 factors, 33.8 % of the 1,677 factors put up by Georgia.

The Bulldogs’ bench has outscored its opponents’ reserves 567-407, a reasonably substantial +160 margin…which instantly equates to six.7 ppg. Georgia has gained the “bench battle” in 18 of 24 video games and tied Auburn (in Athens) in one other.

In line with KenPom.com, Georgia ranks No. 2 nationally in bench minutes, with reserves accounting for 45.5 % of the Bulldogs’ complete PT.
 

Canines Begin Sizzling At Dwelling

Georgia gained its first 10 video games at Stegeman Coliseum, making this simply the sixth bunch of Bulldogs ever to publish a double-figure dwelling successful streak.

In truth, this season’s streak tied the Georgia’s sixth-longest total dwelling successful streak, fifth-best stretch in a single season and fourth-longest span at Stegeman Coliseum as outlined within the subsequent column.

The Bulldogs’ longest stretch of dwelling success was in 1930-31 when Bulldogs produced considered one of two good dwelling data in program historical past and went 16-0.

Georgia’s longest total dwelling successful streak is 25 video games – closing three video games of the 1929-30 season, the 16-0 mark in 1930-31 and the primary six dates in Athens of the 1931-23 marketing campaign.
 

Drez Sizzling From 3-Level Vary

Mardrez McBride’s 5 3s towards South Carolina equaled what was then Georgia’s most profitable pictures from behind the arc this season, matching Jabri Abdur-Rahim’s complete versus Vanderbilt and Rider.

McBride improved that commonplace by connecting on six 3-pointers at Auburn.

Within the course of, McBride turned the primary Bulldog to make 5 or extra 3-pointers in successive video games in seven seasons…since present graduate assistant Kenny Gaines – he is on the bench if TV needs a shot of him – did so.

Gaines made six 3-pointers towards Auburn on Feb. 24, 2016 and adopted that with 5 versus Ole Miss on Feb. 27. A wink to statistics guru Dave McMahon for monitoring down the aforementioned span.
 

Rebounding A Crew Effort

Getting on the glass has been a workforce effort for Georgia. A nation-leading 10 totally different Bulldogs have collected greater than 50 boards this season. FYI, Tennessee, Arkansas, UMass Lowell and BYU even have 10 gamers with 50+ boards this season. A nod to statistics guru Dave McMahon for monitoring the aforementioned.
 

Bulldogs’ Protection Stiffens

With a Jan. 11 win over Mississippi State, Georgia doubled its total and SEC win totals from final season. A lot of the Bulldogs’ success might be attributed to their protection.

Throughout the 2021-22 season, Georgia ranked No. 338 nationally in each scoring protection (78.5 ppg) and subject purpose protection (.473) and No. 260 in 3-point subject purpose protection (.439).

The Bulldogs enter this weekend up 170 spots to No. 168 in scoring protection (69.1 ppg), 224 positions to No. 114 in opponent FG proportion (.425) and 239 slots to No. 21 in opponent 3-point proportion (.298) this season.
 

He Ain’t Roy Kent, However…

should you peruse Southeastern Convention statistical leaders, Terry Roberts might have you ever considering “He is right here. He is there. He is “…and we higher cease proper there.

The senior from North Amityville, N.Y., entered this weekend’s motion ranked amongst league leaders in six classes – No. 4 in assists (4.2 apg), No. 5 in free throw proportion (.819), No. 8 in scoring (15.0 ppg), No. 10 in subject purpose proportion (.388), No. 11 in steals (1.7 spg) and No. 13 in assist-to-TO ratio (1.39).
 

Milestones Mount For Bridges

Braelen Bridges reached a trio of serious statistical achievements throughout a Jan. 11 win over Mississippi State – his one hundredth sport performed, five hundredth rebound and a thousandth level.

Bridges additionally was named SEC Participant of the Week on Dec. 19 after an 18-point efficiency – on 9-of-9 capturing from the ground – in a Vacation Hoopsgiving win over Notre Dame on Dec. 18.
 

Bulldogs Signal High-25 Class

Georgia made a bang throughout NCAA’s early signing interval, inking a top-25 recruiting class.

The incoming Bulldogs rank as two of ESPN’s top-100 prospects within the Class of 2023 – No. 72 Lamariyon “Mari” Jordan and No. 94 Dylan James.

James helped lead Winter Haven Excessive to the semifinals of the 2022 Florida Class 6A state event. He was chosen because the Lakeland Ledger’s Participant of the 12 months after averaging 15.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.4 blocks, 2.0 apg and 1.3 spg per sport final season for the Blue Devils, who completed 23-8.

Jordan was tabbed first-team All-State for Class 6A as a junior after averaging 19.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.4 bpg and 1.2 spg per sport for Dacula Excessive. Over three seasons, Jordan compiled 1,257 factors, 434 rebounds, 128 blocks, 109 assists and 104 steals for the Falcons.
 

A “March Insanity” Pedigree

5 of Georgia’s six first-year transfers performed for groups that reached the 2021 or 2022 NCAA Tournaments.

Justin Hill (Longwood) and Jusaun Holt (Alabama) each took half within the “Massive Dance” final spring. Frank Anselem (Syracuse), Madrez McBride (North Texas) and Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe (Oklahoma State) all had tickets punched to the 2021 version of “March Insanity.”
 

Ingram Provides Expertise

In line with analysis by Center Tennessee’s SID workers, Jailyn Ingram is considered one of 5 seventh-year males’s gamers in Division-I basketball this season.

The Madison, Ga., native spent 5 seasons at Florida Atlantic earlier than returning to his dwelling state previous to the 2021-22 season.

Ingram and others competing for a seventh school season – together with a really well-traveled Penn State Nittany Lion – are outlined under.