The Georgia Bulldogs got back into the win column in a big way by winning at Kentucky on Tuesday. The next goal for the Bulldogs to deliver when they take on one of the SEC’s hottest teams.
Georgia (18-8, 6-7 SEC) will host Texas (17-9, 8-5 SEC) in a 3:30 p.m. ET game Saturday that will be televised by SEC Network. The Bulldogs are coming off an 86-78 win at Kentucky. The Longhorns, meanwhile, are fresh off an 88-85 win over LSU.
The Bulldogs had lost five of their previous six games before going to Rupp Arena. The team found its footing with shooting guard Jeremiah Wilkinson back on the floor. Wilkinson put up 19 points, the team delivered 17 second-chance points, and the Bulldogs converted 13 Kentucky turnovers into 22 points.
The end result was Georgia’s fifth win in Rupp ever.
Georgia’s renewed defensive intensity was evident early in Tuesday’s win. Bulldogs coach Mike White said he saw as much in the prep for the game. He also saw better defensive rebounding once the game got going.
“[We] just did a better job of flying around,” White said on Thursday. “Our overall commitment, our rotations were pretty good. And then even with the offensive rebounds that they got, for the most part, there was elevated effort.”
A key player in Tuesday’s victory was center Somto Cyril, the one-time Kentucky signee. Cyril had not been 100% in recent weeks due to an ankle injury followed by an illness, but the standout sophomore looked more like himself in Lexington.
Cyril played 26 minutes and came through with 14 points and 8 rebounds. He helped seal the victory with a successful putback that made it a two-possession game with 43 seconds to go.
White lauded Cyril for his work at practice the past couple of weeks and credited him with giving more to the team. Cyril embraced the chance to help his team get a much-needed win, but he understood that the players can’t enjoy that one for long.
“We’ve just got to stay the same. Just got to stay levelheaded. Don’t change anything but try to get better,” Cyril said. “Practice today was about getting better in scouts and personnel. Tomorrow we’ll get better again. It’s about getting 1% better every day. Just get ready for the guys. Get our minds right and be ready for anything.”
Cyril and the Bulldogs know firsthand how hard it is to beat Texas.
The Longhorns handed Georgia an 87-67 loss back on Jan. 24. It was an ugly second half for Georgia, as Texas shot 68.8% from the field and pulled down rebounds on 80% of their misses in that stretch. Texas lost its next game after beating Georgia but has since won five in a row, tied for the second-longest active winning streak in the SEC.
White said Texas is a different team compared to the one that Georgia faced in Austin, and he said the Longhorns are led by forward Dailyn Swain. White credited the Longhorns for their ability to hit mid-range jumpers, which complements their 3-point shooting.
“They’re one of the best teams in the country in offensive rebounding, and they’re also one of the best teams in the country in drawing fouls and living at the foul line,” White said. “We’ve got to be really sharp to have a chance.”
Notable Longhorns include Swain (17.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 57.3 FG%), center Matas Vokietaitis (15.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 63.6 FG%), guard Tramon Mark (13.3 ppg, 47.1 FG%, 26 stl.), and guard Jordan Pope (12.8 ppg, 40.5 FG%, 35.8 3PT%).
The Bulldogs helped their postseason cause against Kentucky, and they have another opportunity Saturday at home. That said, they understand the Longhorns are a dangerous team, which means they need their A game in order to have a chance.
“I think coming into this game we’ve got to bring the fight to them and not make it easy for them because they’re a good team. Like, they’re hot right now,” Georgia forward Kareem Stagg said. “They’re on a five-game winning streak, but I think if we come in and just do our job, the results may vary.”