UGA MBB
AJC: Silas Demary Jr.’s impact on Georgia basketball beyond the box score
https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-...ond-the-box-score/OJGHS3LN6VDMXFOSANODURJENM/
Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Nest Opponent: Tennessee
Login to view embedded media
UGA Sports.com: Homecoming for Blue Cain
https://uga.rivals.com/news/homecoming-for-blue-cain
Login to view embedded media
Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball vs Georgia: Prediction, picks, injury updates, odds
Tennessee's Felix Okpara playing his best in SEC games
Felix Okpara has taken a jump since SEC play began and is playing his best basketball of the season.
The Ohio State transfer is averaging 8.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in three SEC games, both increases from his season averages. He has scored at least seven points in each game.
"It has just been about finding the opportunities to get rim shots," Vols assistant coach
Lucas Campbellsaid. "It is just finding his spots."
The 6-foot-11 Okpara grabbed seven rebounds at Florida and nine at Texas. He has continued to be a force defensively and blocked three shots in each of the past two games.
Georgia's Asa Newell is another star freshman in the SEC
For the second straight game, Tennessee will face one of the freshman stars in the SEC.
Asa Newell is Georgia's first-year phenom after the Vols saw Texas' Tre Johnson on Saturday. The 6-11 Newell is averaging 15.4 and 6.8 rebounds.
"He looks really comfortable in college basketball, which is a hard adjustment to make in college basketball," Campbell said.
Newell was the No. 12 prospect nationally in the 247Sports Composite. He has scored at least 13 points in every SEC game, including a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double against Ole Miss.
What Georgia basketball does well under Mike White
Georgia is ranked in the USA TODAY coaches poll and Associated Press poll at the same time for the first time since March 10, 2023.
The Bulldogs are ranked No. 23 in both polls this week after wins against Kentucky and Oklahoma under coach Mike White.
"They bring a different physicality," Campbell said. "That is the main thing we have been hitting. They are a very physical team and we have to match that physicality."
Tennessee and Georgia have some similarities in profile.
Georgia is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country, grabbing 38.7% of its misses. It also has the No. 7 3-point defense as opponents hit 28% of 3-pointers. Likewise, Tennessee is No. 7 in offensive rebound rate at 39.5% and No. 1 in 3-point defense with teams hitting 24.8% from three.
The Bulldogs have the third-best rebounding margin in the SEC behind Florida and Texas A&M.
Tennessee vs Georgia score prediction
Tennessee 63, Georgia 62: The Bulldogs are seriously good and tough, which will test Tennessee similarly to Florida in some respects. But Georgia doesn't score as well as the Gators so the Vols win this game.
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/spor...-prediction-picks-injury-updates/77441949007/
Lucas Campbell AC Tennessee
On Georgia coming off a week with two top 25 wins
“Mike White’s done a great job with this group. I mean, Silas Demary and Asa Nowell and Somo (Cyril), they bring like a different physicality and that’s like the main thing we’ve been hitting, is they’re a very physical team and so we’ve got to match that physicality. Which we obviously didn’t do against Florida and in the first half against Texas we struggled on the glass. And so we’ve gotta match their physicality and I think we’ll do the job defensively. Keeping them, making them take shots that we want. They’re like third in the nation in dunks, something like that. And so we can’t let them get any uncontested looks at the rim. We’ve just got to do our job and do our part and I think we’ll be good. And then offensively we’ll just keep doing the things we do. Keep moving the ball, passing, getting open looks. Guys stay aggressive. I mean guys have been practicing great, they’ve got a great attitude so I think we’ll be fine there.”
On Georgia freshman center Asa Newell
“He is a really talented player and he looks really comfortable in college basketball, which is a hard adjustment to make as a freshman. Props to him. I think we need to be, hopefully start the trend of, making him struggle and giving him not a lot of opportunities. (Texas freshman guard) Tre Johnson did a great job. There was another freshman that (we had to deal with it). So we are gonna take (these) challenges of (defending) these really talented players. We gotta get Igor (Milicic Jr.), we gotta get D-Stone, we gotta get Cade, we gotta get all these guys locked in to make it hard on him. And if he makes tough opportunities, he makes tough opportunities. We wanna make that transition tough as he gets an SEC play.”
