Georgia Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Bulldogs

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ATHENS, GA – JANUARY 04: A cheerleader cheers on the Georgia Bulldogs during their basketball game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Stegeman Coliseum on January 4, 2017 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

Georgia basketball reached a consistent level of success during the last five seasons. The Dawgs must ride big man Yante Maten to the next level.

The Georgia Basketball team ended the 2017 season with a 19-15 record and a NIT opening round loss. Georgia fans expected a better season. With overtime road losses at Kentucky and Florida along with a game clock snafu that took Yante Maten off the free throw line and ended the game at Texas A&M, it could have easily been a season to celebrate.

Although there was no celebration, Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity decided to retain head coach Mark Fox. There were some shouts of disappointment, but the decision was logical. Georgia basketball is a tough gig. Fox has raised Georgia basketball to a level of consistency never before achieved inside Georgia’s Stegeman Coliseum.

Fox has an overall record of 145-118 at Georgia and reached the 2011 and 2015 NCAA Tournaments. Georgia has had a .500 or better SEC record the last five seasons, the longest such streak in school history. Despite the recent FBI arrests of college basketball coaches and reported payments to players around the country, Fox doesn’t keep McGarity awake at night worrying about NCAA investigators. Nevertheless, the Bulldog faithful is now clamoring for “the next step.”

The Dawgs return nine contributors from last year’s squad. Lost to graduation, however, is Mighty Mouse point guard JJ Frazier. If Georgia basketball takes the next step, it will be on the back of Yante Maten.

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