Georgia Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Bulldogs
Non-conference schedule for 2018-19
Nov. 9 (H) – Savannah State
Nov. 13 (A) – Temple
Nov. 16 (H) – Sam Houston State
Nov. 19 (N) – Illinois State (Cayman Islands Classic)
Nov. 20-21 (N) –Akron/Clemson/St. Bonaventure/Georgia State/Boise State/Creighton (Cayman Islands Classic)
Nov. 27 (H) – Kennesaw State
Dec. 3 (H) – Texas Southern
Dec. 15 (H) – Arizona State
Dec. 18 (H) – Oakland
Dec. 22 (A) – Georgia Tech
Dec. 30 (H) – UMass
Jan. 26 (H) – Texas (SEC/Big 12 Challenge)
The Georgia Bulldogs went 9-2 in non-conference play last season. They beat 21st-ranked Saint Mary’s (CA) 83-81 in overtime as their most notable win. The odds of a favorable finish will rise once again in 2018-19 with a rather easy non-conference slate.
Georgia will open the season against the Savannah State Tigers on Nov. 9, a team they haven’t faced since the 2005-06 season. After that, they travel to face the Temple Owls, a team they beat 84-66 last season. After Temple, the Bulldogs return home to host the Sam Houston State Bearkats before participating in the 2018 Cayman Islands Classic.
The Bulldogs will face the Illinois State Redbirds in the opening round with the potential of facing ACC-power Clemson as well as the Creighton Bluejays, depending on the result. A positive outcome would be good for Georgia’s confidence.
When they return from the Cayman Islands Classic, the Bulldogs will have four-straight home games against the Kennesaw State Tigers, Texas Southern Tigers, Arizona State Sun Devils and Oakland Golden Grizzlies. It will be their first-ever meeting against Kennesaw State and Texas Southern. They’ll meet Oakland for the third time in school history and Arizona State for their second meeting since the 1989-90 season.
The Bulldogs will travel up to the road to Atlanta to face in-state rival Georgia Tech in their final road on the non-conference slate. Georgia beat the Yellow Jackets, 80-59, last season and currently own a three-game winning streak in the series.
The UMass Minutemen will be the Bulldogs’ last non-conference game until Jan. 26 when they host the Texas Longhorns in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Georgia lost to the Kansas State Wildcats, 56-51, in last year’s challenge. The non-conference slate may have a few bumps in the road, but Georgia should be prepared for SEC play when it’s all said and done