While the football program gets most of the attention in Athens, Georgia basketball quietly had something of a revival last season. Even in a historically strong SEC, the Bulldogs had their moments last season in the third year under head coach Mike White. His vision for this program might not yet have been fully realized, but the longtime SEC player and coach has this team trending in a good direction after just a few seasons.
Last season, Georgia found themselves in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade, with the Bulldogs finishing 20-13 on the season. White maneuvered his second straight 20-win season, this time taking this program to a tie for 9th in that historic SEC conference race. It’s undeniable that Georgia took a step forward last year, even being a competitor in that crazy conference, with notable wins over teams like Florida and St. John’s during the season.
The hardest part in the current state of this sport for a program like Georgia is maintaining that momentum. The Bulldogs lose a solid group of their lineup, with Asa Newell and Silas Demary the most notable departures after excellent contributions as underclassmen. White and his staff added considerable pieces in the transfer portal but do return a few of the notable players from last year and could have another team worth watching in Athens.
The work has only just begun for a Georgia team hoping to make even more of an impact in the SEC race. Some of the names are different but the staff truly believes this team can get back to the Big Dance and last longer than a single game like last season. We’re going to run through the notable players on the roster, look at the schedule ahead, and try to make a few conclusions about what we can expect from the Bulldogs in the months ahead.
Projected Starters
Guard – Jordan Ross (Junior)
After solid work on the west coast, Ross joins the Bulldogs after spending his first two collegiate campaigns out at Saint Mary’s. He took a major step forward as a sophomore, becoming a starter for the Gaels while putting up 8.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Ross helped helm the Gaels to the Big Dance and is hoping to step into a leadership role while improving on his shooting numbers from last season.
Guard – Jeremiah Wilkinson (Sophomore)
As a true freshman at California, Wilkinson was named ACC Sixth Man of the Year and had a pretty solid debut in college ball. He averaged 15.1 points per game and showcased his shot making ability, though the overall metrics didn’t jump off the charts. Whether or not he can match that total production, Georgia is hoping that Wilkinson’s sophomore year is a step forward as he assumes a major playmaking role here in Athens.
Guard – Blue Cain (Junior)
The most prominent returner from last season’s success, Cain heads into his junior year in Georgia after brilliant work as an underclassman. The former Top 75 recruit averaged 9.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in his first year as a starter with decent shooting metrics and now has the chance to be even more important in this backcourt. Cain becomes even more of a leader and is someone to watch in the SEC.
Forward – Kanon Catchings (Sophomore)
Considered one of the Top 50 recruits last season, Catchings comes to Georgia off decent work as a freshman at BYU. Catchings accumulated 7.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game on a Cougars team that reached the Sweet Sixteen, though his best work came earlier in the season. The hope is that he can realize his true potential with the Bulldogs and become a top-level scorer and rebounder in this frontcourt.
Center – Somto Cyril (Sophomore)
Cyril is a 6-11 center originally from Nigeria who came highly anticipated to Athens last season. After great work at the high school level, the former Top 50 recruit put up 4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in a bench role, but now steps into bigger shoes in his second season. Cyril has fantastic size and interior presence and the Bulldogs are hoping year two in this system sees him truly blossom as a playmaker and defender under the basket.
Key Reserves
Forward – Kareem Stagg (Freshman)
Stagg is a 6-8 power forward from Bradenton, Florida and a 4-star recruit in this freshman class. One of Georgia’s Top 100 recruits added this offseason, Stagg is a physical, active frontcourt piece who has potential both as an efficient scorer and shot blocker in the paint. While he’s still coming together as a total prospect, he has the size and length to be that great weapon inside while also the potential to hit jumpers and affect the game outside the paint.
Guard – Marcus Millender (Junior)
Millender is a 5-11 point guard out of Houston who put up solid production in his first two collegiate seasons, spending a year apiece at South Alabama and UTSA. Sophomore year with the Roadrunners saw him average 14.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while knocking down 44% of his 3-pointers. While Millender won’t have that same level of production with the Bulldogs, he’s a very solid backup point guard who can knock down outside shots and be a valuable veteran tool off the bench.
Guard – Justin Bailey (Senior)
Fresh off All-Defense honors in the SoCon, Bailey joins Georgia after prior work at USC Upstate and most recently with Wofford. His lone year with the Terriers saw him average 9.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, with solid shooting metrics in a season that ended in the NCAA Tournament. Bailey is an impressive playmaker who brings strong defensive potential as a backup in this backcourt.
Forward – Dylan James (Junior)
While we haven’t seen a ton from James, the former Top 100 recruit enters his third year in this Georgia system and hopes to carve out another significant role in the frontcourt. He’s started a few games in each of his first two years and put up 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds largely off the bench for the Bulldogs last season. Georgia certainly hopes he can take that established step forward as an upperclassman though he brings great consistency to this lineup.
Forward – Jake Wilkins (Freshman)
A 4-star recruit out of Loganville, Georgia, Wilkins is a 6-9 wing with great potential in this Georgia lineup. In addition to his size and athleticism, he has the physical aspects and length to be a different maker inside the paint while he also has great potential as a facilitator. We’ll see how his game translates collegiately, though if it all comes together he could be the total package at wing in a few years.
Center – Jackson McVey (Freshman)
While he might be the overlooked of the three freshmen additions, there’s nothing small about McVey, a 7-1 center out of Atlanta. He’s a 3-star recruit who clearly has the size and potential to grow into an impactful big man, showcasing solid rebounding ability as well. It’s all about how McVey transitions to the next level, though he likely won’t get a ton of opportunities right off the bat.
Forward – Justin Abson (Senior)
While not a major contributor last season, Abson joined the Bulldogs last year following impressive work as a starting forward at Appalachian State. In a reserve role, he put up just 2.2 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, a far cry from his prior work with the Mountaineers. However, Abson is a brilliant shot blocker with great metrics in interior defense who will provide a lift off the bench once again.
Schedule Outlook
The Bulldogs aren’t exactly playing a murderer’s row in the nonconference slate, starting the season with five straight at home. The most significant of those is a November 14th matchup against rival Georgia Tech, with 5-0 a distinct possibility. The challenge comes later at the Charleston Classic, as the Bulldogs face Xavier then either Clemson or West Virginia in the event near the end of November.
Georgia notably heads to Tallahassee to begin December, facing Florida State as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. December 13 brings Holiday Hoopsgiving, with this squad heading to Atlanta for a matchup against Cincinnati. After that, it’s just three more home games against mid-major foes before SEC play begins right after New Year’s.
Unbalanced SEC scheduling has the Bulldogs playing just three of their league foes both home and away, getting a pair of cracks at Florida, South Carolina, and Texas this season. They begin the slate by hosting Auburn and get to host Alabama and Tennessee as well later in the year. February road games at Kentucky and Vanderbilt won’t be easy, while the regular season ends at Mississippi State on March 7th before what Georgia hopes is a long slate of postseason games.
Season Outlook
Last season Georgia wasn’t regularly challenged in nonconference play but their young team stood up to regular tests in the SEC and did enough to return to the Big Dance. The Bulldogs broke that decade-long barrier from the NCAA Tournament but have the talent to get back there for a second season. Last year’s team rose to the occasion and won enough games but how will this new crop of talent handle those similar pressures?
First and foremost, the Bulldogs look extremely different without Newell and Demary helming the backcourt. There’s no question that White and his staff added significant talent in Millender, Ross, and Wilkinson, but somebody is really going to have to step up. Wilkinson has been a great scorer and Millender is an elite shooter, but Newell and Demary combined for nearly 30 points per game and someone’s going to need to become a big scorer this season.
Beyond the scoring needs, the Bulldogs have those changes in the frontcourt that are worth noting. Newell was the leading scorer and rebounder and really lived up to his preseason billing, but now the Bulldogs are hoping Catchings can jump into that major role. He came to BYU highly advertised and underwhelmed, but can he bounce back in this opportunity in the SEC? It’s also worth noting that the Bulldogs added plenty of depth behind him in the frontcourt.
Other questions include what this team can get out of its freshmen, with Stagg and Wilkins in particular looking like playmakers with great potential. Good strides were made by Cyril last season but can he handle a much more significant role at the 5? Another thing to note about these Bulldogs is once again the youth on this team, as that entire projecting starting five were sophomores or juniors with plenty of room to grow.
When taking a step back and looking at the full picture, Georgia has the talent to replicate last season’s success, though they are still clearly a few pegs beneath some of the more elite teams in the SEC. Regardless, if players like Cain and Catchings can really step up in new roles then the Bulldogs can certainly find their way back to the NCAA Tournament. It’ll be worth watching some of these young pieces and seeing who it is that really stands out in Athens this season.