Georgia @ Dayton preview

There has been a lot of focus on Georgia’s freshmen class and rightly so, but Rayshaun Hammonds has served notice he deserves some attention as well entering Monday’s matchup against Dayton in the Maui Invitational. The junior big man is the first Georgia player since 2017 to score 25 points in back-to-back games; his 26 points with nine rebounds leading the Bulldogs past in-state rival Georgia Tech on Wednesday, 82-78.

Hammonds shot 11-for-20 from the field and sparked a late first-half run against Georgia Tech, and across his past two games is 22-for-34 from the field and 3-for-6 from 3-point range with 23 rebounds. “I focused on getting in shape and being a better player than I was last year,” Hammonds told reporters postgame, citing the improvement from the 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds averaged last season to this season’s 17.3 points and 11 rebounds. “The freshmen help a lot and take a lot of stress off of me because they can play ball.” The Flyers have won their first three games by an average of 19.7 points thanks to an offense that entered Saturday sixth in the country in average scoring at 89.7 points. Sophomore forward Obi Toppin ranks ninth in the nation at 23.7 points, shooting 70 percent from the field.

TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT GEORGIA (4-0): Freshman Anthony Edwards leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 19.3 points, fourth in the SEC, and is shooting 7-for-19 from 3-point range while averaging six rebounds, four assists and a SEC-leading 2.8 steals. Hammonds leads the SEC in rebounding and is 10th in scoring, while freshman guard Sahvir Wheeler is fourth in the league in assists (5.5) and is shooting 60.9 percent from the field. The Bulldogs rank third nationally in scoring offense at 92 points and average 18.5 assists.

ABOUT DAYTON (3-0): Toppin began the season with a career-high 29 points against Indiana State and has posted two double-doubles while averaging 9.7 rebounds, finishing with 21 points and six rebounds in Tuesday’s 93-68 victory over Omaha. Along with Toppin, the Flyers have three starters averaging double-figures scoring while shooting 50 percent or greater from the field; senior forward Ryan Mikesell (14 points, 57.1 percent) and junior guard Rodney Chatman (13 points, 50 percent). One vulnerability is perimeter defense, as opponents are shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range.

TIP-INS

1. The Bulldogs are scoring an average of 21.5 points off opposing turnovers.

2. Georgia senior G Tyree Crump is shooting 11-for-34 from 3-point range and is averaging 12.3 points.

3. Monday’s winner faces either No. 3 Michigan State or Virginia Tech on Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Georgia 86, Dayton 78