Vanderbilt @ Georgia preview
Stegeman Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Feb 22, 2020 ) Georgia 80, Vanderbilt 78
Two lower-tier Southeastern Conference teams hope to capitalize on recent momentum when Vanderbilt visits Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Saturday evening.
Georgia (11-6, 4-6 SEC) is in a four-way tie for ninth in the 14-team league, thanks to a slow start in league play. On Jan. 27, Georgia was reeling after a 24-point loss at South Carolina -- the Bulldogs' sixth in eight contests.
Since then, Georgia has defeated Ole Miss and Auburn -- the latter on the road -- for its second two-game SEC winning streak this season.
The key for Georgia has been balance. Five Bulldogs -- Sahvir Wheeler (13.5 ppg), K.D. Johnson (13.1), Toumani Camara (12.7), Andrew Garcia (10.4) and Tye Fagan (10.3) -- average double-figure scoring, with Justin Kier (9.9) falling just short.
All but Garcia (nine points) hit double digits in the Auburn win, but P.J. Horne (8.9 ppg) stepped up for 13 in that one.
"They believed they were going to win," Georgia coach Tom Crean said. "I think that sounds cliche. But, they came in believing that they were going to win. We were very focused. We had very good energy, and they were very locked in.
"I think it showed in the way we played. It was as detailed of a game as we have played with what we wanted to do in coverage, and what we wanted to do with (Auburn's) Sharife Cooper."
The Bulldogs held Cooper to 19 points on just 10 shots from the field, the latter tying a season low for the Auburn star. But Auburn still scored 86 on Tuesday, unsurprising given Georgia's defensive play.
The Bulldogs rank 13th and 10th in 2- and 3-point percentage allowed (44.6 and 31.6 percent, respectively).
Vandy also has reason to feel better coming into Saturday.
The Commodores (5-8, 1-6) defeated South Carolina 93-81 on Saturday, the final made closer by Carolina's 13-0 run in the last 2:59. Vanderbilt found its much-needed third scorer when Max Evans pumped in a season-high 29 points.
Vandy is led by Scotty Pippen Jr. (21.7 ppg, 5.5 apg) and Dylan Disu (14.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg), both of whom were excellent on Saturday. Pippen scored 23 while Disu added 17 points, seven rebounds and five steals.
"I thought we came out with great energy on the defensive end and that led to us having some early opportunities on transition. ... It all stemmed from how we started on the defensive end and how we rebounded," Commodores coach Jerry Stackhouse said.
Vanderbilt was scheduled to travel to Texas A&M on Saturday, but that game was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak at A&M.
The last game Vanderbilt and Georgia played was a classic.
Pippen scored 20 for Vanderbilt when the teams met in Nashville last Feb. 22. But the then-freshman -- who hits 83 percent of his free throws this year -- missed two foul shots in the final seconds. Georgia's Tyree Crump snatched the rebound, dribbled up the floor and canned a 35-foot jumper at the buzzer for an 80-78 Bulldogs win.
--Field Level Media