Georgia basketball: Players to watch against Arkansas

ATHENS, GA - JANUARY 15: Anthony Edwards #5 (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - JANUARY 15: Anthony Edwards #5 (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Georgia basketball hosts Arkansas at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The Bulldogs enter the game with an 4-11 conference record and the Razorbacks are 6-9.

Georgia basketball is a dangerous team today. The Bulldogs enter Saturday’s game with Arkansas without any NCAA Tournament pressures. The Bulldogs are just trying to end the season on a high-note.

Arkansas, however, is trying to salvage its NCAA Tournament hopes. After a recent five-game losing streak, the Razorbacks are clinging to a spot in the tournament. They can’t afford to lose too many games in these final eight days. With Georgia having an advantage, here are two players likely to have great games.

Anthony Edwards

Georgia is a dangerous team for Arkansas, and Anthony Edwards is a dangerous player. Because of Edwards, Georgia is probably the last team Arkansas wants to play right now, especially after the game Edwards had Wednesday. Edwards is coming off a 36-point performance where he added seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.

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The Razorbacks will have their hands full containing the future first round draft pick. With all the added pressure on Arkansas today, it cannot afford to let Edwards have a great game.

It’s not just Edwards’ shooting Arkansas has to contend with. The Razorbacks only have one player averaging more than five boards per game. Georgia has two, and Edwards is one of them.

Rayshaun Hammonds

To continue the point about rebounds, Rayshaun Hammonds is the other player averaging at least five boards per game. Hammonds is pulling down 7.1 rebounds per night and he has 11 games in his career with at least 10 rebounds. Not bad for someone forced to play almost exclusively down low because of Georgia’s lack of height.

Hammonds can also score, he averaging 12.4 points per game, good enough for second best on the team. Arkansas as a team, already struggles to score a lot of points, its failed to score 75 points 12 times this season. The Razorbacks are 1-4 in conference games where they don’t score at least 75 points. Hammonds can play a huge part in keeping Arkansas below 75 points by eliminating second chances.