While a drop was expected after Georgia Bulldogs' first conference loss on the road to Florida, they bounced back with a close road win over South Carolina. It was huge for Georgia's chances of staying inside the AP Top 25 Poll for yet another week. After last week's games, Georgia picked up a Quad 1 loss at Florida (92-77), but was able to back that up with a Quad 2 win over South Carolina (75-70).
Here is how the latest AP Top 25 Poll shook out after the latest week of games having been played.
- Arizona Wildcats (16-0): 1,524 points (60 first-place votes)
- Iowa State Cyclones (16-0): 1,448 points (1 first-place vote)
- UConn Huskies (16-1): 1,358 points
- Michigan Wolverines (14-1): 1,300 points
- Purdue Boilermakers (15-1): 1,253 points
- Duke Blue Devils (15-1): 1,237 points
- Houston Cougars (15-1): 1,130 points
- Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-0): 1,056 points
- Gonzaga Bulldogs (17-1): 1,050 points
- Vanderbilt Commodores (16-0): 1,035 points
- BYU Cougars (15-1): 1,013 points
- Michigan State Spartans (14-2): 865 points
- Illinois Fighting Illini (13-3): 778 points
- North Carolina Tar Heels (14-2): 659 points
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-4): 609 points
- Virginia Cavaliers (14-2): 515 points
- Arkansas Razorbacks (12-4): 492 points
- Alabama Crimson Tide (11-5): 470 points
- Florida Gators (11-5): 349 points
- Louisville Cardinals (12-4): 336 points
- Georgia Bulldogs (14-2): 227 points
- Clemson Tigers (14-3): 218 points
- Utah State Aggies (14-1): 161 points
- Tennessee Volunteers (11-5): 140 points
- Seton Hall Pirates (14-2): 136 points
Georgia dropped three spots from No. 18 to No. 21 after its second loss of the season. Losing by double-digits on the road to a previously unranked Florida team will do that to you. That being said, stopping the bleeding with a clutch win over the weekend at South Carolina was somewhat impressive in the AP voters eyes. Lesser teams would let losses like that pile up and get out of hand.
Georgia has two games this week, both of which are at home vs. Ole Miss and then No. 17 Arkansas.
Georgia must take advantage of getting two in a row at home in SEC play
Looking ahead to what is immediately on the horizon for UGA hoops, Georgia will host a 9-7 Ole Miss team on Wednesday evening. Georgia is widely expected to win. Frankly, the Dawgs need to, as this would only be seen as a Quad 3 game for UGA at Stegeman. After that, they get a much tougher draw on Saturday when No. 17 Arkansas comes to town. UGA will be favored, but it could be a Quad 2 win.
For Georgia's chances of not only staying ranked, but ensuring itself of a probable NCAA Tournament berth, it is imperative that this team plays well vs. Ole Miss and Arkansas at home, as well as giving Missouri all it can on the road on Jan. 20. After that is when the schedule gets unforgiving. Beginning with Texas on the road on Jan. 24, eight of Georgia's final 12 SEC games will be of the Quad 1 variety.
At 14-2 overall and 2-1 in SEC play, Georgia looks to be in fantastic shape to make the NCAA Tournament. As of Friday, Jan. 9, Georgia projects to be a No. 8 seed in the field, per Joe Lunardi's Bracketology for ESPN. They have oscillated between a No. 7 and a No. 8 seed throughout most of this season up to this point. It is all about White's team maintaining its steadiness well into March.
Ole Miss at home is a must-win, but holding serve vs. Arkansas on Saturday may be just as crucial.