Year four under Mike White could be something special for the Georgia Bulldogs' men's basketball team. After a quality 12-1 start to the season in non-conference play, the Dawgs got their first truly great win of the season. In one of the wildest games you will ever see, Jeremiah Wilkinson, Somto Cyril, Blue Cain, and the rest of the guys won an overtime thriller over a major rival of theirs in Auburn.
This not only got Dawg Nation's attention, as well as the hoop-heads in SEC country, but the Associated Press did not bat an eye in moving them up in their latest Top 25 Poll. Although the SEC does not have a top-10 team in the country just yet, it has five among the top 25, including Georgia. Now at 13-1 on the season and 1-0 in SEC play, this is looking very much like a tournament team now.
Heading into the first full week of January, here is what the latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll looks.
- Arizona Wildcats (14-0): 1,494 points (32 first-place votes)
- Michigan Wolverines (13-0): 1,493 points (29 first-place votes)
- Iowa State Cyclones (14-0): 1,390 points
- UConn Huskies (14-1): 1,343 points
- Purdue Boilermakers (13-1): 1,254 points
- Duke Blue Devils (13-1): 1,206 points
- Houston Cougars (13-1): 1,113 points
- Gonzaga Bulldogs (16-1): 1,101 points
- BYU Cougars (13-1): 1,039 points
- Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-0): 998 points
- Vanderbilt Commodores (14-0): 936 points
- Michigan State Spartans (12-2): 834 points
- Alabama Crimson Tide (11-3): 782 points
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-3): 676 points
- Arkansas Razorbacks (11-3): 659 points
- Illinois Fighting Illini (11-3): 602 points
- North Carolina Tar Heels (13-2): 557 points
- Georgia Bulldogs (13-1): 378 points
- Iowa Hawkeyes (12-2): 340 points
- Louisville Cardinals (11-3): 336 points
- Tennessee Volunteers (10-4): 277 points
- Kansas Jayhawks (10-4): 208 points
- Virginia Cavaliers (12-2): 183 points
- SMU Mustangs (12-2): 142 points
- UCF Knights (12-1): 131 points
Georgia was the second biggest mover up the AP Top 25 poll this week behind only Iowa. The Dawgs went from No. 23 up to No. 18 ahead of their big first SEC road game of the season at arch rival Florida. The Gators received 11 votes in this AP Top 25 Poll. Florida lost by two to Missouri to commence SEC play over the weekend to fall to 9-5 on the season. They only lost four a season ago...
After picking up a Quad 2 win over Auburn at home, 104-100, can Georgia keep it going vs. Florida?
How high could Georgia climb up with a win over Florida in Gainesville?
Although this will be adjusted, based on Florida falling out of the AP Top 25, a road win over the Gators would count at a Quad 1 win for UGA. While they did get torched by 30 the last time they played Florida on the road, UGA did win their most recent game over their biggest rival. The 88-83 home win by the Dawgs played a huge part in White leading his first Georgia team into the tourney.
Of course, that would be Florida's last loss from last season, as the Gators would go on to win their final 12 games to become national champions. There is still time for Todd Golden's team to get it right, but they already have more losses this year than last. Truth be told, Georgia beating Auburn at home may be artificially inflated because we view Auburn like it is still being coached by Bruce Pearl.
Overall, Georgia is still trying to figure out who it is to some degree in the early stages of SEC play. Having a ton of depth coming off the bench, being physical down low, and having plenty of scorers all serve White's team a ton. However, this team is still a bit too careless with the basketball. If Auburn shot better from the free-throw line, maybe the Tigers prove victorious over the Dawgs at Stegeman?
In the end, it has been hard to deny what Georgia has done on the hardwood so far this season. This team has played in a ton of close games, usually coming out on top. In fact, their only loss on the season came in overtime to a likely tournament team in Clemson by one possession. If Georgia can win even half of its games in SEC play, the Bulldogs should be a lock to make the tourney once again.
If Georgia beats Florida in Gainesville, this team is definitely cracking the top 15 in next week's poll.