In sports, having a team identity is more than just a cliché. It is meant to serve as a philosophical foundation that answers the fundamental question of who you are as a team. For Mike White and his Georgia basketball squad, it all goes back to the old saying, "Offense sells tickets, defense wins games, and rebounds win championships."
As Georgia begins its journey down the latter side of an unforgiving and arduous 2024 SEC schedule, it is clear that tough defense and strong rebounding can and should be this team's identity, because it works well for them, really really well.
Georgia played one of its most complete basketball games of the season in their 81-62 rout of LSU Wednesday night at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, GA. Sure, it was against a struggling LSU team that was missing one of its best players, but they are still a formidable and dangerous SEC opponent.
As for Georgia, they were not perfect either. There were pockets of the same inconsistencies that have plagued them this entire season. Turnovers and bad shooting from the floor did rear their ugly heads once again. However, the Bulldogs were different this night.
Despite LSU's torrid 3-point shooting to start the game, Georgia remained calm, continued to take good quality shots on offense, pressured on defense and rebounded the ball with kind of dominance not seen all season. Georgia finished the game out-rebounding the Tigers by a whopping 47-26 margin.
Georgia needs this version of Somto Cyril more often
Leading the way defensively for Georgia was freshman big man Somto Cyril who made life very difficult for LSU all night. Cyril's presence and tenacity at challenging every shot that came within his orbit prevented the Tigers from ever establishing any footing in the paint area.
Cyril's stat line may not wow you (eight points, 10 rebounds and three blocks), but he may have had the second-best performance of the game behind only Blue Cain, who finished two assists shy of his first career triple-double.
What's next for Georgia?
Georgia hopes to build upon this dominant performance and show anyone paying attention that this game was no fluke. Up next, No. 22 Mississippi State visits the Classic City on Saturday in another massive opportunity for a resume building win for the Bulldogs.