Is spot in NCAA Tournament back on the table for Georgia basketball?

Just when the murky waters of Georgia basketball's NCAA tournament chances were starting to look more and more clear, and everyone within Bulldog Nation was becoming more accepting of their fate, Mike White and his Georgia Bulldogs decided to bring a little drama to the party. And it could not have came at a better time and against a better opponent.

In case you have not heard, Georgia upset No. 3 Florida 88-83 at home Tuesday night, in front of an amped-up and jubilant Bulldog crowd at Stegeman Coliseum. It was Georgia's first win over an AP Top 5 team since 2004.

There is no denying that this one meant a great deal to White and his program, and is easily White’s biggest regular season victory during his tenure as Georgia head coach. There are so many positives to this win, it would be hard for any Bulldog fan to know where to begin, but let us give it a try anyway.

What this one means to Georgia basketball?

First of all, this victory was arguably against Georgia’s most-detested nemesis Florida. Secondly, it was White’s first victory against his former school. Thirdly, it breaks Florida’s twelve game winning streak in head-to-head matchups. Lastly, it puts Georgia back in the NCAA Tournament discussion. For perspective, anytime a single game can check off that many boxes, the importance of that game becomes evermore obvious.

Making the argument

According to the NCAA's NET ranking system, this is Georgia’s third Quad 1 win of the season with victories over St. John’s, Kentucky and now Florida. The NET includes more components than just winning percentage as it also takes into account game results, strength of schedule, game location, net offensive and defensive efficiency, and the quality of wins and losses.

Following Tuesday night's victory over No. 3 Florida, Georgia's new NET Ranking currently has them at No. 36.

Magic number 18

Traditionally speaking, to begin the conversation of making it into the NCAA Tournament's field of 68, a team would need a minimum of 18 wins, Georgia currently has 17. However, on the heels of its upset victory over arch-rival Florida, Georgia has the opportunity to springboard itself on a run of its own and finish out the SEC and their regular season with 20 wins, as they have three winnable games against Texas, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Such a run would surely impress even the most skeptical critic.

What's next for Georgia?

Georgia goes on the road to face Texas, Saturday night in Austin, TX.