What to make of these Georgia Bulldogs? If last week taught us anything, it is that the joyless slog of SEC play can be so unforgiving. Georgia suffered its worst loss of the season midweek at home to a middling Ole Miss Rebels team on a buzzer-beater in overtime. With the season potentially starting to take a turn for the worse for Georgia, it pulled off its best win of the year over No. 17 Arkansas, 90-76.
Here is what the Associated Press decided were the 25 best college basketball teams for this week.
- Arizona Wildcats (18-0): 1,252 points (61 first-place votes)
- UConn Huskies (18-1): 1,419 points
- Michigan Wolverines (16-1): 1,377 points
- Purdue Boilermakers (17-1): 1,318 points
- Duke Blue Devils (17-1): 1,296 points
- Houston Cougars (17-1): 1,217 points
- Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-0): 1,207 points
- Gonzaga Bulldogs (19-1): 1,103 points
- Iowa State Cyclones (16-2): 1,001 points
- Michigan State Spartans (16-2): 998 points
- Illinois Fighting Illini (15-3): 893 points
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (14-4): 805 points
- BYU Cougars (16-2): 791 points
- Virginia Cavaliers (16-2): 713 points
- Vanderbilt Commodores (16-2): 656 points
- Florida Gators (13-5): 651 points
- Alabama Crimson Tide (13-5): 571 points
- Clemson Tigers (16-3): 449 points
- Kansas Jayhawks (13-5): 305 points
- Arkansas Razorbacks (13-5): 298 points
- Georgia Bulldogs (15-3): 263 points
- North Carolina Tar Heels (14-4): 220 points
- Louisville Cardinals (13-5): 195 points
- Saint Louis Billikens (17-1): 187 points
- Miami RedHawks (19-0): 99 points
In a strange twist of fate, Georgia held onto the No. 21 ranking for another week. The Bulldogs have been ranked for over a month, which is almost unheard of on the hardwood for UGA. Yes, the Ole Miss defeat was Georgia's first Quad 3 loss of the season, but the blowout of then-No. 17 Arkansas at home became its first Quad 1 win. In the end, it all evens out, but look at who Georgia is still behind...
Having a five-loss Arkansas team ranked ahead of a Georgia team that just blew them out is so rich.
Georgia Bulldogs hold on to No. 21 ranking for second consecutive week
Looking ahead to what Georgia still has to navigate in SEC play, the Bulldogs have nine more games that fall into Quad 1, three more than fall into Quad 2, and one more that falls into Quad 3. Right now, Georgia is 15-3 overall and 3-2 in SEC play. They are 1-2 vs. Quad 1 opponents, 5-0 vs. Quad 2 teams, 1-1 vs. Quad 3 squads, and a perfect 8-0 vs. teams who have fallen into that lowly fourth quadrant...
With 13 conference games left to be played, Georgia only needs to win five more to get to 20 wins on the season. The South Carolina home game coming later in the season is as much of a must-win as the Ole Miss date should have been. That is the only Quad 3 left to be had. The other very interesting thing is Georgia does not have to play Arkansas again during the regular season. That should matter.
Then again, they will not get another shot at redemption vs. Ole Miss either. The Rebels are only on the schedule once, just like Arkansas, as well as the Auburn team UGA got the best of to commence league play. They still have home dates vs. Florida and South Carolina to attend to. So what do the AP voters think about White's team? They want to believe in UGA, but they do not fully trust them just yet.
Right now, having staying power inside the top 25 is crucial to White's team making the tournament.