Joe Lunardi reveals NCAA Tournament outlook for Georgia as season winds down

The Georgia basketball team rebounded from a four-game losing streak with a massive pair of wins last week, wins that could help cement an NCAA Tournament bid.

ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi believes the Bulldogs are on the cusp of locking up a bid, stating as much at halftime of Tuesday night’s game against South Carolina on the SEC Network.

“I think of all the SEC bubble teams, Georgia is in the best position,” Lunardi said. “Not just because of this first half, but because primarily what they did last week. That road win at Texas was huge, and even bigger was, of course, the home win against Florida.”

Those wins were massive for a team that had put together a solid overall resume but suffered from streakiness, throwing its NCAA Tournament profile into a state of flux.

Twice this season Georgia has lost four straight games, both times in conference play. And it’s worth noting that seven of the eight losses in those two stretches came against ranked opponents, with the eighth on the road.

Georgia also has a number of impressive wins on the season, including a win over now-red-hot St. John’s, as well as victories over ranked Kentucky, Oklahoma and Florida squads.

Lunardi broke down exactly what Georgia must do to get into the NCAA Tournament.

“I think Georgia only needs one more win, whether it’s tonight, whether it’s Saturday in the regular-season finale against Vanderbilt, or in the SEC Tournament opener,” he said. “The Dawgs have really put themselves in excellent position. Now they’re playing to stay above the group that goes to Dayton for the First Four.”

Georgia led South Carolina 40-29 at halftime on Tuesday night.

The team will take on Vanderbilt on Saturday in the regular-season finale, another tough but winnable game. Georgia last made the NCAA Tournament in 2015.