Game Day Primer: Georgia takes on Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament

Later today Georgia men’s basketball players will feel butterflies like they’ve never felt before. The Bulldogs are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years and just one of them has been here before. The rest of the roster will be experiencing something for the first time.

Some UGA fans might be getting their first taste, too. The matchup is tough. Georgia has drawn College Basketball blue blood Gonzaga in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchup. Below are some things you need to know.

How to watch…

Thursday’s game is set for a 4:35 p.m. ET tip off on TBS but it almost certainly won’t start at that time. Houston and SIU-Edwardsville, a No. 1 vs. No. 16 matchup, will take place at 2 p.m. ET. UGA and Gonzaga will tip approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of that contest.

TBS has assigned four talents to the game. Tom McCarthy, Deb Antonelli, AJ Ross, and Steve Smith will handle the broadcast as Georgia looks for it’s first NCAA Tournament win since 2002.

The game be streamed via MAX or Paramount+, but a subscription is required.

Georgia is resilient…

One of the first things Mike White was asked about in Wichita was the schedule his team faced this season. Of the 32 teams Georgia played to get to this point, 18 of them made the NCAA tournament. Georgia also played the most regular-season games against top 10 teams and the most regular-season games against top 10 teams on the road.

It was a gauntlet of a run and what happened in those games won’t carry over to this one. Georgia won’t get extra points or consideration for having been challenged this season. The Bulldogs have proven themselves to be resilient.

“It shows the character and the connectivity, the mental toughness that our group has,” White said on Wednesday. We’ll respond to adversity, to runs. What does that mean for the outcome of the game, who knows, but it’s a resilient group, and you’ve got to be resilient in situations like this against really good teams on the big stage because adversities are coming.”

UGA’s experience is minimal…

Only one player, RJ Godfrey, has been on this stage before. The junior forward went all the way to the Elite 8 last season with Clemson. He transferred to Georgia this offseason. That experience could come in handy for the Bulldogs as White called him one of the most consistent people in the program.

White has also been here and the Bulldogs have a sliver of history on their side. The veteran coach has been to the NCAA tournament four times as a head coach, all with Florida. Each of those teams won in the first round. Only one of those teams advanced past the second round.

With all of that said, the ball and hoop are the same size. The rules are the same. The court is different but it’s different for both schools. Georgia has played some talented teams on the road and at neutral sits this season. This is a huge opportunity for the program and the Bulldogs aren’t shying away from it.

“We’ve had some neutral site games against high level opponents. This is elevated,” White said. “I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that we’ve hyped this thing up with our guys. It’s the NCAA Tournament, right? It’s the big stage, its what our guys came to Georgia for, it’s really exciting for them. We’re not going to downplay that. We’re focused on playing well and being sharp today.

Georgia vs. Gonzaga: Statistical Leaders

Georgia’s leading scorers (PPG): Asa Newell (15.3), Silas Demary (13.4), Blue Cain (9.6), Dakota Leffew (9.5), and Tyrin Lawrence (8.5)

Gonzaga’s leading scorers (PPG): Graham Ike (17.1), Kalif Battle (13.2), Nolan Hickman (11.0), Braden Huff (10.8), and Ryan Nembhard (10.8)

Georgia’s leading rebounders (RPG): Newell (6.8), Cain (4.2) and Demary (4.0)

Gonzaga’s leading rebounders (RPG): Ike (7.5), Michael Ajayi (5.5), and Ben Gregg (5.2)

Georgia leaders in assists (APG): Demary (3.1), Lawrence (2.4), and Leffew (1.6)

Gonzaga leaders in assists (APG): Nembhard (9.8), Hickman (2.5), and Battle (1.5)