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Gameday Primer: Georgia bidding for upset at Alabama

Jeremy Johnsonby:Jeremy Johnsonabout 9 hours

JeremyO_Johnson

NCAA Basketball: Georgia at Florida
Jan 25, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mike White looks on against the Florida Gators during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Georgia basketball (15-6; 3-5) will look to start a winning streak on Saturday. The Bulldogs travel to Tuscaloosa to face the No. 4 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (18-3; 7-1).

The Bulldogs are coming off a 70-61 win over South Carolina at Stegmann Coliseum on Wednesday night. Georgia was paced by freshman star Asa Newell in the mid-week win.

Newell put up 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Alabama provides a very different challenge in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. They rolled off four straight wins in SEC play since their loss to Ole Miss back on Jan. 14.

When, where and how to watch Georgia vs Alabama

Site: Coleman Coliseum

Time: 4 p.m. EST

Where to watch: ESPN 2

Key Players Georgia: Asa Newell (15.2 PPG, 7 REB), Dakota Laffew (11.1 PPG), Silas Demary (11.3 PPG), Tyrin Lawrence (9 PPG).

Key Players Alabama: Mark Sears (18 PPG, 5 AST), Grant Nelson (12.7 PPG, 8.3 REB), Clifford Omoruyi (7.2 PPG, 6.2 REB, 1.2 BLK)

Keys to the game

The match-up with Alabama is a tough one for any team in the country. This team is built to make a run to the Final Four.

Georgia will have to impose its will on the game to have a shot to knock off the number four team in the country. The Crimson Tide can score.

They can score with multiple players. Mark Sears is the focal point and leading scorer averaging about 18 points per game. They are more than his production.

Alabama has five players that average double digits. They have a sixth that is close. They like to get out and run and score. Georgia has been a slower-paced team this season so they have to keep things in front of them as far as the pace.

Georgia will have to survive Alabama’s runs. They’re going to come, they’re going have 8-0 spurts and that crowd inside Coleman Coliseum has embraced their teams style of play.

Georgia will need a big night shooting from a few players while also having a big day from Newell. The 7-foot-2 presence of Omoruyi will provide a challenge for the star freshman.

This is going to be a tough hill to climb in Tuscaloosa but Georgia has shown the makings of a team capable of competing on any given day.

Writer’s Prediction: Alabama 85 Georgia 78.

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