Game Preview: Saturday's matchup between Texas and Georgia is a bubble battle

The two teams scheduled to matchup on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. are both squarely on the bubble. A win for either Texas (16-12, 5-10 SEC) or Georgia (17-11, 5-10 SEC) would likely keep the victor on the bubble. A loss may knock the loser out of the field of 68.

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Of the 88 projections listed on BracketMatrix.com, Texas was only listed in the NCAA Tournament field in 43 of them. The Longhorns’ average seeding was 10.86, but closer inspection of the data reveals that most of the projections that left the Longhorns out were updated in the past two days. One of the more prominent Bracketologists, Joe Lunardi, listed Texas as his last team in the field in his Friday projection.

Georgia had better footing, but by no means were the Dawgs a lock. The Bulldogs appeared in 53 of the 88 projections, rising to an average seeding of 10.92 thanks to an 88-83 win over No. 3 Florida this week.

The game is likely to remain a Quadrant 2 game for the Longhorns as it pertains to their NCAA NET resume. Texas currently ranks No. 39 in NET while Georgia is No. 37. Texas has a 4-9 record in Quadrant 1 games and a 3-3 mark in Quadrant 2 affairs. On the other side of the coin, Georgia is 3-11 in Quadrant 1 games and 3-0 in Quadrant 2 battles.

Both UT and UGA are undefeated in Quadrant 3 and Quadrant 4 games, indicating both teams are in the top 100 as far as quality but struggle when facing the best teams on their schedule.

Whoever wins on Saturday night will keep NCAA Tournament hopes alive. Whoever loses may not make it to Dayton.

ESPN2 will televise the contest on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.

Game Notes via UT

GameDay Quick Facts

• TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2 with Mike Monaco (play-by-play) and Daymeon Fishback (analyst) on the call.
• RADIO: The Longhorn Radio Network broadcasts every UT game on the statewide network. Craig Way (pxp) and Eddie Oran (analyst) will call the action. Check TexasSports.com for a listing of affiliates carrying the game. 
• SERIES: Georgia leads, 8-5. Last meeting: Georgia 98-88 (Jan. 26, 2019; Athens)

Notables

• HOSTING THE BULLDOGS: Saturday’s contest marks the first matchup between Texas and Georgia to be played in Austin since the 1998-99 season.
• JOHNSON’S RECORD-SETTING NIGHT: G Tre Johnson set the Texas freshman single-game scoring record with 39 points (career-best 14-28 FG, career-high 7-11 threes, 4-4 FT) in 38 minutes during Wednesday’s contest at Arkansas. Johnson leads the SEC in scoring (20.9 ppg) and has averaged 31.0 ppg over the last four contests while hitting 45-of-92 (.489) from the field, including 15-of-34 (.441) from three-point range, and 19-of-20 (.950) free throws.
• KALUMA SEES DOUBLE: Senior F Arthur Kaluma recorded a double-double for the seventh time this season and 15th time in his collegiate career with his 13 points and game-high 11 rebounds in 37 minutes during Wednesday’s game at Arkansas.

2024-25 Texas Longhorns

Tre Johnson, 6-foot-6, 190 lbs, Fr., Link Academy (Mo.), 20.9 pts, 3.1 reb, 2.6 ast

Arthur Kaluma, 6-foot-7, 225 lbs, Sr., Kansas State, 12.7 pts, 7.9 reb, 2.0 ast

Jordan Pope, 6-foot-2, 175 lbs, Jr., Oregon State: 10.7 pts, 1.6 reb, 1.8 ast

Tramon Mark, 6-foot-5, 200 lbs, Gr., Arkansas: 9.3 pts, 3.6 reb, 1.4 ast

Kadin Shedrick, 6-foot-11, 231 lbs, Gr.: 8.5 pts, 6.3 reb, 0.6 ast

Chendall Weaver, 6-foot-3, 180 lbs, Jr.: 6.7 pts, 5.1 reb, 1.5 ast

Jayson Kent, 6-foot-8, 215 lbs, Gr., Indiana State: 5.2 pts, 2.7 reb, 0.5 ast

Julian Larry, 6-foot-3, 185 lbs, Gr., Indiana State: 5.1 pts, 1.6 reb, 3.5 ast

Devon Pryor, 6-foot-7, 185 lbs, So.: 3.8 pts, 2.4 reb, 0.6 ast

Ze’Rik Onyema, 6-foot-9, 235 lbs, Sr.: 3.5 pts, 2.8 reb, 0.4 ast

Jamie Vinson, 6-foot-11, 225 lbs, Fr., Oak Hill Academy (Va.): 2.2 pts, 1.1 rebs, 0.1 ast

Nic Codie, 6-foot-8, 200 lbs, Fr., Dallas (Texas) Newman Smith: 1.9 pts, 0.9 reb, 0.1 ast

Cole Bott, 6-foot-6, 195 lbs, Gr. (walk-on): 0.7 pts, 0.3 rebs, 0.5 ast

Preston Clark, 6-foot-6, 220 lbs, R-So. (walk-on): 0.3 pts, 1.5 rebs, 0.3 ast

Malik Presley, 6-foot-6, 200 lbs, So., Vanderbilt

Anthon McDermott, 6-foot-5, 185 lbs, Fr., Hallsville (Texas) (walk-on)

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Previous game’s starters for Georgia

G Silas Demary Jr.: 12.5 pts, 3.9 rebs, 3.2 ast

F Asa Newell: 15.4 pts, 6.8 rebs, 1.0 ast

G Blue Cain: 9.2 pts, 4.0 rebs, 1.6 ast

F RJ Godfrey: 7.1 pts, 4.2 rebs, 1.0 ast

F Dylan James: 2.9 pts, 2.0 rebs, 0.4 ast