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MBB: Georgia in Austin Tonight for Matchup with Bracket Rival Longhorns
Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Moody Center (10,763)
Location: Austin, Texas
TV: ESPN2 (Mike Monaco, play-by-play; Daymeon Fishback, analyst)
Radio: Georgia Bulldog Network – Sirius 391 (Scott Howard, play-by-play; Chuck Dowdle, analyst; Adam Gillespie, producer)
The Starting Five
• Georgia and Texas will square off on Saturday evening in the “Bracketology Bubble Bowl” at the Moody Center in Austin. Joe Lunardi’s Friday NCAA Tournament projections listed the Longhorns as the “last team in” and the Bulldogs are the “first team out.”
• The Bulldogs are coming of an 88-83 win over No. 3/3 Florida on Tuesday night in Athens, Georgia’s first victory over a top-3 team since defeating No. 3 Georgia Tech in double overtime on Jan. 3, 2004.
• Georgia has played 14 games against AP-ranked teams and eight versus AP top-10 squads this season, the most of any program in the nation. In fact, the Bulldogs have played more than half of their games during 2025 – eight of 15 – against top-10 teams, with five of those being on the road.
• Asa Newell, who has matched Anthony Edwards’ school record with four SEC Freshman of the Week honors, has scored in double figures in 25 games and has led Georgia offensively in 18 outings.
• Over the Bulldogs’ last five games, Silas Demary Jr. has averaged 19.4 ppg, 4.4 apg and 37.4 mpg, including career highs of 23 points and seven assists against No. 22 Mississippi State.
The Opening Tip
Georgia opens the month associated with Madness on Saturday with a rarity during the 2025 calendar, a game against a non-ranked team. The Bulldogs’ slate – particularly throughout January and February – has been almost unfathomable.
Georgia has played 14 games against top-25 competition. The most of any team in the nation.
The Bulldogs have played eight games versus top-10 foes. The most of any team in the nation.
Georgia has played five road contests against top-10 teams. The most of any team in the nation.
In fact, of the Bulldogs’ outings since the New Year began, more than half of – eight of 15 – have been versus top-10 competition.
The Bulldogs are 17-11 overall and 5-10 in SEC play and is squarely among NCAA bubble teams looking to make a late push into “March Madness.” With Tuesday’s victory over No. 3/3 Florida, Georgia now has two top-10 wins – the same as combined total of current top-10 teams Duke (1), St. John’s (0), Michigan State (0) and Texas Tech (1).
The Bulldogs’ balanced offense features seven players who have led Georgia in scoring in one or more games.
Asa Newell, a top-10 candidate for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award as the top center in college basketball, paces the Bulldogs both in scoring at 15.4 ppg and on the boards at 6.8 rpg. Among SEC leaders, Newell is No. 14 in scoring, No. 10 rebounding, No. 3 in offensive rebounds (3.1 orpg) and No. 6 in double-doubles (six). In addition, he enters the weekend at No. 2 in the league and No. 49 nationally in field goal percentage (.550).
Silas Demary Jr. also is scoring at double-digit pace of 12.5 ppg the Bulldogs – including 19.4 ppg over the last five games – and sports team-high averages of 3.9 apg, 1.7 spg and 31.1.
Blue Cain is contributing double figures in league play, upping his average of 8.2 ppg against non-conference competition to 10.1 ppg versus SEC teams.
Scouting The Longhorns
Texas enters Saturday’s game at 16-12 overall and 5-10 in SEC action.
Tre Johnson leads the SEC and enters the weekend ranked No. 7 nationally – and No. 1 among freshman – in scoring at 20.9 ppg. Johnson’s efficiency is as impressive as his point production, as he is one of two SEC players – along with Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. – ranked among the league’s top-10 leaders in field goal percentage (No. 8 at .446), 3-point percentage (No. 4 at .391) and free throw percentage (No. 3 at .886).
Arthur Kaluma is contributing 12.7 ppg and a team-high 7.9 rpg, while Jordan Pope rounds out Texas’ double-figure scorers at 10.7 ppg.
Series History With Texas
Georgia owns an 8-5 lead in all-time matchups with Texas.
The Bulldogs and Longhorns last met on Jan. 26, 2019 in Athens as part of the SEC-Big 12 Challenge. Tyree Crump scored a game-high 21 points – largely due to shooting 6-of-8 from 3-point range – to lead five Bulldogs in double figures in a 98-88.
The Longhorns led 21-13 before a Crump 3-pointer ignited a 17-2 run that put Georgia up 30-23 with 9:27 left in the first half. Texas tied the game twice, but the Bulldogs answered with a 13-4 run and never trailed thereafter.
In Georgia’s last trip to Austin on Nov. 29, 1998, Robb Dryden scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor to lead a quartet of Bulldogs in double digits in a 78-77 victory over the Longhorns. G.G. Smith added 16 points, Ray Harrison chipped in 13 and Michael Chadwick scored 11.
Gabe Muoneke paced Texas with a game-high 23 points.
Last Time Out
Georgia raced to a 39-13 lead over the opening 12:07 and then rallied past No. 3/3 Florida after a furious comeback by the Gators gave them their first lead with 68 seconds remaining in the game.
Georgia led by 16 points at the intermission and by double digits until the 11:08 mark of the second stanza.
The Gators used a 13-0 surge to go up 80-78 at the 1:08 mark before Blue Cain knocked down a 3-pointer to open a 10-3 run over the final 47 seconds.
The victory was Georgia’s first over a top-3 team since the Bulldogs best No. 3 Georgia Tech, 83-80, in double overtime on Jan. 3, 2004.
Silas Demary Jr. led five Georgia players in double figures with 21 points, including 14 in the first half. Asa Newell added 15 points; Tyrin Lawrence, who returned to action after missing the previous three games with a hamstring injury, chipped in 14; Cain contributed 10 and RJ Godfrey posted 10.
“Big win, crazy game,” head coach Mike White said. “Credit to Florida was incredible with their comeback. They hit huge shots and took the lead and our response down the stretch was phenomenal. Florida’s really, really good. It was a big win for us. I didn’t get a chance to get in the locker room before the team attacked me in the coach’s locker room with about 100 water bottles. So, I changed into this hoodie and am a little more comfortable now. (My) pants are still wet. (I’m) a little cold. I’m ready to get home to the pizza.”
Comparing The Bubble Teams
Joe Lunardi publishes daily updates on his projected NCAA Tournament field this time of year. The information includes 16 teams “on the bubble” – the last four byes, last four in, first four out and next four out.
Georgia has been fluttering on the right and wrong side of the bubble over the past several weeks. The Bulldogs’ 88-83 victory over No. 3/3 Florida this week propelled the Bulldogs from “next four out” to “first four out” status.
One thing that should work in Georgia’s favor in the tournament committee’s conversations is that every team that has defeated the Bulldogs is currently projected in the NCAA field by Lunardi. No other team on the bubble that can make that claim.
The NET rankings of the 11 losses for Georgia are – No. 1, No. 1, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 12, No. 20, No. 24, No. 27, No. 30 and No. 40. That’s an average of 15.5, which is considerably better than any other bubble team as outlined below.
The Bulldogs are the only bubble team without a loss to a team higher than 40 in the NET.
Looking At The Bubble’s Ls
Avg. No. Of Worst
School Rec. Net L +40 Ls NET L
Baylor 15-12 27.6 3 94
San Diego St. 18-7 44.9 3 103
Arkansas 17-11 21.6 2 81
Nebraska 17-11 35.7 4 74
Oklahoma 17-11 21.7 1 81
Indiana 17-11 29.2 3 66
Ohio State 16-13 29.5 4 58
Texas 16-12 28.8 2 91
Georgia 17-11 15.5 0 40
North Carolina 18-11 28.1 3 85
Boise State 19-8 75.5 7 196
Xavier 18-10 41.0 4 81
Wake Forest 19-9 49.9 4 125
SMU 21-7 37.3 3 77
Cincinnati 17-11 36.7 5 82
Villanova 17-12 66.9 6 256
BSB: Dawgs Notch 7th Straight, 10-9 Over Florida Golf Coast
The sixth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs kicked off a 13-game homestand with a thrilling 10-9 walk-off of Florida Golf Coast Friday at Foley Field for their seventh straight victory.
Fast Facts
- After the Eagles took a 5-0 lead in the first inning, sophomore Daniel Jackson (4-for-5, 3 RBI) launched two solo blasts in the third and fifth innings to make it a 5-2 contest.
- Jackson is the first Georgia player to record a multi-home run game this season. His 465-foot third inning shot is the longest home run by a Bulldog this year and his 109-mph fifth inning bomb is the hardest hit by a Georgia player this season.
- Redshirt junior Eric Hammond tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief, striking out six to match his career high. He inherited a 5-0 deficit in the third.
- The Bulldogs (10-1) led for the first time in the sixth inning thanks to four two-out hits.
- Senior Robbie Burnett first evened the score at seven with a two-run pinch hit single.
- Sophomore Tre Phelps then smashed his own two-run single to give the Bulldogs a 9-7 lead.
- Sophomore Jordan Stephens (1-0) came into the game in the ninth after the Eagles tied things up at nine to record the final out on a100-mph pitch. He earned his first win of the season.
- With the bases loaded and nobody out in the ninth, senior Slate Alford grounded one to first, and the throw home was wide of the catcher, allowing freshman pinch-runner Erik Parker to score the game-winning run. FGCU dropped to 4-5.
Key Quotes
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Wes Johnson
On another comeback win
“We need to come out and play clean baseball in the first three innings. It’s something I just challenged our guys with right there. Just come out and play clean baseball to start a game. There’s a lot of positives to it. It’s like they got us to a nine-count right there in the first and we got up off the mat and we finished the fight in 15 rounds and got the decision.”
On what went well today
“Our offense today, I don’t know what they ended up with, 15, 16, 17 hits something like that, good job to them. What a night Daniel Jackson had. That’s what it takes. When you go down, you need somebody to step up and calm everything down. I thought Eric Hammond on the mound, Daniel Jackson at the plate did that.”
Daniel Jackson, C
On his performance at the plate
“Honestly, today was one of those days where everything’s just kind of clicking. It just feels like you can’t miss.”
On what the team needs to start strong tomorrow
“We need really good energy. I feel like a couple times we’ve come out just a little bit flat. If we can get everybody together, good energy in the dugout, picking up our guys, we’ll get off to a good start.”
Eric Hammond, RHP
On his relationship with the catchers
“Henry’s the man. He’s just so positive. He’s our leader. There’s a connection between us. Me, DJ, Brennan, it doesn’t matter who it is. It’s just fun, all the catchers.”
Up Next
The Bulldogs (10-1) continue the series against Florida Gulf Coast (4-5) Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2 p.m. Game two, which will be a seven-inning game, will begin approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest.
Box Score
SB: Dawgs Win Two at the Bulldog Classic
ATHENS, Ga. – The 10th-ranked Georgia softball team opened action at the Bulldog Classic on Friday with wins over Stetson (5-2) and UMBC (10-2, 5 innings).
Georgia improves to 16-1 on the season.
SOFTBALL | vs. STETSON | W, 5-2
Winning pitcher: Lilli Backes (7-0)
Losing Pitcher: Hayley Arnold (4-3)
SOFTBALL | vs. UMBC | W, 10-2 (5 inn.)
Winning pitcher: Ella Troutt (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Kya Matter (1-3)
FAST FACTS
- Freshman Esther White hit her first career home run, a two-run home run to right, to give the Bulldogs a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth against Stetson. She blasted a towering two-run home run over the video board in right in the bottom of the fifth to run rule UMBC in the nightcap, 10-2.
- Lilli Backes (7-0) remained perfect in the circle on the season, pitching the complete game, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out eight Hatters.
- Jaydyn Goodwin finished the Stetson game 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. She contributed a three-RBI triple to go ahead 8-1 in the night game.
- Freshman Ella Troutt picked up her second win in the circle against UMBC. She pitched four innings, allowing one run on four hits, and struck out four Retrievers.
- In total, Georgia hit four home runs on Friday: White (2), Goodwin, Tyler Ellison.
Head coach Tony Baldwin
On how the team competed today…
“I thought we kept a real steady grittiness to us. In the first game, the easy evaluation was that we didn’t play our best, but I actually thought we had a pretty good mindset. We did a lot of really good things, it just didn’t translate to great outcomes. But, that’s how the game goes and you just got to stick with it. And then same thing in game two. It didn’t get off to a great start, but I thought we just kept playing. We just kept our mindset and we kept solving the problem. And, if we can keep doing that, we’re going to be a pretty good team. We’ve got a lot of tough games coming up down the road. We have great competition coming in, and you just got to be able to stay in the fight, be present, and keep solving problems. And I thought we did a good job of that today.”
On the pitching performances…
“I don’t think Lilli [Backes] was really sharp, but I thought she competed like she always does and gave us a chance to win. I thought she got better as the game went along. She is kind of that type of a pitcher. She’s a little bit of a volume pitcher, meaning the more she pitches, the better she gets. I’m proud of the way that she improved as the game went on. And then really glad to get Ella [Troutt] out there and let her continue to grow as a pitcher. I thought she settled in and really threw some good innings there. And, to get [Destin Howard] back out there and start to get her back on track, I think is going to be really important for us. She got a little bit of tough luck there on a couple of those hits, but I thought she threw the ball well. We’ll have to keep doing that this weekend.”
UP NEXT
Georgia is back in action Saturday when it takes on Stetson at 1 p.m. and Ohio State at 3:30 p.m. at Jack Turner Stadium. Tickets for every day of the Bulldog Classic can be purchased online at GeorgiaDogs.com.
WTEN: Georgia Moves to 60-9 All-Time Against Auburn with 5-2 Win
The No. 2 Georgia women’s tennis team (9-1, 2-0 SEC) cruised past No. 6 Auburn (12-2, 1-1 SEC) for its fourth top-10 ranked win of the season, 5-2, at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on Friday.
Fast Facts
- The Bulldogs now lead the all-time series 60-9 against the Tigers.
- The win marks Georgia’s second victory over Auburn this month after defeating the Tigers, 4-1, in the 2025 ITA National Team Indoor Championship quarterfinal on Feb. 8.
- Georgia opened the scoring with doubles point. #25 Dasha Vidmanova and Mell Reasco defeated #20 DJ Bennett and Ava Hrastar, 6-0, on court one followed by #81 Aysegul Mert and Hayden Mulberry knocking off Maria Garcia and Ava Esposito, 6-3, on court three for the clinch.
- In singles, Sofia Rojas earned the Bulldogs’ second team point with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Alice Battesti on court six.
- #66 Guillermina Grant followed up with Georgia’s third point of the match with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over #116 Esposito on court five.
- #1 Vidmanova secured the clinch for the Bulldogs, earning a 6-3, 6-2 result over #2 Bennett in a rematch of the 2024-25 NCAA Singles National Championship match in November.
- Both teams decided to play out the remaining matches, with Aysegul Mert making it five for Georgia with a 7-6(3), 6-4 win over #17 Merna Refaat on court four.
- The Bulldogs extended their SEC home winning streak to 17 matches.
Results
Doubles:
1. #25 Dasha Vidmanova/Mell Reasco (UGA) def. #20 DJ Bennett/Ava Hrastar (AUB) 6-0
2. #65 Guillermina Grant/Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) vs. #69 Merna Refaat/Angella Okutoyi (AUB) 3-5, unfinished
3. #81 Aysegul Mert/Hayden Mulberry (UGA) def. Maria Garcia/Ava Esposito (AUB) 6-3
Singles:
1. #1 Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) def. #2 DJ Bennett (AUB) 6-3, 6-2
2. Ava Hrastar (AUB) def. #39 Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)
3. #57 Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Mell Reasco (UGA) 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (10-5)
4. #56 Aysegul Mert (UGA) def. #17 Merna Refaat (AUB) 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
5. #66 Guillermina Grant (UGA) def. #116 Ava Esposito (AUB) 6-4, 6-1
6. Sofia Rojas (UGA) def. Alice Battesti (AUB) 6-1, 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,5,1,4,3,2)
Up Next
The No. 2 Bulldogs will take remain at home to resume SEC play, facing Florida on Sunday, March 2 at 1 p.m. ET at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
Match 11 – No. 2 Georgia vs Florida
Date: Sunday, March 2, 2025
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Dan Magill Tennis Complex
Live Video/Scoring: https://gado.gs/outdoorlive
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