The Georgia Bulldogs basketball team heads into this season with high hopes. Led by second year head coach Mike White, this new group of talent is ready to make their season debut. Coach White stated that the team is “further ahead right now than we were last year”, and have been working hard day in and day out. He is hoping to play fast and utilize the depth that he has to keep players fresh.
Although the Dawgs are ready for the start of this new season, everyone is wondering if this UGA basketball program can ever become competitive. In years past this program has been shaky. The Dawgs haven’t made the tournament since their 2nd round exit to Tom Izzo’s Michigan State in 2015. The Dawgs also haven’t been ranked on the AP poll since the 2010-2011 season. The talent has been here and there, but it’s never been enough to compete with the powerhouses in the SEC, or other Power 5 schools. Head coach Mike White is ready to change that.
He sees a lot of potential in the new group this year, especially in this upcoming freshman class and the many transfers that they have brought in. The main standout transfer is graduate-student, RJ Sunahara. RJ spent his entire career at Nova Southeastern, a Division II school in Davie, Florida. In RJ’s career there, he and his teams only lost a total of 7 games. He ended his fourth year with a National Championship win and an undefeated season. He is perfect for the Dawgs because he brings that winning culture that the locker room hasn’t seen before. The Dawgs are also bringing in the 15th best freshman class, with four 4-star recruits, led by Silas Demary Jr. The 72nd ranked player in the country has an outstanding sense of leadership, and a tenacious work ethic. Learning under veteran guard Noah Thomasson, Demary is ready to make an impact the second he touches the court in their season debut against the Oregon Ducks.
Coach White is ready for another leap this season to further this program. He feels that he can go after some of the best players in the country due to the talent he was able to bring in this year, the phenomenal institutional support that he has, and his determination to win. It is safe to say that Coach White and the Georgia Men’s Basketball team are ready to show the country the type of program they are this upcoming season.