Georgia basketball: Dawgs must answer the Big 12 challenge

Improved SEC basketball is cramping the Georgia basketball teams plans for March.  The Big 12/SEC Challenge and Kansas State give the Dawgs an opportunity to prove they’re Tournament worthy.

The Georgia basketball team is enjoying its usual January flirtation with March disappointment. Following a heart breaking home loss in double over time to Arkansas, the 12 – 7 Dawgs  are left with a number 55 ranked RPI and a Pomeroy ranking of 70. Joe Lunardi has the Bulldogs as one of the first four out of the NCAA Tournament.

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A win over Big 12 opponent Kansas State on the road in Saturday’s Big 12/SEC Challenge would check a big box on the Dawgs March Madness to do list.

Heart Break Hawgs

The Georgia basketball team’s double overtime home loss to Arkansas revealed again the Bulldog’s hot-cold personality disorder.

Georgia threw a blanket over the Arkansas offense early. The work gave the Dawg’s a 16 point lead with six minutes to play in the first half, but Georgia failed to sustain the effort.

Arkansas picked up its own defensive effort, increasing the physical pressure on the Bulldog guards after each timeout. The Dawgs responded late in regulation, but the result was a double overtime contest. Arkansas then took advantage of Daryl Macon’s hot hand.

For the game, Macon shot 50 percent from the field, including 50 percent from the beyond the arc. Arkansas rode Macon through both overtimes, as Macon scored all but one of the Hawgs overtime points. Georgia is left with a 3 – 5 SEC record that includes two home losses, one road win some serious work to do.