The (5-2) Georgia Bulldogs travel to Atlanta to take on the (4-3) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets as they prepare to renew their rivalry on the hardwood. Tech comes into this game having lost its last two contests, an 80-76 loss to Syracuse in the Legends Classic championship game in Atlantic City N.J., and a 91-71 defeat at the hands of Northwestern in the Big Ten-ACC challenge. Conversely Georgia comes in having won their last two games, a 61-58 victory over Manhattan in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, and a 66-64 win over UAB in Athens last Friday. Tech comes in having won its last three games at home.
Typically the home team has held the advantage since the game moved back to campus sites and away from the Omni which had hosted the game for 14 seasons prior to 1995. Since the game moved, the home team has won every contest but one. Ten years ago Georgia went into Alexander Memorial Coliseum and came away with a 75-70 victory. Tech hasn't won in Athens since 1976.
Georgia is led by preseason SEC player of the year in Trey Thompkins who is averaging 16 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest despite playing in only four of the Bulldogs first seven games. Thompkins hurt his ankle at the end of October and didn't return to action until the opening game of the Old Spice Classic. The Bulldogs have three other players that are averaging double figure points in Gerald Robinson (15.4), Travis Leslie (15.4), and Jeremy Price (11.3).
The Yellow Jackets are led by a trio of guards in Brian Oliver (14.0), Iman Shumpert (13.7), and Glen Rice Jr (11.1) who all average double figure points. Tech needs Shumpert to pick up his play as he is only hitting on 37% of his shots and is shooting a paltry five of twenty six (19%) from three point range.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 7pm at Alexander Memorial Coliseum and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
Paul Hewitt breaks down the Georgia Game courtesy of ramblinwreck.com