There are big games and then there are really big games. Today's game against the Kentucky Wildcats falls into the latter column for Mark Fox's Georgia Basketball team. Having lost two of their last three games, the Bulldogs are in desperate need of a conference victory while Kentucky will be trying to avenge an earlier loss in Athens.
Georgia is coming off of a heartbreaking double overtime loss to the Florida Gators this past Tuesday in Athens. The Bulldogs are now 3-3 in the conference which at the moment has them dead last in the SEC East. If Georgia hopes to find itself in the NCAA Tournament, then they are going to have to find away to string together some conference wins. Needless to say, a sweep of the Wildcats would be huge for the Bulldogs resume.
Kentucky is 15-4 overall and 3-2 in the SEC having most recently defeated South Carolina by a 67-58 score. The Wildcats are currently a game and a half behind the east leading Florida Gators.
To say that Georgia has historically struggled against Kentucky would be an understatement. The Wildcats lead the series by a count of 112-25 with a sparkling 54-5 record against the Bulldogs in Lexington. If Georgia can take anything positive into the game it is that eight of those 25 lifetime wins against Kentucky have come in the last 10 years.
In the earlier meeting in Athens, Trey Thompkins' 25 points and seven rebounds help spark the Bulldogs to a 77-70 victory over Kentucky in both teams SEC opener. Gerald Robinson Jr. added 17 points while Travis Leslie chipped in 15 of his own. Georgia pounded Kentucky in the paint while getting to the free throw line at an astonishing rate. The Bulldogs converted on 30 of 34 attempts from the charity stripe in that victory. Conversely, Kentucky only went to the line 16 times where it converted on 10 of the opportunities. If Georgia is to escape Rupp Arena with a victory then they will need similar success in the paint and from the free throw line.
Tip off for the game is scheduled for 4pm and can be seen nationally on ESPN. For more on this game be sure and check out Dawg Sports and A Sea of Blue.