Before Mike Crean left the Georgia Bulldogs, the program had become known for folding late in the season. As the Dawgs host Alabama basketball Tuesday night, Mike White may have finally changed that history.
White was the head coach of the Florida Gators for eight seasons, and he led Louisiana Tech for four seasons earlier in his career. White's last three Louisiana Tech teams won a total of 83 games. He took the Gators to four NCAA Tournaments. His move to Georgia for the 2022 season seemed abrupt, but his Florida run had grown stale. White took the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament last season and exited with a first-round, 21-point loss to Gonzaga. Overall, his first three seasons at Georgia were much like Crean's, with the Dawgs folding late.
Alabama Basketball cannot count on Georgia fading
When the Bulldogs took a 16-point loss to Oklahoma on Feb. 14, another late-season fade appeared likely. The loss to OU gave Georgia a run of five losses in six games. The Bulldogs have since rebounded, winning three of their last four, including beating Kentucky in Lexington.
The Dawgs put up points, so outscoring them generally takes at least a high 80s scoring output. Like the Crimson Tide, Georgia is playing for SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament seeding. Credible computer models have Alabama winning by a small margin of one to three points. Including ESPN Analytics, the Crimson Tide's highest win probability from the computers is 56%.
Nate Oats has a bit of a dilemma. Should he limit the minutes for Labaron Philon? Oats recently said that he does not expect Philon to be fully healthy at any point for the remainder of the season. The Bulldogs lead college basketball in shot-blocking. Georgia's 6'11", 260lbs. Somto Cyril is a physical rim protector. Perhaps Alabama should not ask too much of Philon against the Dawgs.
The Crimson Tide has the shooting weapons to outscore the Bulldogs, but the contest could be uncomfortably close for Alabama Crimson Tide fans.