In Buffalo, anticipation is building as Georgia basketball gears up for its NCAA Tournament first-round clash against Saint Louis. The Bulldogs are slated to tip off in the nightcap at KeyBank Center, with the game scheduled for 9:45 p.m. This late start isn't unfamiliar territory for Georgia, having played five games at 9 p.m. this season.
The matchup features the No. 8 seed Bulldogs, sporting a 22-10 record, against the No. 9 seed Billikens, who boast an impressive 28-5. Georgia's head coach, Mike White, summed up the mood perfectly: “We’re playing a dangerous team and we’re pretty dangerous ourselves.
We’re honored to have another chance to see where this thing takes us. Excited for these guys to be able to compete again together.”
This marks the fourth instance in Georgia's history where the team has made consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the last occurring in 2001 and 2002. On the other side, Saint Louis star center Robbie Avila energized Billiken fans before departing for Buffalo, saying, “It’s a special season so far, but like Coach (Josh) Scherz said, we didn’t come here just to get here. We want to go down and make a run and win as many games as we can.”
For those tuning in, the Georgia vs. Saint Louis game will be broadcast on CBS, with streaming available via the NCAA March Madness Live app and Fubo, which offers a free trial. The commentary team includes Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, and Allie LaForce.
As we look back on Georgia's recent schedule, the Bulldogs have had a rollercoaster ride leading up to the tournament:
- Feb. 25: A tough loss to Vanderbilt, 88-80
- Feb. 28: A commanding win over South Carolina, 87-68
- March 3: A high-scoring victory against Alabama, 98-88
- March 7: An overtime thriller over Mississippi State, 102-96
- March 12: A narrow defeat by Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament, 76-72
With the stage set and the stakes high, both teams are ready to leave it all on the court. Fans can expect an intense battle as Georgia and Saint Louis vie for a spot in the next round of March Madness.