Realistic Goals For 2023-24 Georgia Basketball Team
The Mike White era of Georgia basketball began with a squad of over-achievers last season, finishing 16-16 overall; more than doubling the win total from the previous year.
Expectations aren't all that high this season, especially after the departures of several key players, including shooting guard Kario Oquendo; the only player from that team who could be considered a star. Most outlets have the Bulldogs finishing near the bottom of the SEC standings and possibly missing out on the postseason for the seventh year in a row.
However, the predictions aren't a reflection of the team's potential. At 46 years old, White is one of the best young coaches in the game with four NCAA Tournament appearances at his previous job (Florida). He just signed a fantastic recruiting class featuring three top-100 players: Silas Demary Jr., Blue Cain and Dylan James. That class is on top of a solid bundle of transfers featuring NCAA Division II Player of the Year RJ Sunahara.
Georgia finally has size, something it lacked in the Tom Crean era. 6-10 senior Frank Anselem-Ibe will take on a larger role this year. He's joined by 7-0 South Florida transfer Russel Tchewa, 6-9 VCU transfer Jalen DeLoach, and the aforementioned Dylan James who is also 6-9.
While the Bulldogs won't be cutting down the nets at the end of the year, the team can still accomplish some goals and show some much-needed progress to bring some energy and optimism back to Stegman Coliseum. These are a few achievements well within the 2023-24 unit's grasp:
Birmingham, AL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mike White talks with the media during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
More wins over rivals
Georgia went 2-6 against its biggest basketball rivals last season, with the wins coming against No. 22 Auburn in the SEC opener and South Carolina in overtime at the end of January. The Tigers and Gamecocks avenged both losses later in the year at their arenas, while Florida swept the Bulldogs. Meanwhile, Tennessee and Georgia Tech won their only games against Georgia.
Outside of Tennessee and Auburn, none of those teams were special last season. Florida, South Carolina and Georgie Tech all finished with losing records [Though Florida was without Colin Castleton late in the year]. The Bulldogs aren't miles behind their rivals. A winning record over those five schools is obtainable.
A short run the SEC Tournament
Georgia went one-and-done in the SEC Tournament last season, losing to LSU 72-67 in the first round. The Bulldogs have not won an SEC Tournament game since beating Ole Miss in 2020 just a day before COVID-19 ended the event prematurely. You'd have to go back to 2018 to find the last time Georgia won multiple SEC tourney games.
If Georgia can best its bitter rivals, it can win a tournament game or two. The conference has very few powerhouses, and some of the better teams from last year are experiencing massive turnover in their starting lineups.
Return to the NIT
The NCAA Tournament's expansion to 68 teams has rendered the National Invitational Tournament irrelevant on a national level. But with the longest postseason drought in the last 45 years ongoing, the NIT will be a welcome sight for the Bulldogs. Not only that, it can be a stepping stone to greater success in the future. The bar isn't incredibly high, and if not for an ugly six-game losing streak to end last season, Georgia could've made the 2023 NIT field.
What was once the bear minimum expectation for Georgia basketball is now the primary goal for Mike White's second year in Athens.
