By Jack Little
Carmical Sports Media
Alabama’s offense has been elite this year in large part due to the play of senior guard Mark Sears. Sears puts up 20 points per game for the nation’s highest-scoring team and shoots a blazing 43.7% from behind the arc. Containing Sears will be key to a Georgia victory.
“He’s their engine,” Georgia guard Noah Thomasson said. “We have to contain him. If we let him come in and do what he’s been doing, it’s going to be a tough night for us.”
Sears leads Alabama into Stegeman Coliseum to take on Georgia on Wednesday night. The Crimson Tide are back in the top 25 after defeating Auburn and LSU in Tuscaloosa last week. A win over the Bulldogs would extend their winning streak to three.
Wins in Stegeman Coliseum have not come easily for visitors this year, though. Georgia is 11-1 at home with its only loss coming to fifth-ranked Tennessee. Georgia forward Frank Anselem-Ibe went as far as to call the Bulldogs’ home court a “fortress.”
This matchup represents a rare opportunity for Georgia to get a top-tier NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) victory at home. These victories significantly benefit a team’s chance to make the NCAA tournament. Georgia only has one more of these opportunities in Stegeman Coliseum this season.
The Bulldogs have not been to the NCAA tournament since the 2014-15 season and are currently projected to miss the tournament by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. Defeating Alabama, currently ranked seventh in the NET, would provide a boost to Georgia’s tournament resume.
Knocking off the Crimson Tide will be a challenge for the Bulldogs. Alabama is one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the SEC with four players inside the top 10 for 3-point shooting percentage in the conference.
“It starts with their ability to really space you out and shoot threes from multiple positions,” Georgia head coach Mike White said. “They offensive rebound, too, which leads to more dagger threes.”
Georgia will also have to stop Sears. “Sears is having as good a year as anyone,” said White. “Both offensively and defensively.” White pointed out the importance of defensive rebounding, urgency in transition, and finishing defensive possessions in stopping Sears and the Alabama offense.
Georgia (14-6, 4-3 SEC) and Alabama (14-6, 6-1 SEC) will tip off at 6:30 p.m. in Athens, Georgia. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.