For the first time since the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons, the Georgia Bulldogs have made back-to-back NCAA Tournaments.
Head coach Mike White’s team, featuring one of the best offenses in college basketball, put together a 22-10 (10-8 SEC) record to snag seventh place in the SEC standings. Having already made history, the Bulldogs now hope to win in the Big Dance for the first time since 2002. As the No. 8 seed in the Midwest region, their mission will be difficult. Nonetheless, they’ll be taking the floor in Buffalo with swagger in their steps.
Here’s how far Saturday Down South predicts Georgia will advance in the 2026 NCAA Tournament:
Round 1: No. 9 Saint Louis (in Buffalo)
Record: 28-5 (15-3 A-10); KenPom: +18.32 (42nd); Net Rank: 31st
Best Wins: Santa Clara, VCU (twice); Worst Losses: Rhode Island, George Mason
Those who don’t have Miami (OH) as their favorite mid-major darling likely have a soft spot for the Billikens. Saint Louis started this year 24-1, with its only loss coming against Stanford in one of the craziest finishes of the season. Head coach Josh Schertz’s team tapered off down the stretch, though, going 4-4 in its final 8 games (including a loss in the A-10 semifinals on another wild sequence).
The Billikens’ offense, rated 51st in the country (KenPom), runs through center Robbie Avila, who leads the team in scoring (12.9 PPG) and assists (4.1 APG). He is 1 of 6 Saint Louis players that plays more than 15 minutes per game and shoots better than 40% from 3-point range.
Overall, the Billikens rank second in the nation in 3-point percentage (40.1%) and fifth in 3-point percentage against (29.4%). This enabled them to routinely go on big runs — and prevent opponents from doing so — throughout their impressive 24-1 start.
Both these teams play fast, rank top 10 in scoring and shoot roughly 75% from the free-throw line. Somto Cyril’s athleticism should enable him to be effective against Avila, particularly in the paint. The difference-maker, though, will be Kanon Catchings.
If Catchings is the player who averaged nearly 25 points per game and shot 53.3% from 3-point range over his last 3 contests, the Bulldogs can (and probably will) win. If he’s not, Saint Louis’s depth — 9 players who see at least 15 minutes per game — should carry it to victory. Knowing the Billikens’ ability to defend the 3-point line, we believe they limit Catchings and do enough to advance.
PREDICTION: Saint Louis 89, Georgia 84
