Georgia Bulldogs

2023-24 Result: 20-17 (6-12 SEC), NIT Appearance

Key Additions

Tyrin Lawrence (Vanderbilt)

Dakota Leffew (Mount St. Mary’s)

Asa Newell

Justin Abson (Appalachian State)

RJ Godfrey (Clemson)

Deshayne Montgomery (Mount St. Mary’s)

Somoto Cyril

Key Losses

Justin Hill

RJ Melendez

Jabri Abdur-Rahim

Noah Thomasson

Projected Starting Lineup

Head Coach: Mike White (3rd Season)

Guard: Silas Demary Jr. (SO)

Guard: Blue Cain (SO)

Guard: Tyrin Lawrence (5th year)

Forward: Asa Newell (FR)

Center: Justin Abson (JR)

Mike White’s Georgia Bulldogs saw some significant talent depart to the portal this offseason. Of their returning players, none of them averaged 10 points per game last season. They bring back Silas Demary Jr. and Blue Cain, who will likely start in the backcourt. They did have a strong recruiting season, headlined by 5-star recruit, Asa Newell. Tyrin Lawerence came over from Vanderbilt, while two guys from Mount St. Mary’s in Deshayne Montgomery and Dakota Leffew came to Athens. 

Defensively, Mike White’s squad was 268th in points allowed last season. They have a completely new frontcourt, led by two freshmen who are projected to start in Somoto Cyril and Asa Newell. The SEC is not for the weak, so they are going to need to become men very quickly if they want to be better on the defensive end this season. If not, they did bring in more experienced frontcourt options in Justin Abson, who averaged over 2 blocks a game at Appalachian State last year, and RJ Godfrey. Their backcourt defense should be much improved this year with the transfers that came in and Silas Demary. They all averaged nearly 1.5 steals a game last year, so they should pester opposing defenses a little more than they did last year. However, they can’t gamble too much, or at least not yet, with the lack of experience on the back end of the defense. Georgia’s defense will have another underwhelming season. 

Year three of the Mike White era may be the final year of the Mike White era. After a strong start to last season, starting 12-3, they fell off a cliff. Defensively, they are going to struggle. Offensively, it will depend on how quickly Asa Newell can get up to speed and the acclamation of the transfers to Mike White’s system. They will compete with some teams, but anyone in the top of the SEC will not have much trouble with the Bulldogs. Georgia will miss the NCAA tournament again, just like they have since 2015.