BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Georgia men’s basketball enters the new season projected to finish 11th in the 16-team Southeastern Conference, according to the league’s preseason order of finish released around SEC Media Days in Birmingham.
Florida was picked to win the conference for a second straight year. The Gators return four of five starters from a team that earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and forward Thomas Haugh was named Preseason SEC Player of the Year. Texas was picked second.
No Georgia player made the 15-man preseason all-SEC teams, which included 10 returners, four transfers and one freshman.
Coach Mike White’s roster is built around returners in point guard Smurf Millender, wing Blue Cain and forwards Kanon Catchings and Kareem Stagg. The transfer class brings in Penn State guard Freddie Dilione, Saint Louis wing Brady Dunlap, St. Bonaventure forward Andrew Osasuyi and Ole Miss center James Scott, and four-star center David Ugonna Ike leads the freshman class.
Georgia must also replace two key departures. Leading scorer Jeremiah Wilkinson transferred to Arkansas, and big man Somto Cyril left for Miami.
The Bulldogs won 22 games last season and made the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, though their run ended with a first-round loss to Saint Louis. White said in September that the team was ahead offensively after spending more offseason time on that end, and that he expects the defense and rebounding to catch up.
A separate preseason ballot of network beat writers and national reporters also slotted Georgia 11th, and Florida was the top pick there as well. The Bulldogs will try to beat that projection and reach a third straight NCAA Tournament.
