Defensive mastermind Mike White adds shooters to the equation to make the Bulldogs more of an offensive threat. Photo courtesy of Georgia Athletics.
The signature of Georgia Coach Mike White has been a successful defensive attack. Last season, the Bulldogs held their opponents to 41.3 percent from the floor and 31.6 percent from three. Georgia’s defensive stature included Hawks draft pick Asa Newell, a top shot blocker, and team steals leader Silas Demary, Jr., (1.7 spg), transferred to UConn.
“Our roster makeup is different in a bunch of different ways,” said White. “Just from a defensive standpoint, we’re not as big, not as physical, but we’re a little bit quicker and faster.”
Jeremiah Wilkinson transfers back home from Cal, where he was the ACC Sixth Man of the Year. Jordan Ross transfers from Saint Mary’s, where he is an excellent perimeter defender.
“I think that we could potentially – our aim, at least, is to create more turnovers, extend pressure a little bit more, differently than last year,” commented White.
Georgia’s Perimeter: The. Bulldogs only made 6.9 threes per game and shot only 32.9 percent from three. Junior Blue Cain was a key shotmaker with 135 three-point attempts and shooting 34.1 percent.
Cain will be joined by Ross and Wilkinson on the perimeter, and incoming Wofford Terrier Justin Bailey shot 45.6 percent from three, where he made 57 triples.
“Next to shooting, again, our passing just significantly improved overall,” White noted. “Pretty good passing team. One of the better passing teams that I’ve coached. Hopefully, I’m not eating those words 10 games in.
The Bulldogs’ assist-to-turnover ratio was 12.5-to-12.9 in ’24-25.
Somto Saga: Shot blocking center Somto Cyril once again will be a major weapon in the paint with his 7’6” wingspan and 40-inch vertical leap. His 1.5 blocked shots per game were sixth in the SEC.
Somto spread his 51 blocked shots throughout the season as he had five on back-to-back occasions while post four blocks in two games.
“The challenge every day is just fighting through that discomfort, to be a guy that can improve his motor and make multiple efforts,” said Whote. “He finishes at a high clip, too. He did last year. He’s working to improve at the foul line.”
“Baby Highlight” Will Be a Best-Selling Feature: Jacob Wilkins will follow his father, Dominique Wilkins, onto Stegman Coliseum’s hardwood. Wilkins is like Dominique with his athleticism and explosiveness on the fast break or through transition off a miss.
“Coming in as a freshman, to me, he is ready to play,” said Georgia’s Dylan James. “He’s way more farther along than I was coming in my freshman year, so it will be good to see what he is able to do against a lot of teams.”
James and Kanon Catchings give the Bulldogs an excellent duo at power forward.