Tag: georgia bulldogs basketball

Former Georgia basketball guard to enter the transfer portal

Former Georgia Bulldogs star plans to enter the transfer portal after spending the 2023-2024 season with Auburn

Former Georgia Bulldogs guard K.D. Johnson plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Johnson has played the past three seasons with the Auburn Tigers.

Johnson transferred to Auburn after playing the 2020-2021 season with Georgia. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound guard has averaged less points per game in every season after averaging 13.5 points as a freshman at Georgia. In 2023-2024. Johnson averaged 7.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 17.7 minutes per game for Auburn.

Johnson is from Atlanta, Georgia, and is a former four-star recruit from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia. This year, Johnson and Auburn made the NCAA Tournament after winning the SEC Tournament. However, Auburn’s season took a disappointing turn in the NCAA Tournament as the Tigers fell to Yale in their opening game.

It will be interesting to see where K.D. Johnson transfers to. Johnson has averaged at least one steal per game in all four of his years playing college basketball.

Checking in on Georgia Bulldogs in the NBA

Former UGA stars Anthony Edwards, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Nic Claxton continue to have big roles for their respective NBA clubs

Three Georgia Bulldogs continue to have prominent roles for their respective teams in the NBA: Anthony Edwards, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Nic Claxton.

Through 62 games, the Minnesota Timberwolves have the best record (43-19) in the Western Conference. Anthony Edwards, a former No. 1 pick, has helped the Timberwolves look like a championship contender, but Minnesota must play better in the postseason this year.

Edwards has played in 59 games this season. He is averaging 26.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. The former Georgia superstar is shooting career-highs from the field (46.5%) and from three-point range (37.8%). Edwards efficient scoring is a big reason why he was selected as an NBA All-Star.

Not far behind Edwards and the Timberwolves in the Western Conference standings is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the Denver Nuggets. Caldwell-Pope won his second career NBA championship last season and has the Nuggets off to a 42-19 start to the season. Denver will be a championship contender again as long as the Nuggets, who are the No. 3 seed in the west,  stay healthy.  Caldwell-Pope is scoring 10.0 points per game.

Brooklyn Nets forward/center Nic Claxton is having a solid year for the Nets. He is averaging 12.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Claxton has played in 48 games this season. Brooklyn is the No. 11 seed in the Eastern Conference and would miss the postseason if the season ended today.

Everything Buzz Williams had to say after Texas A&M’s road win vs. Georgia

Head coach Buzz Williams speaks after Texas A&M’s 70-56 over the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday night

Finally! Texas A&M’s (16-13, 7-9 SEC) miserable five-game losing streak has come to an end, defeating the Georgia Bulldogs on the road 70-56 behind veteran guard Tyrece Radford’s 20 points and ten rebounds, as the Aggies look to finish out the regular season on a high note.

Whether it was being blown out of the building or losing on the final possession, this team has dealt with every sort of adverse outcome in the last two weeks, yet due to their impressive five Quad 1 wins, head coach Buzz Williams’s tenacious squad is somehow still on the NCAA Tournament bubble, barely.

During the losing streak, star guard Wade Taylor IV had struggled, which continued against the Bulldogs, scoring a season-low 4 points. However, credit to Radford and reserve guard Manny Obaseki (12 points, five rebounds) for taking over the offensive production, while fearless forward and Dennis Rodman twin Andersson Garcia netted another double-double with 11 points and ten boards.

Smiling from ear to ear after the win, Radford noted the past Texas A&M late-season surges after similar losing streaks. At the same time, Buzz Williams took the podium with thankfulness regarding his players’ effort despite dealing with overwhelming adversity and doubt from the fan base.

Here is everything Williams had to say after the big win.

Twitter reacts: Georgia basketball upsets Kentucky

Georgia basketball Twitter was hyped up following the Bulldogs’ big win over Kentucky

The Georgia Bulldogs knocked off the Kentucky Wildcats in a 75-68 win in Athens. Georgia improves to 15-10 overall and 5-7 in SEC play.

Head coach Mike White and Georgia basketball snapped a three game losing streak. The Bulldogs had lost six of seven entering Saturday’s game against Kentucky.

The road defeat is a tough loss for head coach John Calipari and Kentucky. The Wildcats fall to 16-9 overall and 7-5 in the SEC. Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament odds took a serious hit. The Wildcats were on the bubble entering Saturday. However, there’s still a lot of basketball left to be played.

Georgia’s Justin Hill came up with some big plays down the stretch for the Dawgs. Hill finished with 15 points and six assists. Kario Oquendo scored 21 points to lead Georgia. Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe had 20 points, 14 boards, and four blocks in the Wildcats’ defeat. Additionally, Georgia’s Terry Roberts returned from injury.

Georgia basketball Twitter was hyped up following the Bulldogs’ big win:

Former Georgia Bulldog named as NBA All-Star

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, a former Georgia Bulldog, has been named as an NBA All-Star.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has been named an NBA All-Star. Edwards is the first Georgia Bulldog to be named as an All-Star since Dominique Wilkins in 1993-1994.

Edwards was the No. 1 selection in the 2020 NBA draft. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound guard is in his third season in the NBA. Edwards is averaging 24.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Each of these numbers represents a career high for Edwards.

The Timberwolves star is also shooting more efficiently. Edwards is making a career-high 46.4% of his field goal attempts and 36.7% of his 3-point attempts.

Edwards is making his first career All-Star appearance. The former No. 1 pick plans to play in the 72nd NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah. The All-Star Game will be played on Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. E.T.

Only 16 players in the NBA are scoring more points per game than Edwards.

The Atlanta native joins Toronto’s Pascal Siakam and Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox as players to be named by the league as All-Star reserves. The trio replaces three injured NBA All-Stars: Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Zion Williamson.

Edwards and the Timberwolves were happy to learn he made the 2023 NBA All-Star game.

[listicle id=85053]

[vertical-gallery id=84822]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz2y40j067srkf player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

UGA basketball matches its 2021-2022 win total

Georgia basketball is now 6-2 after defeating Hampton 73-54.

The Georgia Bulldogs have matched their win total from last season. Georgia is now 6-2 after defeating Hampton 73-54. The Bulldogs have improved defensively and have more overall talent on the roster.

Georgia’s roster continuity is another big reason why the Bulldogs are having a much more successful this season. Returning starter Braelen Bridges accumulated 21 points and 13 rebounds in just 25 minutes against Hampton. Point guard Justin Hill, a transfer from Longwood, did not score in 31 minutes, but provided six assists and did not turn the ball over.

Georgia shot the ball well as a team against Hampton. The Bulldogs made 10 of 20 three-point attempts. Jailyn Ingram, who just returned from an ACL injury, continues to be a key player for the Dawgs. Ingram racked up 14 points and three boards in only 20 minutes.

Georgia went 6-26 last season. The Dawgs lost the final 12 games of the year.

Things are already looking better in head coach Mike White’s debut season for the Georgia Bulldogs. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

Things are looking brighter in the Mike White era. Georgia has signed two four-star players in the class of 2023. Overall, there’s a lot of reasons why Georgia fans should be optimistic about the basketball program.

Here’s a look at one of Georgia’s top plays against Hampton:

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz2y40j067srkf player_id=none image=https://ugawire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Nuggets ink massive extension with former UGA star Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

The Denver Nuggets have agreed to a two-year extension with shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

The Denver Nuggets have agreed to a two-year extension with shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Nuggets are building around star center Nikola Jokic and point guard Jamal Murray.

Denver’s deal with Caldwell-Pope includes a player option in the second year of the contract. Caldwell-Pope’s agent, Rich Paul, helped him secure a two-year, $30 million extension. Prior to the extension, Caldwell-Pope was entering the final year of his contract that is worth $14 million for the 2022-2023 NBA season.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a former Georgia basketball standout, is expected to be a key piece of Denver’s core moving forward. The Nuggets acquired Caldwell-Pope from the Washington Wizards via trade earlier this offseason.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is coming off a strong season with the Washington Wizards. Caldwell-Pope averaged 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game last season.

Washington Wizards guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope played in 77 games during the 2021-2022 NBA season. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Caldwell-Pope’s 2021-2022 campaign featured some efficient shooting (39% on three-pointers and 43.5% overall) and helped the Wizards exceed preseason expectations. Caldwell-Pope brings NBA championship experience to the Denver Nuggets and will fit in well.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Caldwell-Pope’s extension:

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz2y40j067srkf player_id=none image=https://ugawire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[pickup_prop id=”26130″]

Former UGA star Nic Claxton signs huge deal in return to Brooklyn Nets

Former Georgia Bulldog basketball standout Nic Claxton is returning to the Brooklyn Nets on a two-year deal

Former Georgia Bulldog basketball standout Nic Claxton is returning to the Brooklyn Nets. Claxton entered the 2022 NBA offseason as a restricted free agent.

The Nets are in the middle of a tumultuous offseason. Brooklyn’s superstar forward, Kevin Durant, requested a trade on the eve of NBA free agency. The Nets will likely look like an entirely different team to start next season.

Nic Claxton will have an excellent chance to have a large role with the Nets in the upcoming years. Claxton signed a two-year, $20 million deal to return to Brooklyn.

The Boston Celtics swept Nic Claxton and the Brooklyn Nets in the opening round of the 2022 NBA playoffs. Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

The Nets have numerous questions this offseason. What will Brooklyn do with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving?

Nic Claxton is not one of Brooklyn’s questions. Claxton averaged 20.7 minutes per game in 47 games last season. The former Georgia basketball star is a versatile defender and averaged 8.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game throughout the 2021-2022 season.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Claxton’s deal to return to the Nets:

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Twitter reacts: UGA hires head coach Mike White away from Florida

The Georgia Bulldogs basketball program is hiring former Florida Gators coach Mike White. Fans of both schools are optimistic about the move

The Georgia Bulldogs are hiring former Florida Gators coach Mike White.

Mike White has a career record of 243-127 as a head coach. He helped Louisiana Tech achieve three first-place regular finishes in conference play. White made the NCAA Tournament four times with Florida, which does not include the canceled 2020 NCAA Tournament (Florida was projected to make the field of 68 teams).

White replaces former Georgia head coach Tom Crean following Georgia’s 6-26 season. The Bulldogs went 1-17 in SEC games in 2021-2022.

Georgia Bulldogs guard Kario Oquendo was a bright spot in 2021-2022. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

White will have an uphill battle to begin his Georgia career. He will have to improve the roster’s talent level. Georgia did have some bad luck with injuries in 2021-2022, but the Bulldogs need more talent.

Georgia had 10 players added to the roster last offseason. UGA needs to add some recruits or transfers to the class of 2022.

Mike White played college basketball in the SEC at Ole Miss from 1995 to 1999. He helped Ole Miss make three NCAA Tournaments and later served as an assistant coach for Ole Miss.

White served as the head coach of Louisiana Tech from 2011 to 2015. White had been Florida’s head coach since 2015.

How did Georgia basketball Twitter react to Mike White’s hiring at Georgia?

Georgia basketball has different expectations than Florida basketball:

Was Florida considering moving on from Mike White? Probably not, but if they were, then the Gators saved some money.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Georgia basketball hires Florida’s Mike White as head coach

The Georgia Bulldogs did not take long to find a new head men’s basketball coach. Georgia is hiring former Florida Gators coach Mike White.

The Georgia Bulldogs did not take long to find a new head men’s basketball coach. Georgia is hiring former Florida Gators coach Mike White.

Mike White helped Florida go 19-13 and 9-9 in SEC play during the 2021-2022 season, but the Gators final to make the NCAA Tournament. Former Georgia head coach Tom Crean and the Bulldogs had a rough 6-26 season. Georgia went just 1-17 in conference action.

White will have an uphill battle to begin his Georgia career. He will have to try to build the roster with recruits for the long run while adding a few impact transfers.

Mike White played college basketball at Ole Miss from 1995 to 1999. He helped Ole Miss make three NCAA Tournaments.

White started his coaching career as an assistant with Jacksonville State from 2000 to 2004. He later returned to an assistant coach role with Ole Miss from 2004 to 2011. He finally became head coach of Louisiana Tech from 2011 to 2015. White had been Florida’s head coach since 2015.

Former Florida Gators head coach Mike White will have the same role with the Georgia Bulldogs. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Mike White has a career record of 243-127 as a head coach. He helped Louisiana Tech have three first place finishes in conference play. White made the NCAA Tournament four times with Florida. The Gators were projected to make the canceled 2020 NCAA Tournament. Mike White and Florida made the Elite Eight in 2017. He holds a 6-4 record in the NCAA Tournament.

The University of Georgia announced the move via Twitter:

[vertical-gallery id=71207]

[listicle id=71233]