Vanderbilt basketball has lost two straight games and now has a chance to get back on track as it faces Georgia at Memorial Gymnasium on Feb. 25.
The Commodores (21-6, 8-6 SEC) first fell far behind Missouri on the road and attempted a fierce comeback, but it wasn’t quite enough. Then they dropped a back and forth home game to Tennessee.
Georgia (19-8, 7-7) has won two straight games against Kentucky and Texas.
Here is our score prediction:
Georgia has had a flair for the dramatic, going to overtime four separate times this season. The Bulldogs won one of those four games, against Auburn, and lost to Clemson, Ole Miss and Tennessee.
Georgia also won close regulation games against Xavier and Missouri.
The Bulldogs are thus no stranger to close games and end-of-game situations. Vanderbilt lost its last two games in close fashion, though it has eked out some close wins earlier in the season as well.
Tyler Tanner has been playing through the flu and is not at 100%. While Tanner still played well in the games against Missouri and Tennessee, a fully healthy Tanner would likely be even better.
There’s also the case of Duke Miles, who returned against the Vols after missing nearly a month with injury. Miles showed rust in the performance but also showed why he was so important to the Commodores as a second ball-handler who can drive and draw free throws. If Tanner and Miles are close to 100%, Vanderbilt’s chances will increase.
Georgia loves to go for dunks, having attempted 189 this season. The Bulldogs attempt a higher share of dunks than any team in the country. Florida and Arkansas, two teams Vanderbilt lost to earlier in the season, are also in the top five.
Georgia doesn’t quite have the overwhelming size that the Gators do, but 6-foot-11 center Somto Cyril has been the primary dunker this season. Jalen Washington will have his hands full defending Cyril and making sure he doesn’t leave lanes open.
Duke Miles returned for Vanderbilt against Tennessee, but Frankie Collins was still out.
Vanderbilt 89, Georgia 80
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or on X @aria_gerson.
