By: Dylan Brown
Georgia Men’s Basketball defeated the Charlotte 49ers 87-67 on Friday, Oct. 16, fueled by elite perimeter shooting, relentless defense, and team communication.
Georgia shot at a high volume from behind the arc all game long. On over 30 shots from range, Georgia made more than half. In a game where Georgia struggled to attack the rim, its shooting stepped up significantly.
When asked about the team’s reliance on the 3-point shot throughout the game, Georgia’s head coach Mike White focused on the opponent’s style of play: Charlotte focusing on protecting the rim.
“A lot of the time the defense dictates what you can get,” said White. ‘They’re a collapsing team.”
Outside the Bulldogs’ ability to shoot from range, Georgia brought a relentless pace on defense through a constant full-court press and tight defensive coverage. This pace showed up in the defensive stats, with Georgia securing seven blocks and five steals to Charlotte’s one block and four steals.
Senior Blue Cain was a huge highlight for Georgia in this game. Along with leading the Bulldogs in scoring with 14 points, Cain showed his leadership on the court.
“Coach White challenged me this year to be more of a vocal leader,” said Cain. “In times like those dead-ball situations, I feel like it is important to come in and communicate.”
Fellow senior Marcus “Smurf” Millender has also served as a leader for Georgia this season, White noted.
“We have not had to talk a lot about unselfishness, chemistry, authentic relationships, and communicating with each other effectively,” said White. “A really healthy camaraderie led again by Blue and Smurf.”
The Georgia Bulldogs now look to finish the preseason with another road win against the Clemson Tigers on Friday, Oct. 23. Regular season play will then begin on Nov. 2 at home against the North Carolina Central Eagles.
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