The Georgia Bulldogs have ‘work to do’ to secure a spot in the March Madness Bracket.

As the 2025 NCAA Basketball Tournament, better known as March Madness, draws nearer, the Georgia Bulldogs find themselves in a critical position. While they have shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, the Bulldogs’ journey to securing a spot in the tournament has been far from smooth sailing. With some games left to play and the pressure mounting, Georgia is acutely aware that they still have “work to do” in order to solidify their place in the March Madness bracket.

At the start of the season, Georgia’s prospects were met with cautious optimism. After a string of challenging years in the SEC, there was a sense that this might finally be the year the Bulldogs break through and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in several seasons. However, as the regular season nears its end, Georgia’s tournament hopes remain in flux. With several teams vying for at-large bids and the SEC providing fierce competition, the Bulldogs’ positioning remains uncertain.

Season Recap: Highs and Lows for Georgia

Georgia’s basketball program has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, as head coach Mike White continues to reshape the team’s identity. Coming off a season of moderate improvement, the Bulldogs entered this year with a combination of experienced upperclassmen and promising underclassmen. White’s system, which emphasizes both defensive intensity and offensive ball movement, showed early signs of success. However, consistency has been a recurring issue.

The Bulldogs have experienced impressive wins this season, particularly against conference rivals. They’ve shown they can compete with some of the SEC’s elite teams, with notable victories that raised eyebrows across the country. Wins against teams like Kentucky, Auburn, and Mississippi State showcased their potential when firing on all cylinders. These victories served as significant résumé builders, especially in a conference as competitive as the SEC.

However, Georgia’s success has often been counterbalanced by frustrating losses. Several games slipped away in the final minutes due to turnovers, poor shooting, or missed opportunities. These losses, especially to lower-tier teams in the SEC, have been the primary obstacle to Georgia’s tournament hopes. A key indicator for selection to the NCAA Tournament is quality wins, and Georgia has struggled to maintain momentum during critical stretches of the season.

Key Factors Holding Georgia Back

As March approaches, the Bulldogs find themselves in a position where they must address a number of key issues if they want to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. These issues include consistency, depth, and free-throw shooting.

1. Inconsistent Play on Both Ends of the Court: One of the biggest challenges Georgia has faced this season is inconsistency. At times, they look like a team capable of making a deep run in March, playing suffocating defense and executing on offense. At other times, they appear disjointed, unable to put together complete games. For a team vying for an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament, inconsistency is a major red flag.

   On defense, the Bulldogs have shown they can be tough, especially against high-scoring teams. They have a physical frontcourt that can defend the rim, and their ability to switch on pick-and-roll situations has made them difficult to break down at times. However, they’ve struggled with defending the three-point line and allowing easy fast-break opportunities, leading to higher-scoring games where they lose the battle of pace.

   Offensively, Georgia has struggled with shooting consistency, particularly from long range. While their inside game has been solid, with big men like Jalen Ingram and Braelen Bridges providing a strong presence in the paint, they lack the consistent outside shooting needed to spread the floor and make defenses uncomfortable. A reliance on perimeter shooting that doesn’t always connect has stifled their offensive flow in several games.

2. Depth Concerns: Georgia’s bench has been another source of concern throughout the season. While the Bulldogs boast a solid starting five, they lack the depth necessary to compete at the highest level in the SEC. This lack of depth has led to issues during games when key players struggle with foul trouble or fatigue. Depth becomes especially important in March, as teams in the tournament often face tough, back-to-back games with limited recovery time.

   To make a run in March Madness, Georgia needs more contributions from players beyond their starting five. Bench scoring has been sporadic, and it’s been difficult for the Bulldogs to maintain intensity when they rotate their bench players in. Some of the younger players, such as guards MJ Collins and Jabri Abdur-Rahim, have shown flashes of potential but have not consistently produced at a high level. This inconsistency from the bench has contributed to Georgia’s struggles in certain matchups.

3. Free-Throw Shooting: Another glaring issue for Georgia has been their free-throw shooting. Poor free-throw shooting can make a significant difference in tight games, and Georgia has often struggled to capitalize on opportunities at the line. With several games decided by single digits, their inability to hit free throws in key moments has cost them in both conference play and non-conference games. A better free-throw shooting percentage could have turned some of their losses into victories, especially against teams that also struggle in close games.

What Georgia Needs to Do to Secure a Spot in March Madness

With the SEC tournament on the horizon, Georgia is running out of time to shore up the weaknesses that have held them back. However, they still have opportunities to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament, and their fate is largely in their hands. Here’s what the Bulldogs need to do to ensure they hear their name called on Selection Sunday:

1. Finish Strong in the Regular Season: Georgia has several key games remaining in the regular season, including matchups against ranked SEC opponents. If they can win most of these games, especially on the road, they will put themselves in a much stronger position to receive an at-large bid. The SEC’s reputation as one of the toughest conferences in college basketball means that a strong finish to the season could significantly improve Georgia’s resume, even if their overall record isn’t stellar.
2. Find Consistency on Offense: For Georgia to have a shot at an NCAA Tournament berth, they need to improve their offensive consistency. The offense cannot rely solely on their big men, and the team must find ways to create open looks for their perimeter shooters. Improved shooting from beyond the arc, as well as greater ball movement, will be crucial for breaking down opposing defenses and keeping teams honest. Additionally, Georgia has to cut down on turnovers and execute better in late-game situations.
3. Get More from the Bench: Georgia’s bench needs to become more reliable and consistent as the team heads into the home stretch. The Bulldogs need more offensive production from their reserves to avoid becoming too predictable. Players like Abdur-Rahim and Collins must step up, offering solid scoring and defensive contributions when called upon. With a deeper rotation, Georgia can manage the heavy minutes played by their starters and maintain intensity throughout the game.
4. Capitalizing on Free Throws: The Bulldogs must improve their free-throw shooting. This may sound simple, but it’s a fundamental aspect of the game that has been a weakness for Georgia all season. Their ability to convert free throws late in games could make or break their chances of securing a tournament bid. A concentrated effort to improve free-throw shooting in practices and high-pressure situations will pay dividends during critical moments in the season.
5. Perform Well in the SEC Tournament: The SEC Tournament provides a final opportunity for Georgia to improve its tournament résumé. While the Bulldogs might not have the luxury of securing an automatic bid, a deep run in the SEC Tournament would go a long way in proving their worth. If Georgia can make a run to the semifinals or beyond, it will give the selection committee plenty of evidence to consider them for an at-large bid.