- The Field of 68 Daily
- Posts
- Even when it loses, the SEC wins
Even when it loses, the SEC wins
Georgia stuns No. 3 Florida in a big upset -- which might actually help the league when it comes to overall NCAA Tournament bids. Plus, Oklahoma State surprises Iowa State, Duke loses Tyrese Proctor, Georgetown won't have Thomas Sorber, and we highlight the top coaching candidates for Utah.
Sean Paul
February 26, 2025
Tuesday ended any doubt North Carolina might’ve had in Hubert Davis as its head coach. Not only did the school announce a 2-year extension that’ll keep him in Chapel Hill through 2030, it also hired its first-ever GM in agent Jim Tanner.
That’s one way to commit resources to your program’s future.
Maybe the only coach who had a better day was Georgia’s Mike White. Let’s get to it.
1. Georgia’s win vs. Florida gives hope to 14-bid SEC
The best thing a bubble team can do in late February? Beat a top-five team.
That's what Georgia did on Tuesday, stunning No. 3 Florida 88-83. It snapped a four-game skid for the Bulldogs (17-11, 5-10 in SEC), who now have wins over the Gators, St. John’s and Kentucky — and gave some life to their fading NCAA Tournament hopes. (Not to mention the possibility of 14 SEC teams in the tourney.)
This was Georgia's first win over an AP Top-5 opponent since 2004, per @ESPNStatsInfo
A signature win for Mike White, and also for a program that's been in the wilderness for nearly two decades since Jim Harrick was fired.
— Brandon Zimmerman (@BZSEC)
2:26 AM • Feb 26, 2025
Not that it was easy.
Georgia led by 26 points in the first half, and allowed Florida (24-4, 11-4) to take a 1-point lead with 1:07 to play. But sophomore guard Blue Cain drilled a 3-pointer to put the Bulldogs ahead for the final time, and the Gators didn't make a shot in the final 45 seconds.
During Monday’s Fielding the 68 bracket show, the Bulldogs were among the Last Four Out, which also aligns with Bracket Matrix’s overall view. A win like this certainly puts them in prime position for an at-large bid.
"All that positive noise that comes to these guys, they heard it," Georgia coach Mike White said. "And not that we reacted really negatively to it at all, but then you find yourself here where you've lost a few in a row and you've got to keep it in perspective. This is the best league in the history of college basketball."
And it’s not like they’re a bad team. Georgia is 32nd in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom, and ranked 37th overall. It’s 36th in the NET and 37th in WAB. That’s ahead of other SEC teams such as Texas, Arkansas and Vandy.
It’ll be just as interesting to see if this sinks Florida’s chances for a 1 seed. Will Richard had a career-high 30 points, and forward Alex Condon played 21 minutes in his first game back from an injury. The Gators remain a dangerous team, but this may have opened the door for Houston to earn that No. 1 seed.
2. Did Iowa State lose its shot at a No. 2 seed?
Florida wasn’t the only Top 10 team that lost on the road.
