Mike White calls out critics of Georgia amid previous losing streak

From Jan. 15 to Feb. 22, Georgia posted a 2-9 record in SEC play. However, the Bulldogs have rebounded late in the season, currently riding a three-game win streak. After Georgia’s 73-64 win over South Carolina on Tuesday, Bulldogs head coach Mike White addressed the criticism the team was receiving earlier this season.

“I can’t bite my tongue,” White said. “I don’t read a lot of that stuff and I don’t listen to a lot of it but some of it finds it’s way to you but to say, ‘What’s wrong with georgia? They’ve lost nine out of 11.’ I don’t think that’s the appropriate question. Where’s the context, the narrative, we lost nine games to nine really, really good teams.

“I want to say we played more top-25 teams than anybody in the country. We’ve played more top-10 teams than anybody in the country if that hasn’t changed, I know that was a stat a few days ago… I want to say we were the underdog in maybe all nine [losses]. So we’re thankful we won the other two.”

Georgia is catching its stride at the perfect time. With only one game left in the regular season, Georgia is listed as one of the last four byes in the NCAA Tournament by ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi.

In the Bulldogs’ win over the Gamecocks on Tuesday, they held South Carolina to just 37.3% shooting from the field. Silas Demary Jr. led the way for the Bulldogs, tallying 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Alas, he wasn’t alone. Blue Cain and Asa Newell combined for 25 points and nine boards in the Bulldogs’ winning effort. Mike White is proud of his team’s progress this season and has tried to keep the team’s struggles in perspective.

“It’s the best league in the history of college basketball,” White said. “I tried to tell our guys that in different words and in different ways. Block the negative noise out. Let’s just keep getting better. A lot of teams would’ve lost to the team we just lost to. Let’s focus on the next one.

“We played a couple teams that are really good, really close. Think about the position we’d be sitting in if we were able to get one of those Auburn games or at Arkansas or Mississippi State at home.

“But those teams are really good, so it’s not like Georgia was favored by 15 in four games that they lost and they just didn’t show up. That’s not who this team is. I think our record doesn’t indicate how competitive we are. And I’ll say that for the rest of this league as well.”

Georgia will look to finish its regular season on a strong note as it squares off against Vanderbilt at noon ET on Saturday. The game will air live on ESPNU.