Mike White credits surprising player for helping keep deficit from getting worse against Alabama

Could the 108-59 loss to Alabama have been an even bigger defeat for the Georgia basketball team? Apparently so, according to Bulldog head coach Mike White. His team was blitzed from moment one in last Saturday’s contest after the Crimson Tide converted five 3s and scored 18 points in the first 215 seconds of the game against Georgia’s zone. The lead only ballooned from there before ending officially as a 49-point rout.

After the game, though, Coach White was looking anywhere he could for some positive takeaways. In his eyes, there was one player who saved the game from getting even more out of hand than it already was. That man is the most loyal Bulldog on the team: senior guard Jaxon Etter, the only remaining player in the program from Georgia’s 2021 or 2020 teams.

Etter hadn’t stepped foot on a live basketball court in two weeks before the Alabama game. But once Mike White burned through his other options, he thrusted Etter into the fire against perhaps the best team in the country in the middle of a blowout. Etter held his own defensively (at least better than his teammates) and ended the night with two points, two rebounds and one steal in 18 minutes of action. That performance helped prevent a loss of 50 points or greater, per White, who complimented the veteran guard afterwards:

“The final outcome was incredibly lopsided of course. And without Jaxon it would have been worse. He’s an awesome kid, he’s tough as nails, he’s got a great attitude. He exemplifies culture, consistency, mental, physical toughness, leadership, everything.”

The raw stat-line won’t wow anyone, but Etter’s head coach is still proud of the grit and effort Etter brought in a game where most of the team lacked such fight. White says Etter definitely bought himself another playing opportunity next time out.

“You know, this is a team that’s had a lot of depth and parity and he’s been kind of that guy, that odd man out, you know, for a bunch of games this season. And he took advantage of the opportunity tonight. How much opportunity he gets in the next one, I’m not sure. We’ll play it by ear, we’ll evaluate it throughout the game. Will he get in the game? Absolutely. He’s earned that for sure. He was terrific.”

Good for Jaxon Etter finally getting some time in the sun after four years with this Georgia program. After all, he’s been in Athens twice as long as any other player or the head coach. That sort of loyalty is worth rewarding.