Ayrton Oneill
The Georgia Bulldogs men's basketball team has had a varied history when it comes to March Madness. In 2023, the team was not expected to make it to the NCAA Tournament, and while they had improved their record from previous years, they were near the bottom of their conference. In 2024, the Bulldogs were more hopeful, with a chance to beef up their profile and make their first postseason appearance in seven years. In 2025, the Bulldogs made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years, but their run ended quickly with a blowout loss to Gonzaga.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Georgia Bulldogs basketball team's first foray into the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament | 2025, their first since 2015 |
| Georgia Bulldogs basketball team's NCAA Tournament record | 10-3 |
| Georgia Bulldogs basketball team's March Madness opponent | Gonzaga |
| Georgia Bulldogs basketball team's March Madness first-round opponent | No. 8 seed UCLA |
| Georgia Bulldogs basketball team's March Madness seed | No. 9 |
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What You'll Learn
Georgia Bulldogs' March Madness run ends with a blowout loss to Gonzaga
Georgia's return to March Madness ended in disappointment as their championship hopes were blown away by the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The University of Georgia suffered an 89-68 defeat to Gonzaga in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, bringing their season to an abrupt end.
The game, dubbed the "Battle of the Bulldogs", saw Georgia trail early and often, as they struggled to keep up with a dominant Gonzaga side. The Georgia Bulldogs were outclassed from the start, with Gonzaga roaring out to a 27-3 lead, capitalizing on Georgia's poor shooting and turnovers. Mike White's team never managed to reduce the deficit to less than 14 points, and they were always playing catch-up.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs, on the other hand, showcased their experience and prowess, with Nolan Hickman leading the way. Hickman knocked down all four of his first-half three-pointers, contributing to a commanding 48-27 halftime lead. He finished the game with an impressive 18 points, while Khaliff Battle added a team-high 24 points and 8 rebounds.
Georgia's freshman Asa Newell stood out for the losing side, leading his team with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Silas Demary Jr. also contributed with 15 points, but most of his scoring came from the free-throw line, as he had a challenging shooting night, going just 3 of 14 from the field.
The loss marked the end of Georgia's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2015, and they will now turn their attention to rebuilding for the 2025-2026 season. Despite the disappointing exit, Georgia's fans and coaches acknowledged the team's achievements this season, including breaking one of the longest March Madness droughts in the country.
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Georgia's first NCAA Tournament game in over a decade
The Bulldogs, seeded ninth, faced a tough opening matchup against the eighth-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs, a team with far more NCAA Tournament experience. Georgia's last win in the tournament came back in 2002, and they were eager to end this long drought.
The game, however, did not go as planned for Georgia. They fell behind early, with Gonzaga roaring out to a commanding 27-3 lead, capitalizing on Georgia's unpreparedness and poor 3-point shooting. The first half ended with Gonzaga leading 48-27, and the deficit proved too much for Georgia to overcome. The final score was 89-68 in Gonzaga's favour, ending Georgia's tournament run abruptly.
Despite the loss, Georgia's appearance in the NCAA Tournament was a significant achievement. Under first-year head coach Mike White, the program had shown remarkable improvement, winning 10 more games than the previous season. Although Georgia's March Madness run ended sooner than hoped, it marked a step in the right direction, and the team could look forward to building on this success in future seasons.
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Georgia's 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket
The Gonzaga Bulldogs hounded Georgia from the jump, roaring out to a 27-3 lead thanks to some hot 3-point shooting and general unpreparedness from Georgia. Mike White’s team never cut the lead to less than 14, and Georgia's season ended with an 89-68 defeat.
Georgia's appearance in the tournament was the tenth overall in team history and the first since the 2002 NCAA basketball tournament. The Bulldogs were seeded 14th, playing against the #3 seeded Xavier Musketeers.
Leading up to the tournament, Georgia had established itself as an NCAA Tournament lock, with a strong regular-season finish and no losses to unexpected teams. Every bracketologist had the 20-12 Bulldogs safely in the field of 68.
The Bulldogs' first-round opponent was projected to be the No. 8 seed Illinois, Memphis, or Gonzaga.
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Georgia's 2015 NCAA Tournament drought
Georgia's men's basketball team had a successful 2024-2025 season, making it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015, ending a decade-long drought.
Georgia's appearance in the 2025 tournament was the tenth overall in team history. However, their performance in the tournament was short-lived. They were defeated by Gonzaga in their first game, with a final score of 89-68.
In the lead-up to the 2025 tournament, Georgia had a 10-3 record and an eight-game winning streak. Despite this, they faced challenges in SEC play, with a 1-17 record over the previous two seasons. They also struggled in road games, with nine losses in 11 Quad 1 games.
Georgia's coach, Mike White, played a crucial role in the team's success. Before the 2025 tournament, White guided Florida to the NCAA Tournament four times in his seven seasons there. With Georgia, he achieved back-to-back victories over Kentucky and Oklahoma in January 2025, earning the Bulldogs their first AP poll ranking since 2011.
Although Georgia's 2025 NCAA Tournament run ended sooner than hoped, the team's qualification marked a significant step forward after a decade-long absence from the tournament.
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Georgia Bulldogs' history in the NCAA Championship
The Georgia Bulldogs basketball team has a long history in the NCAA Championship, with their first appearance in the tournament coming in 1983. This was the beginning of a postseason streak of eight straight seasons, the longest in Georgia basketball history. This included three NCAA appearances and five NIT bids.
The 1983 team made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Championship before being knocked out by the eventual champions, North Carolina State. This team was known as "The Miracle Workers", and was coached by Hugh Durham.
The Bulldogs made it back to the NCAA Tournament in 2002, where they were seeded 14th and played the #3 seed, Xavier Musketeers. They lost this game 73-61. They made the tournament again in 2011 and 2015, but were knocked out in the Round of 64 both times.
The Bulldogs ended a 10-year drought in 2023, making it back to the NCAA Tournament. However, their season ended quickly with an 89-68 defeat to Gonzaga in the first round.
The Georgia Bulldogs football program has also had success in the NCAA, winning four national championships (1942, 1980, 2021, and 2022). They have also been selected as national champions by NCAA-designated major selectors eight times.
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Frequently asked questions
No, they didn't make it to the 2023 tournament.
Yes, Georgia Basketball earned a No. 9 seed in the 2025 tournament.
Georgia's run in the 2025 tournament ended as soon as it started, with a blowout loss to Gonzaga.
The 2023 tournament began on March 14, 2023, and the 2025 tournament began on March 20.
68 teams participate in the tournament.
