Georgia basketball lacking ‘urgency’ in recent losses

Before each game, a message appears on Georgia basketball’s whiteboard. The words typically represent the matchup, providing motivation and encouragement before taking the court.

The Bulldogs’ game Saturday against Texas A&M was no exception. They plastered two messages onto their board — “6-1,” which represented the Aggies’ record in SEC play, and “first place,” which signified their position atop the conference.

The words alluded to Texas A&M’s potential, adding fuel to Georgia’s competitive fire. The Bulldogs had two reasons to come out energized written in front of them — though you wouldn’t have known it, based on the way they took the court.

“(Texas A&M) came out with way more urgency,” junior guard Blue Cain said Saturday after Georgia’s 92-77 loss. “I’m not really sure what I accredited it to, but we have to learn from it.”

Georgia found itself in a 20-point hole less than five minutes into the game. Texas A&M came out firing — connecting on seven of its first nine shots — while the Bulldogs began colder than the snow falling outside of Stegeman Coliseum.

Georgia made only one of its first 10 attempts, a layup from sophomore center Somto Cyril on its first possession.

“I couldn’t agree more,” coach Mike White said of Cain’s assessment. “I don’t know how you have a lack of urgency.”

The Bulldogs nearly orchestrated a comeback — cutting their deficit to 2 points with nine minutes remaining — but ultimately lost by 15 points, dropping their third consecutive game.

Georgia’s loss to Texas A&M was not the first time it lacked energy this season. It wasn’t even the first time White called the Bulldogs out for it. He gave a similar claim after Georgia’s loss to Texas, which saw it outscored 57-30 in the second half.

“We’ve just got to do a much better job ... got to have more fight on the defensive glass to stand a chance,” White said of Georgia’s rebounding efforts.

Effort is not a prevailing issue for Georgia, but inconsistency is. The Bulldogs have yet to establish a streak of playing complementary basketball — with satisfying performances on offense and defense — in SEC play.

Just look at Georgia’s schedule. The Bulldogs opened conference play with a 104-point performance against Auburn before suffering a 15-point blowout against Florida. They then fell back on track with three wins and one narrow overtime loss before losing three consecutive games.