Georgia tries to avoid being latest in North Florida's run of upsets

Field Level Media|published: Mon 11th November, 20:32 2024

Dec 29, 2023; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; North Florida Ospreys guard Jasai Miles (0) signals against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

One of the biggest stories to start the college basketball season will try to pull off another upset when North Florida visits Georgia in a nonconference game Tuesday night in Athens, Ga.

The visiting Ospreys (3-0) already have picked up wins at South Carolina and Georgia Tech, the latter a 105-93 victory in Atlanta on Sunday in which they made 73.7 percent of their 2-point attempts. That's after making 25 3-pointers at a 43.1 percent clip in their first two games.

"Pick what you want to take away, and then we're going to attack whatever that looks like," said North Florida coach Matthew Driscoll, whose team has multiple wins over power-conference schools in a season for the first time in program history. "So proud of this group and so proud of what they stand for."

Georgia (2-0) has started off with home wins over Tennessee Tech and Texas Southern, limiting Texas Southern to 1-of-19 shooting from 3-point range and holding a 53-23 advantage on the boards.

"I thought we got back to just focusing on smaller details, especially on the glass and on the defensive end," Georgia coach Mike White said. "Took more pride in defending. I just thought simply we played harder."

Picked to finish seventh of 12 teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason poll, North Florida has five players averaging double figures. Leading the way is sophomore guard Jasai Miles at 16.7 points per game, while freshman forward Josh Harris scored 22 at Georgia Tech and averages 16.3 per game.

Georgia, picked 12th out of 16 teams in the Southeastern Conference, has had different players lead in scoring in each game so far. Freshman forward Asa Newell had 26 in the season opener and guard Dakota Leffew, a graduate student, went for 23 on Sunday against Texas Southern after 18 in the first game, both off the bench.

The Bulldogs have won 20 consecutive nonconference games at Stegeman Coliseum, including against Xavier in last year's NIT en route to making the tournament semifinals.

--Field Level Media