SEC Basketball Tournament Kicks Off with Georgia vs. Oklahoma Showdown

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 2025 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament begins Wednesday night, March 12, at the Bridgestone Arena, with a pivotal first-round matchup featuring the Georgia Bulldogs and the Oklahoma Sooners.

Georgia, holding a record of 20-11 and securing the No. 11 seed in the tournament, heads into the game looking to build on a four-game winning streak. Meanwhile, Oklahoma, with a season record of 19-12, holds the No. 14 seed and is considered a bubble team for the NCAA tournament.

Despite the additional pressure of tournament play, Georgia guard Silas Demary Jr. stated the team’s focus remains on winning as many games as possible. “We went through a tough stretch, with two four-game losing streaks. Now, we want to keep winning,” Demary said. “This is a crucial time of year for us.”

The Sooners are riding momentum from recent victories over Missouri and Texas. Their standout freshman point guard, Jeremiah Fears, who is projected to be a first-round pick in the NBA Draft, has been instrumental, scoring 31 points against Missouri and 13 points with four assists against Texas. Coach Mike White acknowledged the improvement in both teams since their previous encounter in January. “They’re playing better than when we played earlier, and we are too,” he noted.

Fears struggled in the earlier matchup, scoring just 2 points on 1 of 11 shooting. “Collectively, we did a pretty good job against him then, but it’s going to take a better effort from our entire team in a bunch of different areas,” White added.

Demary referred to this time of year as “basketball heaven,” emphasizing the excitement that accompanies March Madness. He mentioned watching a late-night game from the Horizon League on Monday, reflecting his passion for the tournament atmosphere. “We try not to make the stage bigger than it is,” White said. “One round at a time, one possession at a time.”

Georgia’s starting lineup includes Blue Cain, Silas Demary, Dylan James, RJ Godfrey, and Asa Newell. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s starting five features Jeremiah Fears, Brycen Goodine, Duke Miles, Mohamed Wague, and Jalone Moore.

The stakes are high as both teams vie for a deeper run in the tournament. “We’re going to come in here and just leave it all on the floor,” said forward Asa Newell. The game is set to tip off at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on SEC Network.

As the first contest of the tournament, the matchup between Georgia and Oklahoma sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting week of SEC basketball. Fans can follow the action and stay updated on scores and highlights through various sports networks and online platforms.