Georgia's Mike White Reflects on Tough Overtime Loss to Tennessee

Bulldogs coach discusses rebounding struggles, late-game execution, and more after 86-85 defeat

Jan. 28, 2026 at 11:31pm

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Georgia head coach Mike White spoke to the media following his team's 86-85 overtime loss to Tennessee on Wednesday night. White praised his team's effort and fight, but acknowledged the Bulldogs' struggles on the glass, where Tennessee outrebounded them 52-27, including 26 offensive rebounds. White also discussed Georgia's execution down the stretch and the performance of guard "Smurf" Millender, who he said played well despite the tough defeat.

Why it matters

This loss is a tough one for Georgia, as they had a chance to pull off a big upset over a top-ranked Tennessee team. The rebounding disparity proved to be the difference, highlighting an area the Bulldogs have struggled with all season. White's comments provide insight into how the team will look to address these issues moving forward as they try to bounce back from this close defeat.

The details

In the postgame press conference, White praised his team's effort and fight, saying he was "proud of the effort" despite the tough loss. He acknowledged that Georgia's inability to control the glass, with Tennessee grabbing 26 offensive rebounds, was a major factor. White also discussed Georgia's execution down the stretch, noting that they had some good looks and opportunities to potentially win the game in regulation. The coach also spoke highly of guard "Smurf" Millender, who he said played well and is one of the team's hardest workers.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, January 29, 2026.

The players

Mike White

The head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs basketball team.

Nate Ament

A player for the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team.

J.P. Estrella

A player for the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team.

Felix Okpara

A player for the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team.

Smurf Millender

A guard for the Georgia Bulldogs basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“I thought we played hard. Really tough loss for our guys. We've had a couple losses where I've used effort and I've used like intensity and lulls and I've had that type of language just openly with you guys.”

— Mike White, Head Coach, Georgia Bulldogs

“Huge plays. Ultimate confidence. … Swagger, toughness. I love him. I love coaching him. He brings it every day. He's probably our hardest worker. He's starting to lead a little bit. He's grown a lot, too.”

— Mike White, Head Coach, Georgia Bulldogs

What’s next

The Bulldogs will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host another tough opponent at home.

The takeaway

This close loss to a top-ranked Tennessee team shows that Georgia is capable of competing with the best teams in the country, but they will need to shore up their rebounding and late-game execution if they want to pull off more upsets this season.