Following Sunday’s crushing 68-45 loss to Kentucky, Athletic Director Damon Evans visited the Georgia men’s basketball team in the locker room.

This was the first time this season reporters noticed Evans as a visitor after a game, but guard Corey Butler said the meeting was a common occurrence.

“Those guys come in all the time, especially [Associate] Athletic Director Arthur Johnson and those guys, after every game home and away,” said senior guard Corey Butler. “They’re usually there.”

The message from Evans: “Yeah, they always come through the line, shake hands with every player and say keep your head and keep fighting,” Butler said.

Players not yet ‘buying’

In the midst of a five-game losing streak, each loss has exhibited Georgia’s ability to make other teams look good.

Whether it is problems stemming from turnovers, rebounding or a lack of offense, the Bulldogs have yet to correct the problems. And the losses are piling up.

“Everybody has to take it personal,” said freshman Trey Thompkins. “We got some guys not buying into the system. As a team we’re working on that.”

Georgia is now 9-9 overall on the year, and looking up in the SEC East, now 0-3 in conference play.

“It’s just a matter of committing to the team concept and doing what we have to do every single night and every single play in order to win,” said senior Corey Butler. “I don’t know if we’re exactly doing it every night.”

The Bulldogs still have 13 conference games remaining and have an opportunity to turn the season around.

“We definitely just have to stay together,” Butler said. “It’s a long season and I have complete faith in the guys that we’re going to keep fighting.”

Swansey’s second time for stitches

Sophomore Zac Swansey briefly left Sunday’s game in the first half after colliding with a Wildcat defender.

Swansey managed to catch an inbounds pass and dribble up-court before play was stopped as officials noticed blood running from the Dunwoody native’s eye.

Swansey had a temporary bandage put over his cut, and re-entered the action, wearing an oversized No. 24 jersey, as his No. 5 had blood stains.

After the game, Swansey was ushered from the locker room to receive stitches.

This is the second time this season Swansey has required stitches. The first incident was a cut on his knee acquired during a 98-68 victory over North Carolina A&T.