Vanderbilt, the 18th-ranked team in the country, provides an opportunity, one the Georgia basketball team will not be afforded for the rest of the season.

The Commodores squad will more than likely be the final ranked team to enter Stegeman Coliseum this season, one last gasp for the Bulldogs to grab a quality win while in the friendly confines of its own home. And no, the remaining home games — against South Carolina and LSU — do not figure to be the potential résumé builders that Vanderbilt is.

Although Mark Fox talked on Monday about how his team has done a good job avoiding any bad losses this season, his team could certainly use a quality win to feel better entering into Selection Sunday less than a month from now.

But Vanderbilt will not be an easy notch on the belt.

The Commodores all-but-literally beat up on Georgia in the two teams’ first matchup, with Vanderbily coming away with a 73-66 win that felt much worse. Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings has a squad that can match Georgia athletically, is more physical in the post and possesses arguably the best shooter in the country in sophomore John Jenkins.

With that in mind, there are five questions that could decide tonight’s matchup and, potentially, Georgia’s tournament fate.

Georgia head coach Mark Fox’s team could use a quality win over No. 18 Vanderbilt. Photo by FRANCES MICKLOW | The Red & Black

Can Georgia stop Festus Ezeli?

The 6-foot-11 junior center was an absolute handful for Georgia post players Jeremy Price, Chris Barnes and Trey Thompkins. In fact, the only way Georgia attempted to defend the Nigeria native on January 12 was to grab a handful of jersey, arm or anything else that constituted a foul.

Thompkins, Price and Barnes combined for 13 fouls in game, with Price fouling out way too early to make any sort of positive influence on the outcome. Price and Barnes combined for an ugly 23 minutes, nine fouls, two points and three rebounds.

If Georgia is going to hang with the sharpshooting Commodores, it has to contend better in the post this time around.

Which Gerald Robinson will show up?

It has been a rough stretch of games for Robinson, as he seems to have lost a bit of the composure he possessed in the first half of conference play.

In Georgia’s first five SEC contests, Robinson had 15 assists and 10 turnovers — not the best turnover-to-assist ratio, but respectable.

But in the Bulldogs’ last six games, Robinson has 17 assists and 23 turnovers.

It was Robinson who kept the Bulldogs’ collective head above water in the first matchup — 20 points (7-of-15 shooting) and five rebounds — but if his play doesn’t revert back to previous highs, Georgia could be facing an 0-2 hole against Vanderbilt.

How can anyone stop John Jenkins?

Jenkins had a solid game against Georgia the first time around, piecing together 18 points on 4-for-10 shooting, all while making some big shots at key points in the game.

But there is the John Jenkins on January 12, and there is the John Jenkins now.

Jenkins is the hottest shooter in the nation at the moment, pouring in 70 total points in Vanderbilt’s wins over South Carolina, Alabama and No. 18 Kentucky. Neither of the teams had an answer for the sophomore, and it remains to be seen if Georgia does or not.

The Nashville, Tenn., native is averaging 19.8 points per outing, including a 41.7 percent shooting from 3-point range. Georgia point guard Dustin Ware may have a slightly higher percentage, but Jenkins has attempted 55 more long-range shots.

Forward Travis Leslie will likely draw the defensive responsibilities again, being asked to shut down a shooter Mark Fox said is shooting better than anyone — that includes the NBA.

Can Georgia be smarter with its shot selection?

There seems to be a fluctuating answer to this question throughout the season.

At times, Georgia has the confidence and determination to put the ball down low, either drawing fouls or getting better looks at the basket. Then, there are times when 3-point temptations prove too much to overcome.

Georgia has dramatically improved its outside shooting as the season has progressed, but it is still not a point of strength. Only Ware is shooting over 40 percent from long range, with Leslie, Robinson and backup guard Sherrard Brantley shooting in the low-30s.

The Bulldogs were a little too enamored with the 3-point line in the first contest, shooting 23 shots and only making five.

A 23.8 percent shooting night from downtown will not count the Bulldogs out, unless, of course, they shoot 20-plus shots at that rate.

Will Stegeman make a difference?

Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium has proved a death trap for teams in recent years, notably the Bulldogs.

But this game will not be at Memorial.

Mark Fox and his squad have stressed all season how much of an advantage Stegeman has been, and Fox’s home record would seem to back that up. The Bulldogs are 10-3 at home this season, including wins over then-No. 11 Kentucky, UAB and Colorado.

However, Georgia is 2-3 in the last five home games. The crowd didn’t seem to make much of a difference in the loss to Xavier last Tuesday.

It would appear Vanderbilt is entering the game on a higher note, but if Georgia can grab an early lead — or keep the game close in the second half — the crowd could play a big factor.

How big of a factor remains to be seen.

30 minutes to tipoff.