Need proof that there’s more excitement than usual about the Georgia basketball team coming into the season?

Call the ticket office and try to get seats for its biggest home conference test.

You won’t be able to.

#UGA basketball has already sold out of its Feb. 18 home game vs. Kentucky. Earliest sellout ever for an SEC game. That's a Saturday. — AJC UGA (@ChipTowersAJC) October 25, 2016

Georgia and Kentucky also will meet Jan. 31 in Lexington. Georgia has lost six straight games to the Wildcats.

But that’s not stopping fans from snatching up seats, said John Bateman, Georgia assistant athletic director for marketing, adding the game being on a Saturday helped sales.

Bateman said the recent push is part of a pre-sale for donors, season-ticket holders and anyone who has purchased a mini-plan in the past.

“We tried to hit them up hard and our fans responded,” he said, noting the same drive sold 737 flex plans last season and 1,450 this year as of Tuesday night.

Batemen said he wouldn’t be surprised if more sellouts are announced soon, including the Jan. 28 game against Texas where 1,100 seats are available.

Last year, the push netted sales of 1,183 single-game tickets. As of Tuesday night, Bateman said 3,329 tickets were sold with the midnight deadline approaching.

Coach Mark Fox’s Bulldogs are picked to take fourth place in the league behind Kentucky, Florida and Texas A&M.

The media also selected J.J. Frazier as an All-SEC first-teamer and picked Yante Maten for the second team.

The Bulldogs open the season Nov. 11 at Clemson.

The general public can purchase tickets at 9 a.m. Wednesday by calling 706-542-1231 or visiting georgiadogs.com.