Mark Fox’s future as the head coach of the Georgia basketball team has been a popular topic of conversation by fans, including many on Internet message boards.

It’s not difficult to see why.

At 15-12 heading into Thursday’s game at Alabama, the Bulldogs are in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in eight years barring some unexpected late season run.

But while fans may continue to talk and wonder what the future holds, Fox said prior to Tuesday’s practice his job status is nothing he’s talked about with with UGA president Jere Morehead or athletic director Greg McGarity.

“No, my total focus is on us trying to play well and beat Alabama,” Fox said. “We obviously have to retool our team, if you will, without Yante (Maten), so that’s taken 110 percent of our energy at this time.”

McGarity has stated he will not comment on Fox and the basketball program until after the season is over.

Fox – who has three years remaining in his current five-year contract that pays him $2 million per season - said he’s not surprised his job has been a topic of conversation.

“That comes up even when you win,” he said. “Praise and criticism comes from the same people. You’ve got to treat them both the same because ultimately, it’s not … you can’t get on that rollercoaster, so we just kind of keep our head to the ground and keep grinding.”

According to Fox’s contract obtained by UGASports via open records, his buyout would be $1.7 million should he be fired at season’s end.

Fox is 141-115 in his seven-plus years at Georgia, including 67-67 in SEC play. Georgia currently sits at ninth in the SEC standings with four regular-season games to go before the SEC Tournament two weeks from now in Nashville.

Senior guard J.J. Frazier said he hasn’t been surprised by the murmurs, either.

“It’s always tough to hear somebody that you care about and feel are unjustly criticized,” he said. “But it’s part of life, part of the game of basketball and part of business.”