Donald L. Tucker Center (capacity: 12,100), Tallahassee, FL 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Information
TV: ESPNU; Rich Hollenberg (play-by-play) and Len Elmore (analyst)
Radio: WRUF/Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
Head Coaches
University of Florida: Billy Donovan (392-158, 17th season at Florida; 427-178 overall, 19th season)
Florida State University: Leonard Hamilton (183-130, 11th season at FSU; 383-340 overall, 25th season)
Probable Starters
Florida Gators
#1 Kenny Boynton (6'2", 190 lbs SR) Season stats: 14.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.8 apg
#3 Mike Rosario (6'3", 183 lbs RS-SR) Season stats: 11.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.5 apg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'7", 240 lbs JR) Season stats: 7.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg
#33 Erik Murphy (6'10", 238 lbs SR) Season stats: 12.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 249 lbs JR) Season stats: 10.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.5 blocks per game
Bench
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs JR) Season stats: 8.3 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.3 rpg, 2.0 steal per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'4", 200 lbs FR) Season stats: 5.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg (career-high 17 points vs. Marquette on 6/9 fg, 5/8 3pt)
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 208 JR) Season stats: 9.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg (7-7 fg, 4-4 ft this season)
Florida State Seminoles
#30 Ian Miller (6'3", 186 lbs JR) Season stats: 7.0 ppg, 3.0 apg
#21 Michael Snaer (6'5", 202 lbs SR) Season stats: 14.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg
#5 Montay Brandon (6'7", 216 FR) Season stats: 6.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg
#10 Okaro White (6'8", 204 lbs JR) Season stats: 13.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#11 Kiel Turpin (7'0", 240 lbs RS-JR) Season stats: 4.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg (son of former Kentucky center, Melvin Turpin)
Bench
#2 Terrance Shannon (6'8", 240 lbs RS-JR) Season stats: 10.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg
#31 Terry Whisnant (6'3", 185 lbs SO) Season stats: 7.1 ppg, 1.3 rpg
#1 Devon Bookert (6'3", 185 lbs FR) Season stats: 4.3 ppg, 2.1 apg
Injury News and Team Notes
Last Game for Both Schools
Florida: Defeated Marquette on Thursday, 82-49
Florida State: Lost to Mercer on Sunday, 61-56
Gators All-Time Versus Florida State
The Gators lead the all-time series, 41-22. Florida is 10-6 against FSU under Billy Donovan, including three straight wins. Florida is 17-10 on the road vs. FSU (4-3 under Donovan).
Last Meeting Between Schools
The Gators defeated FSU on December 22, 2011, 82-64 at the O'Connell Center. Patric Young had one of the memorable plays of the season with a block on the defensive end and a dunk on the other.
What I'm Wondering
1. I think the main question is whether Erik Murphy will play or not. He hasn't practiced since leaving the Marquette game with a hip pointer. He participated in non-contact drills yesterday, but my guess is we won't know his status until maybe an hour before the game. If he plays, how will he respond? If he doesn't, who will step up and replace his production?
2. Based off the press conference with Donovan and his players (Rosario and Yeguete), the Gators are working hard not to get complacent due to their #6 ranking. Handling success is going to be a major key for this year's Gator team. Will the big win over Marquette lead to a letdown against the Seminoles, especially in a rivalry game of the road?
3. Florida State has lost to both South Alabama (opening game) and Mercer (on Sunday) at home. Clearly, they aren't as talented as previous teams, but they will still "bring it" on the defensive end. Of course, it's a rivalry game and it's at home so anything can happen. How does FSU respond in a rivalry game at home?
4. Kenny Boynton scored only scored six points against Marquette (2/11 fg, 0/5 3pt). While we didn't need his scoring in the blowout win, tonight will be a different story. As a senior, this will be Boynton's last game to take on the 'Noles in "Tally." You know he wants to leave there with a win. How will Boynton bounce back from his poor shooting performance against Marquette?
5. Michael Frazier II was the Gators' leading scorer against Marquette with a career-high 17 points and earned SEC Freshman of the Week. Frazier's the type of shooter who shoots the ball with confidence and that's something he has a lot of right now. But, I go back to the complacent comment. How will Frazier back up his career performance?
6. FSU's Michael Snaer is one of the top guards in the country. He's their leading scorer and is someone that the Gators will have as their #1 defensive assignment. I would expect Boynton or Scottie Wilbekin to hound him all night, making things tough for him. How will Snaer play tonight?
7. Braxton Ogbueze, DeVon Walker, and Dillon Graham each saw one minute of action against Marquette. They will have to stay ready in case their name's called tonight, and I expect one of them to play a major role, especially if Murphy's out. Will any of these three make a difference in tonight's game?
Records to be Broken in the Near Future
Head Coaches
University of Florida: Billy Donovan (392-158, 17th season at Florida; 427-178 overall, 19th season)
Florida State University: Leonard Hamilton (183-130, 11th season at FSU; 383-340 overall, 25th season)
Probable Starters
Florida Gators
#1 Kenny Boynton (6'2", 190 lbs SR) Season stats: 14.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.8 apg
#3 Mike Rosario (6'3", 183 lbs RS-SR) Season stats: 11.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.5 apg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'7", 240 lbs JR) Season stats: 7.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg
#33 Erik Murphy (6'10", 238 lbs SR) Season stats: 12.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 249 lbs JR) Season stats: 10.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.5 blocks per game
Bench
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs JR) Season stats: 8.3 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.3 rpg, 2.0 steal per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'4", 200 lbs FR) Season stats: 5.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg (career-high 17 points vs. Marquette on 6/9 fg, 5/8 3pt)
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 208 JR) Season stats: 9.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg (7-7 fg, 4-4 ft this season)
Florida State Seminoles
#30 Ian Miller (6'3", 186 lbs JR) Season stats: 7.0 ppg, 3.0 apg
#21 Michael Snaer (6'5", 202 lbs SR) Season stats: 14.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg
#5 Montay Brandon (6'7", 216 FR) Season stats: 6.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg
#10 Okaro White (6'8", 204 lbs JR) Season stats: 13.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#11 Kiel Turpin (7'0", 240 lbs RS-JR) Season stats: 4.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg (son of former Kentucky center, Melvin Turpin)
Bench
#2 Terrance Shannon (6'8", 240 lbs RS-JR) Season stats: 10.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg
#31 Terry Whisnant (6'3", 185 lbs SO) Season stats: 7.1 ppg, 1.3 rpg
#1 Devon Bookert (6'3", 185 lbs FR) Season stats: 4.3 ppg, 2.1 apg
Injury News and Team Notes
- Erik Murphy is questionable for tonight's game with a "really bad hip pointer," according to Coach Donovan. Murphy has not practiced since Thursday. He sustained the injury in Thursday's game against Marquette and looked in quite a bit of pain. Whether he plays or not tonight depends on how he's able to cope with the pain.
- Michael Frazier II was named the SEC Freshman of the Week. He scored 17 points against Marquette, shooting 6/9 from the field and hitting 5/8 3-pointers.
- Donovan: "Patric's responded well in practice."
- Donovan: "We're not good enough to have a lot of slippage and still win."
Last Game for Both Schools
Florida: Defeated Marquette on Thursday, 82-49
Florida State: Lost to Mercer on Sunday, 61-56
Gators All-Time Versus Florida State
The Gators lead the all-time series, 41-22. Florida is 10-6 against FSU under Billy Donovan, including three straight wins. Florida is 17-10 on the road vs. FSU (4-3 under Donovan).
Last Meeting Between Schools
The Gators defeated FSU on December 22, 2011, 82-64 at the O'Connell Center. Patric Young had one of the memorable plays of the season with a block on the defensive end and a dunk on the other.
What I'm Wondering
1. I think the main question is whether Erik Murphy will play or not. He hasn't practiced since leaving the Marquette game with a hip pointer. He participated in non-contact drills yesterday, but my guess is we won't know his status until maybe an hour before the game. If he plays, how will he respond? If he doesn't, who will step up and replace his production?
2. Based off the press conference with Donovan and his players (Rosario and Yeguete), the Gators are working hard not to get complacent due to their #6 ranking. Handling success is going to be a major key for this year's Gator team. Will the big win over Marquette lead to a letdown against the Seminoles, especially in a rivalry game of the road?
3. Florida State has lost to both South Alabama (opening game) and Mercer (on Sunday) at home. Clearly, they aren't as talented as previous teams, but they will still "bring it" on the defensive end. Of course, it's a rivalry game and it's at home so anything can happen. How does FSU respond in a rivalry game at home?
4. Kenny Boynton scored only scored six points against Marquette (2/11 fg, 0/5 3pt). While we didn't need his scoring in the blowout win, tonight will be a different story. As a senior, this will be Boynton's last game to take on the 'Noles in "Tally." You know he wants to leave there with a win. How will Boynton bounce back from his poor shooting performance against Marquette?
5. Michael Frazier II was the Gators' leading scorer against Marquette with a career-high 17 points and earned SEC Freshman of the Week. Frazier's the type of shooter who shoots the ball with confidence and that's something he has a lot of right now. But, I go back to the complacent comment. How will Frazier back up his career performance?
6. FSU's Michael Snaer is one of the top guards in the country. He's their leading scorer and is someone that the Gators will have as their #1 defensive assignment. I would expect Boynton or Scottie Wilbekin to hound him all night, making things tough for him. How will Snaer play tonight?
7. Braxton Ogbueze, DeVon Walker, and Dillon Graham each saw one minute of action against Marquette. They will have to stay ready in case their name's called tonight, and I expect one of them to play a major role, especially if Murphy's out. Will any of these three make a difference in tonight's game?
Records to be Broken in the Near Future
- Boynton (1,676 points) needs three points to pass Stacey Poole for 5th on the all-time scoring list
- Boynton (275 threes) needs 10 three-pointers to pass Erving Walker for 2nd on the all-time list (Lee Humphrey leads with 288)
- Boynton (111 games started) needs three more starts to pass Erving Walker for 5th on the all-time list
- Patric Young (81 dunks) needs three more dunks to pass Vernon Delancy for 9th all-time (*dunks are unofficial stats)
Final score prediction: Florida 74 - Florida State 65
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