Second-ranked Florida on upset-alert as they travel to Arkansas

#2 Florida Gators (18-2, 8-0 SEC) at Arkansas Razorbacks (13-8, 4-4 SEC)
Bud Walton Arena (capacity: 19,200), Fayetteville, Ark. 7:00 p.m.

Broadcast Information

TV: ESPN; Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Jimmy Dykes(analyst), and Shannon Spake (sideline)
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 (404-160, 17th season at Florida; 439-180 overall, 19th season)
Arkansas: Mike Anderson (31-22, 2nd season at Arkansas; 231-120 overall, 11th season)

Probable Starters

Florida Gators

#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs JR) Season stats: 9.3 ppg, 5.1 apg, 2.7 rpg, 1.7 steals per game
#1 Kenny Boynton (6'2", 190 lbs SR) Season stats: 13.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.4 apg
#3 Mike Rosario (6'3", 183 lbs RS-SR) Season stats: 12.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.4 apg
#33 Erik Murphy (6'10", 238 lbs SR) Season stats: 12.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 249 lbs JR) Season stats: 11.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.9 blocks per game

Bench

#15 Will Yeguete (6'7", 240 lbs JR) Season stats: 6.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg
#20 Michael Frazier (6'4", 200 lbs FR) Season stats: 5.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 208 lbs JR) Season stats: 5.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg
Arkansas Razorbacks

#1 Mardracus Wade (6'2", 176 lbs JR) Season stats: 6.3 ppg, 1.5 apg
#11 BJ Young (6'3", 180 lbs SO) Season stats: 16.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.1 apg
# 3 Rickey Scott (6'3", 205 lbs JR) Season stats: 5.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg
#4 Coty Clarke (6'7", 225 lbs JR) Season stats: 6.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg
#33 Marshawn Powell (6'7", 240 lbs JR) Season stats: 15.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg
Bench

#21 Hunter Mickelson (6'10", 245 lbs SO) Season stats: 7.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.5 blocks per game
#00 Rashad Madden (6'5", 181 lbs SO) Season stats: 4.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg
#12 Fred Gulley (6'2", 177 lbs JR) Season stats: 1.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg
#20 Kikko Haydar (5'10", 162 lbs JR) Season stats: 3.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg
#24 Michael Qualls (6'5", 205 lbs FR) Season stats: 3.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg
#22 Jacorey Williams (6'8", 204 lbs FR) Season stats: 4.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg
#5 Anthlon Bell (6'3", 190 lbs FR) Season stats: 3.7 ppg, 0.8 rpg

Injury News and Team Notes

• This is the first time since the 2007 National Championship win that the Gators have been ranked #2 or higher.
• The Gators are 5-2 against the RPI top-50 and 8-2 vs. the RPI top-100.
• The Gators have the 10th toughest schedule in the country (strength of schedule).
• Billy Donovan: "Our guys understand the value of defense."
• Donovan: "We've got plenty of stuff to work on.  That's not a problem."--talking about keeping players motivated and focused (not looking at rankings).
• Donovan: "They come in every single day and try to work and get better."--talking about this year's freshman class.
• Kenny Boynton has the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the SEC.
• Arkansas is 13-1 at home (only loss was to Syracuse).
• Florida is 6-2 on the road.
• The Gators are 4-7 all-time at Arkansas, 4-4 under Donovan.

What I'm Wondering

1.  How will the Gators deal with playing in Bud Walton Arena, which can be one of the loudest venues in the country and also where Arkansas is 13-1 this season?

2.  Florida had better come out ready to play because I have a feeling that Arkansas is going to play its best game of the season tonight.  Whether that's good enough to beat the Gators, we'll have to wait and see.  Will Florida get off to a quick start?

3.  Arkansas' BJ Young and Marshawn Powell may be the best duo in the SEC.  It's paramount that the Gators lock up on Young (presumably Wilbekin will guard him) and put a body on Powell and not let him gain post position on Young, Murphy, or Yeguete.  How will the Gators do with containing Young and Powell?

4. The Razorbacks will play 11-12 guys.  With Florida having an eight-man rotation, this could pose some problems for the Gators.  Will depth play a factor in tonight's game, for either team?

Final score prediction: Florida 75 - Arkansas 70