SEC Semifinals: Expect a tight game when Gators take on Crimson Tide

(1-seed) #13 Florida Gators (25-6, 14-4 SEC) vs. (4-seed) Alabama Crimson Tide (21-11, 12-6 SEC)
Bridgestone Arena (capacity: 18,160), Nashville, Tn. 1:00 p.m.

Broadcast Information

TV: ABC; Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Dick Vitale (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 (411-164, 17th season at Florida; 446-184 overall, 19th season)
Alabama: Anthony Grant (84-50, 4th season at Alabama; 160-75 overall, 7th season)

Probable Starters

Florida Gators

#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs JR) Season stats: 9.2 ppg, 5.0 apg, 3.1 rpg, 1.5 steals per game
#1 Kenny Boynton (6'2", 190 lbs SR) Season stats: 12.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.1 apg
#3 Mike Rosario (6'3", 183 lbs RS-SR) Season stats: 12.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg
#33 Erik Murphy (6'10", 238 lbs SR) Season stats: 12.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 249 lbs JR) Season stats: 10.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 blocks per game

Bench

#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 208 lbs JR) Season stats: 6.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'7", 240 lbs JR) Season stats: 5.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg
#20 Michael Frazier (6'4", 200 lbs FR) Season stats: 6.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg

Alabama Crimson Tide

#12 Trevor Releford (6'0", 195 lbs JR) Season stats: 15.5 ppg, 2.6 apg, 2.5 rpg, 2.0 steals per game
#5 Trevor Lacey (6'3", 215 lbs SO) Season stats: 11.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.1 apg
#20 Levi Randolph (6'5", 205 lbs SO) Season stats: 7.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg
#21 Rodney Cooper (6'6", 215 lbs SO) Season stats: 10.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg
#14 Moussa Gueye (7'0", 255 lbs JR) Season stats: 1.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.5 blocks per game

Bench

#15 Nick Jacobs (6'8", 265 lbs SO) Season stats: 7.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg
#24 Devonta Pollard (6'8", 200 lbs FR) Season stats: 4.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg
#32 Retin Obasohan (6'1", 210 lbs RS FR) Season stats: 3.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg
#22 Andrew Steele (6'4", 225 lbs RS SR) Season stats: 3.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Injury News and Team Notes

• Senior forward Erik Murphy injured his knee in practice on Wednesday and there was doubt that he would play yesterday against LSU.  Instead, Murphy scored a career-high 27 points on 11/15 from the field (5/7 from 3-point range) to go along with 12 rebounds, for his third-career double-double.
• Although senior guard Kenny Boynton only scored two points (1/7 fg, 0/4 3pt) yesterday, he helped the team in other ways.  He dished out seven assists and played solid defense on Andre Stringer and Anthony Hickey.  I'm confident that if he keeps getting open looks, he'll start knocking down shots with regularity.  He always seems to get hot from the perimeter at this time of the season.
• Junior center Patric Young made 4/6 free throws in the second half after going 0/4 in the first half.  He's constantly working on his form and knows that he can make a huge difference in the Gators' scoring output if he can improve his charity stripe shooting.
• Alabama wants to make this game ugly, slowing down the pace, running their offense, and getting the shot clock down to 15 seconds or less.  I feel that that's the only way they can keep this game close because they don't have the offensive firepower to compete with Florida's offense if the game gets into a shootout.
• Florida has won the last six meetings with Alabama.  
• The Gators are 5-7 all-time versus Alabama in the SEC Tournament.  Florida is 4-2 against the Crimson Tide in the SEC Tournament under Coach Donovan.
• Donovan is 11-2 against past assistant coaches, including 5-0 against Anthony Grant (assistant from 1996-2006)

What I'm Wondering

1.  Trevor Releford is on quite a hot streak, averaging 19 points per game in his last seven games.     He is Alabama's most important player and he's their heart and soul; if he's not playing well, the Tide doesn't play well, and vice versa.  I expect Boynton or Wilbekin to have the task of defending Releford.  How will Releford's play impact the game and Alabama's execution?   

2.  Florida's free throw shooting has been an issue the entire season.  The Gators shot 11/22 from the line yesterday.  In close games, free throw shooting determines the final result.  How will the Gators shoot from the line?

3.  Kenny Boynton and Mike Rosario have been really struggling with their shooting.  Will either of them be able to get back on track today?

Final score prediction: Florida 69 - Alabama 64