(1-seed) #1 Florida Gators (31-2, 18-0 SEC) vs. (2-seed) Kentucky Wildcats (24-9, 12-6 SEC)
Georgia Dome (capacity: 26,000), Atlanta, Georgia. 3:15 p.m.
Opinion/Analysis
Three keys to beating Kentucky:
1. Control the Harrison twins
Twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison have turned the corner in terms of their play. In the two games they've played in the SEC Tournament, they've finally been able to justify the recruiting hype: Andrew (23 points and 17 assists) and Aaron (36 points). Scottie Wilbekin and Michael Frazier II will have their work cut out for them, as the twins stand 6'6".
2. Get the Kentucky big men in foul trouble
While Kentucky's top six players are as good as any top-6 in the country, the rest of the rotation is suspect. Marcus Lee and Alex Poythress are UK's frontline options off the bench (Willie Cauley-Stein is their sixth man) and it would benefit the Gators if they can get Dakari Johnson, Julius Randle, or Cauley-Stein into foul trouble. If Florida is able to do that, I like their chances. Likewise, it will be key for the Gator big men to stay out of foul trouble. Yesterday, Dorian Finney-Smith fouled out and Will Yeguete played most of the game with four fouls. Look for freshman Chris Walker to get more minutes if the players in front of him start picking up fouls.
3. Win the battle at the free throw line
The Gators shoot 66.6% from the line, compared to the Wildcats' 67.9%. The Wildcats are one of the top teams in the country in terms of free throws made and taken. I fully expect this game to come down toto the final minutes, if not the final seconds. Free throws will play a huge role in who comes away with the win.
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
Showing posts with label preview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preview. Show all posts
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Gators face Volunteers in SEC Tournament Semifinal
(1-seed) #1 Florida Gators (30-2, 18-0 SEC) vs. (4-seed) Tennessee Volunteers (21-11, 11-7 SEC)
Georgia Dome (capacity: 26,000), Atlanta, Georgia. 1:00 p.m.
Opinion/Analysis
The Gators, who won their quarterfinal game against Missouri yesterday, 72-49, face the Tennessee Volunteers in the first semifinal of the SEC Tournament. The Vols defeated South Carolina yesterday, 59-44. In the two meetings this season between the traditional rivals, the Gators have outscored the Volunteers 134-99. However, the Vols have won five
straight games and look to have positioned themselves for an NCAA Tournament berth. Certainly, a win today over Florida would solidify their spot in the field of 68.
The Gators will need to get off to a better start today than they did yesterday, when they were tied at halftime. Tennessee is riding high with confidence and offers size at every position. As always, the battle between Jarnell Stokes (6'8", 260 pounds) and Patric Young (6'9", 240 pounds) will be a must-see. The task of defending their top scorer, Jordan McRae, will go to Casey Prather or Scottie Wilbekin.
Look for Chris Walker to get some minutes due to the Vols' bigger frontline and the possibility of foul trouble for the Gator bigs. The benches for both teams will be the difference today.
Both teams might be somewhat fatigued, but once the teams step onto the court, it's time to compete. I expect this contest to be tight throughout, so it's going to be key for the Gators to expect a tough battle from the Vols.
Broadcast Information
TV: ABC; 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
Georgia Dome (capacity: 26,000), Atlanta, Georgia. 1:00 p.m.
Opinion/Analysis
The Gators, who won their quarterfinal game against Missouri yesterday, 72-49, face the Tennessee Volunteers in the first semifinal of the SEC Tournament. The Vols defeated South Carolina yesterday, 59-44. In the two meetings this season between the traditional rivals, the Gators have outscored the Volunteers 134-99. However, the Vols have won five
straight games and look to have positioned themselves for an NCAA Tournament berth. Certainly, a win today over Florida would solidify their spot in the field of 68.
The Gators will need to get off to a better start today than they did yesterday, when they were tied at halftime. Tennessee is riding high with confidence and offers size at every position. As always, the battle between Jarnell Stokes (6'8", 260 pounds) and Patric Young (6'9", 240 pounds) will be a must-see. The task of defending their top scorer, Jordan McRae, will go to Casey Prather or Scottie Wilbekin.
Look for Chris Walker to get some minutes due to the Vols' bigger frontline and the possibility of foul trouble for the Gator bigs. The benches for both teams will be the difference today.
Both teams might be somewhat fatigued, but once the teams step onto the court, it's time to compete. I expect this contest to be tight throughout, so it's going to be key for the Gators to expect a tough battle from the Vols.
Broadcast Information
TV: ABC; 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
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Florida looks for perfect SEC record on Senior Day against rival Kentucky
Game 31: #25 University of Kentucky Wildcats (22-8, 12-5 SEC) at #1 University of Florida Gators (28-2, 17-0 SEC)
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida. 12:00 p.m.
Opinion/Analysis
The Gators are looking to record the first undefeated SEC regular season in the conference's history as they welcome the Kentucky Wildcats to Gainesville on what is sure to be an afternoon filled with emotion. It is Senior Day, so Casey Prather, Scottie Wilbekin, Will Yeguete, and Patric Young will all play their final game in the O'Dome. For all four players, they've experienced the ups and downs. For Prather, the amazing improvement this season was very unexpected based off his first three seasons where he came off the bench for 10-15 minutes a game. Wilbekin has been suspended twice, but he has upped his game since becoming the starter during his junior season and is now a candidate for SEC Player of the Year. Yeguete has struggled with knee injuries but he has remained a committed defender and continually goes up against taller forwards and holds his own. Young has been a starter for three seasons, but this is by far his most consistent campaign and he is the most likely of the four seniors to be playing on an NBA team next season.
According to Kevin Brockway, the Gators beat writer for the Gainesville Sun, the current senior class has won 112 games, three SEC regular season titles (including this season), appeared in three Elite Eights, and has 54 SEC wins.
While the game will be high with emotion, the Gators have a chance to make history. They have also won 22 straight games and 31 straight home games. But the Wildcats will not want to suffer the first UF sweep since 2007. They defeated Alabama on Tuesday, 55-48, but did not shoot the ball like they will need to to beat the Gators. Kentucky will need to get the Gator big men in foul trouble if they hope to gain an advantage. Kentucky's frontline is much bigger than Florida's, so Young,Yeguete, and Chris Walker will have their work cut out for them. If Michael Frazier, who scored 37 points (11 3-pointers) against South Carolina on Tuesday, can replicate that form then it could be a long day for the Wildcats, especially if Wilbekin and Prather produce their usual games. Sixth man Dorian Finney-Smith is averaging 12.7 points per game over his last three games after struggling for a few weeks with his shot, which affected other parts of his game.
The Wildcats are 5-3 on the road in conference (5-4 overall) and it will be interesting to see if they have been able to correct their assist-to-turnover problem. Andrew Harrison has struggled with his shooting all season and James Young has been off and on from deep. If the Gators can get the Wildcats in foul trouble, it will be tough for Kentucky to maintain pace with Florida.
Kentucky coach John Calipari continues to believe in his team and his players continue to remain confident that they can make a run in the SEC Tournament and the Big Dance. This will be a tough game for Florida, certainly the toughest opponent they could have faced as they try to go undefeated in conference. I expect it to remain close throughout, but free throws will prove to be the difference. If it comes down to that, the Gators will be in good shape.
Projected starting lineups and reserves:
KENTUCKY
#2 Aaron Harrison (6'6", 218 lbs. FR) Season stats: 13.6 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game
#5 Andrew Harrison (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 10.9, 3.5 assists per game
#1 James Young (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 14.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg
#30 Julius Randle (6'9", 250 lbs. FR) 15.4 ppg, 10.5 rpg
#44 Dakari Johnson (7'0", 265 lbs. FR) 4.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Reserves
#15 Willie Cauley-Stein (7'0", 244 lbs. SO) 7.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.9 blocks per game
#22 Alex Poythress (6'8", 239 lbs. SO) 6.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg
#3 Jarrod Polson (6'2", 182 lbs. SR) 1.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg
#00 Marcus Lee (6'9", 215 lbs. FR) 2.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg
#25 Dominique Hawkins (6'0", 193 lbs. FR) 0.9 ppg, 0.8 rpg
#4 Jon Hood (6'7", 215 lbs. RS-SR) 1.4 ppg, 0.5 apg
FLORIDA
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 12.9 points per game, 3.9 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 13.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 14.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Reserves:
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 9.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 5.5 ppg, 3.0 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg
#23 Chris Walker (6'10", 220 lbs. FR) 1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg
Broadcast Information
TV: CBS; Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and Jim Spanarkel (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida. 12:00 p.m.
Opinion/Analysis
The Gators are looking to record the first undefeated SEC regular season in the conference's history as they welcome the Kentucky Wildcats to Gainesville on what is sure to be an afternoon filled with emotion. It is Senior Day, so Casey Prather, Scottie Wilbekin, Will Yeguete, and Patric Young will all play their final game in the O'Dome. For all four players, they've experienced the ups and downs. For Prather, the amazing improvement this season was very unexpected based off his first three seasons where he came off the bench for 10-15 minutes a game. Wilbekin has been suspended twice, but he has upped his game since becoming the starter during his junior season and is now a candidate for SEC Player of the Year. Yeguete has struggled with knee injuries but he has remained a committed defender and continually goes up against taller forwards and holds his own. Young has been a starter for three seasons, but this is by far his most consistent campaign and he is the most likely of the four seniors to be playing on an NBA team next season.
According to Kevin Brockway, the Gators beat writer for the Gainesville Sun, the current senior class has won 112 games, three SEC regular season titles (including this season), appeared in three Elite Eights, and has 54 SEC wins.
While the game will be high with emotion, the Gators have a chance to make history. They have also won 22 straight games and 31 straight home games. But the Wildcats will not want to suffer the first UF sweep since 2007. They defeated Alabama on Tuesday, 55-48, but did not shoot the ball like they will need to to beat the Gators. Kentucky will need to get the Gator big men in foul trouble if they hope to gain an advantage. Kentucky's frontline is much bigger than Florida's, so Young,Yeguete, and Chris Walker will have their work cut out for them. If Michael Frazier, who scored 37 points (11 3-pointers) against South Carolina on Tuesday, can replicate that form then it could be a long day for the Wildcats, especially if Wilbekin and Prather produce their usual games. Sixth man Dorian Finney-Smith is averaging 12.7 points per game over his last three games after struggling for a few weeks with his shot, which affected other parts of his game.
The Wildcats are 5-3 on the road in conference (5-4 overall) and it will be interesting to see if they have been able to correct their assist-to-turnover problem. Andrew Harrison has struggled with his shooting all season and James Young has been off and on from deep. If the Gators can get the Wildcats in foul trouble, it will be tough for Kentucky to maintain pace with Florida.
Kentucky coach John Calipari continues to believe in his team and his players continue to remain confident that they can make a run in the SEC Tournament and the Big Dance. This will be a tough game for Florida, certainly the toughest opponent they could have faced as they try to go undefeated in conference. I expect it to remain close throughout, but free throws will prove to be the difference. If it comes down to that, the Gators will be in good shape.
Projected starting lineups and reserves:
KENTUCKY
#2 Aaron Harrison (6'6", 218 lbs. FR) Season stats: 13.6 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game
#5 Andrew Harrison (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 10.9, 3.5 assists per game
#1 James Young (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 14.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg
#30 Julius Randle (6'9", 250 lbs. FR) 15.4 ppg, 10.5 rpg
#44 Dakari Johnson (7'0", 265 lbs. FR) 4.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Reserves
#15 Willie Cauley-Stein (7'0", 244 lbs. SO) 7.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.9 blocks per game
#22 Alex Poythress (6'8", 239 lbs. SO) 6.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg
#3 Jarrod Polson (6'2", 182 lbs. SR) 1.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg
#00 Marcus Lee (6'9", 215 lbs. FR) 2.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg
#25 Dominique Hawkins (6'0", 193 lbs. FR) 0.9 ppg, 0.8 rpg
#4 Jon Hood (6'7", 215 lbs. RS-SR) 1.4 ppg, 0.5 apg
FLORIDA
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 12.9 points per game, 3.9 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 13.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 14.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Reserves:
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 9.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 5.5 ppg, 3.0 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg
#23 Chris Walker (6'10", 220 lbs. FR) 1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg
Broadcast Information
TV: CBS; Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and Jim Spanarkel (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Florida expects tough contest at Ole Miss
Game 27: #2 University of Florida Gators (24-2, 13-0 SEC) at Ole Miss (16-10, 7-6 SEC)
C.M. "Tad" Smith Coliseum (capacity: 8,867), Oxford, Mississippi. 12:00 p.m.
Opinion/Analysis
The Gators travel to Oxford to face the Ole Miss Rebels, a team that defeated Florida in the SEC Championship game last season. The Rebels, under head coach Andy Kennedy, are led by two players: Marshall Henderson and Jarvis Summers. How those two players play will determine the outcome of today's game. Henderson, who averages 4.5 3-pointers per game, is the epitome of a love/hate player: If you're an Ole Miss fan, you love him; however, if you're an opposing fan, you hate him. His antics can drive fans crazy (including myself) and I cannot hide the fact that I dislike him. But he's a great scorer and I have to give him credit for that. Summers isn't too shabby, either, as he averages 17 points per game. Ole Miss' frontcourt players are bigger than Florida's, but they don't really give the Rebels much in terms of offense.
The Gators, who have a chance to move up to #1 in the country with a win today, come into today's game a little hobbled. Michael Frazier (wrist) might see his shooting affected, while backup point guard Kasey Hill (groin) is out. The Gators are going for their 19th-straight victory. The Gators are 5-3 at Ole Miss under head coach Billy Donovan.
The Rebels will be fired up for this game after dropping Tuesday's contest to Kentucky at home. If Henderson is hitting shots and the crowd starts going crazy, the Gators might be in trouble. Dorian Finney-Smith needs to get his rhythm back, as he's 0/18 from 3-point range in the last six games.
Ole Miss has lost four of its last five games, but averages more 3-pointers (8.1) per game than any team in the SEC, but also gives up the most threes (7.0) in the conference.
Projected starting lineups and reserves:
FLORIDA
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 pounds, SR) Season stats: 13.6 points per game, 3.7 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 pounds, SO) 12.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 pounds, SR) 15.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 pounds, SR) 5.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 pounds, SR) 10.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.0 block per game
Reserves
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 pounds, RS-SO) 9.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 pounds, FR) 5.6 ppg, 3.2 apg *WILL NOT PLAY (GROIN)
#23 Chris Walker (6'10", 220 pounds, FR) 1.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 pounds, SO) 2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 pounds, JR) 2.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg
OLE MISS
#32 Jarvis Summers (6'3", 186 pounds, JR) Season stats: 17.0 points per game, 38 assists per game
#22 Marshall Henderson (6'2", 177 pounds, SR) 19.4 ppg, 2.2 apg
#10 LaDarius White (6'6", 211 pounds, JR) 7.9 ppg, 3.3 rebounds per game
#34 Aaron Jones (6'9", 220 pounds, JR) 6.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.1 blocks per game
#23 Dwight Coleby (6'9", 236 pounds, FR) 1.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg
Reserves
#3 Derrick Millinghaus (5'10", 172 pounds, SO) 7.5 ppg, 2.4 apg
#13 Anthony Perez (6'9", 213 pounds, SO) 7.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#11 Sebastian Saiz (6'9", 233 pounds, FR) 4.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg
#4 Demarco Cox (6'8", 276 pounds, JR) 4.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg
#1 Martavious Newby (6'3", 210 pounds, SO) 1.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg
Broadcast Information
TV: CBS; Ian Eagle (play-by-play) and Doug Gottlieb (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: CBSSports.com
C.M. "Tad" Smith Coliseum (capacity: 8,867), Oxford, Mississippi. 12:00 p.m.
Opinion/Analysis
The Gators travel to Oxford to face the Ole Miss Rebels, a team that defeated Florida in the SEC Championship game last season. The Rebels, under head coach Andy Kennedy, are led by two players: Marshall Henderson and Jarvis Summers. How those two players play will determine the outcome of today's game. Henderson, who averages 4.5 3-pointers per game, is the epitome of a love/hate player: If you're an Ole Miss fan, you love him; however, if you're an opposing fan, you hate him. His antics can drive fans crazy (including myself) and I cannot hide the fact that I dislike him. But he's a great scorer and I have to give him credit for that. Summers isn't too shabby, either, as he averages 17 points per game. Ole Miss' frontcourt players are bigger than Florida's, but they don't really give the Rebels much in terms of offense.
The Gators, who have a chance to move up to #1 in the country with a win today, come into today's game a little hobbled. Michael Frazier (wrist) might see his shooting affected, while backup point guard Kasey Hill (groin) is out. The Gators are going for their 19th-straight victory. The Gators are 5-3 at Ole Miss under head coach Billy Donovan.
The Rebels will be fired up for this game after dropping Tuesday's contest to Kentucky at home. If Henderson is hitting shots and the crowd starts going crazy, the Gators might be in trouble. Dorian Finney-Smith needs to get his rhythm back, as he's 0/18 from 3-point range in the last six games.
Ole Miss has lost four of its last five games, but averages more 3-pointers (8.1) per game than any team in the SEC, but also gives up the most threes (7.0) in the conference.
Projected starting lineups and reserves:
FLORIDA
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 pounds, SR) Season stats: 13.6 points per game, 3.7 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 pounds, SO) 12.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 pounds, SR) 15.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 pounds, SR) 5.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 pounds, SR) 10.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.0 block per game
Reserves
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 pounds, RS-SO) 9.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 pounds, FR) 5.6 ppg, 3.2 apg *WILL NOT PLAY (GROIN)
#23 Chris Walker (6'10", 220 pounds, FR) 1.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 pounds, SO) 2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 pounds, JR) 2.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg
OLE MISS
#32 Jarvis Summers (6'3", 186 pounds, JR) Season stats: 17.0 points per game, 38 assists per game
#22 Marshall Henderson (6'2", 177 pounds, SR) 19.4 ppg, 2.2 apg
#10 LaDarius White (6'6", 211 pounds, JR) 7.9 ppg, 3.3 rebounds per game
#34 Aaron Jones (6'9", 220 pounds, JR) 6.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.1 blocks per game
#23 Dwight Coleby (6'9", 236 pounds, FR) 1.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg
Reserves
#3 Derrick Millinghaus (5'10", 172 pounds, SO) 7.5 ppg, 2.4 apg
#13 Anthony Perez (6'9", 213 pounds, SO) 7.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#11 Sebastian Saiz (6'9", 233 pounds, FR) 4.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg
#4 Demarco Cox (6'8", 276 pounds, JR) 4.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg
#1 Martavious Newby (6'3", 210 pounds, SO) 1.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg
Broadcast Information
TV: CBS; Ian Eagle (play-by-play) and Doug Gottlieb (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: CBSSports.com
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Florida looks to continue streaking in highly-anticipated game at Kentucky
Game 25: #3 University of Florida Gators (22-2, 11-0 SEC) at #14 University of Kentucky Wildcats (19-5, 9-2 SEC)
Rupp Arena (capacity: 23,000), Lexington, Kentucky. 9:00 p.m.
Opinion/Analysis
Arguably the most-anticipated matchup of the season takes place tonight as the Gators try to win their 17th straight game and remain undefeated in conference. As part of ESPN's Rivalry Week, they will take on the Kentucky Wildcats, traditionally Florida's biggest rival in the sport. ESPN's College Gameday is on site in Lexington and this is a good omen for the Gators, as they are 4-0 when Gameday is on site when Kentucky is involved. As a fan, there's just something about playing Kentucky that gets the juices flowing more so than any other opponent. I enjoy watching the Gators play at Rupp rather than in the O'Dome because the atmosphere is so electric (not dissing Gator basketball fans, but Rupp is one of the greatest arenas in the game and "Big Blue" fans are the best in the country).
Before this torrid two-game road trip began, I said that I would be happy with a 1-1 split. Playing at Tennessee is never easy, but the Gators were able to prevail, 67-58, with a strong second half performance. Tonight is a totally different matter, though. The 'Cats are 81-2 at home under head coach John Calipari. Coach Cal has called on the fans to stand for the final eight minutes of each half, attempting to use the crowd to spur on his team. What the Gator players need to do is block out the crowd and play ball. What they can control is what goes on inside the lines, not outside. And if they can somehow take the crowd out of the game, that will do wonders for them.
In terms of the series history, Kentucky has dominated, with a record of 94-34 versus Florida. Under head coach Billy Donovan, the Gators are 14-24, including 3-14 on the road. The Gators will be looking for their first win at Rupp since 2007. The last meeting between the two teams was a tough loss for the Gators, as they were scoreless for the final 7:36 and the Wildcats made a valiant comeback to win, 61-57, at home.
Donovan was a Kentucky assistant coach under Rick Pitino from 1989-1994, where he helped coach current Gator assistant coach John Pelphrey (1989-1992).
Experience will be a big storyline tonight, as the Gators start four seniors, along with sophomore Michael Frazier II, and the Wildcats start five highly-touted freshmen. I believe the key to tonight's game will be how each team's bench responds. Can Dorian Finney-Smith, Kasey Hill, Chris Walker, and DeVon Walker bring more energy and provide more lift than Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress, and Jarrod Polson. Another interesting thing to look out for is if one of Kentucky's other bench players steps up. Maybe Dominique Hawkins, Jon Hood, Marcus Lee, or Derek Willis will be called upon.
I expect this game to be really tight until the waning minutes. I actually believe that Kentucky is the favorite, but that doesn't mean I think they'll win. All the stars are aligned for a UK upset tonight. Let's see if the Gators can make a lot of Wildcat fans unhappy tonight.
*Key team stats for both teams:
FLORIDA
Scoring defense: 57.9 points per game (1st in the SEC and 6th in the NCAA)
Scoring margin: +13.3 (1st in the SEC and 14th in the NCAA)
Field goal percentage defense: 39.3% (1st in the SEC and 20th in the NCAA)
Opponent's rebounding: 31.1 rebounds per game (2nd in the SEC)
Turnovers: 11.5 per game (2nd in the SEC)
Turnover margin: +2.4 (3rd in the SEC)
Fouls: 16.2 (1st in the SEC and 14th in the NCAA)
KENTUCKY
Field goal percentage: 46.8% (1st in the SEC)
Free throws made: 501 (1st in the SEC and 16th in the NCAA)
Free throws attempted: 742 (1st in the SEC and 6th in the NCAA)
Points per possession: 1.15 (1st in the SEC and 18th in the NCAA)
Points per game: 78.8 (2nd in the SEC)
Rebounds per game: 41.8 (1st in the SEC and 7th in the NCAA)
Offensive rebounds per game: 14.8 (1st in the SEC and 4th in the NCAA)
Blocks per game: 6.7 (1st in the SEC and 4th in the NCAA)
*Projected starting lineups and reserves:
FLORIDA
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 13.0 points per game, 3.7 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 12.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 15.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.0 block per game
Reserves:
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 9.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 5.9 ppg, 3.2 apg
#23 Chris Walker (6'10", 220 lbs. FR) 2.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg
KENTUCKY
#2 Aaron Harrison (6'6", 218 lbs. FR) Season stats: 13.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game
#5 Andrew Harrison (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 11.0, 3.5 assists per game
#1 James Young (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 14.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg
#30 Julius Randle (6'9", 250 lbs. FR) 15.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg
#44 Dakari Johnson (7'0", 265 lbs. FR) 4.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Reserves
#15 Willie Cauley-Stein (7'0", 244 lbs. SO) 7.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.1 blocks per game
#22 Alex Poythress (6'8", 239 lbs. SO) 6.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg
#3 Jarrod Polson (6'2", 182 lbs. SR) 1.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg
#00 Marcus Lee (6'9", 215 lbs. FR) 2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg
#25 Dominique Hawkins (6'0", 193 lbs. FR) 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
#35 Derek Willis (6'9", 205 lbs. FR) 1.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg
#4 Jon Hood (6'7", 215 lbs. RS-SR) 1.5 ppg, 0.6 apg
*Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN; Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Dick Vitale (analyst), and Shannon Spake (sideline reporter)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
*Statistics, rosters, news, and broadcast information provided by Gatorzone.com, UKathletics.com, and statsheet.com
Rupp Arena (capacity: 23,000), Lexington, Kentucky. 9:00 p.m.
Opinion/Analysis
Arguably the most-anticipated matchup of the season takes place tonight as the Gators try to win their 17th straight game and remain undefeated in conference. As part of ESPN's Rivalry Week, they will take on the Kentucky Wildcats, traditionally Florida's biggest rival in the sport. ESPN's College Gameday is on site in Lexington and this is a good omen for the Gators, as they are 4-0 when Gameday is on site when Kentucky is involved. As a fan, there's just something about playing Kentucky that gets the juices flowing more so than any other opponent. I enjoy watching the Gators play at Rupp rather than in the O'Dome because the atmosphere is so electric (not dissing Gator basketball fans, but Rupp is one of the greatest arenas in the game and "Big Blue" fans are the best in the country).
Before this torrid two-game road trip began, I said that I would be happy with a 1-1 split. Playing at Tennessee is never easy, but the Gators were able to prevail, 67-58, with a strong second half performance. Tonight is a totally different matter, though. The 'Cats are 81-2 at home under head coach John Calipari. Coach Cal has called on the fans to stand for the final eight minutes of each half, attempting to use the crowd to spur on his team. What the Gator players need to do is block out the crowd and play ball. What they can control is what goes on inside the lines, not outside. And if they can somehow take the crowd out of the game, that will do wonders for them.
In terms of the series history, Kentucky has dominated, with a record of 94-34 versus Florida. Under head coach Billy Donovan, the Gators are 14-24, including 3-14 on the road. The Gators will be looking for their first win at Rupp since 2007. The last meeting between the two teams was a tough loss for the Gators, as they were scoreless for the final 7:36 and the Wildcats made a valiant comeback to win, 61-57, at home.
Donovan was a Kentucky assistant coach under Rick Pitino from 1989-1994, where he helped coach current Gator assistant coach John Pelphrey (1989-1992).
Experience will be a big storyline tonight, as the Gators start four seniors, along with sophomore Michael Frazier II, and the Wildcats start five highly-touted freshmen. I believe the key to tonight's game will be how each team's bench responds. Can Dorian Finney-Smith, Kasey Hill, Chris Walker, and DeVon Walker bring more energy and provide more lift than Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress, and Jarrod Polson. Another interesting thing to look out for is if one of Kentucky's other bench players steps up. Maybe Dominique Hawkins, Jon Hood, Marcus Lee, or Derek Willis will be called upon.
I expect this game to be really tight until the waning minutes. I actually believe that Kentucky is the favorite, but that doesn't mean I think they'll win. All the stars are aligned for a UK upset tonight. Let's see if the Gators can make a lot of Wildcat fans unhappy tonight.
*Key team stats for both teams:
FLORIDA
Scoring defense: 57.9 points per game (1st in the SEC and 6th in the NCAA)
Scoring margin: +13.3 (1st in the SEC and 14th in the NCAA)
Field goal percentage defense: 39.3% (1st in the SEC and 20th in the NCAA)
Opponent's rebounding: 31.1 rebounds per game (2nd in the SEC)
Turnovers: 11.5 per game (2nd in the SEC)
Turnover margin: +2.4 (3rd in the SEC)
Fouls: 16.2 (1st in the SEC and 14th in the NCAA)
KENTUCKY
Field goal percentage: 46.8% (1st in the SEC)
Free throws made: 501 (1st in the SEC and 16th in the NCAA)
Free throws attempted: 742 (1st in the SEC and 6th in the NCAA)
Points per possession: 1.15 (1st in the SEC and 18th in the NCAA)
Points per game: 78.8 (2nd in the SEC)
Rebounds per game: 41.8 (1st in the SEC and 7th in the NCAA)
Offensive rebounds per game: 14.8 (1st in the SEC and 4th in the NCAA)
Blocks per game: 6.7 (1st in the SEC and 4th in the NCAA)
*Projected starting lineups and reserves:
FLORIDA
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 13.0 points per game, 3.7 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 12.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 15.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.0 block per game
Reserves:
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 9.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 5.9 ppg, 3.2 apg
#23 Chris Walker (6'10", 220 lbs. FR) 2.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg
KENTUCKY
#2 Aaron Harrison (6'6", 218 lbs. FR) Season stats: 13.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game
#5 Andrew Harrison (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 11.0, 3.5 assists per game
#1 James Young (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 14.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg
#30 Julius Randle (6'9", 250 lbs. FR) 15.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg
#44 Dakari Johnson (7'0", 265 lbs. FR) 4.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Reserves
#15 Willie Cauley-Stein (7'0", 244 lbs. SO) 7.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.1 blocks per game
#22 Alex Poythress (6'8", 239 lbs. SO) 6.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg
#3 Jarrod Polson (6'2", 182 lbs. SR) 1.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg
#00 Marcus Lee (6'9", 215 lbs. FR) 2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg
#25 Dominique Hawkins (6'0", 193 lbs. FR) 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
#35 Derek Willis (6'9", 205 lbs. FR) 1.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg
#4 Jon Hood (6'7", 215 lbs. RS-SR) 1.5 ppg, 0.6 apg
*Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN; Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Dick Vitale (analyst), and Shannon Spake (sideline reporter)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
*Statistics, rosters, news, and broadcast information provided by Gatorzone.com, UKathletics.com, and statsheet.com
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Gators travel to Starkville to face Bulldogs
Game 20: #3 University of Florida Gators (17-2, 6-0 SEC) at Mississippi State University Bulldogs (13-6, 3-3 SEC)
Humphrey Coliseum (capacity: 10,575), Starkville, Mississippi 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN2; Rece Davis (play-by-play) and Bob Knight (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
Now ranked third in the country, Florida could easily get too over-confident and find itself in a dogfight with a pesky Mississippi State squad. The Bulldogs have already eclipsed their win total from last season (10) and coach Rick Ray deserves consideration for SEC Coach of the Year if they keep their conference record around or above .500. Ray's team is second in the conference and eighth in the country in steals with 8.8 per game. They are 11-1 at "The Hump," where they average 27.2 free throw attempts. In their last game, they lost to in-state rival Ole Miss, 82-63. They are led, primarily, by three sophomores: Gavin Ware, Fred Thomas, and Craig Sword. Ware is their tallest active player at 6'9" and it shows, as their rebounding margin is -1.4. Mississippi State is only shooting 30.9% from 3-point range, making 4.6 per game. They will have to improve in that area tonight if they want to avenge last year's losses to Florida, 82-47 (Starkville) and 83-58 (Gainesville).
Florida received good news this week with the announcement that freshman forward Chris Walker would become eligible for Tuesday's game at home against Missouri (9:00 p.m.). The NCAA had been investigating Walker's amateur status, but he had been practicing with the team after enrolling in the university after the fall semester following his completion of high school credits. As far as tonight's game is concerned, the Gators will be looking to extend their 11-game winning streak (longest since beginning 2005-2006 season 17-0), but don't think that Mississippi State will hand it to them. The crowd will certainly be electric and it is key for the Gators to not play down to the Bulldogs' level. The area where I'll be paying close attention to is turnovers. The Bulldogs force 15.6 turnovers per game, so Kasey Hill and Scottie Wilbekin need to take care of the ball.
Projected lineups and reserves
Florida
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 12.5 points per game, 3.4 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 12.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 16.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Bench
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 10.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 6.5 ppg, 3.3 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Mississippi State
#4 Trivante Bloodman (6'0", 182 lbs. JR) Season stats: 5.8 points per game, 2.4 assists per game
#32 Craig Sword (6'3", 194 lbs. SO) 13.9 ppg, 3.6 rebounds per game
#1 Fred Thomas (6'5", 206 lbs. SO) 8.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#3 Colin Borchert (6'8", 231 lbs. SR) 10.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg
#20 Gavin Ware (6'9", 268 lbs. SO) 11.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg
Bench
#25 Roquez Johnson (6'7", 197 lbs. JR) 10.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg
#15 I.J. Ready (5'11", 170 lbs. FR) 6.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#24 Tyson Cunningham (6'3", 197 lbs. SR) 1.7 ppg, 0.4 rpg
Humphrey Coliseum (capacity: 10,575), Starkville, Mississippi 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN2; Rece Davis (play-by-play) and Bob Knight (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
Now ranked third in the country, Florida could easily get too over-confident and find itself in a dogfight with a pesky Mississippi State squad. The Bulldogs have already eclipsed their win total from last season (10) and coach Rick Ray deserves consideration for SEC Coach of the Year if they keep their conference record around or above .500. Ray's team is second in the conference and eighth in the country in steals with 8.8 per game. They are 11-1 at "The Hump," where they average 27.2 free throw attempts. In their last game, they lost to in-state rival Ole Miss, 82-63. They are led, primarily, by three sophomores: Gavin Ware, Fred Thomas, and Craig Sword. Ware is their tallest active player at 6'9" and it shows, as their rebounding margin is -1.4. Mississippi State is only shooting 30.9% from 3-point range, making 4.6 per game. They will have to improve in that area tonight if they want to avenge last year's losses to Florida, 82-47 (Starkville) and 83-58 (Gainesville).
Florida received good news this week with the announcement that freshman forward Chris Walker would become eligible for Tuesday's game at home against Missouri (9:00 p.m.). The NCAA had been investigating Walker's amateur status, but he had been practicing with the team after enrolling in the university after the fall semester following his completion of high school credits. As far as tonight's game is concerned, the Gators will be looking to extend their 11-game winning streak (longest since beginning 2005-2006 season 17-0), but don't think that Mississippi State will hand it to them. The crowd will certainly be electric and it is key for the Gators to not play down to the Bulldogs' level. The area where I'll be paying close attention to is turnovers. The Bulldogs force 15.6 turnovers per game, so Kasey Hill and Scottie Wilbekin need to take care of the ball.
Projected lineups and reserves
Florida
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 12.5 points per game, 3.4 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 12.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 16.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Bench
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 10.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 6.5 ppg, 3.3 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Mississippi State
#4 Trivante Bloodman (6'0", 182 lbs. JR) Season stats: 5.8 points per game, 2.4 assists per game
#32 Craig Sword (6'3", 194 lbs. SO) 13.9 ppg, 3.6 rebounds per game
#1 Fred Thomas (6'5", 206 lbs. SO) 8.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#3 Colin Borchert (6'8", 231 lbs. SR) 10.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg
#20 Gavin Ware (6'9", 268 lbs. SO) 11.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg
Bench
#25 Roquez Johnson (6'7", 197 lbs. JR) 10.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg
#15 I.J. Ready (5'11", 170 lbs. FR) 6.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#24 Tyson Cunningham (6'3", 197 lbs. SR) 1.7 ppg, 0.4 rpg
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Traditional rival Tennessee comes to town
Game 19: University of Tennessee Volunteers (12-6, 3-2 SEC) at #6 University of Florida Gators (16-2, 5-0 SEC)
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida 4:00 p.m.
Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN; Mark Jones (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
Despite travel problems on Thursday, Florida is confident in their preparation for today's game against one of its biggest rivals. Due to mechanical issues with their chartered plane, the Gators watched film in the hotel in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Thursday night following their 68-62 win over Alabama. They then had a light practice yesterday after getting into Gainesville around noon. But the players and coaching staff aren't making a big deal out of their less-than-ideal preparation.
Tennessee, coming off an 81-74 win over Arkansas on Wednesday, is looking for a signature win, with its only noteworthy victory coming against Virginia. Vols coach Cuonzo Martin is in his third season at the helm and this year's team has embraced the toughness that their coach displayed while playing at Purdue. Junior forward Jarnell Stokes is the SEC's second-leading rebounder at 9.7 per game, with Jeronne Maymon fourth in the conference at 8.2. Both big men are 6'8" and 260 pounds. But probably the best pure-scorer in the conference is Jordan McRae, who's averaging 19.2 points per game, good for third in the SEC. The senior is coming off of a 34-point performance in Wednesday's game.
Florida coach Billy Donovan said that the bench will play a big role, more so than normal due to the Thursday-Saturday turnaround. Remarkably, the Gators are 16-1 in those such turnarounds.
Today's game is the 125th all-time meeting between the two schools, with Tennessee leading the series 72-52, including three in a row. The Gators are 16-18 under Donovan against the Vols. The Gators have been taking care of business at home, going 33-24.
Projected lineups and reserves
Tennessee
#2 Antonio Barton (6'2", 180 lbs. SR) Season stats: 8.3 points per game, 2.0 rebounds per game
#1 Josh Richardson (6'6", 196 lbs. JR) 8.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
#52 Jordan McRae (6'6", 185 lbs. SR) 19.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#5 Jarnell Stokes (6'8", 260 lbs. JR) 13.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg
#34 Jeronne Maymon (6'8", 260 lbs. RS SR) 11.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg
Bench
#15 Darius Thompson (6'5", 181 lbs. FR) 2.9 ppg, 2.6 assists per game
#21 A.J. Davis (6'9", 212 lbs. FR) 2.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg
#23 Derek Reese (6'8", 220 lbs. SO) 3.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg
#4 Armani Moore (6'5", 215 lbs. SO) 2.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg
#32 D'Montre Edwards (6'6", 205 lbs. SR) 2.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg
Florida
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 12.5 points per game, 3.6 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 12.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 17.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Bench
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 10.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 6.8 ppg, 3.4 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida 4:00 p.m.
Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN; Mark Jones (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
Despite travel problems on Thursday, Florida is confident in their preparation for today's game against one of its biggest rivals. Due to mechanical issues with their chartered plane, the Gators watched film in the hotel in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Thursday night following their 68-62 win over Alabama. They then had a light practice yesterday after getting into Gainesville around noon. But the players and coaching staff aren't making a big deal out of their less-than-ideal preparation.
Tennessee, coming off an 81-74 win over Arkansas on Wednesday, is looking for a signature win, with its only noteworthy victory coming against Virginia. Vols coach Cuonzo Martin is in his third season at the helm and this year's team has embraced the toughness that their coach displayed while playing at Purdue. Junior forward Jarnell Stokes is the SEC's second-leading rebounder at 9.7 per game, with Jeronne Maymon fourth in the conference at 8.2. Both big men are 6'8" and 260 pounds. But probably the best pure-scorer in the conference is Jordan McRae, who's averaging 19.2 points per game, good for third in the SEC. The senior is coming off of a 34-point performance in Wednesday's game.
Florida coach Billy Donovan said that the bench will play a big role, more so than normal due to the Thursday-Saturday turnaround. Remarkably, the Gators are 16-1 in those such turnarounds.
Today's game is the 125th all-time meeting between the two schools, with Tennessee leading the series 72-52, including three in a row. The Gators are 16-18 under Donovan against the Vols. The Gators have been taking care of business at home, going 33-24.
Projected lineups and reserves
Tennessee
#2 Antonio Barton (6'2", 180 lbs. SR) Season stats: 8.3 points per game, 2.0 rebounds per game
#1 Josh Richardson (6'6", 196 lbs. JR) 8.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
#52 Jordan McRae (6'6", 185 lbs. SR) 19.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#5 Jarnell Stokes (6'8", 260 lbs. JR) 13.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg
#34 Jeronne Maymon (6'8", 260 lbs. RS SR) 11.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg
Bench
#15 Darius Thompson (6'5", 181 lbs. FR) 2.9 ppg, 2.6 assists per game
#21 A.J. Davis (6'9", 212 lbs. FR) 2.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg
#23 Derek Reese (6'8", 220 lbs. SO) 3.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg
#4 Armani Moore (6'5", 215 lbs. SO) 2.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg
#32 D'Montre Edwards (6'6", 205 lbs. SR) 2.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg
Florida
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 12.5 points per game, 3.6 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 12.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 17.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Bench
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 10.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 6.8 ppg, 3.4 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg
Friday, November 29, 2013
Gators have yet to have full squad in practice or games
Game 7: Florida State Seminoles (5-1, 0-0 ACC) at #15/13 University of Florida Gators (5-1, 0-0 SEC)
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida 7:30 p.m.
Preview
The Gators have yet to have a full roster for both games and practices, for a myriad of reasons. Here is a list of players who have missed practices or games:
Scottie Wilbekin (suspension)
Eli Carter (leg)
Will Yeguete (knee)
Dillon Graham (hips)
DeVon Walker (foot)
Damontre Harris (suspension)
Dorian Finney-Smith (suspension and illness)
Michael Frazier II (mono)
Kasey Hill (ankle)
For tonight's game against in-state rival Florida State, the Gators will, once again, be short-handed. Hill will not be playing for another 3-4 weeks due to a high ankle sprain suffered during the Southern game on November 18. Graham, who played in the first game of the season against North Florida, will redshirt this season after developing bone spurs on both hips. Harris remains suspended due to a violation of team rules. Essentially, Carter is playing on one leg as he has struggled to get back to full fitness following a broken leg last season while playing for Rutgers. To make matters worse, Walker suffered a right foot sprain in Monday's game at Jacksonville and that makes him questionable for tonight's contest. Luckily, Wilbekin had his suspension lifted last game and he gives the team some much-needed depth and experience.
Florida has dominated this series, winning 42 out of the 65 meetings. The Gators are 20-6 at home versus the Seminoles. Last season, the Gators won big in Tallahassee, 72-47. The 'Noles have played a competitive schedule thus far, beating then-ranked #10 Virginia Commonwealth and losing to then-ranked #14 Michigan in overtime, both in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament. Ian Miller leads the team in scoring at 15.5 ppg off the bench. Okaro White is their most complete player, averaging 14.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg. FSU is a tall team, as their projected starting lineup goes 6'3" (Devon Bookert), 6'7" (Montay Brandon), 6'9" (Okaro White), 6'9" (Robert Gilchrist), and 7'3" (Boris Bojanovsky). Off the bench, 7'0" Kiel Turpin and 7'1" Michael Ojo give the Seminoles add even more height to the frontcourt.
Beginning with tonight's clash, the Gators will play five straight games against high-quality opponents: at UCONN (December 2), home against Kansas (December 10), Madison Square Garden against Memphis (December 17), and Sunrise, Florida, for Fresno State (December 21). Coming up very quickly is Florida's first conference game on January 8 against South Carolina. The SEC is much-improved this season, with Kentucky, Florida, and Tennessee expected to lead the way, with dark-horses LSU, Missouri, and Ole Miss right behind.
Key Florida statistics
Points per game: 74.7
Opponent's points per game: 59.3
Scoring margin: +15.3
Field goal percentage: 47.7%
3-point percentage: 36% (31/86)- 5.2 per game
Free throw percentage: 70.3%- 18.2 per game
Rebounds: 35.7 per game
Rebound margin: +3.7
Assists: 13 per game
Turnovers: 10.5 per game
Steals: 8.2 per game
Blocks: 3.2 per game
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida 7:30 p.m.
Preview
The Gators have yet to have a full roster for both games and practices, for a myriad of reasons. Here is a list of players who have missed practices or games:
Scottie Wilbekin (suspension)
Eli Carter (leg)
Will Yeguete (knee)
Dillon Graham (hips)
DeVon Walker (foot)
Damontre Harris (suspension)
Dorian Finney-Smith (suspension and illness)
Michael Frazier II (mono)
Kasey Hill (ankle)
For tonight's game against in-state rival Florida State, the Gators will, once again, be short-handed. Hill will not be playing for another 3-4 weeks due to a high ankle sprain suffered during the Southern game on November 18. Graham, who played in the first game of the season against North Florida, will redshirt this season after developing bone spurs on both hips. Harris remains suspended due to a violation of team rules. Essentially, Carter is playing on one leg as he has struggled to get back to full fitness following a broken leg last season while playing for Rutgers. To make matters worse, Walker suffered a right foot sprain in Monday's game at Jacksonville and that makes him questionable for tonight's contest. Luckily, Wilbekin had his suspension lifted last game and he gives the team some much-needed depth and experience.
Florida has dominated this series, winning 42 out of the 65 meetings. The Gators are 20-6 at home versus the Seminoles. Last season, the Gators won big in Tallahassee, 72-47. The 'Noles have played a competitive schedule thus far, beating then-ranked #10 Virginia Commonwealth and losing to then-ranked #14 Michigan in overtime, both in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament. Ian Miller leads the team in scoring at 15.5 ppg off the bench. Okaro White is their most complete player, averaging 14.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg. FSU is a tall team, as their projected starting lineup goes 6'3" (Devon Bookert), 6'7" (Montay Brandon), 6'9" (Okaro White), 6'9" (Robert Gilchrist), and 7'3" (Boris Bojanovsky). Off the bench, 7'0" Kiel Turpin and 7'1" Michael Ojo give the Seminoles add even more height to the frontcourt.
Beginning with tonight's clash, the Gators will play five straight games against high-quality opponents: at UCONN (December 2), home against Kansas (December 10), Madison Square Garden against Memphis (December 17), and Sunrise, Florida, for Fresno State (December 21). Coming up very quickly is Florida's first conference game on January 8 against South Carolina. The SEC is much-improved this season, with Kentucky, Florida, and Tennessee expected to lead the way, with dark-horses LSU, Missouri, and Ole Miss right behind.
Key Florida statistics
Points per game: 74.7
Opponent's points per game: 59.3
Scoring margin: +15.3
Field goal percentage: 47.7%
3-point percentage: 36% (31/86)- 5.2 per game
Free throw percentage: 70.3%- 18.2 per game
Rebounds: 35.7 per game
Rebound margin: +3.7
Assists: 13 per game
Turnovers: 10.5 per game
Steals: 8.2 per game
Blocks: 3.2 per game
Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN2; Mike Crispino (play-by-play) and Len Elmore (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
TV: ESPN2; Mike Crispino (play-by-play) and Len Elmore (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
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