The eighth-ranked Florida Gators return to
Gainesville looking to regain their swagger, as they play host to the
Tennessee Volunteers in SEC action at the O'Connell Center.
Billy Donovan's Gators headed into this week with a seven-game win streak and
a measuring stick on the docket with Tuesday's road game at top-ranked
Kentucky. Unfortunately for Florida, it didn't quite measure up in a 78-58
loss to the Wildcats. Still, at 7-2 in conference play, the Gators are one of
a few teams still within striking distance of Kentucky in the standings.
Cuonzo Martin's first season in Knoxville has certainly come with its ups and
downs thus far. The team is an even 12-12 overall and one game under .500 in
league play at 4-5. The real problem has come on the road, where Tennessee is
still winless at 0-7. The Vols do enter this contest with a minor two-game win
streak in tow, topping Georgia (73-62) and most recently South Carolina
(69-57) at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Volunteers hold a 70-52 advantage in the all-time series. Florida had won
four straight over Tennessee coming into this season, but it is the Volunteers
seeking the regular-season sweep after opening SEC play with a 67-56 win over
the Gators in Knoxville on January 7th.
The Volunteers have struggled with offensive consistency this season, as the
numbers, like their overall record, are bland at best. Tennessee comes into
this contest averaging a modest 68.6 ppg, doing so on .440 shooting. Guard
Trae Golden is the team leader in the scoring column, but his 13.0 ppg isn't
exactly the kind of numbers that scare many opponents. He also doubles as the
team's primary distributor, doling out 4.6 apg. Jeronne Maymon (11.9 ppg, 7.9
rpg) has provided a presence in the paint and the recent addition of freshman
Jarnell Stokes (8.9 ppg. 7.9 rpg) to the lineup has certainly helped take some
of the low post burden off of Maymon's shoulders. However, Stokes is currently
sidelined with a wrist injury.
Junior Skylar McBee made his presence felt in the team's 12-point win over
South Carolina this week, as he hit four three-pointers en route to a career-
high 18 points. Golden poured in 14 points in support, while Maymon added 12.
Kenny Hall scored just four points in the win, but did grab 10 rebounds and
block three shots. The Vols shot an impressive 50 percent from the floor,
including 10-of-20 from beyond the arc, while holding South Carolina to a mere
33.9 percent effort.
Tennessee will be hard-pressed to match Florida's offensive firepower,
especially after a poor showing in Lexington this week. The team managed a
mere 58 points in the loss to the Wildcats, well below its current season
averaging of 79.2 ppg. The Gators did manage to have three players finish in
double figures in the lopsided loss, led by Kenny Boynton's 18 points. Fellow
guard Bradley Beal added 14 points, while center Patric Young chipped in with
12.
The scoring output was certainly an anomaly and not the norm, as UF's scoring
depth is vast, with all five starters averaging double digits. Boynton is the
go-to-guy at the offensive end, averaging a hefty 17.6 ppg, fueled by his .440
accuracy from three-point range (81-of-184). Beal (14.3 ppg) and Erving Walker
(12.1 ppg) add to the perimeter assault, with Walker pacing the team with
almost five assists per game. Young (10.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg) is the top option up
front, with forward Erik Murphy (10.0 ppg) providing a scoring touch both
inside and out.
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