What to know: #25 Florida Gators basketball at Arkansas Razorbacks
Game Information
When: Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 9 p.m. (ET)
Where: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Records: Florida (9-3); Arkansas (11-1)
Coaches: Mike White- 30-18 (2nd season at Florida), 131-58 (6th season overall); Mike Anderson- 113-65 (6th season at Arkansas), 313-163 (15th season overall)
TV: SEC Network
Streaming: WatchESPN
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network
Projected Starters
| Florida | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Class | Per Game |
| Devin Robinson | F | 6-8 | 200 | Junior | 12.4 pts / 5.8 reb |
| Justin Leon | F | 6-8 | 206 | Senior | 6.5 pts / 3.3 reb |
| Kevarrius Hayes | C | 6-9 | 218 | Sophomore | 5.3 pts / 3.8 reb |
| Kasey hill | G | 6-1 | 175 | Senior | 9.3 pts / 4.8 asts |
| Kevaughn allen | G | 6-2 | 183 | Sophomore | 13.6 pts / 2.3 reb |
| arkansas | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Class | Per Game |
| dustin thomas | F | 6-8 | 225 | R-Junior | 11.6 pts / 4.8 reb |
| moses kingsley | F | 6-10 | 230 | Senior | 10.4 pts / 6.2 reb |
| dusty hannahs | G | 6-3 | 210 | R-Senior | 9.7 pts / 8.8 reb |
| daryl macon | G | 6-3 | 185 | Junior | 14.8 pts / 3.2 reb |
| manuale watkins | G | 6-3 | 222 | Senior | 11.1 pts / 4.1 reb |
Preview
Arkansas enters this game on an eight-game winning streak, which includes a win over Texas. The Razorbacks suffered just one loss so far this season on the road at Minnesota. Florida enters SEC play with confidence after winning its last two games and its first home game of the season over Little Rock last week. It has been more than a week since either team has taken the court for a game.
There Gators went a season-high 16-for-31 from beyond the arc in the 94-71 win against Little Rock, as seven different players knocked down at least one three on the night. The 16 three-pointers were the most Florida has made in a home game since 1999. Kasey Hill had a career-high 11 assists in the game, while putting up 11 points, for the first double-double of his career.
Four different Razorbacks average double-digits. Dusty Hannahs leads the team with 14.9 points per game. He is followed by Daryl Macon (13.3), Moses Kingsley (11.3), and Jaylen Bradford (10.3). Kingsley was named the preseason SEC Player of the Year.
Kingsley leads Arkansas with 8.3 rebounds per game, while Macon leads in assists, with 35. Macon (20-53, .377) and Hannahs (23-62, .371) are the biggest long-range threats for the Razorbacks. Hannahs posted 33 points against the Gators in the SEC Tournament last season,
Florida has won its last five SEC openers. The Gators hold a 20-11 all-time record over the Razorbacks, which includes 2-0 record under Mike White, but are just 5-8 on the road in this series. Florida comes in with five consecutive wins over Arkansas and has taken 10 of the last 11 meetings between the two teams.