Florida Gators basketball preview for the Duke Game

What to know: #21 Florida Gators basketball at #5 Duke

Game Information

When: Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016 at 9 p.m. (ET)

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City, N.Y.

Records: Florida (7-1); Duke (8-1)

Coaches: Mike White- 28-16 (2nd season at Florida), 129-56 (6th season overall); Mike Krzyzewski- 978-263 (37th season at Duke), 1,051-329 (42nd season overall)

TV: ESPN

Streaming: WatchESPN

Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network

Projected Starters

Florida Pos. Ht. Wt. Class Per Game
Devin Robinson F 6-8 200 Junior 11.8 pts / 5.6 reb
Justin Leon F 6-8 206 Senior 7.5 pts / 3.8 reb
John Egbunu C 6-11 255 R-Junior 9.1 pts / 7.5 reb
Kasey hill G 6-1 175 Senior 7.6 pts / 4.0 asts
Kevaughn allen G 6-2 183 Sophomore 12.4 pts / 2.5 reb

 

Duke Pos.  Ht.  Wt.  Class Per Game
Jayson Tatum F 6-8 205 Freshman 10.0 pts / 8.0 reb
Chase Jeter F 6-10 230 Sophomore 4.2 pts / 3.0 reb
Amile Jefferson F 6-9 224 Graduate 14.7 pts / 9.8 reb
Luke Kennard G 6-6 202 Sophomore 19.4 pts / 6.8 reb
Matt jones 6-5 204 Senior 9.6 pts / 3.0 reb 

 

Preview

Florida looks to end a five-game losing streak to non-conference top-five opponents against Duke on Tuesday. The Blue Devils started the season as the top-ranked team in the nation, before suffering a loss to Kansas early. Since then, they have won six consecutive games, including a victory over Michigan State.

The Gators are coming off of a win in their first game as a ranked team this season. Florida’s .585 shooting percentage against UNF was the best single-game percentage this team has had under head coach Mike White. The Gators are now 2-0 since suffering the loss to Gonzaga in the AdvoCare Invitational.

Duke brings in a high-powered offense with four different players averaging double-digits. Luke Kennard leads the Blue Devils with 19.4 points per game. Grayson Allen (17.1), Frank Jackson (15.4) and Amile Jefferson (14.7) follow behind Kennard. Kennard is coming off of a 35-point performance against Maine. He was 11-for-16 from the field and 4-for-9 from three-point range. Jefferson put up 20 points of his own last game.

This will be Florida’s 16th meeting with Duke. The Gators have an abysmal 4-12 all-time record in this matchup, but 12 of those meetings came before 1975. The last time these two teams met was in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2000. Florida took the game 87-78.

The Gators and Blue Devils share some strange ties in this game. White’s father, Kevin White, is the current athletic director at Duke. In addition to that, Florida director of basketball operations Kyle Church is the son of Duke women’s soccer coach Robbie Church.

A signature win in this game would be a huge sign that the program is headed in the right direction and would add stock to Florida’s resume moving forward this season.

Bailiegh Carlton
A lifelong sports fan, Bailiegh Carlton knew from a young age that she wanted to work in sports in some capacity. Before transferring to the University of Florida to study journalism, she played softball at Gulf Coast State College. She then interned for Gator Country for three years as she worked toward her degree. After graduation, Bailiegh decided to explore other opportunities in the world of sports, but all roads led her right back here. In her time away, she and her husband welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. When she isn't working, she can almost always be found snuggled up with sweet baby Ridley, Cody and her four fur babies.