What to know: #8/7 Florida Gators vs. North Florida Ospreys
Game Information
When: Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 7 p.m. (ET)
Where: Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Fla.
Records: Florida (1-0); UNF (0-3)
Coaches: Mike White- 49-24 (3rd season at Florida), 150-64 (7th season overall); Matthew Driscoll- 133-134 (9th season at UNF), 159-211 (12th season overall)
TV: SEC Network
Streaming: WatchESPN
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network
Projected Starters
Florida
F Keith Stone (6-8, 245) Avg./Game: 3.0/2.0r
C Kevarrius Hayes (6-9, 225) Avg./Game: 7.0/4.0r
G Jalen Hudson (6-6, 192) Avg./Game: 16.0/3.0a
G Egor Koulechov (6-5, 205) Avg./Game: 34.0/5.0r
G KeVaughn Allen (6-2, 193) Avg./Game: 9.0/5.0r
UNF
F Noah Horchler (6-8, 190) Avg./Game: 6.3/5.7r
F Wajid Aminu (6-7, 181) Avg./Game: 9.7/8.7r
G J.T. Escobar (6-2, 180) Avg./Game: 13.0/1.7r
G Garett Sams (6-6, 180) 16.0/7.3r
G Ivan Gandia-Rosa (6-1, 185) 15.0/4.3a
Preview
The Florida Gators are set to take on the UNF Ospreys at home in the second game of the 2017-18 season.
Florida is still coming down from a high after a dominating season opening performance against Gardner-Webb on Monday. The Gators came out on top 116-74 to score the most points in a season opening game in program history.
Graduate transfer Egor Koulechov led the way with 34 points and six made three-pointers. Behind him, junior Jalen Hudson (16) and freshmen Deaundrae Ballard (14) and Mike Okauru (13) also had nice offensive nights.
All four players to score double digits in the game were making their Florida debuts.
As for UNF, the start hasn’t been quite as hot. The Ospreys have taken on a tough schedule with games at Michigan State, Michigan and VCU. The young team starts five sophomores.
While they have yet to win a game so far this season, three shooters are off to a hot start. Garrett Sams leads the team with 16 points per game and has shot 50 percent from long range. Ivan Gandia-Rosa (15) and J.T. Escobar (13) average double figures as well and have both made a team-leading 11 three-pointers this season.
The Gators could have another fun night on offense against a UNF defense allowing 93 points per game this season. The last time the two teams met, Chris Chiozza’s 16 points and nine rebounds led Florida to a 91-60 victory on the road.
Florida will look to extend its 6-0 all-time record over the Ospreys on Thursday in the second of three home games within a span of seven days.