What to know: #17 Florida Gators vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
Game Information
When: Friday, March 10, 2017 at 7 p.m. (ET)
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.
Records: Florida (24-7, 14-4 SEC); Vanderbilt (18-14, 9-8 SEC, 1-0 SEC Tournament)
Coaches: Mike White- 45-22 (2nd season at Florida), 146-62 (6th season overall); Bryce Drew- 18-14 (1st season at Vanderbilt), 142-63 (6th 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 | 10.9 pts / 6.0 reb |
| Justin Leon | F | 6-8 | 206 | Senior | 7.1 pts / 3.6 reb |
| kevarrius hayes | C | 6-9 | 218 | Sophomore | 6.1 pts / 4.2 reb |
| Kasey hill | G | 6-1 | 175 | Senior | 9.6 pts / 4.6 asts |
| Kevaughn allen | G | 6-2 | 183 | Sophomore | 13.9 pts / 2.6 reb |
| vanderbilt | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Class | Per Game |
| luke kornet | F | 7-1 | 250 | Senior | 13.5 pts / 6.1 reb |
| jeff roberson | F | 6-6 | 224 | Junior | 10.9 pts / 7.2 reb |
| joe toye | G | 6-7 | 208 | Sophomore | 6.4 pts / 2.6 reb |
| riley lachance | G | 6-2 | 192 | Junior | 10.2 pts / 4.0 asts |
| nolan cressler | G | 6-4 | 210 | R-Senior | 8.0 pts / 4.2 reb |
Preview
For the second time in less than one week, Florida and Vanderbilt will square off. The Gators have never played their final regular season opponent in their first game of the SEC Tournament, so this game brings a unique situation.
Vanderbilt has won six of its last seven games after defeating Texas A&M in its first game of the tournament Thursday night. The Commodores easily handled the Aggies in a 66-41 blowout. It was a close start, as Vanderbilt led just 23-20 at halftime, but the Commodores went on to turn a three-point lead into 13 within the first five minutes of the second half and never let up from there.
Joe Toye, who had just four points against the Gators last Saturday, went off for 18 points, going 6-for-10 from the field and 5-for-8 from three. Riley LaChance (14) and Nolan Cressler also scored double-figures, while Jeff Roberson dominated the boards with 10 rebounds. Luke Kornet was quiet, with just four points and three rebounds.
After going 5-for-22 from long-range against Florida the game before, Vanderbilt got back on track with an 11-for-29 night from three. Toye (5) and LaChance (4) combined for nine threes, while Matthew Fisher-Davis tacked on two of his own.
Vanderbilt was the only team to sweep Florida this season, with just four points separating the games, in 68-66 and 73-71 losses. The Gators were well on the way to a win last game, holding a 12-point lead at Vanderbilt midway into the second half, but could not hold on as Kornet led the charge to bring the Commodores all the way back.
The Gators are 6-2 against the Commodores in the SEC Tournament, but have lost all four matchups with Vanderbilt under Mike White. Florida has not dropped five in a row to Vanderbilt since 1990-91.
Three of Florida’s last four losses to Vanderbilt have been decided by two points or less and the Gators are hungry to finally end the drought.
If Florida can come out with a win, it will be its first trip to SEC Tournament semifinals since 2014.
The winner of this game will face the winner of Ole Miss and Arkansas in semifinals. The Gators swept Arkansas in the regular season with wins of 81-72 and 78-65 and defeated Ole Miss 70-63 at home.