Florida Gators basketball preview for Little Rock Game

What to know: Florida Gators basketball vs. Little Rock Trojans

Game Information

When: Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2016, at 7 p.m. (ET)

Where: Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Fla.

Records: Florida (8-3); Little Rock (9-3)

Coaches: Mike White- 29-18 (2nd season at Florida), 130-58 (6th season overall); Wes Flanigan- 9=3 (1st season at Little Rock/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 11.6 pts / 5.7 reb
Justin Leon F 6-8 206 Senior 7.1 pts / 3.6 reb
Kevarrius Hayes C 6-9 218 Sophomore 4.7 pts / 3.4 reb
Kasey hill G 6-1 175 Senior 9.2 pts / 4.2 asts
Kevaughn allen G 6-2 183 Sophomore 13.1 pts / 2.0 reb

 

little rock Pos.  Ht.  Wt.  Class Per Game
jalen jackson F 6-6 215 Senior 11.6 pts / 4.8 reb
maurius hill F 6-5 220 Senior 10.4 pts / 6.2 reb
lis shoshi F 6-11 225 Senior 9.7 pts / 8.8 reb
marcus johnson jr. G 5-11 175 Senior 14.8 pts / 3.2 reb
kemy osse 6-1 208 R-Senior 11.1 pts / 4.1 reb

 

Preview

It’s been 295 days since the Gators have played a game in Gainesville, but that finally changes as the team returns home to play Little Rock. After two consecutive losses coming to Duke and Florida State, Florida got back on track with a convincing 87-46 win over Charlotte.

Little Rock was on a six-game winning streak before suffering a loss to Oral Roberts last game. The Trojans are the defending Sun Belt Conference Champions and made a NCAA Tournament appearance last season. They knocked off Purdue in the first round of the tournament.

This season, four of Little Rock’s starters are averaging double-digits. Marcus Johnson Jr. leads the team with 14.8 points per game and 31 assists. Kenny Osse has hit 28 three-pointers for the Trojans so far.

Florida and Little Rock have only met one time in history. The two teams played in 2013. The Gators won 86-56 after being tied up at half-time. Kasey Hill is the only player left on Florida’s roster that played in that game. It was just the third game of his career. Hill had 14 points and six assists that night. This will be Mike White’s first game against a Sun Belt Opponent in his time at Florida.

The atmosphere promises to be great in Florida’s first game back at the renovated O’Connell Center and the Gators could use a little more confidence heading into SEC play next week.

 

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.