Florida Gators basketball preview for Tennessee Game

What to know: #24 Florida Gators basketball vs. Tennessee Volunteers

Game Information

When: Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 5:15 p.m. (ET)

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

Records: Florida (11-3), (2-0 SEC); Tennessee (8-6), (1-1 SEC)

Coaches: Mike White- 32-18 (2nd season at Florida), 133-58 (6th season overall); Rick Barnes- 23-25 (2nd season at Tennessee ), 627-339 (30th season overall)

TV: ESPN2

Streaming: WatchESPN

Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network

Projected Starters

Florida Pos. Ht. Wt. Class Per Game
Devin Robinson F 6-8 200 Junior 12.6 pts / 5.5 reb
Justin Leon F 6-8 206 Senior 6.4 pts / 3.2 reb
Kevarrius Hayes C 6-9 218 Sophomore 5.6 pts / 4.0 reb
Kasey hill G 6-1 175 Senior 9.3 pts / 4.9 asts
Kevaughn allen G 6-2 183 Sophomore 14.1 pts / 2.4 reb

 

tennessee Pos.  Ht.  Wt.  Class Per Game
grant williams F 6-5 234 Freshman 10.8 pts / 5.9 reb
kyle alexander F 6-10 218 Sophomore 3.6 pts / 3.7 reb
lamonte turner G 6-0 187 R-Freshman 9.4 pts / 2.7 asts
robert hubbs III G 6-5 207 Senior 15.2 pts / 4.8 reb
jordan bowden 6-3 180 Freshman 7.6 pts / 2.9 reb

 

Preview

Tennessee comes into this game looking to get back on track after suffering its first SEC loss to Arkansas at home on Tuesday. The Volunteers opened conference play with a road win over Texas A&M before that.

The Gators are riding a four-game winning streak, after defeating Ole Miss at home last game. Canyon Barry scored 20 points off the bench for Florida and Kasey Hill became the first player in a power conference to have 5-plus points, rebounds, assists, and steals in a league game this season. Florida also forced 21 Ole Miss turnovers, the most turnovers forced against an SEC opponent since South Carolina (21) in 2014.

Robert Hubbs III leads the Volunteers offensively with 15.2 points per game. Grant Williams comes in averaging 10.8 and leads the team with 5.9 rebounds per game. Hubbs III and Williams both shoot better than 50 percent from the field.

Tennessee brings a huge offensive threat in Detrick Mostella off the bench. He also averages double-digits with 10.6 points per game and has made a team-leading 23 three-pointers this season.

The Gators and Volunteers are as evenly matched as it gets offensively. Both teams average 78.6 points per game. Tennessee has scored just one more point than Florida has this season, with 1,101 points to Florida’s 1,100.

Florida has a 56-73 all-time record against Tennessee, but holds a 34-24 home advantage in the series. The Gators are 0-1 against the Volunteers under Mike White. Tennessee dominated with an 83-69 win at home last season and led by as many as 30 points in the game.

Florida looks to secure a third consecutive victory at home over Tennessee. The game officially sold out on Thursday, so the home crowd will surely be ready to help the Gators out with that task.

 

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.