The Florida Gators (12-6, 2-3 SEC) are preparing to take on Mississippi State (13-5, 2-3 SEC) on Wednesday at 8:30 PM EST inside the O’Connell Center. This is an important game for both teams as the Bulldogs are projected as a No.9 seed in the NCAA Tournament while the Gators are projected as ‘next four out’, according to Joe Lunardi’s most recent bracketology prediction.
Todd Golden’s squad will be tasked with handling Mississippi State forward Tolu Smith, who is averaging 19.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in his six games back from injury.
“To is going to be a challenge,” Todd Golden said to the media on Tuesday. “He’s obviously playing really, really well coming back from injury. He’s getting back up from that 27-29 minute range. He’s averaging about 17 a game. We’re going to have to do a really good job of guarding in the post and keeping him away from the rim. And more than anything, being physical with him. We can’t let him get comfortable down in there. We’ll have a couple different looks for him to hopefully kind of keep him off balance.”
One of the players that will be tasked with guarding Smith is center Micah Handlogten, who is coming off his best game of the season against Missouri.
“Really just you’ve got to be physical,” Handlogten said how to handle Smith. “He’s probably the most physical player in the league, you’ve seen like plenty of film on him, knowing he’s trying to do like literally any chance to get, he’s trying to post you up. He’s quick, he’s strong, athletic, you’ve just got to be prepared, can’t come up soft, you’ve got to go bring the fight to him and not let him take the first hit.”
The 6’11, 245 pound forward has dominated Florida throughout his career, averaging 24 points against the Gators in three games, including two double-doubles and a seven-assist game. Although Smith will be a tough task, Handlogten is up for the challenge.
“I think that it’s just an opportunity to show my growth as a player,” Handlogten said on Tuesday. “I think like Tennessee, we got punked, me especially, like I played only what, 13 minutes that game if that just because I came out weak, I came out, he hit me with the first hit and then I kind of backed off. I think it gives me.
The Gators will look to add another quad two win to their resume on Wednesday night against the Bulldogs.