Florida is using a five-game successful streak, with every victory by a minimum of 9 factors and the closest one approaching the street in opposition to No. 1 Auburn.
The No. 2 Gators will attempt to hold constructing momentum once they face LSU on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La.
Florida (23-3, 10-3 Southeastern Convention) started its successful run within the wake of a 64-44 defeat at then-No. 8 Tennessee on Feb. 1.
“We did not lose any confidence after that sport,” Florida coach Todd Golden mentioned. “We weren’t shook. It allowed us to sort of recalibrate and give attention to defending, rebounding, taking good care of the ball, issues that we all know equate to successful.
“This league is the most effective league in faculty basketball in like 20 years. You are going to run into some powerful opponents. Tennessee on their house ground is a troublesome sport, and we did not play very properly that day, however we have clearly performed very well since then.”
The Gators have made a minimum of 10 3-pointers in every sport in the course of the successful streak, hitting a complete of 63 in 150 makes an attempt (42.0 p.c). Their season common from lengthy vary is simply 35.2 p.c.
“We have shot the ball very well over the previous couple weeks,” Golden mentioned. “And after we try this … our crew has the power to get some actually good runs and get some spurts.”
Florida has overcome accidents throughout its surge. Ahead Alex Condon, the crew’s main rebounder (7.8 per sport) and fourth-leading scorer (10.6 factors per sport), and backup ahead Sam Alexis (4.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg) each missed an 85-63 house victory in opposition to Oklahoma on Tuesday due to ankle accidents.
Even of their absence, the Gators managed their typical balanced scoring with 5 gamers ending in double figures and nobody staying on the court docket for greater than 27 minutes.
The Tigers (14-12, 3-10) have had a troublesome convention season, however they’ve gained their previous two league video games after a seven-game dropping streak. They registered their largest margin of victory over an SEC opponent in an 81-67 house win in opposition to South Carolina on Tuesday.
“I believe the credit score goes to our gamers,” LSU coach Matt McMahon mentioned. “They’ve come to follow, each sport. I believe we have competed each sport besides one half. We would have liked one thing to go our means.”
That occurred when the Tigers overcame a five-point deficit within the last 20 seconds to beat Oklahoma 82-79 on the street Saturday, they usually carried the optimistic feeling into the matchup with the Gamecocks.
“Enjoying within the final sport in opposition to Oklahoma, we knew we may win on this league,” mentioned LSU’s main scorer, guard Cam Carter. “There have been plenty of studying experiences main into the previous two video games, and I believe we’re figuring it out now.”
LSU made 11 3-pointers in opposition to Oklahoma and adopted that with 13 in opposition to South Carolina, its most in opposition to an SEC opponent.
The problem in opposition to Florida can be a lot larger than the extent the Tigers confronted the earlier two video games.
“After we put 40 minutes collectively, I do not assume anyone can beat us,” Tigers guard Mike Williams III mentioned. “Solely placing one half collectively has been our largest factor this yr. These final two video games we have put two halves collectively, and we have been rewarded. I believe we are able to try this once more Saturday together with execution, and we needs to be wonderful.”
–Discipline Stage Media
