Florida is using a five-game successful streak, with every victory by at the least 9 factors and the closest one approaching the street towards No. 1 Auburn.
The No. 2 Gators will attempt to preserve 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 recreation,” Florida coach Todd Golden stated. “We weren’t shook. It allowed us to type of recalibrate and concentrate on defending, rebounding, taking good care of the ball, issues that we all know equate to successful.
“This league is the very best league in school basketball in like 20 years. You are going to run into some powerful opponents. Tennessee on their house flooring is a tricky recreation, and we did not play very effectively that day, however we have clearly performed very well since then.”
The Gators have made at the least 10 3-pointers in every recreation through the successful streak, hitting a complete of 63 in 150 makes an attempt (42.0 %). Their season common from lengthy vary is simply 35.2 %.
“We have shot the ball very well over the previous couple weeks,” Golden stated. “And after we do this … our crew has the flexibility 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 recreation) and fourth-leading scorer (10.6 factors per recreation), and backup ahead Sam Alexis (4.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg) each missed an 85-63 house victory towards 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 tricky convention season, however they’ve gained their previous two league video games after a seven-game shedding streak. They registered their largest margin of victory over an SEC opponent in an 81-67 house win towards South Carolina on Tuesday.
“I believe the credit score goes to our gamers,” LSU coach Matt McMahon stated. “They’ve come to apply, each recreation. I believe we have competed each recreation besides one half. We would have liked one thing to go our manner.”
That occurred when the Tigers overcame a five-point deficit within the last 20 seconds to beat Oklahoma 82-79 on the street Saturday, and so they carried the constructive feeling into the matchup with the Gamecocks.
“Enjoying within the final recreation towards Oklahoma, we knew we might win on this league,” stated LSU’s main scorer, guard Cam Carter. “There have been a variety of studying experiences main into the previous two video games, and I believe we’re figuring it out now.”
LSU made 11 3-pointers towards Oklahoma and adopted that with 13 towards South Carolina, its most towards an SEC opponent.
The problem towards Florida might be a lot better than the extent the Tigers confronted the earlier two video games.
“Once we put 40 minutes collectively, I do not assume anyone can beat us,” Tigers guard Mike Williams III stated. “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 will do this once more Saturday together with execution, and we ought to be high-quality.”
–Area Stage Media
