Florida is driving a five-game successful streak, with every victory by not less than 9 factors and the closest one approaching the highway towards No. 1 Auburn.
The No. 2 Gators will attempt to maintain constructing momentum after 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 form of recalibrate and deal with defending, rebounding, caring for 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 residence ground is a tricky sport, and we did not play very effectively that day, however we have clearly performed rather well since then.”
The Gators have made not less than 10 3-pointers in every sport throughout 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 rather well over the previous couple weeks,” Golden mentioned. “And once we do 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 residence 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 received 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 residence win towards South Carolina on Tuesday.
“I believe the credit score goes to our gamers,” LSU coach Matt McMahon mentioned. “They’ve come to apply, each sport. I believe we have competed each sport besides one half. We wanted one thing to go our method.”
That occurred when the Tigers overcame a five-point deficit within the ultimate 20 seconds to beat Oklahoma 82-79 on the highway Saturday, and so they carried the constructive feeling into the matchup with the Gamecocks.
“Enjoying within the final sport towards Oklahoma, we knew we might win on this league,” mentioned LSU’s main scorer, guard Cam Carter. “There have been numerous 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 can be a lot larger 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 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 will do this once more Saturday together with execution, and we needs to be advantageous.”
–Subject Stage Media
