Florida Gators look to bounce back against North Florida
The No. 20 Florida Gators face the North Florida Ospreys in Gainesville Wednesday at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network.
The Gators have dropped two games in a row after starting 6-0, and this is a must-win situation as they’ll need to get back on track with big games ahead this month.
The Ospreys are currently 2-8 on the season, but they’ve faced some of the top teams in the country including the likes of UCLA and Kentucky.
UNF forward Carter Hendricksen and guard Jose Placer are the two Ospreys players to watch out for if they’re looking to pull the upset over the Gators.
Hendricksen leads the team in both points per game (11.6) and rebounds per game (4.5). When the Ospreys are playing at their best, it’s because he’s playing his best basketball.
As for Placer, the offense runs through him as he leads the team with 2.9 assists per game and averages 11 points per game.
Keys to the game for the Gators
The defense has played well enough for the Gators to find a way to victory, so that’s not the worry for Wednesday night’s matchup. It all comes down to the offense’s rhythm.
Florida forward Colin Castleton has to play at his best, and he’ll have to do so the rest of the way this season. He was selected to the preseason All-SEC first team for a reason, and now he has to prove why. Castleton has to dominate the boards and simply hit close-range shots.
Whether it’s Florida guard Myreon Jones or guard Tyree Appleby running the floor, the Gators have to find a rhythm on offense. It’s far too often that the Gators move the ball down the floor just to take a hopeless three-point shot. This is the game to find out what the Gators’ strengths are on the offensive end.
The Gators also have to capitalize when in transition. They’ve found ways to create numerous turnovers on defense, but it turns into nothing on the other end, and that must change.
Most importantly, Florida needs to get hot and early on in this game. Head coach Mike White is going to want to play multiple bench players, and he’ll need his regular rotation to be knocking down shots to do so.
Florida Gators Game Notes:
The Gators play its second game in three days, welcoming UNF to the O’Dome for what has become a nearly annual meet-up between the programs. The Gators have won all nine meetings with UNF, including five under
head coach Mike White
UF’s defense made its presence felt in the early going, limiting five of its first six opponents to 61 points or fewer. The Gators have held two opponents to 45 points, the first time Florida has multiple opponents to 45
points or fewer in a season since 2014-15.
Florida ranks among the SEC’s top three in blocked shots (second, 6.0), 3-point percentage defense (third, .274)
and scoring defense (third, 59.6).
