Gators looking for first SEC win against Texas A&M
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators men’s basketball team (7-6, 0-1 SEC) opens its conference home slate against the Texas A&M Aggies (8-5, 0-0 SEC) on Wednesday night.
After falling at No. 20 Auburn a week ago, the Gators will look to find their first SEC win of head coach Todd Golden’s tenure in Gainesville.
“For the first time all year we’re playing someone that’s 75- to 125-range,” Todd Golden said Tuesday. “So, when you’re trying to figure what our team really is, this is another opportunity to learn who we are. We’re excited to get these games at home.
“I feel like everybody in our program from our staff to our players feels like we’re becoming something, in terms of being a much better defensive team, taking care of the ball better, being more organized. We’re trying to build off how we played at Auburn.”
The Aggies took down the Gators twice a season ago. The second matchup was in the SEC Tournament, when Florida’s season ended on a buzzer beater from beyond the arc. It was Mike White’s final game as head coach of UF.
The Gators still hold a 9-6 all-time series lead and are 4-0 against the Aggies at home since they joined the SEC in 2012.
As of now, neither team is even on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. However, a win on Wednesday night for the Gators might go a long way for them come March.
Texas A&M players to watch
Wade Taylor IV continues to be the Aggies’ top player as the new year has rolled in. He’s shooting 43.1 percent from the field while averaging a team-high 15.5 points, 3.5 assists and 2.3 steals.
Buzz Williams will often find ways to scheme Taylor for an open 3-point shot, and his performance will likely have a big impact on the outcome of Wednesday night’s matchup.
Alongside Taylor in the backcourt is Tyrece Radford, who can shoot and averages 12.3 points. At just 6-foot-2, he’s averaging 5.2 rebounds, so he’s going to play with a lot of effort on loose balls at both ends of the floor.
Leading the way in the frontcourt for the Aggies is Henry Coleman III, who is scoring 11 points per game with a team-high 5.3 rebounds per game.
“I think they take advantage of selfish teams; teams that are really not willing to make the extra pass or willing to make plays for their other teammates, or teams that play out of control and don’t play poised and don’t play off two feet,” Golden said of Texas A&M. “So we’re really going to focus on that. Offensively, similar to Auburn, we gotta defend without fouling and we gotta keep them off the glass.”
How the Gators get it done at home
Fortunately for Colin Castleton, the Aggies don’t have a lot of size to match up with him. He’s going to draw plenty of double teams on Wednesday night because of this.
That will open up shooters on the outside for Florida.
The Gators can expect Castleton to play well, but others have to contribute. Kowacie Reeves has been playing very well off the bench, and UF needs that to continue. Getting Will Richard and Trey Bonham back on track is important as well.
Florida must control the pace on both offense and defense. The Gators’ KenPom adjusted tempo is No. 45 in the country compared to A&M’s No. 180 ranking.
The Florida defense saw much improvement throughout the month of December. If it can slow the backcourt from capitalizing beyond the arc, the Gators will be in a good position to get their first SEC win.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
WHO: Texas A&M Aggies (8-5, 0-0 SEC) at Florida Gators (7-6, 0-1 SEC)
WHEN: Wednesday, January 4, 7 p.m. ET
WHERE: Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center
WATCH: ESPNU or ESPN App; Play-by-Play: Tom Hart, Color: Jimmy Dykes
RADIO: Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD (SiriusXM 385, SXM App 975); Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley; Analyst: Lee Humphrey
BETTING LINES: Line: Florida (-6); Over/Under: 138.5
