Gators out for redemption against Texas A&M on the road
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators men’s basketball team (10-7, 3-2 SEC) is set to take on the Texas A&M Aggies (12-5, 4-0 SEC) for the second time this season on Wednesday night in College Station.
The first time they faced off was just two weeks ago, and the Aggies left Gainesville with their third straight victory over the Gators by just 3 points. Still, UF leads the all-time series 9-7.
Both teams have yet to lose since they faced off last, and another win on Wednesday night would be huge for either squad.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s most recent NCAA Tournament projection has both the Aggies and the Gators on the outside looking in. However, A&M is the third team out of the tournament, and UF is the seventh team out.
With that, this game will hold serious weight come March.
“I think they said every year you get like one team where you play them back to back in like a short span,” Colin Castleton said. “This year it’s obviously Texas A&M, we feel like they came in here and stole one from us on our home court, and we still have that sour taste about that loss, and we all hate losing.
“That’s something that we take pride in here. I mean, it’s been showing in the past games, being able to just win those games and take care of business. So, it’s gonna be a good environment on the road. They’re playing really well. I think they’re on a four or five game winning streak, and they’re rolling as well. But, we got to go in there with the right mindset, and everybody’s gonna be locked in.”
Texas A&M players to watch
In the first matchup, Aggies forward Julius Marble and guards Wade Taylor IV and Tyrese Radford all scored 17 points to get the win over UF.
Taylor IV has had multiple game-winning moments against the Gators including a floater in the last game to help secure a win.
What is daunting about the Aggies is their presence on the glass at both ends of the floor. Four Aggies are averaging 4 rebounds or more a game. Forwards Solomon Washington and Andersson Garcia come off the bench and pick up at least 3 rebounds as well.
This success on the glass has led to Texas A&M being No. 28 in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
“They’ve been a great offensive rebounding team all year,” UF head coach Todd Golden said. “They’ve made a big jump defensively in our league. They’re not giving up as many second-chance opportunities as they were at the beginning of the preseason. Listen, A&M is playing over a four- or five-game stretch as a top-10 team in the country the past couple weeks.
“They’re playing very, very well. Again, we look back at how we played and know we have to take care of it better. My main thing is really on our defensive backs. We have to limit their second-chance opportunities. I think that is a key component for us to win this game.”
How the Gators split the regular season series
Two weeks ago, the Gators were playing sloppy basketball. Their 20 turnovers against the Aggies in Gainesville was the deciding factor in that game.
It was uncharacteristic of this UF squad, but A&M turned those turnovers into 21 points and left with a win.
“Clearly, a way for us to find a way to win tomorrow night we have to take better care of the ball,” Golden said. “It was an area we’ve been great all year. We were not great the first time we played these guys at our place….”
Kyle Lofton and Myreon Jones have been running the floor for the Gators at a very high level as of late. That has to continue in order for Florida to get the conference road win.
The Gators are shooting the ball very well right now from just about all over the court, and these two have plenty to do with that.
“Myreon’s not necessarily a full-blown point guard, but he can play it, and he’s a really good ball-handler and a really good secondary facilitator,” Golden said. “I think he’s made Kyle’s life a lot easier and vice versa. Both those guys are playing like seniors right now.”
“They’re doing a great job taking care of the ball and getting it to the basket for other guys and to have that senior leadership in the backcourt is really big for us. [Myreon] playing at the level he has has increased the level of our team.”
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
WHO: Florida Gators (10-7, 3-2 SEC) at Texas A&M Aggies (12-5, 4-0 SEC)
WHEN: Wednesday, January 18, 7 p.m. ET
WHERE: Reed Arena, College Station, Texas
WATCH: ESPN or ESPN app; Play-by-Play: Roy Philpott; Color: Pat Bradley
RADIO: Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD (SiriusXM 385, SXM App 975); Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley; Analyst: Lee Humphrey
BETTING LINES: Texas A&M (-4); Over/Under: 137
