How to watch: Florida Gators vs. No. 13 Baylor basketball
The Florida basketball team is hot. But Friday, the Gators will face their stiffest test to date when they play No. 13 Baylor at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the championship game of the NIT Season Tip-Off in New York. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN — and the will also be streaming on fuboTV, which offers a free trial.
The Gators already have taken down one unbeaten team in New York this week, beating Pitt quite easily Tuesday. Florida won 86-71 behind 28 points from transfer guard Walter Clayton. Another transfer, forward Tyrese Samuel, added 20 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Gators led by five at the half, then took complete control in the final 20 minutes.
“Really pleased and really happy with the way we performed,” Gators coach Todd Golden said after the game. “Obviously, Walter Clayton had a fantastic game, 28 points tonight, and did a really good job hitting big shots when we needed them. This is a big win for us. This is going to be one that’s going to go with us all year.”
Florida (4-1) has won three straight games after losing to Virginia 73-70. None of the wins have been close. In fact, Pitt wasn’t the only quality team the Gators have routed.
They beat in-state rival Florida State 89-68 last week. A few days later, the Seminoles topped No. 18 Colorado.
Meanwhile, Baylor is 5-0 with notable wins over Auburn (88-82) and Oregon State (88-72), the latter taking place in the NIT Season Tip-Off opposite Florida-Pitt.
The Bears are a fast-paced team that scores 89.6 points per game. They shoot 51 percent from the floor and 37 percent from 3-point range.
Guard Ja’Kobe Walter, one of four Baylor players to average double-figures in scoring, leads the team at 19.2 points per game.
Florida Gators-Baylor Bears game notes
-The programs have met three times, with Baylor holding a 2-1 series lead. No. 1 Baylor beat Florida 72-61 in their most recent matchup on Jan. 25, 2020.
-Baylor has won 14 of its last 15 regular-season neutral-site contests.
-Per Chris Harry of FloridaGators.com, the Gators are “trying to win a third holiday tournament in the last four years and the first under Golden.”
