Arizona State takes on No. 9 Florida at Holiday Hoopsgiving in Atlanta. Read more for a full Arizona State vs Florida prediction and preview.
Only the second matchup of the month for the Sun Devils, who hit the hardwood on Saturday afternoon against their second Top 10 opponent of the season. It will be their third meeting against the Gators, with the Orange and Blue taking the first two contests.
It will be the second game of a triple header at State Farm Arena. No. 2 Auburn will take on Ohio State before the game and Grand Canyon will face Georgia afterwards.
General Information:
Teams: Arizona State (8-1) and Florida (9-0)
Tip Time: 3:30 p.m. EST
Watch: SEC Network
Listen: ESPN 620 AM (KTAR)
Latest on Florida basketball:
The Gators head into Atlanta as one of the seven unbeaten teams in the nation. They have won every game by double digits, most recently beating Virginia 87-69 on Dec. 4. Three players reach double figures, with senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. leading the way with 27 points. Sophomore forward/center Alex Condon followed with 19, graduate guard Alijah Martin had 16, and junior guard Denzel Aberdeen totaled 12.
This caused Florida to propel into the AP Top 10 for the first time since Dec. 5, 2017, when it was ranked fifth. The team is currently having its third-best start of the season in program history, only behind the 17-0 start to the 2005-06 season and a 10-0 start back in the 1951-52 campaign.
Todd Golden’s side is part of a recent surge from the SEC. Currently, four teams–No. 1 Tennessee, No. 2 Auburn, No. 5 Kentucky, No. 7 Alabama–and the Gators find themselves within the AP Top 10.
Golden has started the same starting lineup in each game this season, with Clayton, Condon, and Martin, senior guard Will Richard and sophomore center Rueben Chinyelu. The first four average double figures.
Latest on Arizona State basketball:
Like the Gators, the Sun Devils have enjoyed a respite from the court fresh off a 90-53 home win over San Diego at Desert Financial Arena on Dec. 3. It was their first victory by over 30 points since an 80-49 win over Grambling State on Nov. 22, 2022. Five players landed in double figures.
Arizona State now has 143 votes into the AP Top 25, only behind Baylor, who has 150. Additionally, it is one of the three teams (Auburn, Louisiana Tech) that is unbeaten in neutral-site games this season.
Saturday afternoon gives the Maroon and Gold a chance to pick up their second Quad 1 win of the season. The first came with a victory over Saint Mary’s on Nov. 29 to become Acrisure Classic champions.
After a rough start to his side’s game against San Diego, head coach Bobby Hurley said that he will change the team’s preparations for Saturday afternoon’s matchup.
“I’ve already put together a plan on how we’re gonna attack the next 11 days,” Hurley said after the San Diego win. “It will be a mixture of taking care physically, refreshing some guys who are banged up, getting our legs back, mentally refresh a little bit, and really get after it on the practice floor.”
Arizona State vs Florida prediction: Sun Devils by 3 (81-78)
This will be a battle of the three-point line, with both teams shooting over 47% from beyond the arc. Freshman guard Joson Sanon might be the difference for the Sun Devils. He has made 54.3% of his three-point attempts, and scored 21 points against Grand Canyon at the Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Suns. The one-and-done hopeful will have another opportunity at an NBA arena at the Atlanta Hawks’ stomping grounds on Saturday afternoon.
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