No. 8 Tennessee basketball remains on Rocky Top for a home rematch against the No. 5 Florida Gators in an attempt to improve their SEC record. Read more for a full Tennessee vs Florida prediction and preview.
No. 8 Tennessee basketball will meet No. 5 Florida in its fifth consecutive home game against a ranked SEC opponent, this time with its first top-10 matchup at Food City Center since last season.
The Volunteers’ last meeting with the Gators did not go well, as the then-No. 1 Vols suffered a historic defeat in Gainesville. The Gators ruthlessly crushed the Vols, 73-43. Tennessee is aiming to avenge that loss and snap a two-game losing streak.
Saturday’s game against Florida will be this year’s “Checker” Food City Center Game.
Breaking News:
Senior guard Zakai Zeigler is unavailable for today’s game against No. 5 Florida due to a right knee injury suffered on Tuesday against No. 12 Kentucky.
His status is day-to-day moving forward, and he will continue to be evaluated.
General Information:
Teams: Tennessee (17-4, 4-4) and Florida (18-2, 5-2)
Tip-Off: noon EST
Watch: ESPN
Latest on Florida basketball:
No. 5 Florida Gators is on a three-game winning streak as it heads to Knoxville to play a struggling Tennessee squad on Saturday afternoon.
The Gators showed off their basketball prowess in their last meeting, defeating the Volunteers 73-43 in a game that wasn’t simply a victory but a statement. In that game, Florida’s defense stifled the Vols, limiting them to 21.4% shooting and controlling the glass with a 56-37 rebounding advantage.
An outstanding backcourt tandem anchors Todd Golden’s squad. Walter Clayton Jr. (17.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists) and Alijah Martin (16.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists) are both transfers into the program.
Senior guard Will Richard (13.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 steals) and sophomore big Alex Condon (10.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists) provide aid to Clayton Jr. and Martin.
Florida comes into the rematch with the nation’s third-most efficient offense. The Gators excel when they can get out of transition and into easy buckets. This season, the Gators have the 25th quickest offensive possessions in the country because of their transition success.
Florida enters the rematch with the nation’s third-most-efficient offense. It excels when they get out into transition and get easy buckets. The Gators have the 25th quickest offensive possessions in the country this season due to their success in transition.
“Listen, we know we are going to see a really, really fired-up team,” head coach Todd Golden said. “We have to have great mental discipline to win.”
Florida will attempt to build on its current three-game winning streak and its last meeting with the Volunteers to come out on top in a hostile Tennessee environment.
Latest on Tennessee basketball:
Tennessee enters the revenge game against Florida after losing two straight games and three of their past four.
Tennessee faced Auburn and Kentucky, No. 1 and No. 3 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, in its past two games. Visiting Food City Center this time is Florida, who has won three consecutive games as the second-best offense in the country.
“Our game plans are almost (always) we don’t ever want to let people get out and get easy baskets,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “So that’s transition, defense, rebounding, taking care of the ball. If you do that and, hopefully, play defense how we’re capable of, it gives us a chance at the end.”
In their last two games, the Volunteers shot only 15-of-67 (22%) from three. The Vols will start shooting better at some point, but Saturday will be difficult against Florida’s top-five three-point defense.
This game will likely come down to Tennessee’s ability to execute their defensive strategy and shoot more effectively than their woeful 21.4% in the previous encounter.
Tennessee will seek to revive on their home court in Saturday’s game, where they have been practically untouchable all season.
Tennessee vs Florida prediction: Gators by 11 (70-59)
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