Feb 18, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) shoots a 3 level basket in opposition to the Oklahoma Sooners in the course of the second half at Exactech Enviornment on the Stephen C. O’Connell Middle. Necessary Credit score: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Pictures Florida is driving a five-game profitable streak, with every victory by a minimum of 9 factors and the closest one approaching the street in opposition to No. 1 Auburn.
The No. 2 Gators will attempt to maintain constructing momentum once they face LSU on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La.
Florida (23-3, 10-3 Southeastern Convention) started its profitable run within the wake of a 64-44 defeat at then-No. 8 Tennessee on Feb. 1.
“We did not lose any confidence after that sport,” Florida coach Todd Golden stated. “We weren’t shook. It allowed us to type of recalibrate and deal with defending, rebounding, taking good care of the ball, issues that we all know equate to profitable.
“This league is the most effective league in school basketball in like 20 years. You are going to run into some robust opponents. Tennessee on their residence ground is a troublesome sport, and we did not play very effectively that day, however we have clearly performed rather well since then.”
The Gators have made a minimum of 10 3-pointers in every sport in the course of the profitable streak, hitting a complete of 63 in 150 makes an attempt (42.0 %). Their season common from lengthy vary is simply 35.2 %.
“We have shot the ball rather well over the previous couple weeks,” Golden stated. “And after we try this … our group has the power to get some actually good runs and get some spurts.”
Florida has overcome accidents throughout its surge. Ahead Alex Condon, the group’s main rebounder (7.8 per sport) and fourth-leading scorer (10.6 factors per sport), and backup ahead Sam Alexis (4.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg) each missed an 85-63 residence victory in opposition to Oklahoma on Tuesday due to ankle accidents.
Even of their absence, the Gators managed their typical balanced scoring with 5 gamers ending in double figures and nobody staying on the court docket for greater than 27 minutes.
The Tigers (14-12, 3-10) have had a troublesome convention season, however they’ve gained their previous two league video games after a seven-game shedding streak. They registered their largest margin of victory over an SEC opponent in an 81-67 residence win in opposition to South Carolina on Tuesday.
“I believe the credit score goes to our gamers,” LSU coach Matt McMahon stated. “They’ve come to follow, each sport. I believe we have competed each sport besides one half. We would have liked one thing to go our manner.”
That occurred when the Tigers overcame a five-point deficit within the last 20 seconds to beat Oklahoma 82-79 on the street Saturday, they usually carried the constructive feeling into the matchup with the Gamecocks.
“Enjoying within the final sport in opposition to Oklahoma, we knew we might win on this league,” stated LSU’s main scorer, guard Cam Carter. “There have been a whole lot of studying experiences main into the previous two video games, and I believe we’re figuring it out now.”
LSU made 11 3-pointers in opposition to Oklahoma and adopted that with 13 in opposition to South Carolina, its most in opposition to an SEC opponent.
The problem in opposition to Florida will probably be a lot higher than the extent the Tigers confronted the earlier two video games.
“After we put 40 minutes collectively, I do not suppose anyone can beat us,” Tigers guard Mike Williams III stated. “Solely placing one half collectively has been our largest factor this yr. These final two video games we have put two halves collectively, and we have been rewarded. I believe we will try this once more Saturday together with execution, and we needs to be effective.”
–Subject Degree Media
