How will Florida basketball stop MSU big man Tolu Smith? It's a 'tall' order for the Gators
Florida basketball enters a critical home stretch this week facing a Mississippi State team that boasts one of the top post players in the SEC.
Mississippi State big man Tolu Smith III has overcome an early season foot injury to average 19.7 points and 7.7 rebounds this season.
Containing the 6-foot-11, 245-pound Smith will be a priority when the Florida Gators (12-6, 2-3 SEC) host the Bulldogs (13-5, 2-3 SEC) tonight at the O'Connell Center (8:30 p.m., SEC Network).
Road success: Balanced scoring lifts Florida basketball to first road win of season at Mizzou
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"He’s obviously playing really, really well coming back from injury," Florida basketball coach Todd Golden said, "He’s getting back up from that 27 to 29-minute range."
Last season, Smith averaged 20.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in two meetings against UF, including a 28-point performance in MSU's 69-68 overtime win over the Gators in the SEC Tournament. Last week, Smith scored 23 points in Mississippi State's 77-72 upset win over Tennessee, including the go-ahead three-point play with 16 seconds remaining.
"We’re going to have to do a really good job of guarding in the post and keeping him away from the rim," Golden said. "And more than anything, being physical with him. We can’t let him get comfortable down in there. We’ll have a couple different looks for him to hopefully kind of keep him off balance.”
UF basketball center Micah Handlogten eager for challenge inside against Smith
Florida sophomore center Micah Handlogten is eager for the challenge inside in guarding Smith. The 7-1 Handlogten posted his second double-double of the season (10 points, 13 rebounds) in UF's 79-67 road win Saturday at Missouri. He played a team-high 30 minutes in what Golden said was his best game of the season.
“I’d agree with it," Hanldogten said. "I think overall as a team it was the best game we played this season. I think a lot of what we did during practice, scout team, really helped prepare us for it. We knew we had to come out and be more physical."
Handlogten shut down Missouri 7-5 center Connor Vanover in the win, but Smith presents a different challenge in the paint with his post moves and relentless play.
"Any chance he gets, he’s trying to post you up," Handlogten said. "He’s quick, he’s strong, athletic, you’ve just got to be prepared, can’t come up soft. You’ve got to go bring the fight to him and not let him take the first hit.”
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida Gators basketball gets test inside guarding MSU's Tolu Smith
