Game Preview: Florida faces No. 12 Baylor in NIT Season Tip-Off Championship
After taking care of the Pittsburgh Panthers in the opening round of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Wednesday, the Florida Gators will play for the championship against No. 12 Baylor on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Through five games, Florida’s only loss has come against Virginia. The Hoos weren’t ranked at the time but have been since, so this will be another chance for the Gators to prove themselves.
Of course, beating a ranked team won’t be easy. The Bears feature one of the best freshmen in college basketball and slowing down a dominant offense won’t be easy, especially with Florida center Micah Handlogten recovering from an ankle injury suffered Wednesday.
Here’s everything you need to know about Friday’s game.
Expected Starters: Florida Gators
Player | Pos | H/W | Class | Min. | Pts. | Reb. |
Walter Clayton Jr. | G | 6-2/195 | Junior | 32.3 | 10.5 | 5.0 |
Riley Kugel | G | 6-5 /207 | Sophomore | 29.5 | 14.0 | 3.0 |
Will Richard | G | 6-4 /206 | Junior | 31.2 | 13.0 | 2.7 |
Tyrese Samuel | F | 6-10/239 | Graduate | 26.1 | 11.3 | 9.0 |
Micah Handlogten | C | 7-1/235 | Sophomore | 22.3 | 10.7 | 9.0 |
Note: It’s unclear whether center Micah Handlogten will play after exiting Wednesday’s game with an ankle injury. He plays just 49 seconds and never returned. Alex Condon would be a good bet to start in his place if Handlogten isn’t able to go.
Expected Starters: Baylor Bears
Player | Pos | H/W | Class | Min. | Pts. | Reb. |
RayJ Dennis | G | 6-2/185 | Redshirt Senior | 27.1 | 11.8 | 3.6 |
Ja’Kobe Walter | G | 6-5 /195 | Freshman | 29.5 | 19.2 | 4.6 |
Jayden Nunn | G | 6-4 /190 | Junior | 25.8 | 13.2 | 2.4 |
Jalen Bridges | F | 6-9/225 | Senior | 23.9 | 9.0 | 4.2 |
Yves Missi | C | 7-0/235 | Freshman | 20.8 | 9.4 | 6.8 |
Key Player: Walter Clayton Jr.
After dropping 28 against Pitt in the opening round, all eyes are on Walter Clayton Jr. to lead Florida to a big win over Baylor. There’s little doubt that Riley Kugel is the star of the team, but he’s been hit or miss to start the season, and Clayton seems to be getting comfortable in an Orange and Blue jersey.
With Handlogten hobbled at best, Todd Golden could opt to go with a smaller lineup, especially when Baylor’s 7-footer needs a breather. In that scenario, Clayton shifts to the two and Zyon Pullin acts as the team’s distributor, freeing up Florida’s hottest hand. It’s the perfect storm.
Key Player: Ja'Kobe Walter
Ja’Kobe Walter is among the best-scoring freshmen in the nation and looks like a lottery pick right now. He’s projected to go in the top 10 by some publications and was the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.
Walter will probably put up close to 20 points against Florida, but the Gators can still win if they make it an inefficient 20. He’s shooting 41.9% from beyond the arc, so stopping him from deep should be Florida’s first priority.
Prediction
This team has been fun to watch over the first five games of the year, but coming up short against two quality opponents is still going to sting. Florida needs this win in many ways, but the season is far from over if it doesn’t go the way Gator Nation wants.
Florida has scored at will over the past few games, but that shouldn’t be the case against Baylor. Expect a gritty and close matchup, one the Gators could take by just a point.
Florida 76, Baylor 75
How to Watch
Date: Friday, Nov. 24, 2023
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel: ESPN
Radio: Gators IMG Sports Network
Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)
Read more
How to Watch: Everything you need to know for Florida-Baylor on Friday
Five takeaways from Florida basketball’s win over Pitt Panthers
Betting Odds: Florida basketball vs. Baylor Bears on Friday
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