Game Preview: Florida travels for top-25 matchup against South Carolina
There’s just three games left in the 2023-24 regular season and the Gators are traveling to face a red-hot SEC foe in Colonial Life Arena on Saturday afternoon for a marquee college basketball matchup.
No. 18 South Carolina Gamecocks will host No. 24 Florida, who are looking for its second road win over a top 25 program over and to extend its two-game win streak.
The contest will be the Gators fifth ranked opponent in eight SEC road games, and head coach Todd Golden and Co. have won nine of their last 11 games entering Saturday’s matchup, after escaping the Missouri Tigers on Wednesday.
Let’s take a look at how the Gators and Gamecocks will line up at the opening tipoff.
Starting lineup: Florida Gators
Player | Pos | H/W | Class | Min. | Pts. | Reb. |
G | 6-2/195 | Junior | 30.8 | 16.8 | 3.8 | |
Zyon Pullin | G | 6-4 /206 | Sophomore | 33.4 | 15.3 | 3.8 |
Will Richard | G | 6-4 /206 | Junior | 29.3 | 11.4 | 3.8 |
Tyrese Samuel | F | 6-10/239 | Graduate | 27.2 | 13.5 | 7.9 |
Micah Handlogten | C | 7-1/235 | Sophomore | 20.2 | 6.2 | 7.8 |
Starting lineup: South Carolina Gamecocks
Player | Pos | H/W | Class | Min. | Pts. | Reb. |
B.J. Mack | F | 6-8/260 | Graduate | 24.8 | 13.6 | 4.8 |
Collin Murray-Boyles | F | 6-7/231 | Freshman | 20.5 | 9.7 | 5.1 |
Meechie Johnson | G | 6-2 /184 | Junior | 28.9 | 13.8 | 4.3 |
Zachary Davis | G | 6-7/194 | Sophomore | 21.9 | 5.4 | 3.6 |
Ta’lon Cooper | G | 6-4/200 | Graduate | 33.6 | 9.8 | 4.4 |
Key Player: Walter Clayton Jr.
Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. needs redemption after being ejected from the team’s previous contest against the Missouri Tigers, after using offensive language toward the Mizzou bench.
Despite the technical foul and ejection on Wednesday, Clayton is still the team’s leading scorer with 16.8 points a game. The Lake Wales, Florida native is feeling himself while shooting behind the three-point line, going a combined 6 of 14 in the past contests.
The Gators will need the same confidence heading into Saturday, but perhaps with a little more tame trash-talking.
Key player: B.J. Mack
Gamecocks forward B.J. Mack will have a tough matchup on Saturday when he’s lined up with Florida forward Tyrese Samuel. Both players are commanding forces in the paint and may ultimately be the determining factors of the game.
Mack brings the most experience to the floor for USC as a transfer from Wofford and is the team’s second-leading scorer with 13.6 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per contest. Watch for an intense battle beneath the boards when the two heavyweights collide.
Prediction
If the Gators wish to continue its strong reputation going into March, a road win against a top 25 program like South Carolina would certainly suffice. Both teams are riding a two-game win streak but the Gamecocks have had a spectacular season while playing in Columbia, holding a 13-2 record while the Gators have struggled on the road. At the same time, Florida was able to overcome a raucous crowd in Lexington, Kentucky, so anything can truly happen.
If the Gators are able to control the boards and the usual hot hands are on point, then Florida may pull off another upset and gain another Quadrant 1 victory. Expect a nail-biter from Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday.
South Carolina 89, Florida 87
BPI Prediction
Using the Basketball Power Index, ESPN gives the Gamecocks just a 50.3% win probability and projects them to come out on top by only 0.1 points over the Gators on Saturday. The matchup quality earned a 92.1-point grade, making it the fourth-highest-rated game on a busy day of college basketball.
How to watch
Date: Saturday, March 2, 2024
Time: Noon ET
TV Channel: ESPN
Radio: Gators IMG Sports Network
Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)
Read more
Florida drops in NET rankings following close home win over Missouri
Gators slide after win but still in Basketball Power Index top 30
Florida holds tight to spot in KenPom rankings after Mizzou win
Florida moves up a seed in The Athletic’s latest bracket watch update
Gators still a 6-seed in USA TODAY Sports’ latest bracketology
Follow
Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
