Game Preview: Gators face East Carolina Pirates in Florida Tip-Off

The Florida Gators basketball program seems to be back on track with a two-game win streak under their belt, and the team will look to add another as they take another mini-road trip to Lakeland, Florida, on Thursday to take on the East Carolina Pirates.

The teams are participating in the Florida Tip-Off in what’s supposed to be a neutral venue, but the Gators might get some help from the local Florida faithful.

ECU is looking for redemption on Thursday night after suffering a six-point loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks this past Saturday, 68-62.

It will be the first-ever meeting between the men’s basketball teams and both squads are bringing a heavy-hitting offense to the hardwood. Let’s take a look at how the teams will line up on Thursday night.

Starting lineup: Florida Gators

Starting lineup: East Carolina Pirates

Key Player: Will Richard

Richards was insanely clutch for the Gators in a tight contest with the Richmond Spiders on Saturday afternoon, making four plays in a row to put 12 total points on the board for the Orange and Blue. The Iona transfer made three consecutive shots from downtown and created a three-point play to bolster the Florida win and head coach Todd Golden took notice.

“My man went nuclear with four shots in a row,” Golden said in the post-game press conference.

Richards is now the team-leading scorer heading into the ECU matchup, averaging 15.4 points per game and finding his teammates some open space to rack up four assists per contest.

The 6-foot-4-inch guard lines up perfectly alongside sophomore Riley Kugel, who has also played exceptionally well for Florida this season.

Key Player: RJ Felton

Junior guard RJ Felton has been the center piece for the ECU offense and was a key factor on Saturday against South Carolina. Felton racked up 15 points against the Gamecocks, aligning with his 16.5-point scoring average in 2023.

When playing against the right opponent, Felton knows how to penetrate the paint to get the Pirates rolling. He recorded a season-high of 33 points against USC-Upstate on Nov. 15 while recording another season-high of three-point shots made (five).

It will be up to Florida head coach Todd Golden to find the defensive match to take on Felton, and UF guard Walter Clayton Jr. might be the man to keep him at bay. Clayton has collected 15 steals in 2023 on top of nine blocks.

Prediction

East Carolina has been struggling to battle through a light schedule, and the Gators will surely be the opposite of a cakewalk. Florida has been building its chemistry slowly, but surely through 10 games, and as long as the forwards (such as the returning Micah Handlogten) are able to control the boards down low and make some clean transitions, it should be a straightforward game for the Orange and Blue.

Watch out for Richards to have another breakout game and the score margin should get separated by a double-digit margin.

Florida 82, ECU 71

How to Watch

• Date: Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023

• Time: 7 p.m. ET

• TV Channel: SEC Network

• Radio: Gators IMG Sports Network

• Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Read more

Florida basketball stands pat in ESPN’s bracketology update

Florida moves into ESPN BPI top 25 after beating Richmond

Florida basketball facilities set to undergo renovation

Zero votes for Todd Golden and Florida basketball in latest AP Poll

Florida hoops still voteless in Week 6 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Florida basketball strongly favored over East Carolina by ESPN’s BPI

Gators move up in NET rankings after win over Richmond Spiders

Follow

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Story originally appeared on Gators Wire