Texas vs Florida: Preview, prediction, how to watch men’s basketball game

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The Texas basketball team notched its first SEC win by beating Oklahoma 77-73 Wednesday, but its grueling conference schedule doesn’t get any easier this weekend.

The Longhorns (12-5, 1-3) will visit No. 4 Florida (3 p.m. Saturday, ESPN2). The Gators (15-2, 2-2) caught the attention of the nation with a 30-point win over Tennessee last weekend but fell to surging Missouri 83-82 Tuesday.

Here’s what to know about Saturday’s SEC game:

More: Texas basketball: Does former Longhorn coach Rick Barnes see any Kevin Durant in Tre Johnson?

Guard Jordan Pope, who scored 27 points in the Longhorns’ win over Oklahoma on Wednesday, is averaging more than 20 points over the past seven games. Pope and Texas will visit No. 4 Florida on Saturday.

Texas vs Florida time

Day: Saturday

Start time: 3 p.m.

Location: Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Florida

How to watch Texas vs Florida

TV channel: ESPN2

Livestream: Fubo (free trial), ESPN+, SEC+

Jordan Pope: On point past seven games

A 27-point explosion against Oklahoma helped Jordan Pope up his average over the past seven games to a team-high 20.7 points. The 6-foot-2 transfer from Oregon State has shot 53.8% from the floor in that span, including 46.2% from 3-point range and 88.5% from the free-throw line. His team-high 27 points (9 of 17 field goals, 6 of 6 free throws) and four steals were gleaned in 36 minutes at Oklahoma. The points have come with an emphasis on scoring rather than setting up other players; over the first 11 games of the season, Pope averaged 2.7 assists, but he has just four assists over the past six games.

Texas schedule will lighten up

Florida is the third top-five opponent Texas will face in a four-game stretch and its fourth top-25 team in five games to open SEC play. But the schedule does lighten up a bit after Saturday; the Longhorns will play only two ranked teams in a six-game stretch beginning with a home game Tuesday against Missouri.

Florida basketball: Chomping on the boards

The Gators aren’t exactly an ideal matchup…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-vs-florida-preview-prediction-211315446.html

Author : Austin American-Statesman

Publish date : 2025-01-17 21:13:00

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