No. 5 Florida basketball faces high stakes matchup at No. 8 Alabama in road finale

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The regular season is winding down, but there’s still plenty at stake when No. 5 Florida basketball plays at No. 8 Alabama on Wednesday night (7 p.m., ESPN2).

The Florida Gators (25-4, 12-4 SEC) can secure a double bye and the No. 2 overall seed in the SEC Tournament with a win over the Crimson Tide (23-6, 12-4 SEC). The winner also will have the inside track on securing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, while the loser will have work to do in next week’s SEC Tournament to land a number one seed.

“We’re still shooting for a 1-seed and the double-bye,” Florida basketball coach Todd Golden said. “If we can get that done, I’d be really happy.”

Alabama, coming off a Final Four season under sixth-year coach Nate Oats. has remained near the top of the SEC standings throughout the 2024-25 season. Two key returning starters from the Tide’s Final Four team ― point guard Mark Sears (19.1 ppg, 5.0 apg) and forward Grant Roberts (11.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg) have led that charge.

Once again, the Tide lead the SEC in scoring offense at 91.0 ppg and are rugged on the boards, with a plus-7.4 rebounding margin on the season. Florida is at plus-8.0 on the glass and ranks fifth in the SEC in scoring at 83.8 points per game.

“I don’t think they are used to a team that can quite keep up with them offensively and play defense, and we can do that, if we’re being honest,” Florida junior center Micah Handlogten said. “I think we’ll match up well against them, and I think we’ll go out there and it will be a good game.”

Here are three storylines to watch for UF’s game at Alabama:

Which point guard will play better, Florida basketball’s Walter Clayton Jr. for Alabama’s Mark Sears?

Clayton and Sears are two of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, given to college basketball’s top point guard. Sears ranks second in the SEC in scoring (19.1 ppg) and third in assists (5.0 apg), while Clayton ranks tied for seventh in the SEC in scoring (16.9 ppg) and seventh in assists (4.0 apg).

Both are capable…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/no-5-florida-basketball-faces-223232158.html

Author : The Gainesville Sun

Publish date : 2025-03-04 22:32:00

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