Florida Gators tip off SEC play against Alabama
After two weeks without a game due to COVID-19 issues within the program, the Florida Gators will face the No. 15 Alabama Crimson Tide on Wednesday night.
WHO: No. 15 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3) @ Florida Gators (9-3)
WHERE: Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center
WHEN: Wednesday, January 5, 7:00 p.m.
Watch: ESPN2
RADIO: Gator Sports Network from Learfield
This matchup will be the first of three in a row against ranked opponents as the Gators take on No. 9 Auburn and No. 21 LSU in the coming days.
Alabama will certainly be the Gators’ toughest test of the young season. The Crimson Tide have proven themselves with victories against some of the better teams in the country, including Gonzaga, Houston and Tennessee.
However, the Tide have also dropped three games to inferior opponents, with losses against Iona, Memphis, and Davidson.
The Gators hold a 70-74 all-time record against Alabama and lost in Tuscaloosa last season, 86-71, as the Crimson Tide were en route to a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2021 NCAA tournament.
Looking at the Tide
This team runs through its guard trio with Jaden Shackelford, Jahvon Quinerly and Keon Ellis. They are the Tide’s only players averaging more than 10 points per game.
Ellis is a player to watch on both ends of the floor as he uses his 6-foot-6 frame to his advantage leading the team in rebounds (6.7 per game) and in steals (1.4 per game).
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The Tide’s main big to watch is 7-foot center Charles Bediako, who leads the team with 1.8 blocks per game. He’ll likely be tasked with taking on Florida forward Colin Castleton for a good portion of the night.
How the Gators can pull off the upset
Alabama is clearly the more battle-tested team and has already jumped into conference play, while Florida has yet to face an SEC team after the Ole Miss game was canceled on Dec. 29.
With that, the Gators will have to play their best basketball on Wednesday night.
Alabama lacks serious size, so Colin Castleton could be in for a big night. A double-double from the preseason All-SEC first-team forward would put the Gators in a great position to start league play with a victory.
The Florida guards have to step up as well. Phlandrous Fleming Jr. has really come into his role on both ends of the floor, but another guard will have to play at a high level to compete with Alabama’s loaded backcourt.
UF guards Brandon McKissic and Myreon Jones have both been in a shooting slump in recent games, which must come to an end as the Gators season begins to ramp up with their next three opponents.
