Gators looking to take down UCF in first round of NIT

The Florida Gators are set to host the UCF Knights on Wednesday night for the first round of the NIT.

Although the UF and UCF campuses are just about 2 hours away from one another, the men’s basketball teams haven’t faced each other since 2012. The Gators won that matchup in the O’Dome to make the all-time series 10-1 in their favor.

The matchup marks Todd Golden as Florida’s second head coach (Mike White) to reach postseason play in his first season with the team.

“They got a good combination, obviously, Hendricks being a young guy,” Golden said Tuesday. “He’s really talented, projected to, you know, be a first-round pick after his freshman year, which is really impressive. And then a bunch of older guys, who are tough. Perimeter shooting team, first and foremost, but you know a team that is really disruptive defensively does a good job of playing your ball, playing passing lanes and getting steals that way. 

“So, huge challenge for us. We’re right next to each other KenPom wise. And obviously, a big part of that KenPom season for us was with Colin. So, gonna be a challenge, but hey, any team that’s still playing whether it be the NCAA or the NIT this time of the year is gonna be a pretty good team.”

UCF’s players to watch

Like the Gators, the Knights have had to look to their young guns at times throughout the season. It starts with Taylor Hendricks.

The true freshman leads the team averaging 15.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. If he gets settled early, Florida’s NIT run could get cut short in a heartbeat.

“He’s just a really skilled, really talented offensive player,” Golden said. “You know, can really shoot it but also really efficient from two and does a good job of getting on the glass. I would say a lot further along than most freshman in that way, in terms of understanding how to play, knowing where to pick his spots. And to be able to do what he’s done in that league is really impressive.”

Outside of Hendricks, the Knights lack size, but the guards make up for it on the perimeter.

Darius Johnson gets active on both ends of the floor with an average 10.3 points and a team-high average in both assists (4.4) and steals (2.1).

UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins can typically rely on CJ Kelly and Ithiel Horton to put up double digits in the scoring column as well.

How Florida moves on to the second round

Of course, the Gators would prefer to be playing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this week. However, that’s not the case.

Golden and his team are still eager to compete. To win on Wednesday night, he and his staff will have to ask a lot out of Jason Jitoboh, Alex Fudge and Aleks Szymczyk.

One of those three will have to get into a groove against Taylor Hendricks, or the Gators’ season will come to an abrupt end.

Although Hendricks will get much of the attention, the Florida guards will have to defend the perimeter at a high level.

The Gators typically shoot the 3 ball much better in the O’Dome. That’s going to be essential as they face a team who practically lives beyond the arc.

Winner moves on to face the winner of UC Irvine-Oregon while the loser goes home.

Stay tuned to Gators Online.

WHO: UCF Knights (18-14, 8-10 AAC) at Florida Gators (16-16, 9-9 SEC)

WHAT: National Invitational Tournament

WHERE: Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center (10,151)

WHEN: Wednesday, March 15, 7 p.m. ET

WATCH: ESPN2 or ESPN App; Play-by-Play: Mike Morgan; Analyst: Mark Wise

RADIO: Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD; Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley; Analyst: Lee Humphrey