Gators open SEC Tournament action in must-win game against Texas A&M

The Gators men’s basketball team heads into the SEC Tournament likely needing a couple more wins to earn a bid to the Big Dance. 

Florida takes on Texas A&M in the second round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday at noon.

The Gators (19-12) enter the tourney in Tampa as the nine seed and the Aggies (20-11) are the eight seed. Both teams are a part of the Next Four Out for the NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s bracket projections.

The Aggies took down Florida 56-55 back on Feb. 15 to end an eight-game losing streak and are currently on a four-game winning streak, which has them back in the hunt for the NCAA Tournament.

“They’ve got momentum. I think there’s two teams in our league that are heading into the tournament with a four-game winning streak, these guys and Tennessee,” UF coach Mike White said. “You’ve got a bunch of teams in our league that can do some damage in this tournament and A&M is certainly one of them. I think they’re playing better offensively. Changing some things up in terms of personnel roster rotations. And defensively, they’re very, very good of course.”

The Gators finished the season 3-2 after falling in College Station, including an upset over then-No. 2 Auburn the following game. 

What went wrong in College Station

In the first meeting, Florida shot a season-low 28.8 percent from the field while hitting just seven out of their 30 3-point attempts (23.3 percent).

UF went on several cold streaks and couldn’t buy a basket, which let the Aggies take substantial leads. The Gators found their rhythm offensively in the closing minutes and put themselves in position to pull off the comeback win.

But with 19 seconds to play, Florida’s Phlandrous Fleming Jr. fouled Texas A&M guard Wade Taylor IV on a 3-point attempt with UF winning 55-53. Taylor sank all three shots and Fleming’s midrange jumper didn’t go on the other end. 

“It could have gone either way, of course. Had our chances, just didn’t take advantage. They made plays down the stretch when they needed to,” White said of the first game. “Defensively, we had a couple breakdowns there at the end that if it weren’t for those, we may have been able to come out on top despite the really poor shooting percentage and the defensive effort by A&M.” 

Gators point guard Tyree Appleby, who had scored in double figures for eight straight games prior to Texas A&M, finished with just 3 points against the Gators in his return from a thigh bruise. 

How the Gators advance to the quarterfinals

This matchup has NCAA Tournament implications for both teams, so the Gators will face an A&M team just as motivated as them to keep playing in March. 

Florida has to click offensively and shoot the ball better after an abysmal game in College Station. Appleby must provide more points and make smart decisions with the basketball while running the floor. 

UF could use another 15-point, 15-rebound performance against the Aggies from Colin Castleton, while Fleming Jr. needs to continue playing the way he has since his season-high 27 points against Georgia.

Defensively, the focus has to be on Texas A&M guard Quenton Jackson, who scored 16 on the Gators earlier this season. When he’s playing well, his team responds and the Aggies are hard to beat.

“I think our guys are excited. I’m sure Texas A&M’s guys are excited as well,” White said. “The big factors for us are shooting a better percentage against these guys, finishing at the rim, making open 3s, transition defense, floor balance, live-ball turnovers, defending the glass. We did a really good job at College Station on the offensive glass (20 rebounds), but we gotta convert in the paint. We’ve just gotta play really well.” 

It’s now win or go home for the Gators. A victory over A&M improves their odds to make the tournament, while a loss almost certainly ends any hope of earning a bid. 

WHO: Florida Gators (19-12, 9-9 SEC) vs. Texas A&M Aggies (20-11, 9-9 SEC)

WHEN: Thursday, March 10, noon ET

WHERE: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida

WATCH: SEC Network

RADIO: Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD