Unlike the football rivalry, Florida (3-0) has not held the recent advantage in their series with FSU (0-3). The Gators have lost their last three to the Seminoles and look to snap the skid tonight in Gainesville.
Like the Gators, FSU has not played anyone of consequence, defeating Jacksonville, Stetson and Mercer. In those games, the Noles scored more than 80 points in each, leading to the fourth-best shooting percentage in the nation (54.7). In comparison, the Gators are shooting 42% and turning the ball over more than converting assists. Last Friday, UF ran into Troy, who could also score plenty. But they locked down on defense in the second half, sparking their offense from a one-point halftime deficit into a 22-point win.
Defense has been missing from the last two seasons of Gator basketball. The play of Vernon Macklin and an improved Alex Tuys helps, but Chandler Parsons' work off the bench has taken some pressure off those two. Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker have a long way to go, however. FSU's guards could work them tonight, which means UF cannot afford to get down early and lose a fourth straight to FSU.