Florida vs. Towson, Game Thread: Gators want to rebound, should fear #Science

The Florida Gators, having been resuscitated after a strangulation at the hands of Florida State last Sunday, should have fewer problems with the Towson Tigers on this Thursday night in Gainesville (7 p.m., ESPN2 or WatchESPN).

But should is a word to remember when #Science is involved.

For the Gators’ part, getting back to basics should be both the order of the day and a way to win a game against a mid-pack Colonial Athletic Association team well removed from its last NCAA Tournament. Feeding Kerry Blackshear Jr., who has double-doubles in each of his two games as a Gator, is probably the top two or three priorities on Florida’s offensive gameplan, as he remains a special player whose game should open up many things for the Gators if he is even having an average night.

Of course, what Blackshear getting busy might open up most is chances from the perimeter for Florida’s shooters — and those haven’t been opportunities that the Gators have capitalized on so far, making just seven threes in 37 tries over two games. Blackshear — not a shy shooter from distance, but not a great one, either — has half as many makes as each of Noah Locke and Andrew Nembhard, despite taking three threes to the sophomores’ combined 22, and Florida will have to hope those stats regress to the mean not just in this game but going forward.

And if they do in this game, that might help stave off a team that has been hot so far. Towson has four players with multiple threes made on the year, and started the season by making 16 of 37 threes in its first two games before cooling off a bit in a third contest (and first loss) against Kent State.

If the Tigers are more like the team that won those first two games, it could be a #Science fair in the O’Dome on this Thursday night.