Florida vs. Vanderbilt, Game Thread: Can Gators avoid more Memorial Gym misery?

The Florida Gators are on a four-game winning streak, their longest in SEC play since the first four games of last year’s conference slate. Vanderbilt, their Wednesday night foe (9 p.m., SEC Network or WatchESPN), is still winless in SEC play, and has gotten no closer to breaking through for a W than it did when it visited Florida two weeks ago.

But this game between the Gators and Commodores is taking place at vaunted Memorial Gym in Nashville, and Florida has had all sorts of problems with the ‘Dores on that floor of late.

A two-point loss a year ago, a three-point loss two years ago, and a one-point loss three years ago are the entirety of Mike White’s record at Memorial Gym as Florida’s head coach. Billy Donovan’s last team lost by six in 2015; his incredible 2013-14 Gators snuck out with a 57-54 win that was excruciating to watch.

And that was one of two wins for Florida at Vanderbilt this decade.

So it probably doesn’t really matter that much that Florida is, yes, a better basketball team than Vandy, and also playing better basketball at the moment. The Memorial magic will assuredly be in the home team’s favor tonight: Florida will inevitably sputter for some long stretch, and deep ‘Dores threes will go in. Assuming Florida will do anything at Vandy but lose painfully seems like a dumb posture at this point.

So if they win? Well, it will have been more fun this way.