Men’s Basketball Preview: Florida Gators Vs. LSU Tigers
The SEC schedule is in full swing and the Florida Gators need every win they can get. That includes victories at home against teams in the bottom half of the conference standings – the LSU Tigers. Every game is important from here on out and whether home or away, the Gators will be watched closely for NCAA Tournament seeding purposes. First and second round matchups – and even into the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight – can be determined by seeding, so Florida must win when it’s supposed to and pull off a surprise or two as well. Although there really is only one team against which a victory may signify a surprise and the Gators have a few more weeks before having to think about that game.
The Facts
Opponent: LSU Tigers
When: Saturday, January 21, 2012 – 6:00 PM
Where: Gainesville, FL
Television/Radio: FSN, GatorVision, Sirius 216, XM 199
Records: Florida: 14-4 (2-1 SEC, 10-0 Home), LSU: 12-6 (2-2 SEC, 3-3 Away)
Rankings: Florida: 17/14, LSU: NR
Point Spread: Florida -14
Over/Under: 137.5
Calculated Score: Florida 76-62
Points Scored: Florida: 82.6, LSU: 67.2
Points Allowed: Florida: 65.7, LSU: 60.7
The Preview
Florida heads into Saturday night’s game on a two-game win streak, but more importantly being 10-0 at home on the season. The road struggles of the Gators have been chronicled, but on Saturday night, Florida will play in the friendly confines of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in front of the Rowdy Reptiles.
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While the Gators have been unbeaten at home during the 2011-12 season, the Tigers are an even .500 on the road. LSU has a better record away from Baton Rouge than Florida does away from Gainesville, but the Tigers are riding a two-game road losing streak. After starting the season 3-3, LSU ran off seven straight wins, but the Tigers have gone 2-3 over their last five. LSU’s most impressive victory may be against the No 21/22 Marquette Golden Eagles, but the Tigers also defeated the same Rutgers Scarlet Knights the Gators lost to.
Florida has certainly rebounded since a bad loss to the Tennessee Volunteers, but the first half performance against the South Carolina Gamecocks one week ago leaves many questions in the air. The Gators were able to come out on fire in the second half and put away the Gamecocks for their first road win of the season, but the first half was too close for comfort against a team Florida should have handled for the entire 40 minutes.
LSU could be a similar experience, but one Florida can’t let occur. The Gators have a tendency to let some teams stay in games longer than they should. Sometimes all is okay when Florida goes on a second half run, but at others it results in a loss that leaves us wondering how far this team can really go. Heavily favored over the Tigers, the Gators must be on from the opening tip and not let up. There is a big win for the taking and Florida must grab it.
The big question will be how the Gators play down low. With Patric Young expected to come off the bench for the second consecutive game, Will Yeguete will be given important minutes. Yeguete answered the call in the win over South Carolina and may need to again. A valuable contributor, more and more will be asked of Yeguete with Young not 100%.
Before you head out to enjoy the game and the rest of your Saturday, be sure to let us know how far you think the Gators we go in the NCAA Tournament. The poll is located in the bar to the right. Scroll down and you’ll find it.
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