Basketball Preview: Florida Gators Vs. Tennessee Volunteers – Feb. 11, 2012
The Florida Gators started the SEC season with a tough loss to the Tennessee Volunteers on the road. Between that game and the recent loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, the No. 7/8 Gators won seven straight in the conference. With book-end losses around those seven wins, Florida will look to bounce back in a big way and start another win streak on Saturday.
The Facts
Opponent: Tennessee Volunteers
When: Saturday, February 11, 2012 – 4:00 PM
Where: Gainesville, FL
Television/Radio: SEC Network, GatorVision, Sirius 220, XM 199
Records: Florida: 19-5 (7-2 SEC, 13-0 Home), Tennessee: 12-12 (4-5 SEC, 1-7 Away)
Rankings: Florida: 7/8, Tennessee: NR
Current Streak: Florida: L1, Tennessee: W2
Point Spread: Florida -12.5
Over/Under: 133.5
Calculated Score: Florida 73-60/73-61
Points Scored: Florida: 79.2, Tennessee: 68.6
Points Allowed: Florida: 65.5, Tennessee: 65.5
Last Meeting: Tennessee 67-56 (January 7, 2012)
Questions with the Enemy: Hail Florida Hail, All For Tennessee
The Preview
Rematches seem to have a little more importance if you’re on the side of the team that lost the previous game. For Florida fans, that’s the case on Saturday. Tennessee fans want to see their team finish the season strong, but are really looking to the future. After an embarrassing loss to Kentucky on Tuesday (and memories of another embarrassing loss to Tennessee earlier this season), Florida fans want the Gators to absolutely run over the Vols. I can’t imagine the players feel much different.
In the first matchup of the season, Tennessee took control of the game early and didn’t allow Florida to find their flow. The Vols managed the rhythm of the game and disrupted whatever it was the Gators had planned to do. Realistically, it wasn’t as close of the 11-point loss and that’s saying something. Tennessee had complete control of the game and at the time we wondered how good this Florida team might actually be.
Seven wins later, we had our answer. The Gators are a good basketball team, but a streaky one. Florida can get hot from outside, but can just as easily go cold. A number of factors contributed to the loss to the Wildcats (including the fact that Kentucky really is THAT good), but the Gators went dark on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. Florida has won games when they aren’t playing well at one end; they haven’t when they can’t do so at both.
Against Tennessee, it all has to come back together. Everything the Gators are playing for at this point revolves around NCAA Tournament seeding. Florida only has one game they would be permitted to lose the rest of the way out. This isn’t that game. The Gators are favored against the Vols and will be against every team they face up until the regular season finale against the Wildcats. We’re in “must win,” “just win,” and “every other kind of win you can think of” territory.
Before or after the game, 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.
For more Florida Gators’ coverage, like our Facebook page and follow @HailFloridaHail on Twitter.