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Florida basketball: Gators/Bears matchup not all that bad for Challenge

By Matthew Clark

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 21: Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Florida Gators handles the ball on offense against the Nevada Wolf Pack in the second half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 21: Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Florida Gators handles the ball on offense against the Nevada Wolf Pack in the second half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Scott Drew and the Baylor Bears will be the opponent for Florida basketball as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. It creates, what I think, is a very interesting matchup for the Gators.

While last year may have been a struggle for both Baylor and Florida basketball, the expectations are pretty high for both teams coming into the 2019-20 season.

That’s why the Baylor/Florida match-up for this season’s Big 12/SEC challenge presents a lot of potential.

First, Baylor is 5-1 in the challenge while Florida basketball is 4-2 all-time in the event, 3-1 under head coach Mike White.

There are other parallels.

Florida finished last season 20-16 overall and 9-9 in the Southeastern Conference. Baylor, on the other hand, finished 20-14 overall and 10-8 in the Big 12.

Florida basketball is 1-1 against Baylor in the challenge, including a win over the Bears in 2018.

Both teams earned bids to the NCAA tournament, won their first game and lost in their second to a higher seed (Baylor lost to Gonzaga in the second round while Florida dropped a 64-49 decision to No. 2-seeded Michigan.

White has had a solid off-season of recruiting by landing All-ACC graduate transfer Kerry Blackshear, Jr. from Virginia Tech. He also picked up Cleveland State guard Tyree Applebee, who will have to sit out this season.

Baylor head coach Scott Drew was equally busy in the off-season, getting former Presbyterian guard Adam Flagler and UNLV forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua to sign with the Bears.

Granted, these are pretty thin connections, but I think this is one of the best matchups of the challenge. Both teams are gritty and want to break out from their performances last season.

Scott Drew is a tough coach that will give White a challenge on the sideline.

Honestly, this is about as good a matchup as the Gators could get in this Challenge. I, for one, am pretty stoked about the game.

Here are the matchups for the Big 12/SEC Challenge this season:

  • Baylor at Florida
  • Iowa State at Auburn
  • Tennessee at Kansas
  • Kansas State at Alabama
  • Mississippi State at Oklahoma
  • Oklahoma State at Texas A&M
  • TCU at Arkansas
  • LSU at Texas
  • Kentucky at Texas Tech
  • Missouri at West Virginia

Florida football: How 2019 opposing coaches have fared against the Gators. dark. Next

Baylor will take on the Gators on Sat. Jan. 25 at Exactech Arena at the O’Connell Center.

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