Florida basketball: North Florida game notes, how to watch and more
Florida basketball kicks off the 2019-2020 season tonight when they take on North Florida. It will be just the second time this Gator team has taken the court in competition.
No. 6 Florida basketball will tip off the 2019-2020 season tonight at home against North Florida.
The Ospreys will feature three players in the starting lineup standing 6-foot-7 while the Gators will have two new players in Mike White’s starting five.
Here are some notes for tonight’s season-opener:
How to watch
Time and Date: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Location: Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center (Gainesville).
TV: SEC Network, with Dave Neal and Jon Sundvold.
Radio: Gators Sports Network with Mick Hubert and Lee Humphrey.
Satellite: Sirius Ch. 81/XM Ch. 81.
Projected lineups
Florida
- Keyontae Johnson, So. Forward
- Kerry Blackshear, Gr., Forward
- Tre Mann, Fr., Guard
- Andrew Nembhard, So., Guard
- Noah Locke, So. Guard
North Florida
- Wajid Animu, Sr., Forward
- Garrett Sams, Sr., Forward
- Carter Hendricksen, So., Forward
- JT Escobar, RSr., Guard
- Ivan Gandia-Rosa, Sr., Guard
Storylines
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Florida: For head coach Mike White, he will start the process of working in nine new faces to the Gators’ lineup. Florida basketball will have four underclassmen projected to start along with Virginia Tech graduate transfer Kerry Blackshear.
In addition to Blackshear, another new face to start will be freshman Tre Mann. Mann was one of the best of the seventh-ranked recruiting class in the country.
North Florida: The Ospreys are experienced in their starting five — four starters are seniors and just one sophomore. They also have three projected starters standing 6-7, meaning it will be a match-up from height vs. quickness.
Of note, the four seniors starting for North Florida all managed double-figures last season when the Gators knocked off the Ospreys, 98-66 in Gainesville. As a team, the Ospreys return seven of their eight top scorers from last season.
All-SEC Preseason
On the eve of the season opener, both Blackshear and Nembhard were honored by Southeastern Conference coaches by being named to the All-SEC First Team.
This came on the heels of Blackshear being named the SEC Preseason Player of the Year and Nembhard being named to the All-SEC second team by members of the media.
What to expect
This is the big question mark.
Florida basketball had just the one preseason game against Division II Lynn University last week where it was less-than-impressive.
Lynn actually outscored the Gators in the second half, but Florida was able to take away the victory.
The key here is how long will it take for Nembhard, Johnson and Locke to find a rhythm with Blackshear and Mann. Both of the latter are real-deal players that can make an impact immediately.
Blackshear averaged 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game at Virginia Tech and it’s that rebounding that could be a big key against the Ospreys.
In their game with Lynn, the Gators drew even in rebounds with Lynn at 42 apiece, but that’s going to have to get better if Florida basketball plans to contend for national praise and SEC championship.
The Gators are 8-0 against the Ospreys, but North Florida is senior-laden and will come ready to play.
The biggest key for Florida will be to get out to a fast start and take away North Florida’s size with quickness. Blackshear will also have to be impactful from the start inside.
Next. Is pressure on Mike White to win now justified?. dark
No. 6 Florida basketball tips off with North Florida at 7 p.m. in Gainesville.