Florida basketball: Lineups and keys to game vs. Florida State
The No. 6 Florida basketball team gets back to action Sunday when they welcome in-state rival Florida State to the O Dome.
This would be a great opportunity for Florida basketball coach Mike White to break a bad record he’s had in his five seasons with the Gators.
He’s 0-4 against Florida State.
That could come to an end when No. 6 Florida basketball hosts the Seminoles at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
The Gators are coming off a 74-59 season-opening win over North Florida while Florida State dropped a 63-61 game at Pittsburgh.
For Florida basketball, their lineup was bolstered by graduate transfer forward Kerry Blackshear. Against the Ospreys, Blackshear lit up for 20 points and 10 rebounds while freshman guard Tre Mann had 11 points and four rebounds in the win.
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It was a slow season-opener for sophomore point guard Andrew Nembhard who missed six of his seven field goals. He did have four assists against North Florida.
While he may not start, fellow freshman Scottie Lewis had nine points and five rebounds against the Ospreys and I would expect to see him come off the bench quickly if he’s not in the starting five.
Another player to come off the bench for Florida basketball will be freshman center Omar Payne. Payne came off the bench Tuesday against North Florida and picked up six points, five rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
The biggest room for improvement for the Gators will be their 3-point shooting.
Against North Florida, the Gators shot just 20% from beyond the arc (4-for-24).
As for Florida State, they are led by senior guard Trent Forrest. Forrest picked up 19 points, two rebounds and two assists in the Atlantic Coast Conference loss at Pitt.
Sophomore guard Devin Vassell also scored in double-figures in the loss with 14 points.
Game info — Florida State (0-1) at No. 6 Florida (1-0)
- When: 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10.
- Where: Exactech Arena at the Stephen O’ Connell Center (Gainesville, Florida).
- TV: ESPN with Karl Ravech and Dick Vitale.
- Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network with Mick Hubert and Lee Humphrey.
Probable lineups
Florida
- F — Keyontae Johnson (6-5, So.)
- F — Kerry Blackshear (6-10, G. Transfer)
- G — Tre Mann (6-4, Fr.)
- G — Noah Locke (6-2, So.)
- G — Andrew Nembhard (6-5, So.)
Florida State
G — Trent Forrest (6-4, Sr.)
G — Devin Vassell (6-7, So.)
Next. Gator football rebounds, blasts Vanderbilt. dark
No. 6 Florida basketball will tip off with Florida State in Gainesville at 1 p.m. Sunday.