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Florida basketball: Gators face tough road test in first game without Castleton

By Will Thomas

Feb 15, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators center Jason Jitoboh (33) blocks the shot of Mississippi Rebels guard TJ Caldwell (2) during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators center Jason Jitoboh (33) blocks the shot of Mississippi Rebels guard TJ Caldwell (2) during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Florida basketball is on the road to Fayetteville to take on the 17-9 Arkansas Razorbacks tomorrow afternoon in the Gators’ first game without Colin Castleton.

Before Colin’s injury, we knew that this was the toughest game left on Florida’s schedule as they tried to make a push for the tournament.

Now, the challenge becomes that much steeper, and Florida will need to pull the upset tomorrow if they want any chance at sneaking into the big dance.

The Razorback’s feature guy is Ricky Council IV, a junior guard from Durham, North Carolina. He’s scoring 16.5 points per game and dishing out 2.6 assists while shooting 44.8% from the field.

Arkansas has three more guys scoring in double figures in G Anthony Black (13.0), F Trevon Brazile (11.8), and G Davonte Davis (11.2).

Arkansas’ weakness offensively is their three-point shooting. As a team, they only make their threes 30.6% of the time. Florida is almost two points ahead with a 32.3% rate.

If Florida is able to stay solid inside on defense and force the Razorbacks to take perimeter shots, they may be able to force Arkansas into a bad day on offense.

If Florida is to limit Arkansas’ inside scoring, they’ll need Jason Jitoboh to step up in a big way.

With Castleton going down, Jitoboh is now the feature big man for the Gators. In just 9.1 minutes per game, Jason is scoring 2.4 points per game and bringing down 1.3 rebounds.

He’s still been recovering from the eye injury he sustained last year against Tennessee and hasn’t had the opportunity for many minutes. While he hasn’t flashed much finesse and elite skill at the rim, what he does have is great size.

Jitoboh stands at 6’11”-300 pounds. There isn’t anybody that he can’t push around down low and have his way with.

If the Gators have a chance in this game, they need a major coming-out party for Jitoboh and sustained scoring from Myreon Jones, Kowacie Reeves, and Will Richard.

Keep up with Florida basketball at Hail Florida Hail. 

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