Stories to see as No. 3 Florida Basketball Face another Road Test at MSU

On By Littum

game

  • No. 3 Florida Gators face the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the road after disturbing No. 1 Auburn Tigers.
  • Florida has shot the ball well from 3-point reach in recent matches, and containing Mississippi State’s guards will be the key to continuing their winning line.

Florida Basketball Proven that it could play with everyone in the country, even on the road as it disturbed No. 1 Auburn 90-81 on Saturday on the plains.

From an emotional victory, No. 3 Florida Gators (20-3, 7-3 sec) face another road challenge on Tuesday when playing in Mississippi State (19:00, ESPN2)

Bulldogs (17-6, 5-5 sec) have been ranked in the top 25 to and from throughout the 2024-25 season and broke a two-match losing row with a 76-75 win in Georgia last Saturday.

“We have a goal on our backs,” said Florida Basketball coach Todd Golden. “Our guys learn it, especially after Saturday. We have to perform really, really well on the road Tuesday night to win. ”

Florida is 4-2 in true road games this season. Gators could be without a starting guard for a third straight game, as grading Alijah Martin remains questionable with a hip injury. Senior Point Guard Walter Clayton Jr. returned from an injury and triggered UF in his upset victory over Auburn and ended the game with 19 points and nine assists.

Clayton does not expect a hangover on Tuesday night after the emotional victory.

“Everyone is ready,” Clayton said. “I think we all understand that we can’t get too tall. We can’t be too low. I think everyone understands what to do, just go out there, do you job, do your task, and we go to win the game.

Here are three history lines to look for UFS Games against Bulldogs:

Can Florida Basketball continue its hot shooting from 3-point range?

Florida Sizzled from three-point range last week and shoots 42.6% (23-54) in victories over Vanderbilt and Auburn. UFS Multiple Circle Threats have made Gators difficult to protect as five different players sank 3-pointers against Vanderbilt and six different players, including Fremad Thomas Haugh and Sam Alexis, made 3-Pointers against Auburn.

Golden credited UFS ball movement to get shooters open appearance. Florida has recorded 42 assists during its last two matches for only 22 revenue.

“When you get catch and shoot triangles and you get pick and roll -dunks, these numbers go up.” Said Golden. “I thought we were doing a good job of moving the ball and also taking care of it in the last two games.”

Sophomore guard Urban Klavzar has also given a lift from the bench with its circumference shooting and goes a perfect 5-for-5 from 3-point reach in matches against Vanderbilt and Auburn.

“You saw our team’s reaction when we played Vanderbilt, he made the other 3, the whole bench sprinted off the sidelines and basically tried to tackle him at Half Court,” Golden said. “When guys get their opportunity and they are doing well, there is a lot of joy in our team – and that’s exactly what we’re trying to build here.”

Can Florida Basketball contain a talented MSU -backcourt that includes scoring PG Josh Hubbard and UF Transfer Riley Kugel?

Like Clayton, 5-Foot-11 Hubbard is a scoring point for Mississippi State. Hubbard ranks seventh in SEC in the scoring (17.5 ppg), while an average of 3.0 assists per day. Match.

“He is really hard to live in front and you know, hard shot, light shot, they are the same for him,” said Golden, “he is basically the same from the jump from 3 as he is away from the catch who is very unusual.

Hubbard shoots 36.0% from 3-point range of the season (73-203).

“You have to keep him away from the line must make every shot hard for him.” Said Golden. “Get him to get into the arch, have him quit, live with him and make some hard.”

Kugel has assumed the role of MSU’s sixth man, ranking third on the bulldogs in the scoring of 9.7 ppg. That’s a role he played last season for Gators after serving all-season Freshman-Head Certificate for UF in 2022-23. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, the high-level athlete is capable of finishing over the edge.

“From my perspective, our goal is to treat him like any other player for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and try to avoid getting into emotional situations with Riley,” Golden said. “We have great respect for him as a player. He has had a really good year.”

Can Florida Basketball continue to impose on its physical character on the road?

Florida went toe to toe in the front of his riot at No. 1 Auburn on Saturday and played for an even 40-40 rebound margin while grabbing 11 offensive boards. Sophomore tip Alex Condon published his fifth career double-double in the victory. There may be several options for the second chance for UF has sent a rebounding margin on Plus-9.4 on the season compared to Plus-2.9 ​​for MSU.

“We have to be active on the glass,” Golden said. “They have allowed some offensive rebounds and some options for the second chance, and it will be a ball control game for us, similar to Saturday. We have to get shots and we have to keep them out of transition.”

Forecast

Florida 77, Mississippi State 72: It won’t be easy, but Florida will overcome an off-shooting evening with a strong effort on the boards and more solid inside the game from Condon to improve to 5-2 on the road this season.

Kevin Brockway is Gainesville Suns Florida Beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on x @Kevinbrockwayg1