Pregame Stuff: Vanderbilt at No. 19 Florida (Saturday, noon)

VANDERBILT at No. 19 FLORIDA

When: Saturday, noon (ET)
Where: Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center, Gainesville, Fla.
Records: Florida 14-4 (5-1), Vanderbilt 8-10 (2-4)
TV: CBS (Kevin Harlan and Jim Spanarkel)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network (Mick Hubert and Bill Koss)

STAKES (The Setup)

The UF-Vandy game is the fourth sellout (in five games) since Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center reopened its doors.

UF had its seven-game winning snapped Wednesday night at South Carolina in a battle between two teams that entered unbeaten in Southeastern Conference play. Facing the No. 1-rated defensive team in the country, the Gators struggled in making just 35.2 percent from the floor and were historically awful -- 0-for-17 -- from the 3-point line in losing 57-53. The woeful performance from distance snapped an 850-game streak of making at least one from beyond the arc, a run that dated to the 1992 season. ... Vanderbilt started the SEC slate with a couple wins, but has since lost four straight. ... The Commodores lead the all-time series 67-63, including a sweep of the two games last year. Vandy won 60-59 on Jan. 26, 2016 in Nashville, a game that wasn't as close the final score indicates. The Commodores then came to Gainesville on Feb. 23 and dominated the host Gators on the way to an 87-74 win in a game both teams sorely needed for their NCAA Tournament resume. In that one, center Damian Jones, a first-round pick by Golden State five months later, dominated the Florida bigs, finishing with 27 points on 12-for-13 shooting to go with seven rebounds. Forward Jeff Roberson also had his way in the paint with 18 points and 10 boards. Vandy shot 58 percent from the floor, went 10-for-20 from the 3-point line, got the win and, eventually, the NCAA at-large berth.

STARTERS (Probable Lineups)

Florida	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Class	Per Game
Devin Robinson	F	6-8	200	Junior	11.2 pts / 5.4 reb
Justin Leon	F	6-8	206	Senior	6.3 pts / 3.1 reb
John Egbunu	C	6-1	255	R-Junior	7.6 pts / 6.9 reb
KeVaughn Allen	G	6-2	183	Sophomore	13.2 pts / 2.4 reb
Kasey Hill	PG	6-1	175	Senior	9.6 pts / 4.7 asts

Vanderbilt	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Class	Per Game
Luke Kornet	F	7-0	250	Senior	13.6 pts / 6.3 reb
Jeff Roberson	F	6-6	224	Junior	10.4 pts / 7.3 reb
Payton Willis	G	6-4	182	Freshman	6.7 pts / 2.5 asts
Matthew Fisher-Davis	G	6-5	185	Junior	16.3 pts / 3.3 asts
Riley LaChance	G	6-2	192	Junior	10.3 pts / 4.1 asts

STANDING OUT (One to Watch)

**Luke Kornet** was 6-foot-4 going into his senior season of high school at Lantana (Texas) Liberty Christian and sprouted seven inches that year. He grew another two after he landed at Vanderbilt (where both his parents attended) as a freshman in 2014. Kornet is a unique player. At 7-1, he is a classic rim-protector in the post, finishing fourth in the nation last season in blocks at per game. But he also runs the floor in transition and stretches the defense with 3-point shooting. Kornet has made 26 of 72 treys this season (36.1 percent). He made 40 percent from deep as a sophomore, so he's capable of heating up. Foul Kornet and he makes 83 percent from the line. The Commodores were far more dangerous last season when both Kornet and Jones roamed the floor, but Kornet certainly is capable of having a significant impact on the game with his presence alone. His size and length are factors on both ends.

STUFF (Need-to-Know Info)

ABOUT THE GATORS: So much focus went into that dismal offensive display at South Carolina (and rightfully so) that practically overlooked was the way Florida defended in holding the Gamecocks to 29 percent shooting after allowing the previous four SEC opponents to hit a collective 49 percent from the floor. Can the Gators build on that renewed commitment to defense as the conference season goes on? They'll need to, starting today against one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country. ... Another concern -- and a huge one -- is the three-game funk of shooting guard KeVaughn Allen, who after heating up for some of the best basketball of his two collegiate seasons made just five of 18 shots, missed all eight 3-point attempts, and totaled 16 points against Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. On Wednesday, he scored one point and took just three shots. Obviously, the Gators need to get Allen going and get his confidence, which appeared sky high two weeks ago, back to a good place. ... Speaking of three-game funks, since forward Justin Leon had a career-high 19 points against Tennessee, he's gone 2-for-14 from the floor, 0-for-6 from the arc and grabbed four rebounds. His opportunities have been decreased by some productive bench minutes from redshirt freshman Keith Stone (9-for-12 vs Bama and Georgia, including 5-for-6 from 3), but the Gators need to get Leon back on his productive, blue-collar track. ... After enjoying a sizzling four-game offensive streak, backup forward Canyon Barry came back to earth against the Gamecocks in making just four of 13 field-goal attempts and none of his six 3-balls. ... Forward Devin Robinson's 10 rebounds at South Carolina made for just the fifth time he'd cleared double-figure boards in a game and just the second time 42 SEC games. ... Point guard Kasey Hill has hit double-figure scoring in three straight games and has at least four steals in half of UF's six SEC games. ... ABOUT THE COMMODORES: They're in Year 1 under Coach Bryce Drew, who went 124-49 the previous five seasons at his alma mater of Valparaiso. It was at Valpos where Drew once hit one of the most famous buzzer-beating shots in NCAA Tournament history. It came against Ole Miss in 1998, with Rebels guard Mike White on the sidelines, no less. ... Of the Commodores' eight wins, all but two came against mid- to low-majors. The best non-conference victory was against Tennessee-Chattanooga. Vandy opened the SEC schedule by beating LSU on the road and Auburn at home, but has dropped four straight: at Alabama, home against Kentucky and Tennessee, and Tuesday night at Georgia. ... The Commodores lead the SEC in 3-pointers per game (9.8) and 3-point field-goal percentage (.390). They also are tops in free-throw percentage (.769). Vandy, though, ranks near the bottom of the league in defensive field-goal percentage, giving up 44.1 from the floor and 36.7 from the 3-point line, both next-to-last in the SEC. The Commodores also struggle to rebound the ball (35.2 per game) and are dead-last in the SEC in forcing turnovers (10.7 pg). ... Forward Matthew Fisher-Davis is one of the best players in the conference. He makes 42 percent from the floor, better than 39 from the 3-point line and 80 percent of his free throws. Against Auburn, Fisher-Davis nailed seven 3s and scored a career-high 33. ... Up front, the previously mentioned Roberson is not much of a threat from the outside, but he'll fight on the glass and if fouled will make his shots at the line (.776). ... Point guard Riley LaChance is as good a long-distance shooter as there is in the country. All he's done so far is nail 55.9 percent from the arc (38-for-68).

STATS (Some Numbers of Note)

* 1 — Steals needed by Hill to move into UF's all-time top 10 in that category. He's one theft shy of Erving Walker (2008-12), who checks in at No. 10 with 159.

* 9 — Vandy players who have seen the court during the '16-17 season. That's it. In comparison, 12 Gators have played this season.

* 17 — UF's 3-point-less night was the worst in all of college basketball this season. No team had attempted as many as Florida's 17 from deep without making a single one in any other game during 2016-17.

* 80 — Approximate distance (in feet) of former Vandy 7-foot forward Josh Henderson's halftime buzzer-beating shot at the O'Dome last February. Remember? The Gators cut a 10-point lead to just two in the final minute and had a chance to tie the game just before the break when 6-10 Schuyler Rimmer got a fantastic entry pass from Hill and went up for a bunny and rather than dunking the ball tried to drop into the goal. He didn't see Fisher-Davis, however, who came from the baseline and blocked the shot into the Henderson's hands near the free-throw line. Henderson wheeled and chucked the ball down the court -- and into the basket. From a potential tie to a five-point deficit and a lot of slumped Gator shoulders. In case you missed it (or don't believe it), check out video above. Said then Vandy coach Kevin Stallings to the halftime reporter: "I just drew that up."

* 300 — Where the Gators rank in Division I (out of 347 teams) in defensive rebounding at just 23.3 per game. That's dead-last among SEC teams. Think about that stat and what it means as far as offensive rebounds by the other team and second-chance opportunities.

STATEMENT (Random thought)

A 3-pointer early in the proceedings would be a good thing, don't you think?

Gators Calendar

Pregame Stuff: Vanderbilt at No. 19 Florida (Saturday, noon)

Players Mentioned

KeVaughn Allen

Canyon Barry

John Egbunu

Kasey Hill

Justin Leon

Schuyler Rimmer

Devin Robinson

Keith Stone

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Pregame Stuff: Vanderbilt at No. 19 Florida (Saturday, noon)

Players Mentioned

KeVaughn Allen

Canyon Barry

John Egbunu

Kasey Hill

Justin Leon

Schuyler Rimmer

Devin Robinson

Keith Stone

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