A quick glance at today's UF-Jacksonville game
Monday, December 20, 2010 | Men's Basketball, Men's Tennis, Scott Carter
If you're at work today and searching for some afternoon entertainment when your boss isn't looking, you are in luck.
The UF men's basketball team hosts Jacksonville in a rare matinee (1 p.m.) at the O-Dome. The Gators (8-2) are coming off their biggest win of the season, knocking off No. 6 Kansas State on Saturday in Sunrise as part of the Orange Bowl Classic.
The Gators started slowly – they didn't score until seven minutes into the game -- but dominated the Wildcats in the second half for their 17th win over a top 10-team under head coach Billy Donovan.
The Gators rallied from a 20-8 deficit, marking their largest comeback since overcoming an 18-point deficit to defeat Alabama on Feb. 14, 2007.
Next up are the Dolphins, who visit for the 33rd all-time meeting between the schools. Here are some pre-game notes:
--As I write this blog, the latest polls are still not out. The Gators were unranked in last week's AP Top 25 – second behind UCF in others receiving votes – and No. 24 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
With their win over Kansas State, I expect the Gators to re-enter the AP poll. UCF is also expected to move into the AP Top 25, which will be the Knights' first ranking in school history.
-- Donovan will tie former LSU coach Harry Rabenhorst and former Alabama/Vanderbilt coach C.M. Newton for third on the all-time win list for SEC coaches with a victory today.
Donovan has 339 career wins at Florida.
--Florida leads the all-time series 28-4 over Jacksonville, including an 85-67 win on Dec. 4, 2009.
--Jacksonville is a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference; since Donovan arrived, the Gators are 23-0 vs. A-Sun opponents.
--Gators have won three consecutive games since losing to UCF in Orlando on Dec. 1.
--Over the last five games, the Gators are holding opponents to 35 percent shooting from the floor.
--Senior C Vernon Macklin has been stellar in the last four games, averaging 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and shooting 72.5 percent from the floor.
--Jacksonville is 6-3 and off to its best start since opening the 2001-01 season 7-0. Dolphins senior F Ayron Hardy is averaging 12.6 points and 7 rebounds. He was named A-Sun Player of the Week last week.
