Pregame Stuff: Florida vs Gonzaga (Friday, 9:30 pm)

Friday, November 25

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Pregame Stuff: Florida vs Gonzaga (Friday, 9:30 pm)

Friday, November 25, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry

A nuts and bolts look at UF's second-round matchup in the AdvoCare Invitational at Disney.

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

FLORIDA vs No. 11 GONZAGA

When: Thursday, 9:30 p.m. (ET)
Where: HP Fieldhouse, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Records: Florida 5-0, Gonzaga 4-0
TV: ESPNU
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network (Mick Hubert and Mark Wise)

STAKES (The Setup)

After Thursday night's big 81-76 win over Seton Hall in AdvoCare opening-round action, the Gators face their first ranked opponent of the season. Gonzaga advanced Friday by defeating Quinnipiac 82-62. ... The Florida-Gonzaga winner will advance to the tournament championship game Sunday at 1:30 to face No. 21 Iowa State (5-0), which smacked Miami 73-56 in the early winner's bracket semifinal. The loser will face the Hurricanes (4-1). ... The Gators and Bulldogs have played twice in their histories, including the famous (or infamous in UF's case) 1999 NCAA Tournament matchup in the Sweet 16 at Phoenix, where Gonzaga forward Casey Calvary skied for a putback with three seconds left for a 73-72 defeat of Coach Billy Donovan's first NCAA team. The two later met in the 2000 Orange Bowl Classic at Sunrise, Fla., where UF center Udonis Haslem went for 27 points, while forward Brent Wright added 17 and Brett Nelson 15 in an 85-71 win for the Gators. ... Florida is 2-4 all-time against teams currently in the West Coast Conference.

STARTERS (Probable Lineups)

Florida	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Class	Per Game
Devin Robinson	F	6-8	200	Junior	11.2 pts / 5.8 reb
Justin Leon	F	6-8	206	Senior	7.6 pts / 4.6 reb
John Egbunu	C	6-11	255	R-Junior	9.4 pts / 8.8 reb
KeVaughn Allen	G	6-2	183	Sophomore	14.0 pts / 3.0 reb
Kasey Hill	PG	6-1	175	Senior	6.4 pts / 3.4 ast

Gonzaga	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Class	Per Game
Johnathan Williams	F	6-9	228	R-Junior	10.8 pts / 5.5 reb
Przemek Karnowski	C	7-1	300	R-Senior	13.0 pts / 7.3 reb
Jordan Matthews	G	6-4	203	Senior	10.8 pts / 3.0 reb
Nigel Williams-Goss	PG	6-3	195	R-Junior	11.3 pts / 5.5 ast
Josh Perkins	G	6-3	190	R-Sophomore	10.3 pts / 1.2 asts

STANDING OUT (One to Watch)

Gonzaga center Przemek Karnowski is a mountain of a man. He's listed at 7-1, 300, but he has to be closer to 330 and the Bulldogs will look to dump it into him every half-court possession he is in the game. Karnowski underwent five knee surgeries last season that limited him to just five games, yet many NBA scouts still projected him as a first-round draft choice. Instead, Karnowski opted to apply for a medical redshirt, which was granted, and returned for a redshirt senior season. Worth noting: He is one of three 7-footers on the Gonzaga roster and not even the best one (read on).

STUFF (Need-to-Know Info)

For Florida, halfcourt defense will be paramount, given Gonzaga's size and preference for dumping the ball in low, so discipline guarding in the post from the likes of John Egbunu (who at 6-11, 250 actually will be at a size disadvantage) and backup Kevarrius Hayes will be required. ... UF will have the edge in athleticism, should the game turn into a track meet, but the Bulldogs are capable of playing in transition. That means no bad shots for the Gators because the Bulldogs will get it and go. ... Florida defeated Seton Hall despite its most consistent player to date, forward Devin Robinson, stuck on the bench for virtually the entire game in foul trouble. Robinson hit both his field goals and grabbed three rebounds in just 11 minutes. UF will need his length on the floor against the monstrous Bulldogs. ... After hitting just five of his first 20 shots through two games, guard KeVaughn Allen has now gone 18-for-37 overall from the floor the last three games (48.6 percent) and 7-for-15 from the arc (46.6 percent). He had a season-best 21 against the Pirates in easily his best game since the NIT last march. Backup forward Canyon Barry went for 20 points and six rebounds against the Pirates and upped his team-high scoring average to 14.6 per game. ... In his last three games, UF senior point guard Kasey Hill has 11 points and 11 turnovers. His defense, though, has been pretty good. ... ABOUT THE BULLDOGS: One of the elite programs in the country. Coach Mark Few is in his 18th season, with an overall record of 470-111, having led the "Zags" to the NCAA Tournament every season he's been on the sidelines. ... All five Gonzaga starters average in double-figures, but it's the sixth man, 7-foot forward Zach Collins, who leads the team 13.8 points per game on -- get this -- 75 percent from the floor. The highly skilled Collins is being talked about as a future NBA lottery pick. ... Guards Jordan Matthews (47.8 percent) and Josh Perkins (46.7) are the squad's top 3-point shooters. ... Besides the defeat of Quinnipiac, the Bulldogs have beaten Utah Valley by 13, San Diego State by 21 and Bryant by 39. ... For comparison's sake, Gonzaga played Seton Hall in their first NCAA Tournament game last season. The Bulldogs were an No. 11 seed, the Pirates a No. 6. Gonzaga won 68-52, then fell to eventual Final Four team Syracuse in the Round of 32.

STATS (Some Numbers of Note)

**Kenny Boyton** was UF's leading scorer the last time the Gators started a season 5-0.

* 5 — Gonzaga players at least 6-11 or taller. Seriously. UF has one.

* +11.6 — UF's average advantage in scoring off the bench through five games. Barry and Chris Chiozza are the keys there.

* 12 — Points Allen needs to hit 500 for his career. Pretty good for just 41 games.

* 50.0 — Florida forward Justin Leon from the 3-point line this season (8-for-16).

* 1,949 — Attendance during the Gonzaga/Quinnipiac and Florida/Seton Hall late sessions at HP Fieldhouse Thursday. Not good.

* 2012 — Last time UF was 5-0. Florida won its first seven that season, beating Alabama State, Wisconsin, Middle Tennessee, Savannah State, UCF, Marquette and Florida State to jump to No. 8 in the rankings, before falling 65-64 at No. 8 Arizona.

STATEMENT (RANDOM THOUGHT)

Wouldn't it be nice if some Gators fans in Central Florida came out to support the program. Yes, even for a late-night tip and on the eve of the Florida-Florida State football game. The place only seats 5,000. See you there.