NCAA Game of the Week: No. 5 Florida vs. No. 8 Tennessee

An SEC battle will commence at noon EST on Saturday. It will be the teams’ second time meeting this year. Last time, on Jan. 7, the No. 8 Florida Gators took down the top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers by 30 at home in Gainesville.

The Gators might’ve had a chip on their shoulder last time as they handed the Vols their first loss of the season. The previous game, the Gators suffered their loss of the season when they fell to No. 10 Kentucky in an ultra-high scoring affair 106-100.

The venue at which this game is played might have something to do with the winner of the game.

When in Gainesville this year, attendance at the game was 11,011. Last home game in Knoxville this year was No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 8 Tennessee when attendance reached 22,272. This game will be played in Knoxville.

But, does Tennessee’s homecourt offer an advantage? Who knows because the game against Kentucky, as previously mentioned, saw the Vols come out on the losing end 78-73.

This year, the Vols spent a while in the top-ranked spot in the country. Their resume includes wins over No. 13 Baylor, unranked but no joke Illinois, No. 23 Arkansas, No. 23 Georgia and No. 14 Mississippi St. They have suffered two straight losses to No. 1 Auburn and No. 12 Kentucky entering this game against the Gators.

The Vols have suffered upsets, to previously mentioned No. 12 Kentucky and No. 8 Florida, and unranked Vanderbilt.

The Gators started the season ranked No. 21, but they surprised the college basketball world when they started the season 13-0. Their first loss of the season came against, previously mentioned, No. 10 Kentucky. They suffered their second loss of the season when they were upset by unranked Missouri.

On the other hand, the Gators have built a resume by picking up big wins against unranked but for real North Carolina, No, 1 Tennessee and unranked, but coached by the legendary John Calipari, Arkansas.

The key for the Vols to get revenge on their SEC rival is to control what you can control. Rebound the ball better.

In Gainesville, the Vols were out-rebounded 52-38. They also shot the ball with less success, as their field goal percentage was 21.4, and the Gators shot at 39.7% from the floor.

Shooting the ball better will come, you don’t have to force it when you have a basketball team full of high-IQ basketball players. They can control rebounding the ball better if they’re tougher.

Knowing the way Coach Rick Barnes coaches his team, Florida better be ready. The Gators will have their hands full.

That being said, the Vols will have their hands full because the Gators are littered with guards. They are headlined by Walter Clayton Jr., who is scoring 17.8 points per game.

On his heels is Alijah Martin, who is scoring 16.1 per game. No wonder the Vols were out rebounded in their previous game against the Gators. They were too busy guarding the Gators’ guard at the perimeter. And Florida still shot the ball at a higher success rate.

Will the Gators extend their winning streak to four or will Tennessee end their two-game skid? Start your February off right by tuning in to ESPN on Saturday at noon EST to find the answer.

Chase Yingling is a third-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact him, email cey5100@psu.edu.