GAME NOTES: The Florida Gators invade Auburn Arena tonight to take on the desperate Tigers in an SEC clash.
Florida carried a five-game win streak into last Saturday's home clash with South Carolina, and that tilt went to overtime. Unfortunately, the Gators dropped a 72-69 decision, causing them to fall to 13-4 overall and 2-1 in conference. Heading into tonight's tilt, UF owns a perfect 3-0 record in true road games, so don't expect Billy Donovan's team to be intimidated.
Since league play began on January 8th, Auburn has suffered three consecutive losses to fall to 7-10 overall. The last two defeats have been blowouts, including an 85-66 setback to Mississippi State on the road last Sunday. Fortunately, the Tigers return home tonight where all seven of their wins have come.
Auburn owns an 87-69 series lead over Florida, but the Gators have won 12 of the last 13 meetings.
Erving Walker is the top scorer for the Gators, as he is hitting 44.8 percent of his attempts from three-point range while averaging 14.5 ppg. Kenny Boynton chips in with 12.6 ppg, but his 37 percent field goal efficiency clearly needs to be improved. Vernon Macklin chips in 10.9 ppg and 6.4 rpg from his center position, and Chandler Parsons posts 10.6 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Florida is generating 71.2 ppg while limiting opponents to 61.7 ppg on 41.8 percent field goal efficiency. The Gators are outrebounding foes by 6.7 rpg, the most obvious key tot their success. Walker scored 17 points in the narrow loss to South Carolina last time out, while Macklin and Patric Young pitched in with 12 points apiece. Alex Tyus registered 10 points in that affair for Florida, which missed 10 critical free throws, a big deal in a three-point game.
Through 17 games, Auburn is averaging 64.1 ppg on just 39.7 percent shooting from the floor, and the team has just two double-digit scorers in the fold. Earnest Ross paces the club with 12.4 ppg, and Andre Malone checks in with 11.7 ppg. Neither of the two shoot the ball with an significant level of efficiency, and Ross has been particularly inefficient, hitting just 35.9 percent of his field goal attempts. On a positive note, he does lead the club with 6.9 rpg and places second with 40 assists. Defensively, Auburn is yielding 65.9 ppg, but the club was torched for 85 points by Mississippi State on Sunday. The Bulldogs were able to shoot 62 percent from the floor while Auburn managed a mere 35.8 percent field goal efficiency. Ross tallied 15 points in that affair, while Kenny Gabriel added 14 points off the bench.
Although Auburn will get some support from the home crowd tonight, Florida has played well on the road and is simply the better team in this matchup. Expect the Gators to start fast and finish strong.
