Today's game
Who: No. 6 Florida Gators (6-0) vs. Florida State Seminoles (4-3)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Donald L Tucker Center, Tallahassee
Gainesville TV: ESPNU
Gainesville radio: AM-850, 103.7 FM
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Donald L Tucker Center, Tallahassee
Gainesville TV: ESPNU
Gainesville radio: AM-850, 103.7 FM
Donovan was
specifically asked about Florida State's struggles to start the season.
The Seminoles are 4-3 and coming off back-to-back home losses against
Minnesota and Mercer.
“I remember one year,
it may have been with Noah and Horford and those guys, they lost
back-to-back games and we went in there and they beat us,” Donovan said.
“I don't think that means anything to me at all.”
No. 6 Florida (6-0)
isn't about to take Florida State lightly. The memories of UF's 70-66
loss to FSU at the Donald L. Tucker Center in 2006 are still too fresh
in Donovan's mind to suggest otherwise.
“We're expecting that
Florida State is going to play their best basketball,” Donovan said.
“That's what we're expecting and I don't think our guys are expecting
anything less.”
It has been a
topsy-turvy season for the Seminoles. Florida State lost its season
opener at home to South Alabama, but looked terrific in winning
back-to-back games against BYU and St. Joseph's in the Coaches vs.
Cancer Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Florida State's
trademark smothering defense under 11th-year coach Leonard Hamilton has
been spotty. The Seminoles are giving up 69.3 points per game while
allowing opponents to shoot 41.1 percent from the floor.
“It's a rivalry game
and they are going to be ready to play no matter what, no matter how
many games they've lost before,” Florida junior forward Will Yeguete
said. “They're going to think it's a good win for their resume. So I
think they are going to play harder than any game that they've played
before. We just have to make sure we're ready to face their
physicality.”
The Gators have managed
to play physical enough in winning their first six games by an average
margin of 26 points. Florida is plus-11.2 in rebounding margin this
season with 25 blocked shots. The Gators have held opponents to 48.5
points per game on 35 percent shooting.
In attacking FSU's defense, Yeguete said it will be important to play unselfish.
“We're just going to
need to be strong with the ball and make sure we screen, make the extra
pass,” Yeguete said. “I think it's going to be huge to be unselfish in
this game because they pressure the ball a lot and they gamble a lot. So
we're just going to make sure we play as a team.”
Florida could be
without starting forward Erik Murphy, who has sat out practices since
Friday with a hip injury he suffered against Marquette. If Murphy can't
go, center Patric Young will likely return to the starting lineup with
Yeguete, Scottie Wilbekin, Kenny Boynton and Mike Rosario.
“We've played with guys
out, such as Scottie, Casey (Prather),” Rosario said. “This is a major
key right now, us not having Murph. But I feel like Will can give us
good minutes at that spot, and you know, I feel like everyone is
prepared.”
Donovan's message since
Florida's 82-49 lopsided win over Marquette is to avoid complacency. In
breaking down tape of the game, Donovan said he noticed some breakdowns
in transition defense and said the margin of victory would not have
been as great had Marquette hit some open shots.
“They need to guard against it,” Donovan said. “When you are walking around and people are telling you how great you are, how good you are, what we did to Wisconsin and Marquette and all of this other stuff, I just tell them there is nothing there that helps them become better players.”
