Florida Gators at Vanderbilt: Preview, Info, Where to Watch and More

Photo: Todd Golden; Credit: Zach Goodall

The Florida Gators (14-14; 7-8 SEC) are set to travel into Nashville, Tenn., to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores (15-13; 8-7 SEC) on Saturday.

Florida is looking to snap a two-game losing streak after dropping contests to Arkansas and Kentucky, while simultaneously trying to avenge a loss to Vanderbilt earlier this month.

You can find everything you need to know about the matchup below.

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Florida Gators at Vanderbilt Commodores

Where: Memorial Gym, Nashville, Tenn.

When: Saturday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. EST

Watch: ESPN2

Radio: Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD / SiriusXM 380 / SXM App 970

Odds: Florida is a 3.5-point underdog to Vanderbilt, according to the Sports Illustrated Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 145.5 points.

Series history: The Gators are 73-72 all-time against the Commodores, including a 21-48 record on the road. In the last meeting between the two programs, Vanderbilt took down Florida in Gainesville, 88-80, on Feb. 11.

Important stories

The rundown

The Gators are in danger of falling below sea-level, sitting at 14-14 (7-8 SEC) despite hovering in the top 50 of NET rankings throughout most of the season.

With only three games remaining and NCAA Tournament chances out of reach, a trip to Nashville could be a difficult task.

However, the first-year coaching staff is looking to finish laying the foundation to close a challenging opening campaign.

Facing a Vanderbilt offense clicking at an uber-high level under Jerry Stackhouse’s tutelage in recent, the Gators will have to limit Liam Robbins on the inside without Colin Castleton and an explosive group of shooters for the Commodores.

“He played really, really well,” Golden said on Friday about the last matchup with Robbins, where he compiled 32 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes. “I think he made three 3s against us the first time and a couple of them were well-contested. He did a really good job of making mid-range jump shots and the one area he's really, really good is getting to the foul line and I think we got to do a good job tomorrow of living without fouling and having to live with some of the makes that he gets because he's just a good shot-maker that way.”

Unfortunately for Florida, despite holding the nation’s No. 23 defense per KenPom, the unit has been a shell of its former self without its elite rim protector in the fold. After a stint of forcing eight of the first nine SEC opponents to shoot below 40% from the floor, the Gators have allowed five straight opponents to eclipse or meet that number.

The defensive slump commenced at Kentucky and reached a head in the last contest between these two SEC foes. Vandy dropped 88 points on a fully healthy Gators squad inside Exactech Arena.

Now, as they look to split the season series to avoid dropping below .500, the Gators get another chance to slow the talented and surging offense. Finding ways to contest shots without fouling and limit interior touches for the Commodores seven-footer will be critical for Florida’s success.

Offensively, the strategy remains the same. Riley Kugel will likely maintain top scoring duties while Florida continues to find its new identity scoring the basketball. Kowacie Reeves Jr. — who’s started to regain confidence in recent contest after shaky production in what was expected to be a breakout season — is also a candidate to put points on the board for UF.

True freshman reserve big man Aleks Szymczyk could prove heroic for the Gators given his stretch five abilities. Not only does he present the potential to knock down triples to aid a poor aspect of Florida’s attack this season, but his touches on the perimeter can pull Robbins from his interior defense to spread the floor adequately for the Gators.

That will help present one-on-one lanes to the basket, which Florida has frequently leaned on in the two contests without Castleton’s 16 points per game on the floor.

Vanderbilt is currently a 3.5-point favorite over Florida, a number the Gators will look to cover or at least come close to after abysmal performances on the road in their last two trips away from Gainesville.

Like the first matchup, this could be an offensive clinic that is won by the team that reaches 75 or 80 first. Unlike the previous one, a high-scoring affair is expected.

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