Gator Men’s Hoops Seek Redemption Against Razorbacks

It’s now down to the final stretch of the season. Only five games remain on the Gator men’s basketball schedule, with three of them set at home. Florida welcomes the Arkansas Razorbacks to the O’Connell Center Saturday night.

UF looks to bounce back after a tough 63-60 loss this past Tuesday at Missouri and hopes to get revenge on this Razorback team who defeated them soundly 80-69 back on February 5^th in Fayetteville.

Oddly enough, this will be the first time that Florida and Arkansas will meet twice in the regular season. The Gators currently have a one game lead in the SEC and are unbeaten thus far at home, going 12-0.

In the all-time series, UF is 15-11 and under head coach Billy Donovan is 15-6. Florida is 8-2 all-time at home against Arkansas and 8-0 under Donovan. Junior point guard Scottie Wilbekin who is second in the SEC in assists discusses what this game means to the team.

Florida has done well on the defensive side of the ball for the most part this season, holding three opponents to 40 points or fewer, 11 under 50 and 18 under 60 points. UF ranks third in the nation in scoring defense, allowing teams to score around 53 points per game and is second in the NCAA in scoring margin with +20.7.

Senior guards Kenny Boynton and Mike Rosario lead the team in scoring with 13 points per game. As a team, Florida is shooting 49 percent from the floor; ranking them seventh in the nation in field goal percentage.

The Razorbacks have won five out of their last six games and rank 27^th in the country in scoring and third in the SEC with 75 points a game. Arkansas only has two players scoring in double digits with sophomore guard BJ Young averaging 16 points a game; ranking him fourth in the SEC.

Junior forward Marshawn Powell follows with 15 points on 52 percent shooting from the floor and 43 percent from the three point line. UF head coach Billy Donovan spoke about the type of player Powell is for this Razorback team.

Be sure to catch all the live action of tonight’s game starting at 6:25 right here on Country 103-7 The Gator.