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The Florida Gators (6-2) will be as close to full strength as they have been all season just in time to take on the sixth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks (6-2) Tuesday in Gainesville as a part of the Big 12/ SEC Challenge.
Guards Scottie Wilbekin and Kasey Hill have yet to be available for the Gators at the same time all season but both will be ready for tonight’s non-conference game, Billy Donovan confirmed today.
Wilbekin injured his ankle in a loss to Connecticut and highly touted freshman Kasey Hill is recovering from a high ankle sprain suffered three weeks ago in a 67-53 win against Southern.
Both teams are entering this matchup coming off heartbreaking losses.
Florida lost on a buzzer beater to Connecticut on a jump shot by Shabazz Napier after a loose ball found Napier at the free throw line.
Kansas lost a shocker on the road to Colorado on a 30 footer that found the net to give the Buffaloes a 75-72 victory in Boulder.
With a win the Gators will move to 3-2 all-time versus Kansas and Billy Donovan will move to 2-1 versus KU.
Players to Watch:
Andrew Wiggins: Wiggins, the #1 recruit according to ESPN in the 2013 class is leading the Jayhawks at 15 points per game shooting about 51 percent from the floor. Wiggins tied his career high with 22 points in the loss to Colorado. The freshman from Ontario is one of the best players the Gators will face all season.
Joel Embiid: Embiid will be a good test for the Gators bigs. The early season play of the 7 foot center from Cameroon has taken some of the spotlight away from Wiggins and has firmly put Embiid in the conversation as the possible number one pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Perry Ellis: Ellis is second on the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game. The 6’8 forward is also a good defender and works hard on the glass. Ellis shoots an impressive 60 percent from the field.
