The No. 23 Florida Gators are set to face the Saint Francis Red Flash in a much-anticipated basketball showdown on Wednesday at 6:30 PM (ET). This matchup will take place at the Exactech Arena, located within the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida.
Matchup Overview
Both teams are currently navigating their seasons under different circumstances. Florida enters the game with a record of 6-4, while Saint Francis trails behind with a record of 2-9. This contest marks the first meeting between these two programs.
Broadcast Details
- Television: SEC Network (Commentators: Rich Hollenberg and Patric Young)
- Radio: Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD (Sean Kelley and Steve Egan)
Projected Starters
Florida Gators
| Position | Player | Height / Weight | Class | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | Alex Condon | 6-11 / 230 | Junior | 13.9 pts / 9.0 reb |
| C | Rueben Chinyelu | 6-10 / 255 | Junior | 9.8 pts / 10.7 reb |
| F | Thomas Haugh | 6-9 / 215 | Junior | 18.6 pts / 7.0 reb |
| G | Xaivian Lee | 6-4 / 185 | Senior | 11.0 pts / 5.0 reb / 3.8 ast |
| G | Boogie Fland | 6-3 / 185 | Sophomore | 12.0 pts / 2.1 reb |
Saint Francis Red Flash
| Position | Player | Height / Weight | Class | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | Gestin Liberis | 6-9 / 215 | R-Junior | 5.5 pts / 4.7 reb |
| G/F | Skylar Wicks | 6-6 / 190 | R-Senior | 18.8 pts / 7.8 reb |
| G | Chris Moncrief | 6-6 / 190 | Senior | 3.5 pts / 1.0 reb |
| G | Victor Payne | 6-4 / 190 | Guard | 5.8 pts / 3.9 reb |
| G | Zion Russell | 6-2 / 185 | R-Senior | 11.3 pts / 4.5 reb / 3.1 ast |
Recent Performances
Florida’s latest performance included a solid 80-70 win against George Washington at the Orange Bowl Classic. The Gators hope to leverage their home advantage, as this game marks their first at the O’Dome since November 21.
Conversely, Saint Francis’ last game resulted in a heavy 95-67 loss to Temple. The Red Flash’s struggles have been notable, with an average loss margin of 25.8 points per game.
Statistical Insights
- Florida’s Scoring: 82.0 points per game
- Saint Francis’ Scoring: 69.1 points per game
- Florida’s Field Goal Percentage: .437
- Saint Francis’ Field Goal Percentage: .412
- Florida’s Defensive Efficiency: 72.2 points allowed per game
- Saint Francis’ Defensive Efficiency: 82.5 points allowed per game
Looking Ahead
The Gators aim to enhance their performance metrics during this stretch of home games against lower-tier opponents, intending to build momentum before the Southeastern Conference play starts on January 3 against Missouri. Coach Todd Golden is likely to focus on expanding the team’s depth and improving bench contributions during this game.
As this pivotal game unfolds, all eyes will be on the Gators to see if they can capitalize on their home-court advantage against the visiting Red Flash. El-Balad will provide updates and coverage of this exciting matchup.
