The Florida Gators may already have 3 losses but don\u2019t be tricked into thinking this is not one of the best teams in America. \u00a0 <\/p>\n
Saturday January 7 Florida<\/strong><\/p>\n All of their losses have been in true road games and two of them were at Syracuse and Ohio State. \u00a0The loss at Rutgers might be a head scratcher but, like I said this team is very good, not perfect, team, blessed with maybe the best backcourt in America and a terrific post player. \u00a0I am not sure about their overall depth but this team can hang with pretty much anybody and is probably going to beat Kentucky when they host them later this season.<\/p>\n It is really hard not to like that backcourt, both in quality and quantitt \u00a0The Gators have an amazing 4 guards averaging 9 or more point per game with Kenny Boynton leading the team with 9ppg. \u00a0I would still like to see them throw the ball more often to Patric Young. who is a load to handle down low. because even though the guards are great he offers an amazing physical mismatch almost every night. \u00a0Any game this team is shooting well they are very tough to beat.<\/p>\n Tennessee<\/strong><\/p>\n It is a shame what has happened at Tennessee with the departure of former coach Bruce Pearl. [soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n \u00a0I was a big fan of the program, their success and their style of play. \u00a0I don\u2019t want to pretend to know all the details but weren\u2019t the infractions pretty minor, especially given how he has elevated the program to new heights. \u00a0Right now they are entering SEC play with just a .500 record. \u00a0New coach Cuonzo Martin has this team playing hard and they seem to rise to the occasion, playing their top opponents very well even though they haven\u2019t broken through yet with a victory. \u00a0This team should be able to compete in a mediocre SEC.<\/p>\n The talent level in Knoxville is below what we are used to seeing, giving lots of players a chance to step forward. \u00a0The one player who really stands out is guard Trae Golden. \u00a0As a frosh he never really found a way to contribute regularly but this year with the extra playing time he is leading the club with 14ppg. \u00a0His play against Florida is going to be especially important because he is also their leading distributor and will have to guard one of the Gators great guards. \u00a0Forward Jeronne Maymon is another player who will have his hands full as he try to keep Young out of the paint. \u00a0He is their leading rebounder but unfortunately the matchup is not unfavourable. \u00a0Pretty much all of them are that way for the Vols in this one.<\/p>\n
\nThompson Boling Arena
\n11:00AM
\nMoneyline: Florida -350, Tennessee +290
\nSpread: Florida -7.5
\nO\/U: \u00a0146<\/strong><\/p>\n