Florida Gators vs. Oklahoma: Preview, Info, Odds, Where to Watch and More

The Florida Gators (7-4) are slated to tackle the Oklahoma Sooners (8-3) within the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday. 

Florida returns to the hardwood after a six-day break from the ground following its bounce-back victory over Ohio on Wednesday. Trying so as to add the second victory over a Energy Six program (Oregon State) this season, the Gators will attempt to take what they’ve realized from their blowout losses by the hands of West Virginia and UConn thus far within the season to topple a formidable Massive 12 opponent within the Sooners.

You’ll find the whole lot it is advisable know in regards to the matchup under.

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Florida Gators vs. Oklahoma Sooners

The place: Spectrum Middle, Charlotte, N.C.

When: Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 9:30 p.m. E.T. 

Watch: ESPN2

Radio: Gator Sports activities Community from LEARFIELD / SiriusXM 158 or 190 / SXM App 961

Odds: Florida is a 3.5-point favourite over the Sooners, in keeping with Sports activities Illustrated Sportsbook. The over/below is about at 135 factors.

Collection historical past: The Gators are 2-2 all-time in opposition to Oklahoma. Within the final assembly between the 2 applications on Dec. 1, 2021, the Sooners snapped Florida’s six-game undefeated streak to start the season, 74-67 in Norman, Okla.

Vital tales

The rundown

The collection rubber match is about with long-term ramifications for every crew, notably Florida, after what occurred final December.

Final season, the Florida Gators have been crimson sizzling at 6-0.

Nonetheless, when the crew traveled to Norman, Okla. for the primary true street contest of the 12 months, the Gators folded to the Sooners, starting a collapse from their early season kind to overlook the NCAA Event for the primary time since 2016 (excluding 2020 on account of COVID cancellations).

The matchup in opposition to Porter Moser’s squad exhibited important areas of weak point on each ends of the ground that different groups started to take advantage of en path to the Gators’ 20-14 season.

It kick-started a drastic rebuild in Gainesville that resulted in former head coach Mike White’s departure, new chief Todd Golden’s arrival and a slew of transfers out and in of this system.

The brand new-look Gators crew has a chance to reconcile final season’s stumble that began with Oklahoma once they play tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET. This time, Florida’s already skilled its justifiable share of adversity.

As an alternative of Oklahoma being a stumbling block, it may be a foundational piece as they construct their resume for the event one sport previous to convention play’s graduation. 

That might be a tough problem as Oklahoma at present ranks No. 38 within the Kempom rankings for adjusted effectivity margin. Led by frontcourt member Tanner Groves, who made his mark in opposition to Florida a season in the past, the Sooners have the inside presence that has proved detrimental to the Gators’ success this season.

Enjoying with finesse across the rim and multi-dimensional scoring means, Groves stretches the ground for the Sooners’ offense and presents potential fear as one other shooter to a poor three-point protection from Florida.

The Gators can’t afford to maneuver below screens the best way they’ve this season, even in opposition to the Sooners’ “middle” on account of his untraditional, however deadly, play fashion.

Gators middle Colin Castleton, who has additionally grown his skillset to step past the arc at instances, might be pressured to fight Groves’ talents on the defensive finish by stepping over ball screens and enjoying with excessive power on the night time. Including an offensive presence of his personal to reply Groves’s inevitable scoring impression can even be paramount.

Fellow frontcourt member (and brother) Jacob Groves enhances the OU huge man. The crew’s main scorer (17.6 per sport) and help (4.2 per sport) man, guard Grant Sherfield, can even current the Gators’ protection points.

UF guards Kyle Lofton and Trey Bonham, very similar to Castleton, might be pressured to play tight protection and contribute to the scoreboard on the offensive finish to make sure one other down efficiency in opposition to a possible event crew in faculty basketball would not come up.

If the Gators can reign victorious, it could permit them to tug inside one sport of even in opposition to energy six applications at 2-3. That momentum might carry them into league play with the kind of swagger and confidence Golden and Co. try to instill throughout the unit at this stage. 

Can UF notice that with a victory within the Jumpman Invitational, or will Oklahoma put the Gators behind the curve for March for the second season in a row? 

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