Preview
Georgetown takes a step up in competition this week with the Battle 4 Atlantis, against a depleted but otherwise dangerous Florida team.
It seems like yesterday when Billy Donovan was just getting going at Florida, but the former Providence standout is in his 19th season with the Gators, with two NCAA titles and four Final Four appearances, the most recent last season. Two ongoing injuries have taken a already young Florida roster into some disrepair, however.
While both remain game time decisions, it is expected that guard Eli Carter, a transfer from Rutgers, and forward Dorian Finney-Smith could be out of action in this game, with a combined 28.4 points per game between them. Carter sprained his left foot in practice and is questionable for the game, while the hand injury to Finney-Smith is more problematic. Without them, there are a number of gaps in the Florida lineup among only six scholarship players.
Barring a robust recovery from Carter, sophomore Casey Hill will start at the guard, a talented assist leader for the gators but one with extremely poor shooting numbers. Hill shot just 13 percent (5-37) from three point range as a freshman and is currently 3-24 from the field this season. His assist numbers are of more concern, as he will need to get the ball to Michael Frazier II (16.0 ppg), the best of the remaining scorers. A Wooden Award watch list member, Frazier shoots 45 percent from there and is a defensive priority for the Hoyas in this game. A successful defensive effort on Frazier will make it difficult for the depleted Gators to stay in this game.
Up front, the inexperience of Florida is also a concern. The gators will start senior walk-on Jacob Kurtz (6.0 ppg) alongside 6-8 freshman Devin Robinson, whose shooting has also been poor to start the season (5-16 FG, 1-10 from three). Fifth year senior transfer Jon Horford averaged just 3.2 points per game at Michigan but is picking up the scoring pace for UF, with 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds a game.
Florida has thrived getting to the free throw line (a +22 versus opponents) and rebound margin (+6.0) and need plenty of both in this game. Some other keys to the game:
D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera: Look for DSR to step up the offense against Hill.
A Two Point Game: Neither team shoots well from outside but GU's advantage is inside and should be emphasized.
Fouls: Florida can't afford early foul trouble on Horford. 6-10 Chris Walker, with just 1.8 points per game as a freshman and coming off an early injury of his own, is the only big man available on the Florida bench.
Florida isn't a walkover by any means, given Donovan's track record in getting his teams to perform when it counts. it is a game that plays to a taller, more physical Georgetown lineup, and one the Hoyas must take advantage of. This will be a much better Florida team in March than November, but now is the time to get the win and move on.
Georgetown takes a step up in competition this week with the Battle 4 Atlantis, against a depleted but otherwise dangerous Florida team.
It seems like yesterday when Billy Donovan was just getting going at Florida, but the former Providence standout is in his 19th season with the Gators, with two NCAA titles and four Final Four appearances, the most recent last season. Two ongoing injuries have taken a already young Florida roster into some disrepair, however.
While both remain game time decisions, it is expected that guard Eli Carter, a transfer from Rutgers, and forward Dorian Finney-Smith could be out of action in this game, with a combined 28.4 points per game between them. Carter sprained his left foot in practice and is questionable for the game, while the hand injury to Finney-Smith is more problematic. Without them, there are a number of gaps in the Florida lineup among only six scholarship players.
Barring a robust recovery from Carter, sophomore Casey Hill will start at the guard, a talented assist leader for the gators but one with extremely poor shooting numbers. Hill shot just 13 percent (5-37) from three point range as a freshman and is currently 3-24 from the field this season. His assist numbers are of more concern, as he will need to get the ball to Michael Frazier II (16.0 ppg), the best of the remaining scorers. A Wooden Award watch list member, Frazier shoots 45 percent from there and is a defensive priority for the Hoyas in this game. A successful defensive effort on Frazier will make it difficult for the depleted Gators to stay in this game.
Up front, the inexperience of Florida is also a concern. The gators will start senior walk-on Jacob Kurtz (6.0 ppg) alongside 6-8 freshman Devin Robinson, whose shooting has also been poor to start the season (5-16 FG, 1-10 from three). Fifth year senior transfer Jon Horford averaged just 3.2 points per game at Michigan but is picking up the scoring pace for UF, with 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds a game.
Florida has thrived getting to the free throw line (a +22 versus opponents) and rebound margin (+6.0) and need plenty of both in this game. Some other keys to the game:
D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera: Look for DSR to step up the offense against Hill.
A Two Point Game: Neither team shoots well from outside but GU's advantage is inside and should be emphasized.
Fouls: Florida can't afford early foul trouble on Horford. 6-10 Chris Walker, with just 1.8 points per game as a freshman and coming off an early injury of his own, is the only big man available on the Florida bench.
Florida isn't a walkover by any means, given Donovan's track record in getting his teams to perform when it counts. it is a game that plays to a taller, more physical Georgetown lineup, and one the Hoyas must take advantage of. This will be a much better Florida team in March than November, but now is the time to get the win and move on.
