Florida Gators Aim for Fourth Straight Win Against Struggling South Carolina

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 3 Florida Gators (21-3, 8-3 SEC) are set to host the struggling South Carolina Gamecocks (10-14, 0-11 SEC) on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. ET. After defeating Mississippi State 81-68 in their last game, Florida seeks to extend its win streak to four games, while South Carolina is looking for its first SEC victory this season.

The Gators, currently ranked fourth in the SEC in scoring at 83.6 points per game, boast a strong home record of 11-1. South Carolina, conversely, has lost its 11 conference games, with six of those defeats coming by five points or less.

Florida has shown resilience this season, recently coming off impressive road wins against No. 1 Auburn and No. 22 Mississippi State. Their last matchup against South Carolina on January 22 ended in a close battle, with the Gators narrowly edging the Gamecocks 70-69 thanks to a game-winning layup by Will Richard with just 4.8 seconds left in the game.

“We definitely won’t underappreciate South Carolina,” said Florida head coach Todd Golden. “They’ve lost five or six games by one possession. You don’t play those types of opponents to that level without being a good team.”

South Carolina’s recent performance has showcased an encouraging trend despite its lack of wins in the SEC. In their last game against No. 23 Ole Miss, the Gamecocks fought hard, losing 72-68.

Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. is averaging 17.5 points per game and shooting 45.1% from the field, while Jamarii Thomas leads South Carolina with 13 points and 1.6 made three-pointers per game. Collin Murray-Boyles has also been a key player for the Gamecocks, averaging 15.6 points and 8.7 rebounds.

In terms of matchups, South Carolina’s frontcourt, which had a significant advantage over Florida in their first meeting, will be something to watch. The Gamecocks outscored the Gators 32-9 in frontcourt points during that game.

“They have a really good frontcourt,” Golden added. “We need to be prepared to match up with them physically.”

Florida has dealt with some injuries recently, including starting guard Alijah Martin, who is still questionable, and forward Alex Condon, who is out with a sprained ankle. With those absences, Denzel Aberdeen has stepped up, averaging 14.3 points over his last three games.

The Gators will need to rely on their depth as they face a South Carolina team that, despite its struggles, has put up a fight in close contests. The matchup promises to be one where the Gamecocks will aim to disrupt Florida’s rhythm and finally secure a conference win.

“It felt great just being able to provide for my team,” said Aberdeen, reflecting on his contributions. “Knowing that I had to step up for my teammates and play hard for them.”

As the teams get ready to meet, Florida enters the game as a 14.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 144.5 points. The Gators hope to capitalize on their home advantage and maintain momentum heading into the remainder of the season.

The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network, with Roy Philpott and Jon Sundvold providing the commentary. Fans in the Gainesville area can listen on AM 850 and FM 98.1.