Basketball’s mecca gets another potential thriller come Tuesday with the “Jimmy V Classic,” taking place in NYC.
Florida and Memphis will do battle in a match-up featuring two squads with a combined 14-3 record. The Gators are coming off a dominating performance against a young Memphis team along with a last second loss to UConn that could be an early candidate for game of the year.
Billy Donovan’s group has been starting to gel a bit, and their depth and versatility combined with style of play are not easy to deal with. The Gators played their hearts out on their home floor in that victory over Kansas and utilized a massive performance on the offensive glass to build a lead they would never relinquish.
Injuries and suspensions derailed this Florida team early on, but they have settled into a groove similar to what Memphis is experiencing. The Tiger guards have settled down and are starting to take control of games as they see fit. Chris Crawford has been facilitator in the same manner that Scottie Wilbekin has shown up huge for Florida in recent weeks.
The most glaring similarity has been both defenses. Florida ranks seventh in efficiency in that area while the Tigers come in at number 14. Florida is probably better as a team unit, but the Tigers have long bodies which tend to wreak havoc on both passing and shooting lanes.
But the separation really comes down to what these two do offensively. Florida is only slated as a slightly better offense than Memphis, but when the Tigers fail to convert from deep they become a sloop and potentially one dimensional bunch.
Florida is not going to turn the ball over against pressure like many of Memphis’ opponents. Wilbekin combined with Kasey Hill to create a very reliable back court capable of always having an elite handler on the floor. That is worth something in this game.
Memphis is not turnover prone, but i question the ability of their guards to penetrate through the teeth of this Gator defense. Memphis has played two quality opponents all year, while they did square up with Okie State on two separate occasions. Their games against LSU and the Cowboys were indicative of their tendencies to struggle with teams who can match their athleticism.
Florida can do that and has an offense that can score both down low and from the perimeter. I do not believe Memphis has a player who can contain Patric young inside, although the help side athleticism Memphis usually brings issues to any scoring threat. Florida is fine playing a sloppier game that comes down to rebounding though. They are also far more reliable from the perimeter.
I have the Gators as three point favorites here, but also believe the game is built for them regardless of spread. I’m not expecting a blowout of any sort, but the Gators are the better team and full capable of illustrating that. They also hold a legitimate coaching advantage that should play a factor on a neutral floor, and are primed to take off as a unit in the coming weeks.
Florida -3
