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Florida vs. Missouri: 2020-21 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Daniel Benjamin

Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers guards Drew Buggs (2) and Javon Pickett (4) and Torrence Watson (0) celebrate after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers guards Drew Buggs (2) and Javon Pickett (4) and Torrence Watson (0) celebrate after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Florida Gators (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Florida Gators (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Missouri (14-7, 7-7 SEC) enters the contest having lost four of its last five games. The Tigers, who have not played since falling to Ole Miss 60-53 on Feb. 23, currently sit in seventh place in the SEC although they are positioned to move up or down in the standings depending on how they close out the final two regular-season games. Mizzou had its game against Texas A&M on Saturday postponed.

Florida (13-6, 9-5) is looking to solidify the No. 3 seed for the upcoming SEC tournament. UF, which is four games behind conference-leading Alabama, holds a one-half game lead over fourth-place LSU and one-game over fifth-place Tennessee. The Gators have the advantage over both teams having defeated each squad.

Florida is coming off a 71-67 victory over Kentucky on Saturday as the Gators outscored the Wildcats 9-4 over the final 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Tre Mann led the way for UF with 21 points, 14 of those coming in the second half, as he made 7 of 11 shots from the field and 5 of 6 from the charity stripe. Mann also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. The Gators have won three straight games and seven of nine overall.

Florida and Missouri are meeting for the first and only time this season. Mizzou defeated Florida 91-75 in the squad’s lone meeting last year as Dru Smith had a big night for the Tigers with 22 points along with six rebounds and six assists. However, UF leads the all-time series 7-3 and the Gators have not ever lost to the Tigers at the O-Dome (4-0).

Keys to the Game

I expect this contest to be very competitive and physical. Florida and Missouri are similar teams as they both use a three-guard lineup although both squads are more efficient inside the arc than from beyond the 3-point line. Each team is strong defensively though they do it in different ways.

1. Turnovers.

2. 3-point shooting.

3. Rebounding:

Matchups to watch:

Dru Smith versus Mann

Castleton versus Tillmon

Injuries:

Missouri: Javon Pickett is questionable for the game due to an ankle injury.

Florida: None

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