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Florida Basketball: 3 keys for matchup against Arizona State Sun Devils

The Florida Gators are in the top 10, and it doesn't seem like anyone is talking about how good they have been. Florida has the toughest game of any of the undefeated teams this weekend. How can they make sure they leave with a win?

By Bryan Mauro

Dec 4, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) dribbles the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Dec 4, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) dribbles the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images / Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
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Win the Paint

The three-point line will help decide this game, but the battle in the paint will be the best part of this game. The Gators and the Sun Devils both can dominate in the paint and often do in their wins. Arizona State has a dominant big man who is an elite rim protector. His name is Jayden Quaintance, and he is one of the best big men in the country, as well as one of the best freshmen in the country. He alters a lot of shots and will be a factor in this game if the Gators don’t do something to stop it. 

Florida has a lot of guys who can get to the rim, and they will need to get creative and have good ball movement to get the big men out of the paint. The Arizona State big man does have a slight penchant for fouls and can get into some foul trouble. Go out to him and hope to get him off the floor to open the paint. The Gators do have players who can neutralize the elite shot-blocking prowess of Arizona State, but they will need to move him out of the paint.

Florida is an elite rebounding team. They are one of the best offensive-rebounding teams in the country and are fantastic at defensive rebounding as well. That is the best way to neutralize the shot blocker if they can secure the offensive rebounds for put-backs. Get him out of position using offensive rebounding and ball movement. Part of what makes Florida so hard to beat is their ability to haul in offensive rebounds and get teams out of the system with their easy put-backs. This is going to be a battle inside all game long.

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