Gators begin the SEC portion of the schedule on the road at Missouri

Tommy Haugh soars for a dunk (Photo by Chris Spears)

If there is reason for concern about what is ahead for the 22^nd-ranked Florida Gators (9-4) now that the schedule becomes SEC-only the rest of the regular season, it is the 3-point line. We aren’t just talking shooting threes although a dismal 28.2 percent has the entire college basketball world thinking Florida could make the Final Four if the Gators could hit at least a third of their 3-pointers the rest of the way.

It is defending the 3-pointer. In the last two games, Colgate (11-17) and Dartmouth (11-27) have found holes in Florida’s defense and neither of those two teams is as good shooting the three as tonight’s opponent Missouri (10-3). The Tigers are shooting 36.6 percent through their first 13 games and like most teams, they’re better when shooting at home.

When the Gators take the floor against Missouri in Columbia tonight (8:30 p.m., SEC Network), they need to be consciously aware what happened at the O-Dome in January last year when the Tigers sprung an 83-82 upset thanks, in large part, to nailing 11 3-pointers. When the Gators and Missouri matched up in the SEC Tournament in Nashville, it was a different story. Florida locked down on the 3-point line, held Mizzou to 4-16 shooting, and rolled to a 95-81 win.

It helped in that rematch that the Gators hit 9-24 from distance with Walter Clayton Jr. (3-4), Will Richard (3-8) and Alijah Martin (2-4) combining for an 8-16 effort. So, can the Gators find some consistency with their shooting tonight while chasing Missouri shooters such as Jacob Crews off the line? Crews, a native of Hilliard, Florida, is shooting a sizzling 51.4 percent of his threes this season and is 38.8 percent in his collegiate career, which began at North Florida. At 6-8, Crews can shoot over most defenders although tonight he will have 6-9 Tommy Haugh to contend with.

The Gators have lost four games by a combined 15 points and that includes a 6-point loss to No. 1 Arizona, a 1-point loss to No. 6 Duke and a 4-point loss to No. 4 UConn. In those three losses, the Gators were a combined 18-80, a miserable 22.5 percent. In the loss to UConn, the Gators were 4-15 from three while UConn was 8-18.

Shooting better is a necessity, but the Gators can compensate in many ways thanks to their ability to force one-and-done possessions thanks to their rebounding. The Gators lead the nation in rebounding (47.46 per game), offensive rebounds (17.31 per game) and rebound margin (17 per game). Defensively, Florida ranks 10^th nationally in defensive efficiency per kenpom.com.

Is that enough to compensate for the shooting issues?

“On some nights at least we’re going to have to shoot it better but I do think our floor’s pretty high,” Florida coach Todd Golden said Friday prior to the Gators departing for Columbia. “If we rebound well, the same things that we’ve talked about a lot over the past month-and-a-half … if we take care of the ball, which has been an issue – we’ve been a little better that way – and if we can defend physically without fouling. If we’re good in both those areas I think we can be pretty good, but in this league, to win on the road, you’re going to have to have a night when you hit eight or nine or ten threes. That gives you a little bit of a lift in some other areas.  

“So that’s kind of where that’s at. I do think we’re capable of shooting the ball better. We’ll see how it starts tomorrow night.”

Missouri comes into this game on the heels of a blowout loss (93-48) to Illinois, a team the Gators beat by double figures in a preseason scrimmage. The Tigers played that game without some key players including 6-11 Jevon Porter (6.2 points, 4.0 rebounds). Also absent that game were 6-10 Trent Pierce and 6-4 shooting guard Jayden Stone, who is a 41.7 percent 3-point shooter. Porter should be back for tonight’s game although there are questions about the other two.

Missouri scores plenty, shoots better than 51 percent for the season, plays up tempo. Despite the loss to Illinois, Golden sees the Tigers as a team to be reckoned with.

“I think it’s going to be a really big challenge,” Golden said. “Some question marks still for them in regards to who’s going to be available. I think we’ll see some guys back that haven’t played for awhile so that changes the preparation a little bit.”

A season ago, the Gators jumped off to a 13-0 start in the non-conference before starting the SEC portion of the schedule on the road at Kentucky, where they absorbed a 106-100 beating. The Gators played a far less difficult pre-conference schedule than this season, so Golden anticipates a better prepared and tougher team against Mizzou.

“We’re more ready for this road matchup than we were last year going into Kentucky,” Golden said.

ANTICIPATED STARTING LINEUPS

No. 22 FLORIDA (9-4): Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185, SR)

MISSOURI (10-3): Mark Mitchell (6-9, 230, SR); Shawn Phillips Jr. (7-0, 245, SR); Jacob Crews (6-8, 215, SR); Annor Boateng (6-6, 220, SO); Anthony Robinson II (6-3, 185, JR)

SEC in Kenpom.com national analytical rankings: 7. Vanderbilt; 12. FLORIDA; 14. Tennessee; 17. Alabama; 20. Kentucky; 25. Georgia; 28. Arkansas; 34. Auburn; 36. LSU; 45. Texas; 51. Texas A&M; 53. Oklahoma; 57. Ole Miss; 65. Missouri; 83. Mississippi State; 88. South Carolina

SEC in NCAA NET rankings: 7. Vanderbilt 13-0; 13. Alabama 10-3; 22. Tennessee 10-3; 23. FLORIDA 9-4; 24. Georgia 12-1; 27. Kentucky 9-4; 30. Arkansas 10-3; 34. Auburn 9-4; 35. LSU 12-1; 50. Oklahoma 10-3; 59. Texas 8-4; 67. Texas A&M 10-3; 88. Ole Miss 8-5; 96. Missouri 10-3; 102. South Carolina 9-4; 106. Mississippi State 8-5

SEC BASKETBALL

Saturday’s games

No. 22 FLORIDA (9-4) at Missouri (10-3)

No. 11 Vanderbilt (13-0) at South Carolina (9-4)

Kentucky (9-4) at No. 14 Alabama (10-3)

No. 19 Tennessee (10-3) at No. 18 Arkansas (10-3)

Auburn (9-4) at No. 23 Georgia (12-1)

LSU (12-1) at Texas A&M (10-3)

Ole Miss (8-5) at Oklahoma (10-3)

Mississippi State (8-5) at Texas (9-4)

Tuesday’s games

No. 23 Georgia (12-1) at No. 22 FLORIDA (9-4)

Texas (9-4) at No. 19 Tennessee (10-3)

South Carolina (9-4) at LSU (12-1)

Texas A&M (10-3) at Auburn (9-4)

Wednesday’s games

No. 14 Alabama (10-3) at No. 11 Vanderbilt (13-0)

No. 18 Arkansas (10-3) at Ole Miss (8-5)

Missouri (10-3) at Kentucky (9-4)

Oklahoma (10-3) at Mississippi State (8-5)