Projected Starters
                    PPG
Tennessee 12-12 (4-5 SEC)
G Skylar McBee            6.2
G Trae Golden            13.0
G Cameron Tatum            8.1
F Jeronne Maymon        11.9
F Kenny Hall            6.1

Florida 19-5 (7-2 SEC)
G Kenny Boynton            17.6
G Erving Walker            12.1
F Bradley Beal            14.3
F Erik Murphy            10.0
C Patric Young             10.8

How They Match Up
UT            UF
68.6    Score O    79.2
65.5    Score D    65.5
44.0    FG %        46.7
35.9    3-Pt %    39.5
69.9    FT %        68.4
+3.4    Reb. Mar.    +2.6
4.5    BPG        3.5
12.8    APG        16.0
5.6    SPG        7.0
-2.04    T/O Mar.    +3.04

Last Year:
Jan. 11, 2011 in Knoxville - Florida, 81-75 (OT)

Feb. 12, 2011 in Gainesville - Florida, 61-60

March 11, 2011 in SEC Tournament - Florida, 85-74

How the Vols will win: Tennessee started a stretch of four straight competitive showings against ranked teams when it beat then No. 14 Florida 67-56 in Knoxville on Jan. 7. It was the Vols’ first win against the Gators since Jan. 31, 2010. Tennessee’s issue, however, has been on the road this season. Gainesville has given the Vols trouble too, as UT has gone winless there since a 79-75 win March 1, 2009. If the Vols have any chance of stealing a sweep of Florida, Jarnell Stokes will have to play. The freshman missed Wednesday’s game against South Carolina with a hand injury. Tennessee will also need solid play from the guards like they’ve gotten in the past few matches.


How the Gators will win: The Gators had their seven-game win streak snapped in a demoralizing 78-58 loss to Kentucky on Tuesday — their only conference loss other than to UT. Led by Kenny Boynton, Florida has five players average double-digit points. The Gators shoot nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc. If they can use some hot shooting and jump to a quick lead in the first half, UT won’t have an answer for them on the road. Florida doesn’t do quite as well as Tennessee in rebounding, but it needs to try to take advantage if Stokes doesn’t play again.