No. 1 Tennessee men vs. Florida at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville
Time: 4 p.m.
TV/radio: ESPN/102.3 FM
Likely lineups (with heights and scoring averages in parentheses)
TENNESSEE (21-1, 9-0 Southeastern Conference)
Projected starters: F Kyle Alexander (6-11, 8.6); G Jordan Bone (6-3, 13.5); G Admiral Schofield (6-6, 16.6); G Lamonte Turner (6-2, 12.0); F Grant Williams (6-7, 20.1).
Key reserves: G Jordan Bowden (6-5, 11.2); F John Fulkerson (6-9, 3.5).
FLORIDA (12-10, 4-5)
Projected starters: G KeVaughn Allen (6-2, 12.9); F Kevarrius Hayes (6-9, 7.0); F Keyontae Johnson (6-5, 6.8); G Noah Locke (6-3, 11.4); G Andrew Nembhard (6-5, 7.5).
Key reserves: G Deuandrae Ballard (6-5, 6-0); F Dontay Bassett (6-9, 3.0).
GATORS REPORT
Florida has been on the cusp of a signature win all season, but the Gators faltered down the stretch in losses to Michigan State, Kentucky and Tennessee. Due to their lack of an interior presence, they have relied primarily on 3-point shooting, and they rank second in the SEC in 3-pointers made per game (8.4) this season, despite only making 34 percent of their attempts.
KEY MATCHUP
The top-ranked Volunteers’ much-maligned 3-point defense will be tested again today. At times, when they’ve needed to, the Vols have been able to shut down opponents’ offense, and that was the case in the second half of their win at Florida last month. Will they be able to replicate that performance for 40 minutes today, especially without the presence of Yves Pons, who is out with a facial injury?