Jan. 10, 2020

Page 11

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 ALLIGATOR 11

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Florida aims to continue perfect start to SEC play By Tyler Nettuno Sports Writer

Samantha Harrison / Alligator Staff

Florida can start 3-0 in SEC play for the first time since the 2017-18 season with a win at Missouri on Saturday.

Last season, Florida’s men’s basketball team sleepwalked through the beginning of SEC play, starting 1-3. But this time around, the Gators are 2-0 in the league and playing their best basketball of the season. UF is on a threegame winning streak, averaging 95.7 points over that stretch (though one of those games went to double overtime). After winning the first leg of a two-game road stretch 81-68 against South Carolina on Tuesday night, the Gators travel to another Columbia, this time west of the Mississippi, to take on the Missouri Tigers at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. Florida (10-4, 2-0 SEC) is finally finding its footing on the offensive side of the ball. The defense has been stout all year, allowing 65.5 points per game. Now,

it’s paired with a more effective scoring attack. Point guard Andrew Nembhard is coming off back-to-back 20-point games, and he’s beginning to demonstrate the offensive improvement coach Mike White hoped to see when Nembhard decided to return to Florida for his sophomore year. He’s averaging more points (11.4) and assists (6.1) than he did last year. Freshman guard Scottie Lewis has also increased his production, scoring 15 in his last two games since returning from a concussion. He notched a doubledouble against Alabama with 10 rebounds and nearly did it again in the South Carolina game, totaling nine. But the Gators now run into a Missouri team that plays strong defense, allowing just 57.7 points per game. The Tigers (8-6, 0-2 SEC) have had a disappointing start to SEC play, losing by 12

on the road to Kentucky and by 10 on their home floor to Tennessee. Missouri’s resume also features a bad nonconference loss against Charleston Southern. Still, Mizzou has the personnel to give the Gators trouble, mainly in guards Dru Smith and Mark Smith (no relation). Dru leads the team in scoring with 11.3 points per game, and Mark is just behind, averaging 11.1. Both are shooting above 40 percent from the field, but Mark is more dangerous on the outside having made 34 three-pointers this season. Mark is also Missouri’s rebounding leader with 4.7 per game, and Drew averages 4.4. Florida will have its hands full on the interior, as the Tigers have two 6-foot-10 players — Mitchell Smith and Reed Nikko — in their projected starting lineup. However, neither average more than four

rebounds. UF center Kerry Blackshear Jr., on the other hand, has been a dominating force under the basket for Florida this season. He’s averaging 14.6 points and 8.7 rebounds and has seven doubledoubles through 14 games. Containing him will be paramount for a Tigers team that generally wins the rebounding margin (they’re plus-4.1 this year). As SEC play progresses, Florida will try to show the NCAA Tournament Committee that its four non-conference losses were the result of a brutal schedule. Road wins against teams like Missouri — which White has never lost to as Florida’s coach — would go a long way to bolster that argument.

@TylerNettuno tnettuno@alligator.org

WOMEN’S TENNIS

21st-ranked Gators open up season in the Bahamas By Dylan O’Shea Sports Writer

Florida’s women’s tennis team will take to the Caribbean to open its 2020 season. UF is competing in the three-day Pink Flamingo Cup tournament in Nassau, Bahamas, from Friday through Sunday. The Gators’ weekend competition consists of No. 4 UCLA, No. 7 Texas and No. 23 Miami. Because all participating teams are ranked, the tournament will stand as a good test for Florida to start the spring. The Cup will pit all four teams against each other in

both singles and doubles events. On Friday, Florida will begin the tournament against Texas in doubles and UCLA in singles. Saturday will bring a new challenge, as Florida will take on Miami in doubles and flip to singles against Texas. Finally, on Sunday, the Gators will face UCLA in doubles and Miami in singles. Of the Gators’ eight spots on its roster, six players are returning from last season’s successful campaign. Florida earned a 32nd-straight NCAA Championship appearance last season and settled into the No. 24 slot in the final 2019 rankings. Two athletes that will provide Florida with a big push this season are juniors McCartney Kessler and Ida Jarl-

skog. Kessler led UF in victories last year, accumulating 15 match wins for the Gators on her way to a 2019 All-SEC Second Team selection, while 2019 All-American Jarlskog finished No. 17 in 2019 singles play. Jarlskog also earned All-SEC First Team honors. After UF wraps up its weekend overseas, it will return home until it has to hit the road to compete in the ITA Kick-off Weekend at NC State from Jan. 25-26.

@dylanoshea24 doshea@alligator.org

MEN’S TENNIS

UF starts the season ranked No. 1 By Dylan O’Shea Sports Writer

The UF men’s tennis team comes into the 2020 season ranked No. 1 in the Oracle/ITA Rankings. Florida’s top position was announced on Wednesday as it approaches its first match against Furman and FAU on Saturday. This is the first time Florida has been slotted this high since it opened the 2006 season at No. 2. Florida’s 2018-19 season was a bookmark year in terms of success and improvement. The squad finished 25-4 and won the SEC regular season title. It claimed the No. 4 spot in the final

2019 rankings. This year’s No. 1 ranking is in large part to its dominant young athletes returning to the court in 2020. Sophomore and team captain Sam Riffice will play a key role in Florida’s success this season. The 2019 SEC Freshman of the Year, ITA All-American (singles) and ITA Freshman of the Year provides UF with experience and leadership. Senior Johannes Ingildsen and junior Duarte Vale will also provide leadership for the Gators this season. That guidance will be needed in order to groom two budding blue-chip freshmen for Florida. Freshmen Blaise Bicknell (the No.

13 recruit in the country) and Will Grant (the No. 16 recruit in the country) add to Florida’s roster and both will get the chance to make an impact right away. Florida opens its spring competition at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex against Furman on Saturday at 10 a.m., followed by FAU at 3 p.m.

@dylanoshea24 doshea@alligator.org

Samantha Harrison / Alligator Staff

Junior Duarte Vale went 22-8 in singles last season.


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Jan. 10, 2020 by The Independent Florida Alligator - Issuu