It won’t be easy.
SEC play is rolling, and Tennessee is set for their first conference road test tonight at No. 8 Florida. The Volunteers dismantled Arkansas over the weekend, taking apart John Calipari once again. Now they’ll take a trip to the O’Dome — always a tough place to play.
Florida is coming off of a loss at Rupp Arena, looking for their first conference win of the year. They run an uptempo system, which is complete with elite guards. Walter Clayton Jr. leads the way for the Gators, averaging over 18 points per game while shooting nearly 40 percent from three-point range.
Todd Golden knows what he’s up against. Tennessee’s top-ranked defense will provide a challenge, but the home-court advantage will play a key factor here.
“I think coming into our place, we just have to dictate, whether it’s defensively, whether it’s a tempo,” Golden said. “We just got to take advantage of the opportunity of having them in here.”
Florida ranks 7th in Kenpom’s overall metric while Tennessee ranks 4th. It’s strength on strength — a top offense vs. a top defense. Which side comes out on top?
How to watch Tennessee vs. Florida
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV Channel: ESPN2
Streaming: ESPN App
Odds: Florida -3.5