Florida basketball marches into Saturday night's SEC clash with momentum and a clear blueprint: dominate the paint, control the boards and force transition opportunities.
The Gators (20-6, 11-2 SEC) have won six straight, most recently a commanding 76-62 victory over South Carolina in which Alex Condon delivered 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Florida owned a 44-28 advantage in paint scoring. Florida's rebounding prowess and balanced scoring helped build a season that includes big wins over No. 25 Kentucky and a road sweep of rival Georgia.
Saturday brings the Ole Miss Rebels (11-14, 3-9 SEC) to Gainesville, a team enduring a seven-game losing skid and ranking near the bottom of the SEC in offensive efficiency. Sean Pedulla and Malik Dia remain Ole Miss' leading scorers, but the Rebels' struggles with consistency and defensive execution have been persistent.
The Gators' statistical advantages — particularly in rebounding and scoring efficiency set up a fascinating contrast. Florida's offense generates nearly 104 points per 100 possessions compared with Ole Miss' middling return on that metric.
For Florida, this game is more than another conference test. It's a chance to affirm its credentials for SEC regular-season honors and strengthen its NCAA Tournament résumé as the season nears its final weeks.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida vs Ole Miss basketball preview: Gators look to stay hot