Nov 29, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) is guarded by Wichita State Shockers guard Xavier Bell (1) in the first half at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images It’s called the SEC/ACC Challenge, but will the title apply for No. 13 Florida when it faces Virginia on Wednesday in Gainesville, Fla.?
The Gators (8-0) barely have been challenged on their way to their best start since 2009, as all of their wins have come by at least 13 points.
That could change soon, however, as Florida’s next three games will be against power conference schools. After Virginia (5-2), the Gators will play Arizona State (7-1) and No. 20 North Carolina (4-3).
Florida’s success has been facilitated by its backcourt, led by Walter Clayton Jr., who is averaging 17.4 points and 3.6 assists per game.
Clayton pairs with Will Richard, who averages 12.4 points, and Florida Atlantic transfer Alijah Martin, who is putting up 15.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3 steals per game.
The Gators are coming off a convincing title in the ESPN Events Invitational last week, where they dominated Wake Forest 75-58 and Wichita State 88-51.
Florida took control in the middle of both games. Against Wake Forest, the Gators had a 31-8 in a run that bridged the halves. Against Wichita State, Florida had a 27-0 spree that ran from the first to the second half.
Clayton, who hit nine 3-pointers and scored 40 points in the two games, was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
Florida also overwhelmed both teams on the boards, collecting 100 rebounds while allowing 60.
Carrying the load inside in the two matchups were rapidly developing Washington State transfer Rueben Chinyelu, who had 16 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks, and Alex Condon, who added 29 points and 17 rebounds.
The Gators also held Wake Forest and Wichita State to a combined 33.6 percent shooting from the floor.
“We’ve shown the ability to guard, and if we can continue to grow on that side of the ball and maintain our efficiency on the offensive end, we’re going to be tough to beat,” Florida coach Todd Golden said.
As for Virginia, despite the sudden retirement of coach Tony Bennett in the preseason, the Cavaliers are still employing his trademark deliberate style as they rank last in Division I in possessions per game.
The slowdown strategy has been successful so far, except when Virginia has faced ranked teams. On consecutive nights in the Baha Mar Hoops Championship last month in the Bahamas, Virginia fell to then-No. 11 Tennessee 64-42 and then-No. 22 St. John’s 80-55.
The Cavaliers are coming off a 67-41 victory over Holy Cross as Kansas State transfer Dai Dai Ames matched his career high with 16 points while Andrew Rohde and Isaac McKneely chipped in with 13 points apiece.
After the tournament losses, interim coach Ron Sanchez tweaked his starting lineup, going smaller by replacing Duke transfer TJ Power, a forward, with Rohde, who is a guard.
“The one area that we wanted to address after we came back from the Bahamas was taking care of the basketball,” Sanchez said. “I think maybe personnel had something to do with that.”
–Field Level Media
