Florida vs. Florida State: Preview, Info, Where to Watch and More

Everything you need to know for Friday's Sunshine State rivalry contest between the Florida Gators and the Florida State Seminoles.

Brandon Carroll | Nov 17, 2023

Florida vs. Florida State: Preview, Info, Where to Watch and More /

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Florida Gators

Todd Golden's Florida Gators and Leonard Hamilton's Florida State Seminoles are set to face off in the 75th rendition of the Sunshine State rivalry clash inside the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Friday.

Following a seven-game winning streak by the Noles from 2014 to 2020, the Gators have claimed two in a row in the series. Florida aims to make it a third as it operates at full form for the first time this year. The contest marks point guard Zyon Pullin's return to the hardwood following a three-game suspension to begin his first and only season in Gainesville.

You can find an in-depth rundown and everything else you need to know about the matchup before tip-off below.

Florida Gators vs. Florida State Seminoles

Where: Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, Fla.

When: Friday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. ET

Watch: SEC Network

Radio: Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD | The Varsity Network App | SiriusXM 119 or 190 & SXM App

Odds: The Gators are 7.5-point favorites over the Seminoles. The over/under for the contest is set at 161.5 points.

Series history: Florida is 45-29 all-time against Florida State. In the last meeting between the two programs, Golden's inaugural Sunshine State rivalry bout, the Gators overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to down the Seminoles 76-67 in Tallahassee.

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The rundown

The 75th matchup of the Florida-Florida State series features two teams that enter the 2023-24 season under vastly different circumstances.

Florida, on one hand, endured an immense offseason roster overhaul, which saw eight players walk out the door before seven new additions were made. The Gators heavily feature their lone two returning starters on the wings, Riley Kugel and Will Richard, while transfer additions provide considerable aid at guard, Walter Clayton Jr., and down low, Tyrese Samuel and Micah Handlogten.

Pullin, Denzel Aberdeen, Alex Condon, Julian Rishwain and Thomas Haugh serve as depth for the unit.

Through three games, UF's seen a drastic uptick in offensive production from a year ago, rated No. 26 via KenPom advanced metrics while the once top ten defensive prowess it held in 2022-23 has exited with star rim-protecting forward Colin Castleton's department. The Gators still rank in the top 65 in defensive efficiency and align at No. 42 in adjusted efficiency margin in the country at the moment.

Meanwhile, Florida State brought back its core group, several of which returning to health after missing last season, before adding complementary portal pieces with hopes of rebounding following a down season.

Cam'Ron Fletcher rejoins the fold after spending over half the season on the shelf in 2022-23. He's flanked by a much-improved Darius Green Jr. — a talented three-point shooter with extended range who can also put the ball on the floor when needed — to create an uber-dynamic guard duo averaging 11.5 and 17 points per game, respectively.

The third piece to the backcourt puzzle, guard Primo Spears remains sidelined as he awaits a decision on his two-time transfer waiver from the NCAA. As a result, he's been inactive for the Noles' first two games. Senior Josh Nickelberry has picked up the slack off the bench in his absence.

In the frontcourt, Florida State courts its patent size and length under Hamilton with 6-foot-7 wing Jalen Warley, 6-foot-10 forward Cameron Corhen and 6-foot-11 center Baba Miller rounding out the starting lineup with Jamir Watkins providing strong depth.

The squad has won comfortably in its first two outings and sits at No. 72 in adjusted efficiency margin per KenPom.

The Gators' head coach spoke highly of the contrast from this year to last as it pertains to Hamilton's similar, but simultaneously revamped, squad Thursday.

“A lot of the same pieces as last year, but they’re a lot more connected," Golden said. "They’re playing a lot more synergistic. I feel like they play off each other. They’re playing a lot of guys; they played 11 in their first two games. So they’ve been fresh and they’ve been able to kind of run away from teams in the first two games. I’m excited for this game. It should be a really good one.”

Florida State now enters its first Power Six matchup with the opportunity to gauge its progression this year compared to last. Florida's surge offensively bodes well facing FSU's 89th-ranked defense on the adjusted efficiency scale.

The Gators will aim to get in the win column against a non-mid-major one week after falling to Virginia by three in Charlotte, N.C. The early-season bout could provide momentum for UF as it enters a tough stretch of opponents for the NIT Tip-Off Tournament in the ensuing games.

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Published Nov 17, 2023

BRANDON CARROLL

Brandon Carroll is a recent graduate of the University of Florida. He serves as the lead reporter for the Florida Gators FanNation-Sports Illustrated website, covering football, basketball and recruiting. When he isn't hard at work, he enjoys listening to music, playing flag football and basketball, spending time with his friends and family, and watching an array of television shows. Follow him on Twitter @itsbcarroll.