Mississippi State Basketball: Men’s Hoops vs. Florida Preview
A quick turnaround is exactly what the doctor ordered for Mississippi State (8-5, 3-2 SEC) after Wednesday night’s tough loss to Texas A&M. The Bulldogs will play the second of a three-game homestand, as Mike White and his Florida Gators come to town on Saturday. Tip-off from The Hump is slated for 3 PM CT and will be televised on ESPN2.
Forward Javian Davis is expected back for Mississippi State after being sidelined the last three games. Davis last played in MSU’s loss to Kentucky, in which he recorded 5 points and 7 rebounds. Cameron Matthews and Quinten Post saw their minutes increase with Davis unavailable and helped State go 2-1 in Davis’s absence.
Scouting Florida
Florida came into this season with high expectations and hopes of winning an SEC title. The Gators were picked to finish fourth in the conference, and star forward Keyontae Johnson was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year. Unfortunately, Johnson collapsed at mid-court during the Gators’ loss to in-state rival Florida State.
Thankfully, Johnson has since rejoined the team, and his health has continued to improve. It is still unclear whether or not he will be able to return this season. Even without their star, Florida still has an abundance of talent on its roster.
The Gators sit at 6-3 (3-2 SEC). After knocking off Vanderbilt and LSU to begin conference play, Florida dropped games to Alabama and Kentucky, each by double-digits. Florida comes into Saturday’s game fresh off a 72-63 home win over Ole Miss.
Sophomore guard Tre Mann leads Florida offensively at 14 points per game while shooting 43% from outside. Michigan transfer Colin Castleton has anchored the frontcourt this season, as he averages 12.2 points and almost 2 blocks per game. Castleton is coming off of his best game of the year, recording 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 blocks against Ole Miss.
Junior guard Noah Locke is an outside threat for the Gators, leading the team in three-pointers with 19. Juniors Tyree Appleby and Anthony Duruji have also provided Florida with some production this season, with Appleby averaging 8.6 points and Duruji averaging 6.4.
The Gators, however, will be missing a key piece on Saturday in sophomore guard Scottie Lewis. Lewis missed Tuesday’s game due to “health and safety protocols.” Lewis had started every game up until Tuesday. He is averaging 11 points and leading the team from three at 43%.
Florida ranks fifth in the SEC at 77.6 points per game. The Gators have found their touch from beyond the arc, leading the league at 38.8%. Florida blocks about six shots per game, which ranks them second in the SEC.
Keys to a Bulldog Win
The Bulldogs’ backcourt duo of Iverson Molinar and DJ Stewart has been fantastic this season. Both have shown their ability to take over games and score at will. After the two scored 40 in a win over Vanderbilt, they only combined for 25 in MSU’s one-point loss to A&M. With the rim protector Castleton down low, excellent guard play from Molinar and Stewart is huge for Mississippi State on Saturday.
Scoring in transition will be another factor in Saturday’s outcome. Mississippi State struggled in its half-court offense on Wednesday, and the Bulldogs will need to use their speed and athleticism to get some easy buckets if they want to win. If MSU forces turnovers and pushes the floor, MSU will come away with a much-needed victory.
Prediction
Both teams want to stay above .500 in league play, so I expect a battle all afternoon long between the Gators and Bulldogs. I think a 20-point plus game from DJ Stewart and the absence of Scottie Lewis give MSU the edge on Saturday.