Scouting Report: Florida Gators

Date: Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015
Place: Reed Arena, College Station, Texas
TV: SEC Network, 5:30 pm

Overall record: 12-12
Conference record:  5-6

Florida's last five games:

Ole Miss           96-82        L
Kentucky          64-69         L
@ Vanderbilt      72-71        L
Arkansas           79-73        W
@ Alabama        67-47        W

Players to watch

Dorian Finney-Smith, a 6-8 forward, is the Gator's leading rebounder and second leading scorer. With his ability to play along the perimeter, knock down open threes, put the ball on the hardwood, post up with his back to the basket and finish above the rim, Finney-Smith is a matchup problem for most teams. Expect him to try to get involved in the game early and often at both ends of the court.

Michael Frazier II is a quick and offensively talented guard. He didn't start in Florida's last game, but has notched 19 starts on the year. No matter whether he is on the court from the beginning or coming off the bench, Frazier is a guy that is looking to score whenever he gets the chance. The majority of his shots are from behind the three-point line, Frazier makes more than 40 percent of those attempts and fires it up at will. And, standing at 6-4, he is the Gator's second leading rebounder.

After Finney-Smith and Frazier, Eli Carter, Kasey Hill and Jon Horford are the Gators' most reliable players. Carter, a 6-2 junior guard, can score a lot of points in a short amount of time. Hill is Florida's most steady ball-handler and decision maker. He will knock down open shots and create extra possessions for his team with hustle plays. Jon Horford, a 6-10 transfer from Michigan, is a grad student who is extremely experienced and a big body in the paint. He isn't overly explosive, but his footwork before the pass puts him in good position to score easily.

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Florida at a glance

The Gators are coming off a one-point loss on a devastating, buzzer-beating shot on Thursday night. The defeat at the hands of Ole Miss extended their losing streak to three before the Gators traveled to College Station.

Florida is a team that wants to play fast, but hasn't had the opportunities to be consistently successful in the open court. The Gators reverse the ball from side to side and set cross screens and back screens in the paint, with players cutting to the basket without the ball. When it's all said and done, A&M is going to have to be prepared to guard a ball screen on the wing and at the top of the key and keep Frazier and Finney-Smith in front of them along the perimeter.

The Gator posts are a physical group that likes to create contact under the basket. The Aggies found out just how hard it is to play a team like that in their loss to Georgia. The Gators have some big boys up front to take up space on offense and move the Aggie post players outside the lane on defense. Billy Donovan has size, length and athleticism at every position.

Florida can come into Reed Arena and play the best game of the season, or it could possibly not show up at all and give the game to Kennedy and Co. The Gators are talented and can find ways to score against anyone. When the play breaks down, expect the Gators to get the ball into Finney-Smith's, Frazier's or Hill's hands so they can try to score or go make a play for its teammates.

Florida isn't exceptionally good at any one aspect, but it is above-average at a number of different things — especially creating turnovers. A&M will have to take care of the ball and not hand it over to the other team for easy transition opportunities.

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Keys to the game 

1. Ball security: The Ags have to stop handing the ball to their opponent, especially against a team that does a good job of creating steals on the defensive end. Florida has very active hands and likes to force a lot of turnovers.
2. Game plan: Billy Kennedy and his staff have to get their players in position to score. The Gators are going to be a tough matchup at every position, meaning the coaching staff will have to find a way to get easy shot attempts on offense.
3. Intensity: A&M hasn't played an entire game with 100 percent intensity at both ends of the court in the last four contests. Winning the 50/50 loose balls, rebounding battle (offensive and defensive) and points in the paint will give the Ags a great chance at a victory.
4. Team: The trust and belief in the system that secured a six-game win streak has to come back into play. Sharing the basketball and defensive rotation can hide a lot of individual mistakes.