Miami and No. 10 Florida, in-state foes who have not played since November 2019, will renew their rivalry Sunday night with a matchup in Jacksonville, Fla.
As the defending national champion, Florida (2-1) has learned a valuable lesson in its first three contests. The Gators know they will get every squad’s best shot each game.
In their recent outing against Florida State, the Gators received a ton of body blows from the Seminoles and hot-shooting transfer guard Robert McCray V (29 points) but were able to hang on for a 78-76 win over the hated Seminoles.
Thomas Haugh led the way with 20 points for Florida on 7-of-15 shooting, including 2 of 6 from deep. He also pulled down 13 rebounds, as the club used its massive size advantage to a 58-36 margin on the boards.
Haugh, who played more in the backcourt but sees himself at the No. 3 position in the NBA, said he and his teammates understand what lies ahead.
“We’ve got to embrace it,” Haugh said of being the title winners. “I think coach (Todd) Golden said that at the beginning of the year, that (we) will be the hunted not the hunters this year. … We’ve got to go into every arena that’s going to be sold out and stuff.”
“But I think this team is confident, and the leaders on this team will be able to pull us through in the end.”
The 6-foot-9 swingman is one of five Gators averaging double-figure scoring at a team-besrt 19.7 points per game. Fellow big man Alex Condon follows at 15.7, while new point guard Boogie Fland has put up 12.3. Xaivian Lee scores at an 11-point clip, and Micah Handlogten tallies 10 and a team-leading 10.3 rebounds.
In its series with the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Hurricanes, Florida holds a 47-24 advantage including their most recent meeting on Nov. 22, 2019, a 78-58 trouncing in the Charleston Classic tournament in Charleston, S.C.
Miami (3-0) has topped 100 points its last two times out, though it has not been tested much in home victories over the Sunshine State’s Jacksonville, Bethune-Cookman and Stetson.
“I’m expecting a fight, a war,” said Hurricanes forward Malik Reneau, a three-year player for the Indiana Hoosiers who was once a major Florida prospect under previous coach Mike White. “Like coach (Jai Lucas) said in the locker room, it’s not going to be a lot of basketball.”
“It will be a war out there, so I’m expecting to go out there and give (Florida) all I’ve got,” said Reneau, a Miami native. “You know, blood, sweat and tears. I hope they’re ready, too.”
The 6-foot-9 forward leads the Hurricanes with 21.3 points per game, while Ernest Udeh Jr., who previously played for Big 12 programs at TCU and Kansas, paces the squad with nine rebounds per game.
Tre Donaldson, a newcomer from Michigan who also previously played at Auburn, posts 16.3 points per game. Tru Washington averages 14, and Shelton Henderson sits at 12.3.
Lucas, 36, arrived at the Gainesville school in 2007 as a top point guard, averaged 8.5 points his freshman season but soon transferred to Texas.
“I like where we are right now … but I know we’re not where we need to be,” the coach said.
