Gameday - UF vs. South Carolina

No. 24 Florida (16-2, 3-0 SEC) at South Carolina (12-4, 1-2 SEC)

Tipoff: 7 p.m.

Site: Colonial Center, Columbia, S.C.

Radio: AM-850

TV: FSN

Florida

(11-0 home, 1-1 away, 4-1 neutral)

33 Nick Calathes

Position: Guard

Year: Sophomore

Height/weight: 6-6/194

Hometown/Last school: Casselberry/Lake Howell

Stats: 17.7 ppg, 6.7 apg

15 Walter Hodge

Position: Guard

Year: Senior

Height/weight: 6-0/170

Hometown/Last school: Guyanabo, P.R./Florida Air Academy

Stats: 7.7 ppg, 2.2 apg

25 Chandler Parsons

Position: Forward

Year: Sophomore

Height/weight: 6-9/213

Hometown/Last school: Casselberry/Lake Howell

Stats: 8.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg

21 Dan Werner

Position: Forward

Year: Junior

Height/weight: 6-8/230

Hometown/Last school: Middletown, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy

Stats: 9.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg

23 Alex Tyus

Position: Center

Year: Sophomore

Height/weight: 6-8/220

Hometown/Last school: St. Louis, Mo./Harmony Community

Stats: 12.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg

Florida bench

No. Name, Pos. Yr. HT/WT

1 Eloy Vargas F Fr. 6-10/215 1.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg

3 Ray Shipman G Fr. 6-5/212 4.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg

4 Kyle McClanahan G Fr. 6-1/185 0.8 ppg, 0.4 rpg

11 Erving Walker G Fr. 5-8/161 8.9 ppg, 2.5 apg

24 Allan Chaney F Fr. 6-8/231 3.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg

30 Kenny Kadji C Fr. 6-10/245 5.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg

Florida coach

Billy Donovan (301-117 in 13 seasons at Florida, 336-137 in 15 seasons overall)

South Carolina

(10-1 home, 2-3 road, 0-0 neutral)

2 Devan Downey

Position: Guard

Year: Junior

Height/weight: 5-9/175

Hometown/Last school: Chester, S.C./Cincinnati

Stats: 19.6 ppg, 4.3 apg

20 Zam Frederick

Position: Guard

Year: Senior

Height/weight: 6-0/203

Hometown/Last school: St. Matthews, S.C./Georgia Tech

Stats: 16.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg

5 Brandis Raley-Ross

Position: Guard

Year: Junior

Height/weight: 6-2/193

Hometown/Last school: Gastonia, N.C./Gaston Day

Stats: 6.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg

21 Dominique Archie

Position: Forward

Year: Junior

Height/weight: 6-7/200

Hometown/Last school: Augusta, Ga./T.W. Josey

Stats: 11.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg

24 Mike Holmes

Position: Forward

Year: Sophomore

Height/weight: 6-7/230

Hometown/Last school: Bishopville, S.C./Lee Central

Stats: 11.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg

South Carolina bench

No. Name, Pos. Yr. HT/WT

12 Branden Conrad G Sr. 6-2/180 5.0 ppg. 2.6 rpg

14 Robert Wilder G Jr. 6-1/185 0.3 ppg, 0.3 rpg

25 Austin Steed F So. 6-8/215 5.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg

31 Evaldas Baniulus F Jr. 6-7/210 7.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg

44 Sam Muldrow F Fr. 6-9/216 1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg

55 Mitchell Carter C Jr. 6-10/260 1.7 ppg, 0.9 rpg

South Carolina coach

Darrin Horn (12-4 in one season at South Carolina, 123-52 in six seasons overall)

Statistical Comparison

Florida Category South Carolina

78.9 Points Per Game 80.1

64.2 Opp points per game 67.6

.489 Field goal pct. .470

.429 Opp field goal pct. .421

.349 3-point FG pct. .388

.330 Opp 3-point FG pct. .314

.678 Free throw pct. .656

+2.2 Rebound margin +1.2

7.7 3-pointers per game 6.4

6.1 Opp 3-pointers per game 5.0

2.9 Blocks per game 4.1

9.2 Steals per game 10.1

17.8 Assists per game 11.9

12.7 Turnovers per game 14.3

Five things to watch

1. South Carolina's backcourt

South Carolina guards Devan Downey (19.2 points per game) and Zam Frederick (16.3 ppg) rank second and 10th in the Southeastern Conference in scoring, respectively. Downey is exceptionally quick and both guards are excellent 3-point shooters. Florida will need to keep at least one of the guards in check to have a chance to start 4-0 in league play.

2. Florida's ballhandling

South Carolina has forced 21 turnovers per game in league play, best in the SEC. Even though the Gamecocks have given up some easy baskets in their press, first-year coach Darrin Horn hasn't abandoned his philosophy of full-court pressure. Florida will need steady games from point guards Nick Calathes and Erving Walker and some help from its frontcourt to bring the ball up the floor.

3. Parsons' production

Florida sophomore forward Chandler Parsons is again struggling from 3-point range, having missed his last nine attempts. Parsons is averaging 8.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in SEC play, but could be doing even more if he could regain his lost shooting stroke. Parsons hasn't made a 3-pointer in four of his last five games.

4. Battles on the glass

Neither team presents a physical inside presence, but Florida has rebounded the ball better of late. South Carolina, meanwhile, has been out-rebounded by an average of seven boards per game in SEC play. Forward Dominique Archie has posted double-doubles in points and rebounds in each of South Carolina's last two games. But if the Gators can get Archie in foul trouble, they could enjoy a significant advantage on the glass.

5. Complacency

Florida comes into the game ranked in the AP poll for the first time since Dec. 7. How will the Gators handle success? Florida will need a focused and consistent effort because pulling off conference wins on the road aren't always easy.

SEC standings

Eastern Division

Florida 3-0 1.000 16-2 .889

Kentucky 3-0 1.000 14-4 .778

Tennessee 2-1 .667 11-5 .688

South Carolina 1-2 .333 12-4 .750

Vanderbilt 1-2 .333 12-5 .706

Georgia 0-3 .000 9-9 .500

Western Division

Mississippi State 3-0 1.000 13-5 .722

LSU 2-1 .667 14-3 .824

Alabama 1-2 .333 11-6 .647

Auburn 1-2 .333 11-6 .647

Ole Miss 1-2 .333 10-7 .588

Arkansas 0-3 .000 12-4 .750

SEC schedule

Tuesday's Game

Tennessee at Vanderbilt (ESPN), late

Today's Games

Florida at South Carolina (FSN), 7 p.m.

Ole Miss at Alabama, 8 p.m.

Mississippi State at LSU, 8 p.m.

Auburn at Kentucky (FSN), 9 p.m.

Saturday's Games

Auburn at Arkansas (Fox), 1 p.m.

Kentucky at Alabama (Fox), 3 p.m.

Memphis at Tennessee (CBS), 3:30 p.m.

Mississippi State at Georgia (ESPN2), 6 p.m.

Xavier at LSU (ESPN2), 8 p.m.

Ole Miss at South Carolina (FSN), 8 p.m.

Sunday's Game

Florida at Vanderbilt, (CBS), 1:30 p.m.