Location: Stephen C. O’Connell Center – Gainesville, FL [Capacity: 11,548]
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST

TV: ESPNU/ESPNUHD (Tom Hart, Matt Doherty)
SiriusXM: 91 | Radio: Gator Radio Network [Affiliates]
Online Video: WatchESPN.com | Mobile Video: WatchESPN app
Live Updates: @OnlyGators on Twitter and SportsYapper app

Odds: Florida -18.5 | O/U 138

HISTORY / STREAKS / STATS

» Florida leads the all-time series against Arkansas 15-11 with every victory coming under Donovan (15-6). The Gators are 8-2 at home in the series (8-0 under Donovan). The teams are meeting twice in the regular season for the first time ever.
» UF is looking to rebound from an 80-69 loss at UA on Feb. 5.
» Florida is undefeated at home this season (12-0) and looking to start 13-0 in the O’Dome for the sixth time under Donovan.
» Four Gators starters are averaging double figures in scoring. The Tigers have two players that score in double digits; each averages 15+ points per game.
» Florida is 46-4 since the beginning of the 2011-12 season when holding opponents under 71 points in a game (20-3 in 2012-13).
» Arkansas has won three-straight games and five of its last six after starting 3-4 in league play over its first seven games.
» The Gators are 4-1 against top-25 opponents this season after going 3-5 against ranked adversaries last season with all five losses coming to top-three teams.
» UF is outscoring SEC opponents by an average of +20.8 points per game.
» Florida freshman guard Michael Frazier II (.506) is chasing school history as he looks to become the most proficient single-season three-point shooter ever at UF (Kenyan Weaks – .508).
» The Gators are second nationally in scoring margin (+20.7), third in scoring defense (53.0), seventh in field goal percentage (.493) and three-point shooting (9.0 per game), ninth in field goal defense (.374), 13th in assist-turnover ratio (1.39), 18th in assists (16.0), 20th in three-point percentage (.390) and 23rd in rebound margin (+6.3).
» Florida is also seventh nationally in fouling, committing 14.0 per game.
» The Razorbacks are second nationally in turnover margin (+6.5), 14th in steals (9.3), 16th in assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.37) and 24th in assists (15.7).

Read the rest of the Florida-Arkansas preview with much more after the break!
Continue Reading » Gameday: No. 4/5 Florida Gators vs. Arkansas

Tags: Arkansas Razorbacks, Billy Donovan, Kenny Boynton, Marshawn Powell, Michael Frazier, Mike Anderson, Patric Young, SEC, Stephen C. O'Connell Center

Location: Bud Walton Arena – Fayetteville, AR [Capacity: 19,200]
Time: 7:05 p.m. EST

TV: ESPN/ESPNHD (Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes, Shannon Spake)
SiriusXM: 91 | Radio: Gator Radio Network [Affiliates]
Online Video: WatchESPN.com | Mobile Video: WatchESPN app
Live Updates: @OnlyGators on Twitter and SportsYapper app

Odds: Florida -11.5 | O/U 140

QUICK TURNAROUND IN A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT

Donovan is known as being no fan of the three-day turnaround during SEC play but that is exactly what the Gators and Razorbacks both have leading into their game on Tuesday evening. “It’s always different when you have a quick turnaround like this,” he said. “You just have to deal with that. We’ve got two legitimate days to prepare, as does Arkansas. … So, we’re both dealing with the same thing with the Saturday-Tuesday.”

While the prep time may be the same for both squads, nothing else will be equal on Tuesday. UF is looking like one of the best teams in the country and heads into Fayetteville on a 10-game winning streak, it’s longest since the middle of the 2008-09 season. The hosts, while not necessarily having a great season, have been playing fantastic at home. The Razorbacks have won 10-straight in the friendly confines (4-0 in SEC play) with an average margin of victory of 17.6 points in those contests.

“The biggest thing you look at is the field goal percentage, the offensive numbers are different. I think that’s not abnormal. Most teams shoot the ball at home better than they do on the road but those numbers are drastically different,” Donovan said Monday. “Winning on the road is really hard. It’s really hard to do. There’s probably a comfort level and a confidence level for those guys, playing in Fayetteville. It’s a unique and really a great environment, which I’m sure they enjoy very much. I think most teams feel a little bit different when they play at home.”

Florida is also in the middle of a a scheduling oddity with Arkansas and will be playing in Bud Walton Arena for three-straight seasons despite only seeing the Razorbacks in Gainesville, FL once (Feb. 23, 2013).

“With the expansion, the scheduling has gotten a little different. Last year, we played them because we had 16 [games] in the league. This year, we’re in a home-and-home with them and we’ll play them twice. Next year, we have to go back to Arkansas. We’re going to play in Fayetteville three times in relation to them coming here once [in three years],” Donovan explained. “Because of the off-set schedule, that’s a little bit unique and a little bit different. I think Bud Walton is a great place to play. They have great fans, good enthusiasm and a good environment. I’m sure there will be a great crowd in there. Our guys have gone into that building, they know what to expect. They know how it is in there and [Arkansas] plays very, very well at home as the stats and records show. They are exceptionally a very good home team.”

Continue Reading » Florida-Arkansas, defense, Boynton, Gators notes

Tags: Arkansas Razorbacks, Billy Donovan, Bud Walton Arena, Erik Murphy, Kenny Boynton, Michael Frazier, Mike Anderson, Mike Rosario, Patric Young, Scottie Wilbekin, SEC, Will Yeguete