The court should be fairly even in Florida’s (9-6, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) matchup against Auburn (9-6, 1-1 SEC) tonight at 7 in the O’Connell Center.
Florida has yet to face defeat at home against Auburn under Donovan.
But tonight will be the first time Florida faces off against Auburn under the direction of the Tigers’ new coach, Bruce Pearl.
Pearl, who was named Auburn basketball’s head coach in March, previously served as the Volunteers head coach from 2005-2011, so he is not a completely new face. In the 12 times Donovan’s Gators faced Pearl’s Volunteers, Florida won four matches while Tennessee claimed the other eight.
This season is Pearl’s first back to coaching after serving a three-year penalty for lying to the NCAA about recruiting visits.
“Anytime you've got a new coach coming in, there's going to be some time and some transition that those kids are going to through,” Donovan said. “Bruce has got a system and a style that's been very effective, very successful. He's going to play a certain way.”
The Tigers may be adjusting to Pearl’s new system and style but they have not yet figured out how to take that knowledge and potency on the road with them. Auburn has yet to win a game on the road this season.
Donovan added that he thinks there’s somewhat of a misconception around the idea of Auburn playing fast.
“In a lot of situations, the shot clock is going to get down to 10, 12 seconds. They’re going to run their offense get into whatever action they want to run at that time,” Donovan said. “For them, the look of them playing fast? We play fast too.”
Leading Auburn in fast play is starter KT Harrell. The senior guard is averaging more points per game (17) than any Gator. Redshirt junior forward Dorian Finney-Smith leads the Gators with 14.1 points per game.
“I’m trying to get him to a consistent guy in terms of his rep that he gets up to the basket that it’s a good, consistent rep that he shoots in the ball in a fashion and a way that gives it the best chances to go in,” Donovan said of Finney-Smith.
Where Auburn could prove to be dangerous for Florida is in the second half. On average, the Tigers have scored more points in the second half of their games than in the first. While the Tigers have been consistently outscored by opponents in the first half of games, Auburn has managed to outscore their opponents in the second half. In that aspect, Auburn has Florida’s number and the Gators won’t be quick to dismiss them.
“I think Bruce’s teams have always been very, very comfortable with having long possessions. Missed shots, made baskets, certainly you have to get back and balance the floor because Bruce’s team -- every team -- is going to try to push the ball in transition,” Donovan said. “They’re going to be very, very efficient in the half-court.”
Redshirt junior forward Alex Murphy expects tonight’s game to be a pretty fair matchup.
“His team is always similar to us, they press, they play fast, so I expect Thursday night to be a track meet out there and it’s fun, you know,” Murphy said. “You get a lot of points, like I said, turnovers lead to fast break points and that sort of thing so I think that helps us too.”
Game Info
Location: O’Connell Center (Gainesville, Florida)
Tipoff: 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Series Record: Auburn leads 87-75
Follow Erica A. Hernandez on Twitter @EricaAlyssa
Billy Donovan looks down the court while players celebrate during Florida's 72-47 win against Mississippi State on Saturday in the O'Connell Center
