No. 3 Florida, No. 12 Texas A&M Trying to Shake Off Losses
For No. 3 Florida and No. 12 Texas A&M, it’s not a question of making the NCAA Tournament—it’s about securing the best possible seeding. Both teams look to bounce back from losses to unranked opponents when they meet Saturday in Gainesville, Fla.
Florida Aiming to Rebound
The Gators (24-4, 11-4 SEC) saw their six-game winning streak snapped in an 88-83 loss at Georgia on Tuesday. Florida erased a 26-point first-half deficit and even took the lead late but couldn’t complete the comeback. Will Richard led the charge with 30 points.
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“We got caught up in the moment early, probably didn’t play with enough poise offensively,” Florida coach Todd Golden said.
A bright spot was the return of 6-foot-11 Alex Condon, who scored nine points off the bench after missing two weeks with an ankle injury. Prior to the Georgia loss, Florida had rolled through its competition, including wins at No. 1 Auburn and then-No. 22 Mississippi State.
Texas A&M Looking to End Skid
The Aggies (20-8, 9-6 SEC) are searching for answers after their third straight loss, an 86-84 setback to Vanderbilt on Wednesday. Despite out-rebounding opponents by at least seven in each of those losses, turnovers and poor shooting have been their downfall.
“We have to figure out ways to improve because if you’re not improving this time of the year, it’s not status quo, you’re getting worse because other teams are improving,” Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams said.
Three-point shooting has been a major issue. The Aggies have hit just 26.7% (20-of-75) from deep during their losing streak while allowing opponents to shoot 42.1% (32-of-76).
One player who has remained consistent is 6-foot-9 Minnesota transfer Pharrel Payne, who has made 13 of 18 shots over the last three games while collecting 34 points and 18 rebounds.
However, Texas A&M needs more from its top two scorers. Wade Taylor IV went 0-for-9 from three against Tennessee, and Zhuric Phelps has made just 15.4% (2-of-13) of his threes while committing twice as many turnovers (12) as assists (6) in the past three games.
High Stakes for Both Teams
Texas A&M faces a tough road ahead, with a matchup against No. 1 Auburn looming after Florida. Meanwhile, the Gators aim to get back on track and solidify their standing in the SEC race. With both teams desperate for a bounce-back win, expect a competitive battle in Gainesville.