Florida Gators vs North Florida Ospreys Picks and Predictions December 21st 2024

No. 7 Florida Eyes Consistency Against High-Scoring North Florida

After a close call against North Carolina, No. 7 Florida looks to keep its perfect record intact as it hosts North Florida on Saturday in Gainesville.

Florida Focuses on Growth

Florida (11-0) has dominated its schedule so far, winning 10 straight games by double digits before battling to a 90-84 victory over the Tar Heels on Tuesday at the Jumpman Invitational. The experience of playing under pressure could serve the Gators well as they gear up for SEC play, starting with a challenging opener at No. 4 Kentucky on Jan. 4.

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“To be honest, we haven’t had a game like this yet,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “We’ve won every game before this by double figures, and so to be able to push through in a game where we trailed back and forth through the second half, I think is obviously great for us and will help prepare us for SEC play.”

Alijah Martin stepped up in the clutch against North Carolina, tying the game twice in the final minutes and finishing with 19 points. Will Richard, who scored a team-high 22 points on 8-for-10 shooting, delivered the go-ahead basket with a crucial offensive rebound and putback late in the game.

“Definitely good to face a little adversity,” Richard said. “We know the rest of the season isn’t going to be easy, but it’s preparing us for conference and the rest of the games we’ve got coming up.”

Despite the win, Florida’s leading scorer Walter Clayton Jr. (18.5 points per game) had an off night, shooting just 4-for-15 from the field. The Gators will look for a more balanced offensive performance as they aim to maintain momentum.

North Florida’s Three-Point Barrage

North Florida (7-5) brings a unique challenge with its 3-point-heavy offense. The Ospreys lead Division I in both 3-point attempts (37.3 per game) and makes (13.6 per game), making them a dangerous opponent capable of pulling off surprises.

The Ospreys started the season with impressive road wins over South Carolina and Georgia Tech but have cooled off recently, losing three of their last five games. Their shooting dipped to 30 percent from beyond the arc in a loss to UNC Asheville on Tuesday.

Coach Matthew Driscoll, however, emphasized that his team can adapt when shots aren’t falling.

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“Everybody’s like, ‘Well, you live and die (by the 3).’ Well, it’s not true,” Driscoll said. “I want to make 3s, but to our guys’ credit, we got layup after layup after layup.”

Josh Harris (16.4 points, 7.0 rebounds per game) and Jasai Miles (14.2 points, 7.7 rebounds) lead North Florida’s scoring efforts, while Liam Murphy provides a spark off the bench, averaging 12.3 points and shooting 44.4 percent (40 of 90) from 3-point range.

Florida’s Game Plan

The Gators will need to maintain their defensive intensity and limit North Florida’s perimeter looks while leveraging their size and athleticism inside. With two tune-ups left before SEC play, Florida is focused on continuing to sharpen its execution on both ends of the floor.

Saturday’s matchup offers the Gators a chance to stay unbeaten while testing themselves against one of the nation’s most unique offenses. For North Florida, it’s another opportunity to challenge a top-tier program and potentially make a statement.