Florida looking to get back over .500 in conference play against Georgia

Florida got Colin Castleton back on Saturday against Ole Miss after the star big man had missed the Gators’ last six games. Castleton helped UF secure a second-half comeback victory against Mississippi, and now all eyes are on Georgia.

As good as Georgia is on the gridiron, it isn’t quite the same powerhouse on the hardwood. The Bulldogs come into Wednesday’s matchup with the Gators just 6-17 overall and 1-9 against conference opponents this season. In other words, this is one of the most winnable games left on Florida’s schedule.

Castleton, though, isn’t at 100% once again. Although his shoulder injury has healed up nicely, Castleton tweaked his knee against Ole Miss causing him to leave the game briefly. While he’s still expected to play, a hurt leg is going to make anyone’s day on the court exponentially more laborious. And the loss of Jason Jitoboh for the season puts even more pressure on No. 12.

Castleton isn’t the only new name in Florida’s projected starting lineup on Wednesday. Sophomore guard Niels Lane has proven himself useful enough to crack the rotation against Georgia, leaving freshman Kowacie Reeves and graduate Brandon McKissic coming off the bench.

The two main players to watch out for on Georgia are Kario Oquendo, the team leader in points per game with 13.4 on average, and Braelen Bridges, who is the team’s second-leading scorer. Shutting them down would put points at a premium for Georgia and give Florida an easy path to victory.

Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m EST at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville.

Projected Starting Lineups:

FLORIDA