The big day is finally here! On this penultimate day of the year 2020 C.E. the Gator Nation gets to see its two biggest sports in action when the football team takes the field against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Cotton Bowl and the men’s basketball team travels to Nashville to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores.
The basketball game represents the opener for the Southeastern Conference schedule for both teams. However, it has been 18 days since Florida’s last game — its road loss to the Florida State Seminoles in which forward Keyontae Johnson collapsed — while Vandy has continued to play, with its last coming last Sunday. The Gators bring a 3-1 record in while the Commodores are sitting at 4-2 at the completion of their non-conference schedule.
In Johnson’s absence, it appears that redshirt junior transfer Anthony Duruji will likely get the start at the power forward position. Tip off is scheduled for 9 p.m. EST — right in the middle of the Cotton Bowl — and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Around the Swamp
- Gators lose another receiver for the Cotton Bowl, this time due to COVID: The Florida Gators lost yet another member of their elite receiving corps ahead of their date with the Oklahoma Sooners in the Cotton Bowl this Wednesday night.
- Cotton Bowl matchup between Florida and Oklahoma tops watchability rankings: Ordinarily, one would think the playoff games would automatically be at the top of the list, but is that actually the case?
- Florida’s defensive roadmap for slowing down Oklahoma: Here are three things Florida needs to focus on defensively against the Sooners.
- What does Florida need to do offensively in the Cotton Bowl?: Facing Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday, they look to capture their third-straight New Year’s Six win.
- Behind Enemy Lines: Chatting with Sooners Wire about the Cotton Bowl: This is perhaps Florida’s toughest New Year’s Six opponent yet, though, and it’s the first conference champion it’s faced in the postseason under Mullen.
It’s great to be a Florida Gator!
Time for some @SEC Hoops 😎
🆚 Vanderbilt
⌚ 9:00 p.m.
📺 ESPN2
📱 https://t.co/IYeWP6KNSF
📻 https://t.co/cofhX781ha#GatorsHoop pic.twitter.com/FmvQAFs3Sv— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) December 30, 2020
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