Gators, 'Noles on collision course

It's nothing like football. Florida and Florida State won't determine the worth of a season based on which team wins tonight's men's basketball game at the O'Connell Center.

Yet, just like football, it's a basketball game nobody likes to lose.

"I just know that every time I play those guys I want to win,'' Gators center Patric Young said. "It's a rivalry I've grown up with since I was a young lad. I've grown up as a Gator from my grandparents, going to Florida football games. And now that I'm playing basketball, I still have the rivalry (feel).

"I don't hate them, but I just want to win every time we play them.''

No. 11 Florida (9-2) has won two straight in the series and is 5-1 at home against Florida State under coach Billy Donovan. Florida State (8-3) dropped out of the national rankings this season after three straight losses, including in overtime to No. 4 Connecticut, but has won its past three.

Tonight's game will be a classic matchup of potent offense against stingy defense.

The Gators are third in the nation in scoring at 86.1 points per game and lead the nation in 3-pointers made with 123.

The Seminoles allow only 57.8 points per game and are third in the nation in holding opponents to 34.2 percent accuracy from the field.

"Their offense is really good," FSU senior center Bernard James said. "Our defense is really going to be put to the test this game. They are shooters. Just about everybody on the team can knock down shots.

"So, that's definitely going to be a point of concern for us. We're definitely going to try to get them away from shooting jump shots, try to get them to the hole and try to beat us that way."

Florida State has a big frontcourt with the 6-foot-10 James and 6-11 Xavier Gibson.

"I think a lot of times your defensive numbers are predicated by what you do at the basket and, certainly, with Gibson and James, Okaro White, the guys they have up front they make it very, very difficult to finish at the basket because of their length,'' Donovan said.

Florida's Boynton, a junior guard averaging a team-best 18.7 points, is thinking less about the nature of the rivalry and more about beating a quality opponent.

"We want to close this stretch out before the Christmas break with wins,'' Boynton said. "And Florida State, they are a great team. I think they dropped out of the Top 25, but they were in it, so you know that means they are a good team. I think we need to just come out and be focused in that game.''

Donovan agreed.

"It's a great tool, a measuring stick for your team going into league play,'' he said.