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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 19, 2002
WHEN/WHERE: Noon; Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville.
TV/RADIO: Ch. 38; WDAE-AM 620, WDCF-AM 1350, WWJB-AM 1450, WXCV-FM 95.3.
RECORDS: Georgia 14-3, 3-1 SEC; UF 15-1, 4-0.
COACHES: Jim Harrick (40-38, third season; 443-220 overall). UF -- Billy Donovan (117-57, sixth season; 152-77 overall).
KEY PLAYERS: Georgia -- Ezra Williams, G, 6-4 Jr. (18.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg); Jarvis Hayes, F, 6-6 So. (16.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg). UF -- Matt Bonner, F, 6-10 Jr. (16.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg); Udonis Haslem, C, 6-9 Sr. (16.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg).
OF NOTE: Georgia will play without starting forward Steve Thomas and backup guard Tony Cole, who have been suspended while university police investigate an alleged rape of a Georgia student. Without Thomas, the Bulldogs give up about 3 inches inside. That poses a problem with Haslem in the middle and Bonner and freshman David Lee on the glass. Florida guard Justin Hamilton is questionable after separating his shoulder last week. Florida has scored more than 100 points in two SEC games and won 15 of its past 16 SEC games. The last team to beat the Gators at home was Georgia last season. Florida has eight consecutive victories against ranked teams at home. Its past five victories against Georgia have been by an average of 14.6 points. The Bulldogs' three losses (Georgia State, Hawaii and Alabama) have been by a combined 20 points. Georgia's biggest concern is how it will respond after losing two key players and its first conference game Wednesday. "Before what happened the other day, I had been excited about going down and playing Florida," Harrick said. "I'm not too excited about it now."