College basketball

Today: No.5 Florida at Georgia

By Times staff writers
Published January 7, 2006

WHEN/WHERE: Noon; Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, Ga.

TV/RADIO: Ch. 38; 1250-AM.

RECORDS: UF 13-0, Georgia 10-3.

COACHES: UF - Billy Donovan (206-92, 10th season; 241-112 overall); Georgia - Dennis Felton (34-37, third season; 134-91).

NOTABLE: Finally, the SEC season begins. After beating up inferior opponents most of December, the Gators open the conference season in a hostile environment against an old rival. Florida can match the longest win streak in school history. The Gators have won three straight over Georgia, but the Bulldogs are undefeated at home and much improved, having surpassed their win total of last season. Both teams have five players averaging in double figures. Although the Gators are ranked and Georgia is not, Donovan said his team's mind-set is that of an underdog. "They are undefeated at home, they've got all five starters returning and they've added some great, great pieces to their puzzle. ... The mind-set of our team is we feel like we've got something to prove."

- ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times staff writer

WHEN/WHERE: 7; Donald L. Tucker Center, Tallahassee.

TV/RADIO: FSN, 1040-AM.

RECORDS: Virginia Tech 9-4, 0-1 ACC; FSU 9-2, 0-1.

COACHES: Virginia Tech - Seth Greenberg (40-32, third season; 254-202 overall), FSU - Leonard Hamilton (54-50, fourth season; 254-260).

NOTABLE: The Seminoles saw their seven-game winning streak end with a loss at Clemson on Wednesday. Greenberg, as he was at USF, has been hit by misfortune. The Hokies lost 72-71 to visiting Bowling Green when one of his players tipped in a Bowling Green shot. Then, at No. 1 Duke, it took a halfcourt buzzer-beater by Sean Dockery for the Blue Devils to win 77-75. Tech has four players averaging double figures, led by senior forward Coleman Collins (18.2) who is coming off a career-best 32 in a win Monday at James Madison. FSU leads the series against its former Metro Conference rival 20-15, including a 77-70 win in the teams' lone meeting last season.

-, BRIAN LANDMAN Times staff writer

[Last modified January 7, 2006, 01:22:58]