Incarnate Word @ Florida preview

Florida showed some improvement on the defensive end of the court last time out and hopes to build on that performance when it hosts Incarnate Word on Friday in the final tune-up before SEC play begins. The Gators held James Madison to 37.5 percent shooting and forced 18 turnovers to earn a 72-63 victory on Wednesday, ending a two-game slide on their home court.

“We made some mistakes defensively,” Florida coach Mike White told reporters. “But I thought we sat in a stance and guarded the basketball another level, a level the guys hadn’t shown in the past. It started this week in practice. That as hard as this team has played, so I’m pleased with the effort.” Senior point guard Chris Chiozza continued his strong play with 19 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals to lead the way for the Gators, who started the season 5-0 before dropping four of five. “It feels good to get a win,” Chiozza told reporters. “You never want to underestimate people. Any team can come in here on any night and have a chance to win.” Florida hopes to avoid a letdown against Incarnate Word, which lost to UTEP 72-66 last time out after winning back-to-back contests.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT INCARNATE WORD (5-4): Junior forward Simi Socks from Zimbabwe leads the team in scoring (15.4) and has set season highs in his past two contests with 20 against UMKC and 21 versus UTEP. Freshman forward Christian Peevy has drained 12-of-19 from the field over the last three games and has connected on 61.1 percent from the field overall to score 11.8 per contest. Senior guard Shawn Johnson averages 11.4 points and tops the Cardinals in rebounding (6.6) and steals (2.4) while Charles Brown III scores 11.1 per contest.

ABOUT FLORIDA (7-4): Junior guard Jalen Hudson came off the bench to score 10 against James Madison and leads the team at 18.6 points per game while draining 30-of-69 from behind the 3-point arc. Junior KeVaughn Allen, last season’s leading scorer who struggled to post 22 total points in the previous three games, scored 17 last time out to support the efforts of Chiozza - who is averaging 16 points the last three games and a team-high 5.9 assists overall. Senior guard Egor Koulechov averages 14.3 points, but he has converted 4-of-18 from the field the last two games.

TIP-INS

1. Florida freshman G Mike Okauru scored seven points against James Madison after managing six combined the previous six games.

2. Johnson became the 16th player in Incarnate Word history to reach 1,000 career points last time out.

3. The Gators are in the top 15 in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (10.5) with Chiozza running the show.

PREDICTION: Florida 82, Incarnate Word 64