Florida @ Missouri preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 23, 2019 ) Missouri 60, Florida 64

After struggling through the nonconference portion of the schedule, Florida has stepped up its game since SEC action began. The Gators have won two straight conference games, defeating Alabama 104-98 in double-overtime and South Carolina 81-68, and three in a row overall as they head to Missouri on Friday to face a Tigers team still looking for its first SEC victory after falling to Kentucky (71-59) and Tennessee (69-59).

A large reason for the Gators' improved play comes from an offense that has scored 102, 104 and 81 in the last three games, with sophomore point guard Andrew Nembhard coming up especially big with a career-high 25 points in the comeback win over Alabama followed by his first ever double-double (21 points, 10 assists) against South Carolina. "That's as well as he's played as a Gator," Florida coach Mike White said of Nembhard, who shot 69.6 percent from the floor in those two contests, 40 percent from the arc. "He just continues to improve. He's gaining confidence as a scorer, learning to pick his spots in transition versus executing in the half court. He's an elite passer, a winner and a tough kid." The Gators' recent scoring prowess will test a stingy Tigers defense ranked sixth in the nation in scoring (57.7 points per game), with eight opponents held to 56 points or fewer - all resulting in wins - and only two crashing the 70-point barrier. The Tigers have limited five of the last six opponents to five 3-pointers or less, but the one exception was Tennessee with a season-high 11 long-distance connections last time out.

TIME: 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: SEC Network

ABOUT FLORIDA (10-4, 2-0 SEC): Before the two-game set against Alabama and South Carolina, Nembhard had only scored 20 points once in his 47-game career and he had double-digit assists just twice. But Nembhard wasn't the only Gator to post big numbers of late as fellow sophomore Keyontae Johnson registered a game-high 19 points and eight rebounds against South Carolina, while freshman Scottie Lewis returned to the starting lineup and came away with 15 points and nine rebounds as the team as a whole hit 46.7 percent of their shots in the win. Forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. remains the team's leading scorer (14.6 ppg) and rebounder (8.7), but he played just 20 minutes against South Carolina due to foul trouble, although he still scored 11 points and pulled down five rebounds.

ABOUT MISSOURI (8-6, 0-2): It's been a team effort on the boards as six different players have led the team in rebounding, topped currently by guards Mark Smith (4.7 per game) and Dru Smith (4.4) followed closely by Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. (4.3) and Javon Pickett (4.1). Dru Smith (11.3) and Mark Smith (11.1) - no relation - are the only Tigers scoring in double figures on the season, but both have struggled in the two SEC contests, combining for just 31 points and 12 boards. Missouri harassed Tennessee into 21 turnovers, the Volunteers' worst showing of the season, and the Tigers have now forced at least 15 turnovers in eight games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Florida leads the series with Missouri 7-2, with the Gators winning four straight, including a 64-60 victory last February.

2. White earned the 200th victory of his nine-year coaching career on Tuesday, and he needs one more win for his No. 100th triumph at Florida.

3. Missouri is allowing only 18.9 field goals per game, third best in the nation.

PREDICTION: Florida 72, Missouri 67