Gardner-Webb @ Florida preview

Seventh-ranked Florida opens the season with high expectations after coming within one victory of the Final Four in 2016-17, and looks to start on the right foot with a strong performance when Gardner-Webb pays a visit Monday night. The Gators have some early injury concerns but return leading scorer KeVaughn Allen and add two talented transfers to the mix.

Florida lost four of its top six scorers and will have to wait until January to get center John Egbunu (7.8 points, 1.5 blocks and team-best 6.6 rebounds last season) back from knee surgery, but coach Mike White isn’t concerned about the offensive end. “We’re much more talented offensively, but defensively we’re nowhere near last year,” the third-year coach told the team’s website. “It starts with our mentality. It starts with what’s important to us, and what we want to hang our hats on.” First-team All-Conference USA pick Egor Koulechov, who registered 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds at Rice last season, and Virginia Tech transfer Jalen Hudson should be major factors for the Gators immediately while several promising freshmen could help. Gardner-Webb, coached by 2000 Florida graduate Tim Craft, trailed Miami (Fla.) by just four at halftime Friday before suffering a 77-45 loss in its opener and will meet the Gators for the first time.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT GARDNER-WEBB (0-1): The Bulldogs lost their top two scorers from a 19-win team that lost in the Big South semifinals, and they were picked fifth in the conference’s preseason poll. Junior forward DJ Laster, who averaged 7.9 points in 2016-17, was the only player to reach double figures in the opener while scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Junior guard David Efianayi, the top returning scorer (12.6, 50.9 percent from the field), and senior backcourt mate Liam O’Reilly each recorded nine points and four rebounds against Miami.

ABOUT FLORIDA (2016-17: 27-9): Allen, a junior, was named to the SEC’s preseason first team and Chris Chiozza was picked for the second team but the senior point guard is dealing with a shoulder injury and will be a game-time decision for Monday. Koulechov drained 47.4 percent from 3-point range in 2016-17 and has made at least 80 from behind the arc each of the last two seasons while Hudson averaged 8.4 points at Tech in 2015-16 before sitting out a year. Freshmen Mike Okauru, Deaundrae Ballard and Dontay Bassett could make an impact.

TIP-INS

1. Florida junior F/C Kevarrius Hayes, who averaged 6.2 points and 4.4 rebounds last season, will be key until Egbunu can return.

2. Gardner-Webb is 1-13 against ranked teams since the 2000-01 season and 1-14 all-time against the SEC.

3. The 40-year-old White is 48-24 in two seasons at Florida and needs one victory to reach 150 in his career.

PREDICTION: Florida 82, Gardner-Webb 51