The No.5 UConn Huskies (8-1) and No.15 Florida Gators (5-3) will be facing each other at New York City’s Madison Square Garden for a Tuesday night showdown. This is set to be a rematch of last season’s NCAA Tournament second-round game, where the Gators went past the Huskies and eventually won the national championship. So, how will these two teams come along facing in this matchup? Let’s find out.
Prediction
Florida beat UConn 77-75 in last season’s NCAA Tournament and went on to win the national championship. Both teams, since then, have changed, but this could be another close matchup between the two. Florida is 5-3 this season, but all three losses came by a total of 11 points. They lost narrowly to top-ranked Arizona and Duke.
The Gators outscored Duke 42-31 in the second half in their last game. Todd Golden’s team remains confident despite the one-point loss. Thomas Haugh averages 18.6 points and leads five players scoring in double figures. UConn’s only loss came at home to Arizona. The Huskies have wins over BYU, Illinois, and Kansas. Leading scorer Tarris Reed Jr. has missed the most recent games with an ankle injury. Braylon Mullins just returned from his own ankle issue, but is not yet playing full minutes.
UConn and Florida are two of the most respected programs in college basketball. Both teams look like national contenders again this season. The matchup at Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic should feel like an NCAA Tournament game. The atmosphere and intensity are expected to be high. Both teams will likely bring strong defensive energy. UConn’s slow pace and strong defense usually lead to low-scoring games. The Huskies rank outside the top 300 in possessions per game. They allow only 60.4 points per game, which is among the best in the country. Florida plays faster but still keeps opponents in check. Only two of their eight opponents have scored more than 80 points. Their loss at Duke totalled just 133 points, and Tuesday’s game may be similar.
ESPN’s matchup predictor estimates a 52.6% chance for UConn to emerge victorious in this matchup.
Lineups
UConn Lineup
PG: Silas Demary
SG: Solo Ball
SF: Jaylin Stewart
PF: Alex Karaban
C: Tarris Reed Jr.
Florida Lineup
PG: Boogie Fland
SG: Xaivian Lee
SF: Thomas Haugh
PF: Alex Condon
C: Rueben Chinyelu
Injuries
The UConn Huskies are dealing with some key injuries to begin the 2025 season. One of their primary concerns is with center Tarris Reed Jr, who is currently suffering from ankle and hamstring issues. Reed Jr. has been listed as a game-time decision by the Huskies, and his availability could be a matter of concern. The Gators, however, do not have any injury concerns for this game and are expected to field their roster in full strength.
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