Gators hoping to snap losing streak against Vols

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Tennessee has given Florida more trouble in recent years than any other SEC team.

The Vols have won four in a row, six of the last seven and eight of 10 in the series. They've won in Knoxville and Gainesville, pulled out all the close games and even enjoyed a few routs.

"They've been a matchup problem the last couple of years for really everybody," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "They've had really, really good pieces."

The Gators (21-7, 8-5 SEC) might need to stop the trend now more than ever. Florida hosts Tennessee (17-10, 8-5) on Sunday, badly needing a win to strengthen its resume as the NCAA tournament nears.

"We know we have to win these next couple of games," center Alex Tyus said.

Florida certainly can't afford another late-season collapse. The Gators lost their final three games last season, then went out in the first round of the conference tournament. The four-game skid left Donovan's team out of the NCAA field for the first time in a decade.

Florida has a higher RPI (41) and strength of schedule (109) this season, and many prognosticators have the Gators making the NCAA tournament. But they might need to win a couple of their remaining games against the Vols, Mississippi State and Kentucky to solidify a tournament berth.

"If you're a team that's definitely in the tournament, everybody's wanting to talk about where you're going to be seeded," Donovan said. "And if you're not, they're talking about the bubble. You're going to have talk about these situations regardless of whether you're in or out.

"But the reality is that all that stuff that takes place we have no affect on unless we take advantage of the opportunity we have Sunday."

The Gators are 15-0 at home this season and have a 17-game home winning streak. The last loss came against — no surprise — Tennessee.

The Volunteers overcame a 16-point deficit to win in Gainesville last March, clinching their first SEC regular-season title since 1967.

Even Florida's back-to-back national championship team, the one featuring NBA lottery picks Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah, lost three of four against Tennessee. The one win — the only one since 2005 — came in February 2007, when the Vols played without leading scorer Chris Lofton.

"They've been a good team the last few years," Donovan said. "They've had very good teams and good personnel and have played us very, very well."

The Gators thought they had a solid game plan when they traveled to Knoxville in January. Donovan wanted his team to collapse the post and force Tennessee to shoot from outside. It backfired. The Vols made a season-high 12 3-pointers and never trailed in a 79-63 victory.

Coach Bruce Pearl's team led by 17 at halftime and was up 23 early in the second. Florida made a late run, but never got it inside double digits. Tennessee shot 49 percent from the field, finished with 24 assists on 29 baskets and added 10 steals.

"Definitely, we'll give them a little more respect," Tyus said.

Maybe the new game plan will provide different results. If not, the Gators could be outside the NCAA tournament picture again.

"It's got to play out," Donovan said. "The one thing our guys have to understand that's the most important thing right now is Tennessee. ... People get paid to give their opinion and think who's going to get in, who's playing well, who's hot, who's not, who's going down and who's going up.

"What does that really mean? Somebody can be wrong. It's great topic of discussion and it generates enthusiasm and it generates interest, but in a lot of respects, nobody is ever 100 percent right when they're trying to forecast the future."