Duke guard Isaiah Evans lets fly what turned out to be the game-winner Tuesday night, as UF guard Urban Klavzar gives late chase. [Photo by USA Today]

No. 18 Florida and No. 5 Connecticut, winners of the last three NCAA championships combined, are set for a highly anticipated clash in the annual Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. For the Gators, the matchup will feel like a road game, with New York City serving as a stronghold for UConn basketball fans. It also marks UF’s third contest in nine outings this season against opponents currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 5.

Florida enters the game following Tuesday night’s heartbreaking 67-66 defeat at unbeaten, fourth-ranked Duke in the ACC/SEC Challenge. In that contest, the Gators rallied from a 15-point deficit to seize the lead with 32 seconds left, only to surrender it on a 3-pointer with 21 seconds remaining, then lose possession on a turnover with four seconds to play.

UConn’s most recent game was an 83-59 buy-game rout of East Texas A&M, but the Huskies’ five prior outings featured wins over BYU, Illinois, and Kansas, along with a narrow four-point loss to 13th-ranked Arizona (now No. 1), the lone common opponent between the two programs.

This matchup will serve as the nightcap of a double-header, with No. 10 Brigham Young, led by standout talent (and potential No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick) A.J. Dybantsa, facing Clemson in the opener at 6:30 p.m.

Tale of the Tape

About the Gators: They came within inches of securing what would have ranked among the nation’s best road wins this season. Instead, point guard Boogie Fland’s go-ahead 3-pointer was answered by Duke guard Isaiah Evans, whose shot proved decisive in a one-point defeat. Still, UF showed resilience in the second half, shooting 47% at Cameron Indoor Stadium, while holding the Blue Devils to 38% and outscoring them 42-31 in the period. The Gators also displayed composure in ball-handling, committing just five turnovers after halftime, though Fland’s late giveaway proved costly. His offensive aggressiveness has clearly increased, averaging 15.0 points per game on a team-high 42 field-goal attempts over the last three contests. The downside: he has just five assists (none against Duke) and nine turnovers in that span, leaving UF at minus-4 in assist-to-turnover ratio.

UF ranks last among power-conference teams in 3-point shooting at 27.4%. Thomas Haugh, who posted 24 points and six rebounds against Duke, is one of only two rotational players hitting at least 30% from deep, currently at 31.8%. Center Rueben Chinyelu, dominant on the glass (14 rebounds) and defensively in the post versus the Blue Devils, is on pace to become the first Gator in more than 50 years to average double-digit rebounds. The last was Bob Smyth, who averaged 12.7 per game in 1975-76. Forward Alex Condon added his fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Shooting guard Xaivian Lee, after a breakout 20-point performance against Providence in the Thanksgiving tournament at San Diego, struggled at Duke, going 1-for-10 overall and 1-for-6 from three. He’s shooting 24.7% from the field and just 21.1% from deep (12-of-57), though he leads the team with 29 assists. Backup guard Urban Klavzar leads the team at 36.7% from distance and remains perfect on 16 free-throw attempts. Reserve center Micah Handlogten, who was averaging 10.0 points and 10.3 rebounds before suffering a concussion Nov. 16 against Miami, has been tentative since returning, totaling just two points and 10 rebounds in 51 minutes over three games. Regaining his early-season confidence and aggressiveness will be key for the Gators’ frontcourt aspirations.

About the Huskies: This marks the eighth season under Dan Hurley (173-70, with five straight NCAA berths and two national titles), but the first since 2022-23 in which they are not defending a championship. That distinction was taken by Florida, so UConn and its passionate fan base will be eager for a measure of revenge at MSG. The Huskies have been without 6-11, 265-pound starting center Tarris Reed Jr. (15.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg), the 2025 Big East Sixth Man of the Year, for the past five games due to a sprained ankle. Reed, who started the season’s first four games, shot 68% from the field and averaged two blocks per game. His status will be a game-day decision. Rookie Eric Reibe has filled in admirably over the last five starts, but he’ll face UF’s experienced frontcourt.

Forward Alex Karaban, a second-team All-Big East pick in 2025, has started all but one of his 123 career games at UConn, a rarity in today’s transfer-heavy era. Now in his second season as captain, he was a key contributor during the program’s back-to-back titles. Though his scoring is slightly down, he remains a 47% career shooter and 37% from three. Guard Solo Ball is a capable scorer, but his 3-point percentage has dipped to 27.9% this season. Against Florida in last year’s tournament loss, he went 2-for-9 from deep (2-for-11 overall), after entering that game shooting 41.4%. Point guard Silas Demary Jr., familiar to UF from his time at Georgia, scored 21 points and hit four of six from deep in the Bulldogs’ upset win at Athens—the Gators’ final loss of the 2024-25 campaign. He’s an excellent defender and facilitator, ranking No. 31 nationally in assist rate. Off the bench, Malachi Smith (6.2 ppg) and Jayden Ross (5.9 ppg) have combined to hit 17 of 43 from three.

Numbers of Note