Florida Gators Have Difficult Task with Vanderbilt and Kentucky Ahead

First let me state that the Florida Gators, in my opinion, have already done enough to make the NCAA Tournament field this year. 20 wins, including victories over Florida State, Michigan State, NC State, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Tennessee should be enough.

However, not knowing ahead of time what upsets there may be in the conference tournaments that may knock a Kentucky or a Duke from the automatic to the at-large status, Florida needs to win one more game this week to go into the SEC Tournament without a worry.

Another win tonight over No. 13 Vanderbilt at home would make the Gators a lead pipe lock. Losing tonight and going to face No. 4 Kentucky on the road this weekend would mean the Gators will need to win a couple of games in the SEC Tournament. That's not an impossible task considering the first two games would be against the SEC West—UF has gone 6-0 this year against those teams.

Tonight is Senior Night in Gainesville for Dan Werner. Never in all my years watching the Gators have I seen a guy try so hard and struggle so much. Whatever he shoots bounces off the rim, almost like the rim is mocking him. It's gotten so now he just doesn't want to let it rip.

He still makes a lot of the hustle plays, though. Against Alabama he made a huge defensive play at the end of the game to preserve a one point Gator win.

But, then there are games like last Saturday at Georgia. He had an open look at the buzzer that could have tied the game, a game Florida trailed by 15 with less than 10:00 to play. Instead of shooting, he tried to pass it to Vernon Macklin under the basket. The ball was deflected out of bounds.

Game over.

Tonight it would be great to see Werner finally make a few key shots in his last home game. He has been booed at home enough. On his last game in Gainesville, it would be nice to see him cheered.

The team needs this win tonight for their confidence.

The last two years, Florida has collapsed at this time of the year. The players know about it. It's all they hear about in the offseason. This is the time of year they have been preparing for since last season ended.

A win tonight would be a huge boost going into the post season. With Kentucky coming up this weekend, UF can ill afford to go to the last regular season game on a two game skid.

The state of Florida still has some big time recruits that are still undecided. Brandon Knight and Austin Rivers have UF on their short list. The Gators need to show these guys that they can come to UF and win. Three losses in a row to end the season and risk missing the Big Dance for a third straight year could send these guys to Duke or Kentucky.

There is a lot at stake tonight in the O'Dome.