GAINESVILLE — Georgia has brought out the best and worst of Florida star Thomas Haugh.
Arguably Haugh’s finest all-around game, featuring 21 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, four blocked shots and three steals, fueled the Gators’ 92-77 beatdown of the No. 18 Bulldogs on Jan. 6 at home. A six-point struggle was costly during last season’s 88-83 loss in Athens, where the teams will meet again Wednesday night.
“That’s going to be in the back of my mind when we go in there,” Haugh said Tuesday.
A motivated Haugh and revenge-minded Gators expect challenge from former UF coach Mike White’s Bulldogs.
Georgia’s 15-point loss last month in Gainesville was nip and tuck until 6-foot-11, 260-pound sophomore Somoto Cyril’s ejection for elbowing the face of Florida center Rueben Chinyelu with the Gators leading 21-19.
“That was a big advantage for us,” coach Todd Golden said Tuesday.
The rout was on from there as Florida’s formidable frontcourt imposed its will, finishing with a 56-35 rebounding edge and a 20-point advantage in the paint.
When Georgia’s at full strength, few teams can keep pace with Bulldogs, who are second nationally with an average of 91.9 points. The Gators, who average 86.3 points, are one of them.
But since a home loss Jan. 24 to Auburn, No. 14 Florida (17-6, 8-2 SEC) has elevated its defense to win three consecutive games by an average margin of nearly 30 points and move atop the SEC standings.
During last Saturday’s 86-67 win at conference co-leader Texas A&M, the Gators held the Aggies to a season-low in points — 25 below their scoring average. Florida forced 18 turnovers leading to 25 points to trounce Alabama 100-77 on Feb. 1 in the O’Connell Center.
“It’s incredibly important for us to continue to take pride in our physicality and our defense and our rebounding being our identity,” Golden said. “It doesn’t have to be our whole identity, but it’s got to be a big part of it because there are a lot of explosive teams in our league.”
Florida head coach Todd Golden’s Gators sit atop the SEC standing heading to Georgia. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Led by point guard Jeremiah Wilkinson, who tops the team with an average of 17.1 points, Georgia is second nationally to Alabama in possessions per game among power conference teams.
Last season at home, the Bulldogs had the Gators on their heels from the jump, building a 26-point lead and holding off a rally to win 88-83.
Florida’s season took off from there and reached new heights, ending with a 12-game winning streak and the school’s third national championship.
Haugh emerged as a force during the title run. This season, the 6-foot-9, 215-pound junior has become one of the nation’s top players, averaging 17.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 33.8 minutes — on pace to be the fifth-most in school history.
His 22-point night at A&M was the 10th time Haugh has led the Gators in scoring.
The Georgia visit will make the 100th college game for the former 3-star prospect, who didn’t receive another scholarship offer from a power conference program.
“Knock on wood,” he said. “But that’s crazy. It’s a blessing. It’s been the best time of my life, so it’s kind of cool to get to do it 100 times.”
The 22-year-old, now a likely NBA first-round pick, aims to make Wednesday night’s game his best yet, while exacting from revenge for 2025.
“I love being a road warrior,” he said. “I love playing road games, going in there and ruining somebody’s day by beating them in their own place.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Up next
Gators (17–6, 8-2 SEC) at Georgia (17-6, 5-5)
When: 7 p.m., Wednesday
Where: Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, Georgia
TV: ESPN2
