2022 SEC Tournament Game Preview: Texas A&M vs Florida
When: Thursday, March 10 at 12:00 pm ET on SEC Network
Location: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
By far the most-important 2022 SEC Tournament game from the second round on Thursday when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament, Texas A&M faces Florida with the loser eliminated from tournament contention.
After an eight-game losing streak in SEC play earlier this season, Texas A&M enters the 2022 SEC Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the conference, having won four-straight and five of their last six. Topping Mississippi State 67-64 in their most-recent contest, the Aggies also defeated Alabama 87-71 in Tuscaloosa the game before to fully emerge on the Bubble, undoubtedly one of Texas A&M’s most-impressive wins of the year.
The No. 8 seed in the SEC Tournament, the Aggies did finish the regular season at 9-9 in conference play (20-11 overall), and have already defeated the Gators 56-55 earlier this season in College Station. One of the conference’s top defensive teams allowing only 66.7 PPG, the Aggies rank among the leaders in the SEC in steals per game (10.3), while also a solid offensive team at 73.1 PPG.
Undoubtedly the strength of the Aggies comes in the backcourt, with Second Team All-SEC selection Quenton Jackson leading a deep and talented group that also features Tyrece Radford, Wade Taylor IV, Marcus Williams, and Andre Gordon. Duke transfer Henry Coleman III (10.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG on 55.6% shooting) leads the Aggies inside, while Ethan Henderson will also see time.
Winning three of their last five games of the regular season, Florida enters the 2022 SEC Tournament having sat on the Bubble just outside of the NCAA Tournament for the past couple of weeks, with their most-recent game coming via a 71-63 loss to Kentucky at home. A game in which the Gators never led, the potential win over the Wildcats would’ve certainly put Florida closer to the NCAA Tournament, but the Gators struggled in a few areas, most-notably going 3-for-20 from three-point range.
Also finishing the regular season with a 9-9 record in SEC play (19-12 overall), the Gators enter the 2022 SEC Tournament as the No. 9 seed in the conference. One of the SEC’s most-efficient offensive teams (No. 35 nationally according to KenPom), the Gators average a total of 70.5 PPG, while also allowing 65.5 PPG, as well as collecting 5.2 BPG.
Florida is led by one of the SEC’s top big men in Colin Castleton (16.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.4 BPG), as well as an experienced group of guards in Tyree Appleby, Phlandrous Fleming Jr, and Myreon Jones. Joining those three in the backcourt will be depth pieces in Brandon McKissic and Kowacie Reeves, while Anthony Duruji and CJ Felder will see time in the frontcourt.
As mentioned previously, this is an extremely-important game for both teams, with the Aggies and Gators currently sitting in the “Next Four Out” category entering Thursday according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi.
These two teams have already played once this season (Texas A&M won 56-55 in College Station), and this meeting could produce a similar final score (low-scoring and close). However, for an atmosphere that will likely be a pro-Florida crowd, this could potentially feel like a Gators home game in Tampa, and Florida should pick up a very-close win here to move on to Friday.
Prediction: Texas A&M 64, Florida 67