With Friday's rivalry matchup against Florida State looming, the UF men's basketball team prepared with a warm-up game Tuesday night.
In a lopsided contest from start to finish, the No. 25 Gators (5-0) crushed North Florida (1-3) 102-51, breaking the 100-point mark for the second time this season.
The Gators dominated all aspects of the game. UF shot 53 percent from the field and knocked down 13 3-pointers, while only allowing two.
UF outrebounded the Ospreys 48-31 in the contest as well.
Center Marreese Speights continued his strong early-season play, tallying 20 points and 12 rebounds in only 16 minutes on the court.
"I was impressed with Marreese tonight," Donovan said. "He's doing the things that we've asked him to do. I think he's attacking the glass more, which is good to see."
Guards Nick Calathes and Walter Hodge both added 14 points.
Donovan said he's pleased with his young team so far, especially when it comes to its energy in games.
"I still can see a boyish enthusiasm with the way they play the game," Donovan said. "They're doing the right things and playing together."
In Friday's upcoming game, the Gators will face their most difficult test yet. Donovan is fully aware of the challenge.
"We know on Friday night that (the Seminoles) are going to play their best game of the season," he said. "And I don't think there's any doubt that of the five teams we've played, this is the most talented, the most athletic yet."
The Gators are looking to avenge last season's loss to the Seminoles, when FSU defeated then-No.4 UF 70-66 in Tallahassee.
Perhaps even more scarring for the Gators is the image of the FSU student body rushing the court following the win.
Sophomore Dan Werner, who played only nine minutes in last year's game, said the atmosphere was the craziest he's ever seen.
"I think it was the first place where I saw that you're allowed to serve alcohol," Werner said. "They're nuts up there. They play us tough every year, so I hear."
As the new-look Gators make their debut in the heated rivalry, the young group will face an FSU team filled with new faces of its own.
Gone from the Seminoles is last year's leading scorer and current Los Angeles Clippers forward, Al Thornton.
Like the Gators, the Seminoles also boast seven freshmen on the team roster.
But unlike the Gators, FSU returns four starters from last year's game, namely seniors Isaiah Swann and Jason Rich, and juniors Toney Douglas and Uche Echefu.
FSU has had a rough start to the season. The Seminoles have lost to Cleveland State and South Florida so far.
"It's an all-new rivalry," Calathes said. "It's new guys, it's a new challenge, so for us it's just another game at this point."
Calathes said the matchup will be another test for the young team, which he said is improving by the game.
"We keep getting better, but we need to keep playing together, keep doing the little things that help us win," he said. "We know that every game could be an upset with the way things are going in college basketball these days. So we need to take it one game at a time and keep moving forward."
