In recent days, the Gators' two most veteran players have played like anything but.
After being effectively benched for most of the second half against Florida A&M Tuesday, junior Dan Werner and senior Walter Hodge are scrambling to find their form before UF's showdown with Florida State (7-1) on Sunday night in Tallahassee.
The Seminoles have won the last two meetings between the teams and three of the last four.
"Since coming back from Kansas City, for whatever reason, it seems like I'm not doing as well," Werner said. "I haven't come out with the same energy. I haven't really been leading by example."
After their win against Washington in the CBE Classic, neither Werner (11.1 points per game on the season) nor Hodge (6.6) have scored in double figures.
"My offense isn't that good right now, but it's going to get there," Hodge said.
If No. 23 UF (6-1) hopes to resuscitate the rivalry, Werner and Hodge will have to find a way to right the ship.
"I don't think these last two games they have been consistent," UF coach Billy Donovan said. "Not with their scoring, but just the things they normally can provide for us in a game."
While Hodge may still be searching for a cure to his ailing game, the recent struggles haven't seemed to affect his swagger.
"Every time (the Seminoles) play against us, it's like a championship for them," Hodge said. "We don't like them, and they don't like us. Every year you look forward to that game."
If Hodge wants to back up his talk, he and his teammates will have to find a way to slow down FSU senior guard Toney Douglas (19 points per game).
Douglas has been something of a Gator-killer in the past. He burned UF for 32 points as a freshman at Auburn in 2004.
UF struggled with the size and physicality of the FSU lineup in last year's 65-51 loss. The Seminoles out-rebounded the Gators 39-28.
"Last year's game was a game that there was no question, from an experience, physical perspective with Douglas and Rich and Swan, a really older group against some of our younger guys," Donovan said. "That was the big, big difference in the game."
The Gators will have their hands full again with a mammoth frontcourt that includes 7-foot-1 freshman Soloman Alabi.
"They hit us in the mouth a little bit," Werner said. "We're not the biggest team, but that doesn't mean we can't rebound."
The Gators are averaging 33 boards per game this season.
As he's done all season, look for Donovan to shake up the lineup against the Seminoles. A move back to the bench is likely in the cards for freshman point guard Erving Walker.
"Florida State's a big team across the front line, so I think playing a small lineup would probably be a difficult thing to do against them," Donovan said.
