There’s a different atmosphere in Gainesville this week — it’s almost palpable — and for good reason. Tennessee is coming to town.
A bevy of media personnel surrounded coach Amanda Butler before Wednesday’s practice, signaling the arrival of the biggest annual contest for Florida’s women’s basketball team.
Tonight at 7 in the O’Connell Center, perennial national title contender Tennessee will try to defeat a Florida (12-5, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) team that hasn’t lost at home all season.
The Volunteers’ credentials are well known. Eight-time NCAA champions and 15-time regular-season SEC champions, No. 5 Tennessee (15-2, 3-0 SEC) has long been a standard of excellence and a measuring stick for other teams.
“There’s not any question they’re the most talented team in our league,” Butler said. “They’re the benchmark for what success looks like in our league and nationally.”
So, then, what importance does tonight’s matchup hold? Is it just another game, or something bigger?
“I’m trying to not get too caught up in all the hype,” forward Ndidi Madu said. “I’m trying to make it just a game.”
UF captain Jordan Jones alluded to some of the younger players having nerves entering the game, but freshman Jaterra Bonds echoed Madu’s sentiment and tried to downplay the importance.
“It’s just another game,” Bonds said. “I came here to play basketball against the best teams in the country, the best players in the country. There’s nothing different that I’m going to do just because we’re playing Tennessee.”
Butler said she has kept preparation largely the same but disagreed with some of her players about the potential impact of a game against a powerhouse like Tennessee.
“Anybody that says it’s just another game or it’s no big deal, they’re just saying that for (the media) and the camera, because it is a big deal,” Butler said. “We’re not interested in competing with the best or trying to be one of the best. We want to be the best. There’s no way around it. You’ve got to go through it to make it happen.”
Despite a 40-3 Tennessee advantage in the overall series, Florida routinely plays the Volunteers tough. The Gators are 8-0 on their home court this year and are playing impressive defense against SEC opponents (63.0 points per game).
Junior center Azania Stewart has experience against Tennessee and said she expects Florida to win.
“We haven’t lost at home. This is our place,” Stewart said. “[Tennessee coach Pat Summitt] hates playing Florida because we’re ready to do anything.”
Florida let a similar opportunity narrowly slip through its fingers last season when the Volunteers shut the door on a potential upset.
Angie Bjorklund hit a reverse layup with less than five seconds remaining to give Tennessee the 66-64 victory, and the Gators haven’t forgotten.
“Losing the way we did last year, we feel like we have something to prove,” Jones said. “[Tonight’s game] is a great opportunity to shock the world and make a statement about who we are and how good we can be.”
