With about one month left until the NCAA Tournament kicks off, No. 3 Florida is 21-2 — its second-best start in program history — and leads the Southeastern Conference with a 10-0 league record. The Gators are on a 15-game winning streak and have won their conference games by an average margin of 14.2 points.
But Billy Donovan is keeping things in perspective.
With national attention increasing on the Gators, Donovan does not want his players to get wrapped up in polls or records.
“I don’t know the national part; I don’t read a lot of that stuff,” Donovan said after Florida’s 78-69 victory against Alabama on Saturday — a win that did not see the Gators’ best effort defensively.
“I’m sure our guys do. But if that stuff could help our team in any way get better, I would lay it out in their lockers so they could read all the stuff that’s out there. But it really doesn’t have anything to do with anything.
“Right now, I talk to them a lot about distractions. There’s always distractions out there. Even the distraction of moving to [No. 3] in the country or being 10-0 or winning or the home streak — those things are all somewhat distractions for me because … I told our guys this the other day. Right now, we’re 21-2. That’s just a record of what happened in the past. That’s all that is. My thing is, ‘What have we learned from the past and how can we utilize the past to help us get better?’”
Donovan is looking for the Gators to keep focused with a difficult stretch approaching.
Eight of Florida’s first 10 SEC games were against opponents who are currently in the bottom half of the league standings.
The Gators’ upcoming eight-game SEC slate features six contests against opponents in the top half — including two matchups against No. 14 Kentucky (18-5, 8-2 SEC).
Five of those games will be on the road.
“Now, with four of the next five on the road … and five of the next eight are on the road, it’s all going to even out,” Donovan said.
“I’m not like overly joyous and, ‘Great ‘cause we’re 10-0.’ I think it’ll all shake out after 18 games.”
No. 3 Florida’s first test during the eight-game stretch is a matchup at Tennessee (15-8, 6-4 SEC) tonight at 7.
The Gators cruised past the Volunteers 67-41 in the O’Connell Center on Jan. 25 and held them to a 26.8 percent shooting clip, but UF has not had that type of success in recent meetings in Knoxville, Tenn.
The Vols have won their past two home games against the Gators.
“It’s a tough place to play,” point guard Scottie Wilbekin said.
“They have a great crowd up there. They play really well in their home court.”
A key for Florida will be stopping Tennessee big men Jarnell Stokes and Jeronne Maymon from dominating the paint.
“Once they’re close to the basket, they do a good job positioning and getting the ball,” forward Will Yeguete said.
“So, we just got to make sure that we push him away.”
The Gators are also looking to prevent guard Jordan McRae, Tennessee’s leading scorer with 19.3 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting, from having a big scoring night in Thompson-Boling Arena.
In both teams’ last matchup in Gainesville, the Gators held McRae to only five points on 1-of-15 shooting.
“Obviously he’s a great player and is capable of going off for 30 points,” Wilbekin said.
“I know he’s going to come out looking to get something going in front of his own crowd.”
Follow Landon Watnick on Twitter @LandonWatnick
Billy Donovan looks down the court during Florida’s 78-69 win against Alabama in the O’Connell Center. Florida plays Tennessee tonight at 7.
