The rest of the SEC might have a tough time with Florida.
The Gators showed Wednesday how uncomfortable they can make life in their conference opener, a 77-44 win over Georgia at the O’Connell Center. The Bulldogs were scoreless the first 5:37 of the game and trailed by double figures most of the night.
Florida scored the first 11 points and added an 8-0 run midway through the first half. The Gators (11-2) expanded their lead to 30 shortly after the 10-minute mark in the second half.
“We’re playing for something now,” guard Mike Rosario said. “Our nonconference schedule just prepares us for these situations. Now we’re playing for an SEC championship and we’ve got to be consistent every day.
“We stress our defense. We can be a very, very good defensive team, and now it means something.”
Florida held the Bulldogs (6-8) to 38.9 percent shooting and benefited from 19 Georgia turnovers. The Gators allowed just 15 points in the first half.
Georgia was without two of its key players, Kenny Gaines and Donte Williams, who were suspended and did not travel.
Rosario continued what has been a surprisingly steady senior year with 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting.
After struggling in December against Kansas State and Air Force, he bounced back with efficient performances in wins over Yale and Georgia. He is second on the team at 12.3 points per game and is shooting 45.8 percent.
“I’ve been on him really, really hard,” UF coach Billy Donovan said. “You look at him against Kansas State and he takes completely bizarre shots and makes bizarre plays, but then he comes back these last two games and has made some incredible plays.”
Patric Young chipped in 11 points, three rebounds and four blocked shots. Casey Prather, making his first start of the season, scored 10 points and had seven rebounds.
Erik Murphy played despite having a cracked rib and gave the Gators 11 points in 18 minutes. He wore heavy padding around his chest.
“It was all right,” Murphy said. “When I got hit, it didn’t really hurt that bad. The pain is fine. The wrap makes it hard to breathe when I sit down. That’s it.”
Florida continues the SEC schedule on Saturday at LSU.
