GAME NOTES: SEC foes will collide in Gainesville this evening as the Florida Gators welcome the Auburn Tigers to town. The good news for Auburn is that the team owns a 9-4 overall record and is 2-1 in true road games. Unfortunately, the last two outings have resulted in defeat, including a 76-70 setback to Arkansas on Thursday. Prior to that tilt, they were beaten by Xavier at home by 23 points, so it will be interesting to see if the team's confidence has been shaken. Florida will attempt to open 2-0 in league play for the second straight year, as the club knocked off Alabama on Tuesday by a 90-83 final in the SEC opener. The Gators have won three straight games to improve to 14-2, not bad for the two-time defending national champs who have five new starters in the fold. Auburn owns an 86-66 lead in the all-time series with Florida, but the Gators have won the last eight meetings.

Auburn does not have a true star on its roster, but the squad does possess a number of individuals capable of scoring points and contributing in other ways. Unfortunately, the club recently lost standout forward Korvotney Barber for up to two months with a hand injury. Barber was averaging 13.8 ppg on 72 percent shooting from the floor at the time of the injury, and he was leading the team with 6.9 rpg and 13 blocked shots. The leading scorer for the Tigers is Rasheem Barrett, as he is posting 14.5 ppg. Quan Prowell checks in with 14.1 ppg, and Frank Tolbert is contributing 10.6 ppg. Barrett scored 21 points to lead four players in double figures against Arkansas, but it obviously wasn't enough to avoid defeat. Poor defense was a major factor in Thursday's setback, as the Tigers surrendered 57.7 percent shooting from the field.

So which Florida players have stepped up and filled the void created by the departure of such stars as Al Horford, Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer? Well, Nick Calathes and Marreese Speights have been the two most productive Gators, as they have overcome a lack of experience with tremendous skill. Calathes is scoring 15.2 ppg to go along with 95 assists and 26 steals, while Speights is netting 14.0 ppg on 63.3 percent shooting from the floor. Speights is also tops with 7.6 rpg and 23 blocks, and Florida is averaging 81.5 ppg on 51.3 percent overall shooting while limiting the opposition to 61.9 ppg. Four of the five Florida starters scored in double figures in the win over Alabama on Tuesday, and Calathes shined with 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. The Gators nailed 11-of-22 attempts from three-point range, key to the victory.

Sure, this Florida team is young and inexperienced, but coach Billy Donovan is not short on talent. In front of the home crowd, expect the Gators to dispose of the Tigers.