#18/16 Florida Men’s Basketball (6-0) vs. Wake Forest (6-1)
ESPN Events Invitational
Florida Game Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/11/26/2024.11.28_vsWakeForest.pdf> | 2024-25 Media Guide<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/10/21/2024-25_Media_Guide.pdf> | Courtesy Photos & Press Conferences<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/rb8ojhaf9ygpi6d0k3c9e/ANF6-ow4Wppu1j1zjAsnMXA?rlkey=g1esu5ww8r31yd8dyekcik5iw&st=3b1ht5u5&dl=0>
State Farm Arena | Kissimmee, Fla.
Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024 | 2:30 p.m.
TV/Streaming
ESPN | ESPN App<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/092396cc-d4b6-4414-8ff4-5f0b16af0c79>
Play-by-Play: Kevin Fitzgerald | Analyst: Daymeon Fishback
Radio
Gators Sports Network from LEARFIELD | FloridaGators.com<https://floridagators.com/showcase?Live=5537> | SiriusXM 84 & SiriusXM App<https://sxm.app.link/SXM84>
Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley | Analyst: Lee Humphrey | Producer/Engineer: Steve Egan
The Tip-Off
* Florida faces Wake Forest for the second straight season, looking to avenge a road loss in last season’s SEC/ACC Challenge. The Demon Deacons are the second of four ACC opponents on the Gators’ nonconference slate, as Florida won at Florida State and has upcoming dates with Virginia (home) and North Carolina (Charlotte).
* UF returns to the ESPN Events Invitational for the first time since a third-place finish out of eight teams in Nov. 2016. The Gators are 4-1 all-time on Thanksgiving Day, including a first-round win vs. Seton Hall at this event.
* The Gators bring a spotless 6-0 record into the event, matching the team’s best start over the past decade (also 2021-22). Florida has only started a season 7-0 on five occasions in team history, most recently during the 2012-13 campaign.
* UF has picked up its 3-point shooting in recent games, hitting double-digit 3-pointers in each of the last three games. The Gators rained in 16 3-pointers — eight by Alijah Martin — in their most recent outing, a 25-point win over Southern Illinois.
* Walter Clayton Jr. has hit a 3-pointer in 29 straight games. With a 3-pointer on Thursday, he would become the fifth Gator in program history to reach a 30-game streak. His current run is the longest since Michael Frazier II’s program-record 41 game streak in 2014 and 2015.
2024-25 at a Glance
* The Gators hit 16 3-pointers in the win vs. Southern Illinois, led by Alijah Martin’s UF O’Dome record eight. Martin finished with 32 points, nine rebounds and five assists to lead the Gators.
* Florida’s +18 rebounding advantage pushed the Gators past Florida State for the fourth straight win vs. the Seminoles. Walter Clayton Jr. led the attack with 25 points, while Alijah Martin added 17.
* UF used an explosive 59-point second half to secure the season-opening win vs. USF. While the Gators struggled from 3-point range, they shot 28-for-37 from 2-point range (.757) while getting to the line and converting to the tune of 27-for-33 (.818).
* Florida entered its third season under head coach Todd Golden looking to build on its 24-win NCAA Tournament season in 2023-24, the team’s most wins since the 2016-17 season.
* The Gators return leading scorer and All-SEC guard Walter Clayton Jr., who posted 17.6 points per game and knocked down 93 3-pointers. Fellow starter Will Richard also returns coming off a 11.4 scoring average with 70 3-point field goals last season. Final Four grad guard Alijah Martin (FAU) rounds out UF’s loaded backcourt.
* Sophomores Alex Condon (2023-24 SEC All-Freshman, 2024-25 preseason third-team All-SEC) and Thomas Haugh look to make a jump in their second season in Gainesville. Denzel Aberdeen returns to the backcourt, boosted by his career game in the SEC Tournament semifinals where he dropped in 20 points vs. Texas A&M.
* Florida ranked No. 21 in EvanMiya.com’s overall transfer activity, bringing in Alijah Martin (FAU) and big men Rueben Chinyelu (Washington State) and Sam Alexis (Chattanooga).
* Newcomer sophomore guard Urban Klavzar is coming off a silver medal and all-tournament team effort for Slovenia in the FIBA U20 EuroBasket where he averaged 16.1 points per game.
