FAYETTEVILLE -- That bad SEC road game Arkansas played last week against the LSU Tigers got replayed Thursday night by the Florida Gators at Auburn.
However, unlike the Razorbacks losing 56-53 in Baton Rouge, La., the Gators somehow eked by the Auburn Tigers, 45-40 Thursday in Auburn, Ala.
Now like John Pelphrey's Razorbacks last Saturday coming home of the bad LSU road game to beat Alabama, the Gators, 14-4, 3-1 SEC East, get to come home Saturday night.
The Gators come home to Saturday's 7 p.m. CST FOX Sports Network televised tip-off at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville against Arkansas.
The Razorbacks, 12-5, 2-2 SEC West, come off playing a much better Wednesday road game this week than last week but another road loss nonetheless, 81-74 in overtime to the South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia, S.C.
If the Razorbacks play in Gainesville like they did for much of the night in Columbia to lead South Carolina by nine late in regulation, they likely would achieve their first road victory Saturday if Florida star guards Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton and star forward Chandler Parsons repeat their 3 for 15, 3 for 13 and 2 for 8 shooting at Auburn.
However Arkansas still must prove its good road play much of the night in Columbia can be a norm rather than an aberration from a 79-46 embarrassment at Texas then losing in Baton Rouge to a LSU team blown out 38 points its next game at Kentucky.
Besides, while the Hogs, 11-0 in Fayetteville, played their best game outside of Walton Arena, they still couldn't close the deal in Columbia.
Most foreboding of all, regardless how well Arkansas might excel defensively against Florida, chances seem anorexic slim that Walker, Boynton and Parsons can simultaneously shoot as poorly as they did at Auburn.
"They have a tremendous frontcourt," Pelphrey said, including 6-10 senior center Vernon Macklin and 6-8 power forward Alex Tyus. "They have really good experience at the guard position. one of the premiere players in our league as well at the small forward spot with Parsons."
Last season when Florida beat Arkansas, 71-66 at Walton, Tyus posted an 11 points/12 rebounds double-double while Boynton scored 13 points. Walker destroyed Arkansas with 27.
"He (Walker) had a big time game here last year," Pelphrey said. "I thought he was outstanding.
"He had a couple of big shots, deep, deep three over there late in the clock. I thought he was by far, that night, the best player on the floor. He's obviously running their ballclub."
Except when Chandler isn't. The quintessential point forward, Chandler last season only shot for 1 for 8 at Walton.
He still devastated the Hogs with 11 rebounds and five assists.
The 6-9 senior is Florida's current leader in both rebounds and assists and has stepped out to hit 18 of 47 3-pointers.
"He's 6-9 and shooting the ball great from the 3-point line," Pelphrey said, "A tremendous handler and passer for that size. It puts him in a situation as well to offensive rebound and post up. He's very, very unique. You don't see that too often in college basketball."
Still, if not too disheartened from going 0-3 in overtime close but no cigars, the Hogs finally ought to take some confidence from one road game to another.
They had on the ropes in the second half the same South Carolina Gamecocks that last week by beat Florida in Gainesville.
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Arkansas (12-5 2-2)
F-Marshawn Powell 6-7 So. 10.3 pts 3.9 rebs
C-Delvon Johnson 6-9 Sr. 10.7 8.0
G-Jeff Peterson 6-0 Jr. 7.2 2.0
G-Julysses Nobles 6-1 So. 8.8 2.0
G-Rotnei Clarke 6-0 Jr. 13.0 3.5
Florida (14-4, 3-1)
F-Chandler Parsons 6-10 Sr. 10.3 pts. 6.5 rebs.
F-Alex Tyus 6-8 Sr. 9.3 4.9
C-Vernon Macklin 6-10 Sr. 10.7 6.3
G-Erving Walker 5-8 Jr. 14.0 3.0
G-Kenny Boynton 6-2 So. 12.4 1.8