GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Just one day after jumping to No. 6 in the AP Top 25, Tennessee gets crushed on the road against unranked rival Florida, 75-49
Freshman phenom Jaden Springer was absent from the game as he still nurses an ankle injury he reaggravated against Vanderbilt.
"He has not practiced since the last game. During shootaround and stuff yesterday he couldn't go," head coach Rick Barnes said after the game.
The only player to score in double figures was John Fulkerson, he finished with 15 points, four rebounds and five assists.
Sophomore guard Josiah-Jordan James, who had five points and four rebounds in just 13 minutes of play, said it starts before the Vols even get on the court.
“The leadership aspect was the biggest thing. Just looking at the people who have been here and around this team for awhile just not being great leaders on this team or leaders at all. I take that message to heart and that’s what I’m going to do," James said.
Barnes was not pleased with UT's performance in the paint, after the Gators outscored them 42-22 in that area.
“I did not see anything good tonight other than Davonte Gaines. I'm proud of him because of what he did tonight. It is my fault probably. Too many guys get comfortable, but I didn't see anything good at all to be quite honest with you," Barnes said.
The Gators led by as many as 28 points during the second half.
"I thought those guys at the end tried to do some things. It is just disappointing when you get guys that you expect to do some things and then it doesn’t happen. From the get-go. That’s the most disappointing thing," Barnes said.
The Vols fall to 10-2 this season, 4-2 in conference play. Tennessee is scheduled to host No. 19 Missouri on Saturday. UT beat Missouri in late December in Columbia, 73-53 was the final score of that game.