Florida basketball will square off with Saint Joseph’s on Nov. 21 in the first round of the 2019 Charleston Classic at TD Arena.
Mike White’s team is among an intriguing tournament field, as Miami and Missouri State are also in the Gators’ part of the bracket.
Other first round matchups include Xavier vs. Towson and Buffalo vs. UConn.
The bracket is out for @ESPNCharleston.
Who wants to spend a few days in Charleston with us?
?: https://t.co/PS7acNrUCI pic.twitter.com/KTdJnXdca0
— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) July 11, 2019
Florida holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools, with the most recent meeting coming back in 2015.
The Charleston Classic should add to the plethora of quality win opportunities for the Gators in what is another strong non-conference schedule.
Lovell’s Analysis
Billy Lange takes over as Saint Joseph’s head coach after the school fired Phil Martelli after 24 seasons, so that are some unknowns with the Hawks entering the season.
But while there’s talent on Lange’s roster, Florida is undoubtedly going to be the favorite in the first round matchup.
With the addition of Virginia Tech grad transfer Kerry Blackshear Jr. and a top-five recruiting class, expectations are certainly high for White entering his fifth season in Gainesville.
The Gators will likely be a preseason top 10 team, and making a run to the Final Four is a possibility for this talented group.
For more SEC basketball coverage, follow me on Twitter @theblakelovell.