Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida plays host to Georgia State on Saturday in the 2017-18 season-opener for both teams.
 
Tip-off from Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center is scheduled for 4 p.m. 
 
Opening Tip

• Saturday's game is the season-opener for both Florida and Georgia State and neither team played a formal preseason exhibition game.
• UF has won nine consecutive non-conference home games.
• This is the 44th year of Gator varsity women's basketball play.
• Cameron Newbauer is the 10th head coach in program history and the first man to oversee the Gators.
• Coach Cam is the first Gator head coach hired by UF Athletics Director Scott Stricklin.
• Florida's 2017-18 game roster consists of three seniors, one junior, four sophomores and three true freshmen.
• With the addition of transfers Paulina Hersler and Funda Nakkasoglu, there are five first-year Gators on the active roster.
• Of the six returners from last season, four have starting experience.

 
What a different a year makes!

• This time last year, the Gators were packing their bags to embark on a 12-game season-opening road trip, with Exactech Arena undergoing a massive $64.5 million renovation.
• Florida traveled 8,700 miles before playing its first home game on Dec. 28. It was the team's final non-conference game before the start of the SEC season.
• The Gators begin 2017-18 playing three straight home games to start the season and nine of the team's 13 non-conference games will be at Exactech Arena.

 
What else is New?

• Saturday's game marks the beginning of a new era for Gator women's basketball, as Cameron Newbauer takes the reigns for his inaugural game.
• Newbauer takes over for Amanda Butler, who was released after 10 years on the sideline, where she compiled a 190-137 overall record, that included last year's 15-16 mark.

 
A Glance at the New Guy

• Cameron Newbauer was hired on March 27, 2017, after four seasons at Belmont University, where he guided the Bruins to the NCAA Tournament his final two years.
• Newbauer logged 79-50 overall record, including a 53-15 spot his final two years.
• Newbauer's teams posted a 41-11 home record, including an impressive 27-1 mark his final two seasons.
• He is the first Gator head coaching hire by UF athletics director Scott Stricklin.

 
First Day on the Job

• Florida's previous nine head coaches combined to post a 6-3 record in their inaugural game on the Gator sidelines.
• Cam Newbauer will be the seventh head coach to open their Gator tenure at home.

 
Florida vs. Georgia State: The Series

• 8-Game Series: GSU leads 5-3
• UF Home: 3-2; Away: 0-2; Neutral: 0-1
• The last meeting between the two teams was on Nov. 11, 2012 - exactly five years ago from today! The Gators won, 84-65.
• Prior to that 2012 meeting, the Gators and Panthers had not played since January of 1980, when GSU won its fourth straight in the series.
• One of UF's three wins in the series was a forfeit. In Feb. 1979, a snow storm prevented GSU from traveling to Gainesville and UF was awarded the 2-0 win.

 
Quoting UF Head Coach Cameron Newbauer
On Georgia State:
"They are a very athletic bunch and a lot of great depth. They have the last two freshmen of the year in their conference. They are dangerous with their speed in the open court. They have some undersized forwards who are more guard-like in their body types and they can really get out and change the game on both ends of the floor. They really crash the offensive glass. Right now, they pose a lot of threats in areas that we're not great in right now."
 
On coaching the first game of the season:
"For most coaches, you're never really ready for that first game. So you don't really think about that until you're walking out there and the lights are on and you're ready to jump ball. We have so much on our plate in terms of game prep and our own prep in terms of scouting; so I think it's just one of those things that naturally that you're never really excited – probably more worried about what do we not have ready. That's where I am."
 
 
Game Day at a Glance
Who: Florida (0-0, 0-0 SEC) hosts Georgia State (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Where: Exactech Arena (10,151) * Gainesville, Florida
When: Sat., November 11 * 4:02 pm ET
 

• Florida's game notes (PDF)
• Georgia State's game notes (PDF):

Video: UF Coach Cameron Newbauer practice update/game preview
 
Game Coverage & More!
Radio: GHQ 95.3FM in Gainesville with Kyle Crooks & Jennifer George
Internet Audio: link thru FloridaGators.com (FREE)
Television: none
Streaming Video: SEC Network + with Tom Collett & Brittany Davis
Internet Scoring: LIVE through FloridaGators.com

 
Additional Hoopla for Saturday's Game
(Sponsored by Cox)

• Home Opener T Shirt -"We Over Me" - First 500 fans receive a "We Over Me" shirt commemorating the 2017-18 home opener.
• Veteran's Day Ticket Promotion - All veterans can receive FREE admission to the game. Show military ID at main entrance to receive deal.
• Saluting Those Who Serve presented by Cox - Join us as we honor military members, first responders and their families and Salute Those Who Serve with recognitions throughout the game. Members of UF ROTC program will participate in a halftime scrimmage. Military members, first responders and their families receive FREE admission to the game by showing a valid ID at main entrance, all courtesy of Cox!
• National Sundae Day - To celebrate National Sundae Day, the Gators will host an ice cream party following the game in the main atrium. FREE ice cream and toppings for fans while supplies last!
• Court Projection - Be sure to be in your seats early as we unveil the new court projection video during pre-game!

 
Gator Pronunciations:

• DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh
• MIKAYLA Hayes: mih-KAY-la
• TAMERIA Johnson: tah-MEIR-ee-uh
• Sydney MORANG: mur-RANG (like meringue pie)
• FUNDA NAKKASOGLU: FOON-da knock-a-SO-glue
• ELIF PORTAKAL: ee-LEAF POOR-ta-call
• Sydney SEARCY: SIR-see
• JALAYSHA Thomas: jah-LAY-shuh
• DELICIA Washington: duh-LEE-shuh
• ZADA Williams: ZAY-duh

 
 
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