Florida basketball has proven this season the ability to bounce back from losses quickly.

The No. 3 Florida Gators (24-4, 11-4 SEC) will get another chance to prove that points when they host No. 11 Texas A&M (20-8 9-6 SEC) at the O'Connell Center.

Florida had a six-game win streak snapped when it lost 88-83 at Georgia on Tuesday night. The loss creates a more challenging path for UF to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. After TAMU, Florida will face No. 6 Alabama on March 5 before finishing its regular season at home on March 8 against Ole Miss.

UF has yet to lose two in a row this season.

"We have a really good team," Florida basketball coach Todd Golden said. "The message and what we talk about all the time in our program is just being consistent. I think we prepare very well. I think we have a very mature group, and I'm not worried about this group in terms of competing the right way."

Like Georgia on Tuesday, Texas A&M comes into the matchup on Saturday night desperate for a win. The Aggies have lost three in a row, including an 86-84 home loss to Vanderbilt on Wednesday night.

"It's all part of the growth process of where we're trying to get our program and then sustain it," Golden said. "I think being a top four team in America in year three, we've done some really good things, so far. And now it's, 'OK, how can we make that adjustment from being the hunters to the hunted?' And that's where we are right now."

Can Florida basketball come out with intensity and maintain it for the entire first half?

Florida has trailed in each of its last two games at halftime, both on the road. The Gators were down 37-31 at halftime at LSU but rebounded to beat the Tigers 79-65. On Tuesday, UF couldn't overcome a 16-point halftime deficit in its loss to Georgia.

Defensive breakdowns proved costly early against the Bulldogs as UF allowed Georgia to shoot 67.9% from the field and score 51 points in the first half.

"Obviously, you want to be able to counter their punches and find a way to stop the run," Golden said, "We simply weren’t able to. That’s something that I think you have to credit Georgia. Obviously, I would have loved for us to guard a little better during that stretch, but they made a lot of plays."

Coming home in front of another sellout crowd could help provide the energy UF needs to get off to a faster start. UF is 13-1 at home this season and had won 27 of its last 29 games at home since the start of the 2023-24 season.

"The O'Dome has an incredible home court advantage," Golden said. "You always feel like you have a really good shot to win in there, especially the atmosphere that our fans and our marketing team have been able to create over this past season. So, we're grateful for the sport."

Who will win the battle of the boards, Florida basketball or Texas A&M?

Florida and Texas A&M have been the top two rebounding teams in the SEC over the past two seasons. This season, TAMU ranks first in the SEC and fifth nationally in rebounding margin at plus-9.2, while Florida ranks 10th nationally and second in the SEC at plus-8.1.

The Aggies boast a big, physical frontline that includes 6-foot-9, 250-poind forward Pharrel Payne; 6-7, 220-pound forward Anderson Garcia; and 6-7, 220-pound forward Solomon Washington.

"Rebounding will be a big part of this outcome (Saturday) night,"" Golden said. "If we allow them to beat us on the boards, it gives them a very realistic chance to win. If we win the boards, we give ourselves a much better chance. It has and will continue to be addressed. We worked on it at practice yesterday and will work on it again today."

The return of UF sophomore forward Alex Condon should help. The 6-11 Condon was a bit rusty in his first game back from a sprained ankle on Tuesday night against Georgia but still finished with nine points and three rebounds in 21 minutes. Condon leads UF in rebounding with 7.6 boards per game.

"Just initiating the contact tomorrow night is going to be really important and not playing scared or timid," Condon said. "You’ve just got to bring it to them because that’s the way they generate extra possessions. Coming together and rebounding as a group, they crash almost five guys every time, so we need to box out, and we also think we can get out in transition if they’re crashing all of their guys, so that’s something we can do.”

Can Florida basketball get a productive game from its bench?

Golden hasn't decided whether Condon will return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench in his first game back from injury. Regardless, Florida didn't get enough from its bench at Georgia, as the Bulldogs outscored UF 27-18 in bench points.

Florida junior guard Denzel Aberdeen was held scoreless in 7:20 seconds off the bench against the Bulldogs. The 6-5 Aberdeen is re-adjusting to a bench role after starting five straight games with Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin out with injuries.

"Guys get hurt, roles change, and you got to be mentally tough enough to adjust in real time," Golden said. "But I think he'll play really well (Saturday) night. He obviously had his breakout game last year in the SEC Tournament against A&M. He's had a breakout year for us, and I think he'll play well (Saturday) night."

Prediction

Florida 81, Texas A&M 70: Returning home, Florida will bring intensity from the opening tip and stay locked in on defense and on the boards to send the Aggies to their fourth straight loss.