MEN’S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY

No. 15 FLORIDA at UCONN

When: Sunday, 3 p.m.

Where: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs

Records: Florida 2-1, UConn 1-1

TV: ESPN

Radio: UConn/IMG Sports Network, 97.9 FM-ESPN Hartford, WAVZ-New Haven (1300 AM), WICC-Brideport (600 AM), WINE-Danbury (940 AM), WGCH- Greenwich (1490 AM)

KEEP AN EYE ON

Positive vibes: Alterique Gilbert has gotten off to a slow start, with one of his worst overall games of his career in Wednesday’s loss to St. Joseph’s. But the veteran guard exuded confidence and positivity after Friday’s practice and has a grasp of what he needs to do to get better.

“For me, it has to start with leadership and playing the game the right way. My teammates follow my energy and effort, so I have to come out with the right energy and effort. Calm down, play the game the right way. I think we have a great team, a lot of guys around me who can make plays. I’ve got to do a better job of getting everybody the ball. That’s it.”

Gators wading: Florida was picked No. 6 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll but has dropped to No. 15 after an uninspired start. The Gators beat North Florida by 15 in their opener, then lost at home to rival Florida State, scoring just 51 points. On Thursday, Florida barely got by Towson, 66-60, also at home.

“They’re a talented team, they have several NBA draft prospects,” said Dan Hurley. “You hope that getting on the road and getting into a fun environment, you hope it doesn’t help them relax a little bit and play with a little more pop. They’re super-talented and they were ranked for a reason in the top (6), preseason.”

The Gators figure to be a very dangerous team come March, but right now seem a bit out of sorts meshing so many new players together. They are led by forward Kerry Blackshear, a Virginia Tech grad transfer who was the most coveted player on the grad transfer market this past spring/summer; point guard Andrew Nembhard; and a pair of McDonald’s All-American, freshman guards — Tre Mann and Scottie Lewis (a longtime friend and AAU teammate of UConn frosh guard Jalen Gaffney).

Short, sweet history: UConn and Florida have met just four times, but they’ve been memorable.

The Gators beat UConn 69-60 in overtime in an NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen bout on March 25, 1994 in Miami, after Donyell Marshall missed a pair of free throws in the waning seconds. The Huskies have won the last three — on a Shabazz Napier last-second shot on Dec. 2, 2013 at Gampel, in the Final Four later that season on April 5, 2014, and a 6359 triumph in Gainesville on Jan. 3, 2015.