Depth and experience have been the difference between victory and defeat on several occasions for Florida Gators basketball this season. This team is filled with guys who might not start for Florida, but would have potential to start for teams around the country. With that kind of depth, it means any player could go off and be the player of the game on any night.

Most recently, Keith Stone and Canyon Barry were those guys. On a night that KeVaughn Allen and other top offensive players weren’t clicking offensively or getting open looks, Stone (14) and Barry (13) stepped in to score double-digits and give the Gators a chance to beat Alabama on the road. Stone came up big on a 3-for-3 night from long range, while Barry drained two of his own.

“We’ve been really fortunate that the right guy or two has stepped up on the right nights, when needed it the most,” said Mike White. “Timing has really worked well for us. Miami and Alabama in particular stick out. I’m sure there’s another three or four games where our bench was really good. The other night was as good as our bench has been. It’s a luxury to have. I don’t want to build our bench up too big, because I know there’s a lot of teams in the country that have a really good bench, and it’s not like we’re bringing in a couple of guys that get 15 a night off the bench or what have you, but we have a really solid bench. Whether they’re scoring or not, I think that they’re making winning plays, they’re about the right things.”

Nine different Gators have scored double-digits at least once this season and seven have led the team in scoring in at least one game. With that kind of depth and potential, it takes pressure off of other players offensively, because if they are having an off night, someone else is right behind ready to step in and make up for it.

As Florida prepares to take on another tough defense in Georgia, depth and experience could play a huge factor yet again. “Keith Stone, by example, he goes 3-for-3 the other night, but he helped in other ways as well, and he’s grown as a player as well,” White said. “And whether it’s Kevarrius (Hayes) or John (Egbunu), you’ve got a starting big coming off the bench. Canyon Barry is a starter who is coming off the bench, with experience. Chris Chiozza’s got experience. So not only quality depth, but experienced, quality depth makes it a luxury for us knowing that we’ve got nine or 10 guys we can count on, potentially, to help you compete with Georgia.”

The Gators believe maturity and experience will play to their advantage moving forward this season. After starting the season with 11 games away from home, road games are almost less pressure than playing at home. White said on Friday that it is easier for this team to have an edge when playing away.

He wants the team to replicate the mentality it takes on the road into the home games. A stronger mentality at home to go along with the Rowdy Reptiles and the rest of the home crowd is a good recipe for success for Florida.

“Years before, we would kind of feed off the home crowd, but I think those road games helped us get to where we don’t have to feed off the crowd,” said senior guard Kasey Hill. “We know we have to do it ourselves. I think that’s going to help us Saturday.”