FCSports Shootout Continues Local Flavor With Florida vs. Stetson
The Florida Citrus Sports Shootout, a neutral-site basketball game that produced early-season fireworks in 2010, will return this season with a game featuring the University of Florida Gators against the Stetson University Hatters. This year’s “Shootout” will take place on Monday, November 28, 2011, at Amway Center in Orlando. Tickets go on sale to the general public June 21 via Ticketmaster.com while Florida Citrus Sports members and those who purchased tickets to last year’s game will have an opportunity to purchase in advance.
“We are excited to bring another college basketball event to Orlando, particularly one that puts the spotlight on two local institutions,” said Hogan. “The energy and atmosphere of a collegiate event is unmatched, and we have no doubts the Amway Center will be packed with fans of both schools.”
UF and Stetson have met 65 times in their history with Florida maintaining a 51-14 advantage. The series began in 1920 with the schools last meeting in November of 2009 (74-46 Florida).
Florida will open the 2011-12 campaign amid excitement following a season that saw it fall just short of the school’s fifth Final Four appearance. The Gators lost a thrilling overtime game to eventual national runner-up Butler, ending the team’s SEC championship season at 29-8 (13-3 SEC). The Gators – widely-held as a preseason Top 25 team – will feature one of the top backcourts in the country as it returns starters Erving Walker (14.6 ppg, 3.4 apg) and Kenny Boynton (14.2 ppg) while adding Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario (16.7 ppg in 2009-10) and McDonalds All-American Bradley Beal.
Similar to UCF in last year’s Shootout, Stetson opens this year’s campaign with a new head coach in former Belmont assistant Casey Alexander. Alexander spent 16 years at Belmont, helping the Bruins to four conference championships and NCAA berths, while earning accolades as one of the nation’s top mid-major assistants.
After last playing in Orlando in 1997, Florida will now have played three games in the last four years in Orlando (2008 Gator Jam, 2010 FCSports Shootout). The Gators have played 13 games all-time in Orlando, with every contest prior to 2008 coming between 1989 and 1997. Stetson’s appearance in The City Beautiful will be its first since 2006 when it had regular meetings with then-Atlantic Sun member UCF.
Ticket prices for the 2011 FCSports Shootout range from $17-102 with lower bowl tickets as affordable as $17. For ticket information or to purchase tickets, call 407.423.2476 or go to www.Ticketmaster.com. Priority seating is available for members of Florida Citrus Sports and past Shootout ticket purchasers. For information on joining, visit FCSports.com.