Florida basketball enters its matchup against North Carolina at the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte with a high level of confidence. On Tuesday night (7 p.m., ESPN), the No. 6 Florida Gators (10-0), one of the five remaining unbeaten teams in college basketball, are off to their best start since the 2005-06 season when they began 17-0. After an 83-67 win over Arizona State on Saturday in Atlanta, under third-year coach Todd Golden, they have won all 10 games by double-digit margins. UF led the Sun Devils by as many as 29 points in the second half and turned defense into offense, scoring 20 points off 12 ASU turnovers.

Impressive Performance Against Arizona State

"Florida's win over Arizona State was truly remarkable. They showed great composure and skill throughout the game. Clayton led the way with five 3-pointers, while guard Alijah Martin sank three and guard Will Richard added two. UF sophomore forwards Thomas Haugh (8-21 from 3-point range, 38.1%) and Alex Condon (6-13, 46.2%) also demonstrated their ability to stretch the floor at times. This consistent perimeter production has been a key factor in their success.""The second half was particularly impressive as they let their defense lead to transition. Getting steals, run-outs, and dunks showed their ability to capitalize on opponents' mistakes and turn defense into offense. It was a dominant display that sets them up well for their upcoming game against North Carolina."

Challenges in Defending UNC Combo Guard RJ Davis

"RJ Davis, an All-American and the reigning ACC player of the year, is a formidable opponent. He is a deft scorer capable of knocking down shots from the perimeter and creating his own offense off the bounce. This season, he has averaged a team-high 17.6 points but has struggled a bit from the field (56-159, 35.2%) and 3-point range (19-76, 25%). However, on the flip side, he is getting to the foul line at a high rate and knocking down his free throw attempts (46-52, 86.5%). Containing Davis and the rest of the UNC offense, which averages 86.8 points, will be a significant challenge for UF's defense. Since beating Florida State 87-74 on Nov. 15, Florida has held its last six opponents under 70 points, showing marked improvement from the 2023-24 season."

Handling the Road-Like Environment

"Florida is 1-0 in road games this season with their win at Florida State and 4-0 in neutral court games with wins over USF in Jacksonville, Wake Forest and Wichita State in Kissimmee and Arizona State in Arizona. Although playing at a neutral court, the 19,000-seat Spectrum Center will essentially be a road-like environment in North Carolina's home state. How UF handles the crowd noise and inevitable runs during a 40-minute college basketball game could be crucial to the outcome. They need to stay focused and composed to overcome this challenge and come out on top.""Prediction: Florida 84, North Carolina 78. Florida will stay unbeaten by pulling away in the closing minutes. They will exploit North Carolina's lack of size and four-guard lineups on the boards and take advantage of their second-chance opportunities. With their strong defense and offensive firepower, the Gators are expected to come out on top in this highly anticipated matchup."Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1