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CHICAGO (December 4, 2017) - Loyola makes its first trip to the Sunshine State since November 2012 when it battles No. 5 Florida Wednesday night. The Ramblers are looking for their first win over a nationally ranked opponent since a 71-67 victory over No. 15 Butler on February 15, 2009. At 8-1, Loyola is off to its best start through nine games since 1965-66 when it won eight of its first nine contests and went on to earn a NCAA Tournament berth. The Ramblers opened the 2017-18 season with seven straight wins, marking just the fourth time since World War II that they have achieved that feat. Through games of December 3, Loyola's eight wins were tops among Illinois schools.
 
Series Stuff
Loyola and Florida are meeting for the first time. The Ramblers are 13-16 all-time against current members of the Southeastern Conference and have won two of their last three games versus SEC foes. Loyola's last win versus an SEC opponent was a 59-51 decision over Mississippi State on December 15, 2012, in Chicago.
 
Scouting Florida
Florida enters the week ranked No. 5 in both the Associated Press and the USA Today Coaches polls. The Gators have scored 100 or more points four times in their first seven games but have dropped their last pair of outings - to Duke and Florida State. Florida is 3-1 at home this season and those three wins have come by an average of 29.6 points. Four Gators are scoring in double figures, led by junior guard Jalen Hudson with 20.9 points per game. He is shooting a sizzling 46.7 percent (21-for-45) from three-point range and as a team Florida knocks down 42.9 percent of its triple tries.
 
Up Next
Loyola hosts Norfolk State on December 9 at 3 p.m.