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UF basketball to meet Duke in Jimmy V Classic

 
Published April 28, 2016

NEW YORK — Florida will meet Duke and Purdue will face Arizona State in the 2016 Jimmy V Classic, it was announced Wednesday.

The 22nd annual basketball doubleheader will be played Dec. 6 at Madison Square Garden, part of the 10th annual Jimmy V Week to help raise funds for cancer research.

"We're excited for the Gators to be part of the Jimmy V Classic next season," Gators coach Mike White said. "This is not only one of the premier events in college basketball, but it obviously also supports an important cause, so it's an honor for us to compete, and I know our guys will be thrilled for the opportunity to play at Madison Square Garden."

Duke's longtime athletic director Kevin White is Mike White's father.

This will be UF's first game at the Garden since a victory over Memphis in the 2013 Jimmy V Classic.

The Gators are 4-12 all-time vs. Duke. In their last meeting, Florida beat No. 1 Duke 87-78 in the Sweet 16 of the 2000 NCAA Tournament in Syracuse, N.Y.

ESPN's 2015 Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research raised a record-setting $3.2 million for The V Foundation for Cancer Research. In nine years, Jimmy V Week has raised $13.7 million.

In other Gator news, forward Devin Robinson will return for his junior season. He put his name in the NBA draft this month but did not hire an agent. Robinson had surgery last week to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. He faces 4-6 months of recovery time.

UCF GUARD TO WAKE: Wake Forest added graduate transfer Matt Williams, a 6-foot-5 guard who will graduate from UCF this summer and play for the Demon Deacons this coming season. He averaged 8.1 points and 2.6 rebounds last season for the Knights and in three seasons made 148 3-pointers, 10th in UCF history.

BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER: A basketball doubleheader will be played in Los Angeles featuring Arizona vs. Gonzaga and BYU vs. USC at Staples Center on Dec. 3.