UConn will find out Saturday morning if leading scorer Ryan Boatright will play against Florida.

Don’t bet against Boatright playing.

The only thing that Boatright hates more than losing is sitting out a game.

“I’m doing everything I can to be out there and play tomorrow,” said Boatright Friday night at the team hotel in Gainesville. “I really want to play.”

He’s dealing with a deep left thigh bruise. He suffered the injury late in the first half against Temple on Wednesday.

‘It’s a bad contusion,” Boatright said. “I’ve been kneed there plenty times in my career and this is the worst that I’ve had.”

Since Wednesday, he’s received regular treatment from team trainer James Doran, who even went over to Boatright’s apartment on New Year’s Eve for a short time.

“He spent almost the whole night with me,” Boatright said. “It was cool, though.”

Boatright sat out practice on Thursday and Friday. He did a light workout on the side.

Coach Kevin Ollie won’t take any chances with Boatright.

“I wouldn’t play him at all if he’s going to be 50 percent,” Ollie said. “But I think he’s going to be better than that. … If he has any limitations, it’s probably not worth it to put him out there and maybe that contusion turns into something that is going to linger throughout the season.”

The injury comes at a bad time. The Huskies (6-5) need to get on a roll as soon as possible. They play four of their next five games on the road.

With Boatright sidelined in the second half and overtime against Temple, UConn struggled to score and lost, 57-53.

“It’s just a pretty bad place to get hurt in our schedule,” Boatright said. “I really feel like if I could have played that second half we would have won that game by at least 10 points.”

Boatright, the most experienced player on the roster, is spreading a positive message to his teammates.

“We’ve just got to stay together, man,” Boatright said. “It’s a long season. I know from experience that it can turn around at the drop of a hat. So I just try to stay positive and keep everybody’s confidence level up.”

If Boatright sits out today, sophomore Terrence Samuel will fill in at point guard. He’s one of four Huskies who played against Florida in the national semifinal victory last April.

“I’ve just got to step up,” Samuel said.

 Some other news from Friday’s visit with the Huskies:

 -- UConn is staying across the street from Florida campus. The Huskies practiced at the O’Connell Center on Friday.

 -- The Huskies could use an offensive lift from Rodney Purvis. They are 3-0 this season when he scores in double figures.

“We need another scorer out there,” Ollie said. “We need Rodney to play the way we know Rodney can play.”

 -- Reserve Omar Calhoun, who was cut over his left eye against Temple, is ready to go. He’s played well in the last two games, averaging nine points and four rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.

 -- Florida coach Billy Donovan is impressed with several of the Huskies.

“Boatright is an explosive, electrifying player. Brimah has really improved from a year ago to where he is now. They add a freshman in Hamilton who’s really gifted and talented and can play multiple different positions and really play off the dribble.”

 -- Game time today is 2 p.m.

-- Check back tomorrow for a pre-game preview and post-game breakdown.