Gainesville, Fla. - They met in the Final Four last spring with a berth in the national championship game at stake.

UConn and Florida are in entirely different - yet eerily similar - situations entering today's nationally-televised rematch at the O'Connell Center (2 p.m., Ch. 3).

They've both suffered through growing pains that come with relying on young and inexperienced players.

The Huskies (6-5) and Gators (7-5) need to start consistently winning to build a resume worthy of returning to the postseason.

"We're in a situation right now we've got to win games," sophomore Terrence Samuel said Friday night at the team hotel. "So we've got to approach this game like a championship game."

UConn embarks on a difficult stretch, playing four of the next five games on the road, with a hobbled Ryan Boatright.

Boatright is trying to bounce back from a deep left thigh bruise that kept him on the bench for all but one possession of the second half and overtime of a 57-53 loss to Temple on Wednesday. He didn't practice for the second straight day Friday, instead working out on the side and receiving treatment.

"I'm pretty banged up still," Boatright said. "I've been getting better every day. … If I don't feel like I can get out there and contribute, then I'm not going to play."

Coach Kevin Ollie said he wouldn't risk playing Boatright if he's not physically ready.

"He's going to do everything he can to get ready," Ollie said. "We're going to assess it in the morning. Hopefully, he can give us something. If not, then we're going to go with the people that we have."

The Huskies were searching for some offensive consistency before Boatright went out with the injury. Against Temple, they played hard but didn't play well enough on the offensive end and also made just 8 of 19 free throws. Samuel, the backup point guard, and freshman Daniel Hamilton combined for 10 of the team's 16 turnovers.

Florida has its own share of problems. The Gators returned only one starter - guard Michael Frazier II - from last year's Final Four team. Like the Huskies, they've had their share of heart-breaking losses and general breakdowns.

In Tuesday's 65-63 loss to Florida State, forward Jacob Kurtz mistakenly tipped the ball into his own basket while trying to rebound a Florida State shot with 0.4 seconds left, resulting in the game-deciding points.

"They're somewhat a young team like we are, playing some freshmen," Ollie said. "They're trying to find themselves. … Like our season so far, it's kind of like Florida, some crazy finishes in some of their games. You've got to keep battling.

"I have much respect for their program. What (coach) Billy Donovan has done over his career is amazing. I know they're going to play hard. They're going to contest every pass and every dribble. We've got to have poise and composure to break their press."

The Gators have a bit of extra motivation on their side after losing two games to the Huskies last season. Florida won 30 straight after losing in Storrs on Shabazz Napier's buzzer-beater before falling, 63-53, in the national semifinal on April 5 in Arlington, Texas.

Donovan doesn't believe in revenge games.

"It's two totally different teams, two totally different set of guys," Donovan said. "There are some returning players from both teams. But the reality is this game has its own set of challenges. … It was a game to play in a national championship game and we came up short. Over and done with and now it's on to this year.

"That's the way we're looking at it. … So we've got to play against this year's UConn team, we're not playing against last year's UConn team. The same can be said for them."

No matter the way UConn and Florida look at rematch, there's no debating the importance of today's game for both sides.

"Guys are doing well," Ollie said. "We just need to win some of these games. We're right there. It seems like the breaks aren't going our way. But, all and all, I think we're going to be birthing something great through these pains."

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe