GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida guard Boogie Fland bought a hundred tickets for friends and family to watch him play at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

It will be an expensive homecoming.

Fland grew up in the Bronx and will play at the iconic venue for the second time in as many seasons when the defending national champion and 18th-ranked Gators (5-3) continue their daunting nonconference slate against No. 5 UConn (8-1).

“I’m excited. I’m going to play in front of my peoples,” Fland said Monday. “It doesn’t get no more exciting than that, especially in December, cold, Madison Square Garden, an NBA arena. I’m ready.”

Fland probably needs to play better for the Gators to have a chance against the Huskies in a rematch, of sorts; Florida knocked UConn out of the NCAA Tournament

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