Why? What has this program done in the past 6 years that would suggest that we warrant being a top 25 team this season? Unless Reeves and the transfers live up to billing, we are another Mike White 12-14 loss team again. You cannot base pre season rankings on possibly living up to billing unless you are fielding several 5-star players.
I think that Mike White is a very capable recruiter, and if he can develop the talent that he is obviously capable of convincing to come to Florida or transfer to Florida, he will have a lot of success. It is the development areas for the program that are a concern- not the acquisition of players.
This is a silly question. Florida is one of 8 teams in the country to win a tourney game each of the last 4 seasons. As such, Florida has consistently been one the final 32 teams playing. If you were basing preseason rankings on what teams have done in recent years - Florida would be among the very few that has . . . without interruption . . .placed itself among the season ending "top 32". But alas, rankings are much more so based upon personnel for the upcoming season. We can debate whether or not this roster warrants a ranking, but I don't think it matters much. The season itself will answer those questions.
Agree. Pre-season rankings have a lot to do with which teams did well last year and who they're bringing back + the blue bloods and young talent. We have too many new faces to get a handle on where to place us + we're not a blue blood or have a top recruiting class of freshmen. I think we're going to be better than most predict, especially as our seasoned new guys begin to gel
Reality is that five teams from our conference are ranked in the top 25 while Florida is on the outside looking in. The media has picked Florida to finish 7th in the conference. Glory days, where have they gone? Chicago, as for now.
Whether UF is ranked in the top-25 matters little to me right now but let me answer your first question. UF has made the NCAA Tournament each year since Mike White’s first season and being they haven’t lost a first round game, that puts you real close right there to being a top-25 team at the end of the year. And your last comment inferring that you need to have several 5-star recruits to be ranked in the preseason 25 is ridiculous. Looking at this year’s rankings there are several schools listed that don’t have a single 5-star on their roster much less several.
My guess is that this team is boarder line Top 25, will make the tournament, and win one game. The usual folks will then call for him to be fired.
Dan Mullen went to 3 straight NY6 bowl games. Now look where we are. Winning with a previous coaches players and portal transfers is fools gold. You have to recruit top players each year to win championships. Mullen and White have not consistently done that. Unless it changes, don’t look for either program to win big.
Then you will have the usual folks that celebrate making the tournament as if they should hang a banner for such an accomplishment.
Recruiting hasn't been White's issue, it's been getting the players to consistently play to potential and develop.
A lot of it has to do with getting the right combination of players. This year's team is very intriguing IMO in that respect. I'm a bit of an optimist but I believe this team may surprise quite a few people.