Aka is the biggest White supporter in Gator nation and he stuck to his guns when it looked grim for White. He took a LACK of flaq on this board but was unwavering. If White keeps this team playing like this along with the recruiting he is doing, the future is REALLY bright for Florida basketball. We just gave to take it one game at a time from here on thus year. You can tell this team is hungry and wants to make noise. You can see the hustle, the passion, the unity and the unselfish nature they play with each other.
lol... well, thank you! I’m not sure I deserve credit for anything.... and yeah, it’s very early in a long season. But this is certainly what I see as a “Mike White” team. This is the mentality and personality I saw at la-tech. For whatever reason- it has been somewhat evasive during his tenure here. I presume there is an adjustment to having to recruit players who will compete among the nation’s best, while balancing that with the unselfishness, humility, work ethic, and “junkyard dog” attitude White seeks. Those attributes are sometimes diluted among the oft-coddled high-profile recruits. That’s not to say elite freshman and Mike White players are mutually exclusive. I just think finding that mix has been harder than he expected. And despite that, I think White has largely succeeded here, even if not always to the levels we want. And so I’ve been buoyed... believing his work ethic will ultimately win big. This year’s team, and recent recruiting has me confident he is very much on that path. We will see.
I'm compelled to say "let's pump the brakes," but you're right. . . At this stage. So maybe let's east down on the brakes just a little. So far this appears to be a vastly tougher team than in the recent past. They can D up. They have swagger and early on, they appear to have a liking of each other. They distribute and celebrate each other's successes. There's nothing but positive to glean so far and so again, you're right in that this appears to be a very well-coached team. It will get tougher and the grind will happen. Let's hope we still have this great sense of the squad when we're getting into the conference schedule.
I agree with @gatordavisl I'm having the same feelings I had coming out of the PK90 (or whatever) tournament. I think in 10 days, all will be revealed.
Before the season I said this would be a very tough, physical and strong defensive team. I will also caution... I think there will be some frustrating nights. The occasional weakness will be off-shooting games. There isn’t a true knock-down shooter on the team, and we will see games in which none of our streaky scorers can find the range. But unlike that PK-80 team... or some other recent squads... these guys will fight at a different level.
what about the rest of us!?!?!? lol but yes AKA has been a very vocal White supporter from the beginning and has (mostly) unwavered throughout...;p That said, let's see how the season progresses before fully assessing this team. While we all like what we see so far, there will be ups and downs. One thing is for sure, the White bashers will be out in full force if we're down and AKA will be fighting the good fight
Lol..the rest of the supporters as well...I knew that was coming but wanted to give aka his own shout out because he's been taking on the chin for the past 3 years no doubt. Also, notice I said "If we keep playing like this"..so I put a disclaimer at the beginning just in case things break down.
Im just happy watching Gator bball is fun again. I can't watch perpetual underachievement. Even when we have off nights offensively this season - the squad will compete.
This is a nice thread and all, but vindication will come when @tampajack1 says he would prefer Mike White over Mike Anderson. Only then will CMW have reached the summit.
I have been a supporter of Mike White from day 1, granted the last 2-3 seasons I kinda went "off the grid" hoping he could turn it around.
Lol..you and me both but AKA was unwavering and that's why I gave him a shout out. There are a few others as well and this is still a long season as well too.
I seem to recall the dumpster fire mentality from some after the season ended and several folks left. Even after several players were signed out of the portal there was still a “fire mike white” mentality.
My energy for basketball season got zapped when KJ went down. The team played hard the rest of the year, but I kind of felt they were mentally spent (staff included). It took the offseason to reset, and this team is coming out with a chip on their shoulders and I love it.
I detest the online trend to only hear voices that think "firing the coach" is the solution to the problem.
Still a LONG ways to go but the season feels as if Mike FINALLY has a team with an identity, or should I say one which he is coaching towards. I do not doubt that players play slower when they are asked to do something they are not programmed to do (coaching skill or instincts) and for some reason he hasn't found how to get basketball players who play his way. This group, not as thin as previous incarnations, isn't tall per se (although the guards are a good size for guards) but it is playing WAY faster and seem to be where they need to be on defense. Heck the cuts to the basket are crisper knowing where to drive and where to dish. We are still going to have to play better teams in the front court who can put ours in foul trouble and so we shall see what happens then. But otherwise I am pleased we play with a real identity.
