I agree with the third point except I never insinuated the program is in a black hole. As for the 2nd, so the teams have potential but don’t reach that potential- I don’t remember that being a consistent theme with Donovan. Isn’t that one of the main jobs as a coach - to develop players? IMO that supports they let the standards erode because obviously they have accepted the continual lack of development by not making a coaching change.
Agreed, which is why I’m on the replacement train. But I can understand White lasting this long, as there always seems to be a chance. Then it just doesn’t happen. I think it was a good hire at the time, but unfortunately White just doesn’t seem able to put it altogether.
Lots of comments about our fans not supporting basketball and us not getting a good coach. I question the relevance and accuracy of that take. First, under Donovan students slept outside for tickets and the rowdy reptiles were a force. Still didn’t travel well but our arena was definitely top 20. As for coaches, Auburn has way less hoops history than us and has a good coach. Same with Bama and fsu now (though Hamilton’s ceiling is clear). You can hire good coaches. The “woe are us” routine of blaming fans is NOT the cause for where we are and is not an excuse to not go where we should as a program. We are not going to be Kentucky in hoops. But UF should be toward the top of the sec and making noise in the tourney every few years. Instead with white we watch the team not improve, play stilted no fun basketball and scrap into the tourney before the season (mercifully?) ends. Year after year. We can get a good coach that plays winning basketball and attracts fans that want entertainment. Step 1 is the issue.
Not arguing with you Seabud, however it would be nice to see Gator fannies in seats supporting the team, in greater numbers. But Billy proved UF could be quite good without a rabid fan base. I also realize that if the team was GOOD more fannies will come. I'm just bummed, season started intense and with quality wins. Guess reality is setting in.
Really great post and even when the Gators have been good not great, the arena is usually close to capacity when they play a top 15 team. Last night's arena looked barely half full and if I'm SS that's all I need to see. Nothing worse than when fans have checked out because the team is hard to watch.
jared, once again on point. I guess us NBN'ers needed a little complaining session this morning. That was as frustrating a loss as I have seen in quite some time. It just stinks because the players went HARD last night. Effort was there. Team just can't score / shoot. Clearly CC down low is a good option but when he gets tripled, it's tough. Add in the fact he was up against a couple of guys that match his talent level and it's doubly so. Don't know how long this team can keep up the defensive intensity when the shots just won't drop. I am worried things could go south in a hurry. Only saving grace is we (arguably) played 3 of the best teams in the conference already. Just hope the players are not getting worn down.
The reason this loss was so frustrating is because it was so winnable. Just about everything lined up for a Gator win but somehow they managed to pull defeat from the jaws of victory. I have been very supportive of this team and coach but what we saw last night was inexcusable in my book.
Yes Hall - Most of us like CMW and it is painful to see his lack of success. I want it to be different.
For the 16 seasons from 1998-1999 through 2013-2014, a good argument could be made that we had the best program in college basketball. I went to over 200 home games during that era, and the atmosphere was electric. The arena was never full, but the games were sell outs. Try coming up to Gainesville from South Florida or even Tampa during the week. It’s not easy. The arena will never be completely full for simple geographic reasons. There also was decent support for the Gators at the SEC tournaments that I attended in Tampa, Atlanta, Nashville and New Orleans. We will never travel like Kentucky or even Arkansas, but the fans are not the reason for the current disappointment in our program. It’s going to take an educated search committee to replace White with the right coach, but there are quite a few worthy replacements out there.
The issue is that you can’t force people to use or sell their tickets. Our paid attendance is pretty good. After the reno, tickets got pricier and there were more out of town purchasers
Which do you think it is? I ask because in your post about passion, you also note apathy, including the lack of participation on NBN.
Free throws and shooting in general are much about confidence. Our team lacks it. Hard to understand after the confident start. I guess it wasn't real.
LSU was very beatable, missing a star player, and had another foul out with 14 minutes to go. They did not play well enough to win, and yet we let them, because we played worse. I don't see this team accomplishing anything this year with that kind of play.
And Mississippi State is arguably the best college baseball town in America, but is still the worst college town EVER! Pick your poison!
I remember when you had to legit camp out to get tickets as a student for games. Between 00-08, the O’Dome used to get packed or close to it for much of the season, and that has slowly deteriorated. The Patric Young, Wilbekin days were pretty good also. What we see now is just completely pathetic, but it’s also a major reflection on where the fan base is right now with White.
I’m normally a huge Gator fan, even attending minor sports. But I will NOT pay money to get totally frustrated watching an inept offense from Gator basketball. I also left football games early this year and even skipped the Mizzou game I had planned for a while. People have other things to do in their lives from which they derive PLEASURE. For example, the UF women’s basketball is historically awful, yet this year there is something about their play that makes me stand and cheer most of the time. That doesn’t happen with Mike White’s team.
