Excellent points. Throw in the improvement in FT shooting and it seems that something may be going "right" in practice. Another point, which can't be emphasized enough and I think this perhaps CMW's greatest strength - our teams play pretty good to darn good defense w/o fouling. It's actually to the extent that sometimes I wish we would foul more, just for the sake of toughness. This team is playing tough at the moment, though, and the coach deserves credit.
Have we really been that impressive after Castleton's injury? Here are the results since he went down. Beat Miss State who is 14-7. Even though Lunardi has MSU out of the tourney, I still say it's a pretty decent home win. Beat Vandy at home. They're currently tied for 11th in the SEC. Blown out at Ole Miss. They are the team tied with Vandy in 11th place. Lost at Tennessee. Not a bad loss. uT is a pretty good team. Beat OK State at home. I was proud of our Gators after this win. Then I look and see the Cowboys are currently 10-11 overall. They got some work to do to even make the NIT. Win at Missouri. The Tigers are 8-13 and only uga is worse in the SEC at this point. hopefully, we beat Ole Miss and uga at home in our next 2. But then it gets tough. We'll learn much more about our team then.
Ole Miss just lost their freshman point guard, Ruffin. The Gators should cruise in these next 2 games.
Every game is an adventure with these Gators....cruise? I wish. 66-65 to MO was not a "cruise", more like overcoming a tsunami........
If not for 2 major injuries I'd agree but it is impressive considering how undermanned we are. I do disagree with the apologists who defend our poor record with a healthy line up that argue we played a tough schedule. Maybe we played a tough schedule Texas Southern and Maryland excluded but shouldn't we be expected to win more than our share against the meat of our schedule 7 years in with a hand picked roster? Again, even great teams have bad stretches but white hasn't exhibited consistency and growth to really get the benefit of the doubt for falling behind the Alabama's and Tennessee's any more in my opinion. In any event the team is fighting hard and if they continue to win and make the tournament he isn't going anywhere which would be fine by me if he makes some staff or program changes.
is he truly a liability? I’ve never heard this before. No way he is more of a liability than Jitobah who is slower due to size. Castleton was second in the sEC in blocks per game last season and was second this season - never heard of a player who leads the team in blocks and second out of hundreds of players in blocked shots being a liability on defense.
Some thoughts: I stated many times on here that I think our downfall started when White started shortening the bench like he does every year, which effects defensive intensity and the press. Now he’s been forced to use greater numbers with less heralded players again, and VIOLA! As far as losing your best player, many folks also stated that we couldn’t lose CC, cause we had little depth behind him. (a fault in recruiting) Why can’t White get his teams to play more loose like they are now, due to the injuries, rather than recoil when they have success? Year to year, White can’t ever seem to put a balanced roster out there, which also causes offensive struggles. For next year we have to hope on getting a legitimate 5, two of them if it were me, an experienced PG and SG in the portal. I’d also let Pinkins go and get a veteran offensive coach, if White were to stay. At some point though, the excuses have to end.
At UF, there should NEVER be even extenuating circumstances that extend a guys tenure 7+ years without sniffing at least a Conference title co share. Period. End of discussion. And yet. Folk are holding out hope that ‘the good guy’ will change his stripes. That he will hire an offensive genius. That he will willingly use his bench. Etc and Ya Da Ya Da. He is who and what he is. His teams will be inconsistent. No clear offensive personality. Sorry. It’s time for change. No to giving anyone 8 years to produce.
To all of those criticizing the ability of Coach White to coach......... Do you think keeping Keyontae on the roster - event though he cannot play - thus taking up a spot that we sure could use - was a handicap for our team this year?
