So why should I feel good about Gators basketball moving forward?

Give me a team with a couple of savvy guards, a reliable outside shooter, a couple of inside players (not necessary to be elite) stout enough to play in the SEC, and the desire to play at the U of F, and depth for quality team defense, then I will embrace it. If it means we spend more time in the NIT rather than challenging for a real shot to reach the FF, then I am okay with it.

 

Appleby had 12 turnovers the other night against Miami. That is the 2nd most turnovers by a Division one player in the last 13 years. He is talented, but, after 6 years in college, he is still trying to do it all by himself.

 

I am quite happy with the so-called worst incoming recruiting class. I look forward to having 3 legitimate big men who can shoot, pass, rebound and defend.

 

Not true. In a 4-year span ending in 2014, we went to 3 straight Elite-8’s followed by a Final 4.

 

Todd Golden may have what it takes to be a competent head coach at a school like Florida, but as was said earlier his learning curve is quite steep right now! Coach has been harping on the lack of big men on this year's squad. We have seen throughout this season that Jitoboh was not able to fill the bill as a back up to Colin and assumed that Shimmy just did not have the potential to be put on the floor when Colin needed a blow. That theory was completely blown out of the water when Shimmy saw the floor at Arkansas and produced positive results. Maybe Shimmy's performance at Arkansas was not what we can expect from him into the immediate future, but 8 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes of play sure exceeds anything Jitoboh has produced this season. The kid actually looks like a big man with his hands extended from a 6'10" frame. Bottom line is if this is what we can expect from the current staff as far as player assessment is concerned, we may be in for a few more lean years!

 

That Final 4 team was very impressive. Were they the only non-Kentucky team to sweep through the SEC regular season and tournament unbeaten? If not for Shabazz Napier in the Final Four, that team might have gone down as our best.

 

WOW - 12??? He was so frustrating last year. If he could control that aspect of the game, the kid is a tiger. But 12???

 

Yes, outside of KY (The following year) unbeaten in SEC play including a hat trick against the Cats.

No other SEC teams can claim that, just UF & KY, thus, why I was cheering for the hated Vol's the other night against bammer.

 

Hard to say what we have. As of now we have zero legitimate big men, even Szymczyk is basically an unknown quantity (as of now, I’d say probably a liability unless he can knock in 40% 3’s, his defense and rebounding seem… suspect). Our recruits aren’t exactly highly rated, so to say we will have 3 legitimate SEC big men is a stretch.

I like our wings if everything stays in place. But damn do we need upgrades at PG and hard to say about the bigs (I’d say an SEC ready transfer 4/5 is a need just to be sure we have at least 1 physical guy).

 

Jitiboh seems a bit more solid around the basket. But it’s frustrating watching him get the ball out on the perimeter. Castleton can do that ok (in the past it was sometimes frustrating even watching him try to force things from too far out, but he genuinely got good at seeing the floor and distributing when necessary this year). Jitoboh not so much. It’s not his game. To be fair, Szymczyk doesn’t yet look very comfortable handling the ball on the perimeter either. Even though he’s described as a shooter, so in the future that could be his game if he can get a good pick and pop action going (again, depending on if he’s a legit shooter in real game action… far from a known quantity). With Jitiboh it’s just asking a guy to do something obviously outside his comfort zone.

Jitiboh definitely presents a mobility problem. One of the late game in-bounds plays where we were applying full court pressure was made waaayyyyy too easy because Jitiboh couldn’t stay within 20’ of Oscar trying to defend him. It was a bad mistake having Jitiboh out there in a situation where we 100% needed to press.

 

I’ve never been this apathetic about Gator basketball than this year, and now with CC out, it’s just hard for me to watch. I have so little patience now due to White’s last few years.

Reeves last night with 3 turnovers in a row. Lane trying to be the man offensively late in the game?!

I’ve given both Golden and Napier a year 1 pass, but at least Napier is showing his recruiting chops. 23 seems like it will be another portal bonanza like the last 2 seasons, and hope for the best.

 

Does the Kentucky game change your opinion? IMO, he is awful. If that's the kind of kid we are brining in we will be in for a few more lean years.

 

I mean I guess you could focus on Reaves 3 TO rather than the positive. He had 16 points but I agree he is us and down. If he and Kugel could just be consistent that would do a lot for us. And Lane has had very few minutes, I thought he played well last night.

I guess my point is cherry picking these things really doesn't say much.

Generally speaking, I was not a fan of the TG hire. But he is here. We have to realize that this year was a tough one. Basically a near turnover on the roster with a new scheme - which I much prefer. So, I give him a pass. As you note, our recruiting right now is extremely concerning.

The jury is out, but I'm not really optimistic about what I'm seeing right now. If we can't bring in some talent in the portal, we are going to have a rough road next year.

 

In the mop-up duty Shimmy got this season before the Arkansas game, it was obvious he wasn't ready yet. That's okay. Most freshmen struggle mightily. Clearly, the staff saw improvement in him and were not afraid to use him a lot against Arky, and he answered the bell. Last night against UK, he got a bit overwhelmed, but UK has a ton of rebounders and an exceptional talent in Oscar. I think we'll see much better play out of him in the remaining games this season, but still laced with freshman mistakes.
I like his ceiling.
That said, if we can land a top transfer big in the portal, we need to do so. I don't think we can rely on Shimmy and the incoming freshmen to be enough next season.

 

You need 3 legitimate bigs to compete...they don't all have to be scoring bigs but they need to be athletic enough and tough enough to rebound and play defense against strong post players. I don't consider Fudge a big...he is a tweener...to skinny to play the 4 or 5 and not a good enough shooter for the 3 spot. With Castleton out we have no bigs on this team that can compete at the level you need.

 

Hmm like say, Hump and Green?
Al and Noah?
Don't forget a 3 like say......ummm Brewer!

Yeah, that 5 would do!

 

Fudge kinda disappeared against UK last night.

 

I never said Shimmy was the "answer" inside for the Gators. What I did say is the German is just as adequate as Jitoboh now that Colin is unavailable. You quote that he is "awful", which may or may not turn out to be true, but what is a fact currently is that Shimmy and Jitoboh are the only two members of this year's squad available to play the five slot. Fudge is the only other "big man" on the squad, and he is not equipped to play the five at all. I do agree whole heartedly that if we can't bring in better bigs than those two, Mr. Golden's days will be numbered at Florida.

 

He isn't a 5 either. I'd take JJ all day over him (but he isn't playing 40 lol). But yes, not really much of a choce.

 

wow...