If we take care of Vandy, and maybe Mike White can help us at home against Aub, we finish the week tied for 4th. We can definitely still get the double bye.
Unless Samuels is 2 ft inside of the FT line, DON'T SHOOT. Handlogten needs to add 20 lbs of muscle in the off season to stand his ground better (and work on his FTs).
That plus our guards looked like a ball in a pinball machine driving to the basket the whole 2nd half. So much bumping going on that was never called
Give Oats credit. He scouted us pretty good. He left Samuel on an island around the FT line. That’s a shot he’s had available previously, that he normally doesn’t take. Instead they over played the outlet pass. That caused us to re-set our offense a few times. This was a game where doing the “ little things” right, paid dividends in the end. Credit Bama for getting rebound contributions from everyone, not just their bigs. Credit Bama for boxing out, and staying connected on the defensive end. All that being said, they got away with a lot of crap, but we’ve got to learn when to play with more “ force”. This is not the first game when a team goes into a game plan where being “ physical” with us , IS a part of their plan.
I said this in the game thread during the middle of the game and it turned out to be what lost us the game. We left Sam Walters wide open for three from the corner and he hit 4 of them. Just one closeout on him and the game is won in regulation. Good game by the Gators, but there is just no excuse to not be close enough to your man to at least contest the shot.
I wasn't able to watch the game, but from what I've read today, this is a good take. Bama is a tough out, especially on their home floor. Sounds like we defended the arc well, but at the expense of the paint and defensive rebounding. That's a gamble you take against such a good shooting team (especially when you aren't great defensively)--and it almost worked. Still wish I knew what the story was on Kugel. This team simply can't top out its potential without his contribution.
Here's exactly what she posted: A. Refs cost us that game. B. They were in the bonus like 8 minutes into the second half and we didn’t get there until overtime. C. And one of those corner 3’s to the skinny white boy freshman should have been a step out of bounds on the pass. D. Screw Bama and their cheating home court. E. We are the better team========== And you stated she posted: "complimenting the team and arguing it deserved the win" "arguing it deserved the win and the credit of what would have been a huge win." ========== Out of 5 comments.....the last one (E.) was the only one that opined we were the better team. As far as arguing we deserved the win.....I guess if you consider whining about the officiating as an "argument that we deserved the win" - then fine. But it really came across to me as being a sore loser. ========== I guess it boils down to how you were taught to act when your team looses. Your interpretation of what is considered to be good sportsmanship. You lose the game.....first thing out of you mouth....you congratulate the opponent. Perhaps add "Good game!.....we'll get you next time!" ========== I don't mind someone questioning the officiating. I do it from time to time. But for goodness sakes......try taking the high road once in a while. I promise you.....it won't hurt you one bit! And that's my beef. ==========
Our head coach after the game last night: Florida head coach Todd Golden called Alabama one of the best teams in the nation. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1760494639755227574
He is venting among Gators fans. And he is venting over a game in which there was an uncalled, vicious and flagrant elbow that will likely result in a multi-game suspension. I think a gator message board is a reasonable forum to share those frustrations without risk of offending rival fans. I dunno- I guess I think your expectation of “sportsmanship” is kinda misplaced here. I mean… to whom are we even saying “good game… we’ll get you next time”? I get your point, but I think your reaction was more over-the-top than Two’s post/gripes…. at least in consideration of the setting.
I was wondering also… so I went back and closely watched his small segment of playing time. He looked entirely disengaged. There were three times he was in the vicinity of a rebound, and didn’t leave his feet. There was a scramble play for a loose ball in which Richard went to the floor… and he watched. It was after that- he went out and didn’t return. He just wasn’t showing any intensity whatsoever.
Bama has given us a tough game there, when we’ve both had good teams, as far back as the M&M days. Last night was no different. Last night when we were up, I think around 8 points, I’ll yelling at the TV, “ just don’t put them on the FT line” ( yes….they can hear me…Lol). When we’ve lost these close games to ranked opponents, them getting free points with the clock stopped, has been a factor in their comebacks. After that, there’s normally an untimely three from a player you didn’t expect. That’s not a knock on the guys, they fought this butts off all game. The ball didn’t bounce our way on a couple of good efforts. All that and we still got a couple of good looks at it. Really thought we had the advantage in OT, but that didn’t play out. I’m waiting to see what TG has to say on RK and his lack of playing time. I don’t know how effective he would have been with the ball pressure & switching Bama was employing last night. It would have required he play with force, and I don’t think he’s there just yet.
I love this year's Gator team, but they're not elite - yet. Elite teams figure out ways to win close games when things aren't going your way. We're 18-8, a very good team who can compete with any team in the country because they've improved so much from earlier in the year. The fact that Alabama outrebounded us and we still had a lead late and took them to overtime speaks to how much better we've gotten. Our guys did a lot of things right last night and that uncalled mauling of Condon was a travesty that should have resulted in an ejection and technical free throws, plus the ball. Still, proud of the effort and the tenacity they showed. Tough loss. They have 5 games left and need to win at least 3 to get a decent seed. Then make a run in the NCAA tournament and we'll see if they are, in fact, elite when it counts.
We’re not elite but we can be. We have the talent and deep but we have too many weaknesses to be called elite right now. Handlogten gets a bit lost. If he can cut 5% of his mistakes out that would be huge in these close games. Samuel can be the best post player in the SEC if he wants to, but his hustle and head space must improve. Kugel has to stop the TOs and get his head in the game. He has the fastest first step I have seen in a very long time. That ball hits the floor and he suddenly creates a lot of space. Just doesn't always do what he needs to do with it. I hope he stays at UF. We need him next year. Condon and Haugh both just seem to have IT for being so young. Aberdeen has been getting run cause he is full blast always. Hustles. No need to mention Clayton and Pullin. That duo is best in this league but they can't do it all. Richard is amazing at times. Full out hustles. We have a coach that is progressing and not regressing. Impressive job last night. The bad news is we lost. The good news is the league and NCAA is on notice. When this team clicks they are top. GO GATORS!
So Bazza can vent about Two venting…. but I can’t vent about Bazza venting about about Two venting?? I suspect you know the difference between a poster venting about a game and officiating on a team’s message board…. and a fellow poster being overtly hostile and insulting. Anyway- Two is capable of fighting his own battle, so I’m tapping out. I was more curious about what I perceived… and still perceive… to be an odd reaction. I like both posters.
Our season turned around once our offensive identity got settled, IMO. We're a two guard show, led by Clayton then Zyon.....with Richard being assertive and then most of the others playing within the flow of the offense. OF COURSE it would be great for RK to have some of those games where he goes 5-8 from the field - that absolutely impacts our ceiling. But that would the icing on the cake. We're asking nearly nothing from him on offense - our offensive identity moved on from asking him for a relevant contribution. I see an offensive contribution from RK like I do one from Haugh...amazing to have, but not asking them to aim for that outside of the flow of the offense. I would not be surprised if he had a game or two where he impacts the W....Nor would I be surprised to see his minutes stay at 10 and under the rest of the way. On a related note: One takeaway from last night is how our guys handled loaded minutes vs the strong guard lineup of Bama. Both teams' 1-3 played a boatload of minutes....Those 6 went mano-a-mano all game. It was great see.
