Does Florida win the SEC if Micah is not injured?

Lee Humphrey said his team was fine through thw semifinals but felt fatigued in the final on Sunday. I'll just go by what he said. Especially since that was quite a fit group.

 

is this newly revealed info… that Riley wasn’t available?

 

Unlikely given the thug defense of Aubie and refs let them play. Plus we embarrassed them the last time and the Gators were played out

 

I absolutely do believe we would have won. I know some on the forum didn’t think Micah produced enough but for 7’1 he has really good feet and gets up and down the court really well. Think about Jitoboh. He did not move as well as Micah. His presence in the paint would have made all the difference against Auburn imo. As he has all year. Broome would not have gotten off like he did. Micah is an anchor. Oh and he’s 7’1.

Never realize what a guy brings to the team til he’s not there. The guy is a deterrent in that paint. Not having Micah there plus the guys having the most horrific injury to their team mate in their mind was devastating. In my heart we would have won.

GO GATORS!!

 

Auburn had the revenge factor going and we went cold.

 

And that was 3 games, against other teams playing the number—or more. Going to 16 teams will make the tournament far more equitable again.

 

Double byes blow. Unless you get one.

 

For Conference games, Handlogten was in three of the top five combos for either +/- or net Rating, whichever metric of team success you prefer. iiirc at bartovik.com simulations had us with a 61% chance to beat Auburn. But that's all on paper...

 

So what?

 

I think that the previous game against Texas AM was very physical and may have taken a toll on the Florida players. It took a lot on Florida's part just to get past the aggies. Also, the injury to Handlogten early in the Auburn game must have initially been mentally deflating to the Florida players.
https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketbal...ament-bracket-schedule-scores-mens-basketball

Auburn had defeated both South Carolina and Mississippi State who had previously upset the top seed Tennessee. Incidentally, that loss may have cost the vols the #1 seed.

However against Florida, Auburn really did a great job of guarding the 3-point line and limited Florida from hitting those long range shots - UF was only 1/13 from the 3-point. That probably played a role in Florida not quite getting over the hurdle when the score was 44-45 early in the second half.

In the previous three SEC games, the Gators were on fire or atleast effective from long range: Texas AM (14/26), Alabama (7/20), Georgia (6/17).

The curious thing is that Kugel played in the SEC Tournament against both Georgia & Alabama but not against Texas AM (Aberdeen's breakout game) and Auburn in the SEC Finals.

In the previous win over Auburn in Gainesville, Kugel had a monster game - 22 points. Btw, Handlogten had 5 blocks 9 rebounds and 4 points. So, Micah did havea great, defensive effect against Auburn in that game in Gainesville...

 

I think Micah breaking his leg early had a negative psychological impact on the rest of the team, much like when KJ went down early against FSU. It took our heads out of the game a little, and maybe that competitive fire. Any way you look at a woulda coulda scenario, it’s all just speculation. We lost.

 

I’m looking forward to his next post in 2040!

 

I have to respectfully disagree. If he had not gotten hurt, would’ve made a difference sure. But I don’t think it would’ve been quite enough. We just ran into a buzz saw. They play a very physical game and the refs let them play. We were tired. That’s the story of the game in my opinion.

 

10 guys played for Auburn, none more than 24 minutes. I would have taken our best 9 against their 10. Seven was too much to overcome, especially when the injury is factored in

 

I'm 72, so I am to. LOL.

 

Fourth game in four days and we had all the late games is a different thing that what was discussed before. I was with you then.

But NC State won five days in a row so it can be done.

That being said I think that Auburn is a much better team than UNC in spite of the tournament seeding. If they were a four seed in any other region than the one with UCONN I would pick them as a FF team as a four seed.