I think I posted similar on twitter. As I’ve argued… TG has a learning curve, and I think it manifested a few times this year. If anything… I am guessing he realized the importance of having some defensive diversity. We really didn’t have the ability or willingness to throw different defensive looks. And this had a dual effect - we struggled defensively; and bc we never really practiced against different defenses… we struggled offensively when we saw ‘em. All this said… You have to be excited about the roster construction; pace of play; youth and competitive fire. He is a great program guy with only upside as a coach. The frustrating part about college hoops these days is that you typically only get one shot with each team. Roster turnover has changed “wait til next year” to “let’s start over and try it again next year”. BUT -maybe we defy this trend. We lose a couple big pieces in Pullin and Samuel, but it no further attrition… I’d have some real renewed enthusiasm. Another season of massive turnover could do me in. go gators!
We gave up more layups than you'd like, but they hit quite a few tough 2-pointers also - and they all seemed to bounce around the rim some before going in. Along with their threes and their foul shooting, that was a pretty damn good shooting exhibition. I wondered if the lack of defensive help at times (specifically from our bigs who looked like they could have challenged on some plays where they didn't) was due to the fact that we didn't have those extra five fouls anymore. Even without some of those rim challenges, we had foul trouble for the front line. Also, too bad Condon kept fouling by hitting his face on the other guys' clear out moves.
The basket must have look like the size of a swimming pool to them. Any thing close automatically went in. They also just bulldozed our guys, any resistance we put up was called a foul. They refs were just awful. Stinks Colorado beat us, just glad we fought back and tied it. This game kinda summary of our season, lot of close losses. Also that rim was soft, that last shot bouncing in
Not great D, but Colorado made some incredible shots and also killed it at the free throw line. Credit to them. Will be interesting to see if they can keep it going in the next game. Lot of talent that underachieved prior to the postseason.
How many teams bettered their normal efficiency or shooting %’s against us? I’m guessing CO was one of many. When you play fast, you are of course going to give up points (more possessions = more points). But if you are giving up extra offensive efficiency that’s where it’s self defeating, esp against teams that are already offensively efficient themselves. If you play as fast as Florida it’s probably hard to actually hold teams below their norms, but just holding them to “normal” %’s probably gets a few more W’s.
Except for the first half against Alabama in Gainesville, this team was a really bad defensive team. The reason, IMO, lack of effort from key players. We need to go 10 deep and bust our asses on both ends of the court.
Don't you suspect the refs blowing the whistle every other second on us had something to do with us being more tentative on D?
Great last point - reminds me of when my younger daughter would come to me crying and her older sister would say “her face hit my fist…”
Remember the 2000 team that made the finals? We barely won in the first round. Mike Miller made an inside shot in the final second to win the game. Then we rolled from there. The toughest game to win in the NCAA tournament is the first round. IMO. Bama is in the Final Four and we embarrassed them 2x and lost 1 in OT on the road. This loss to Colorado was a tough one to swallow no doubt.
