the Gators out rebound everyone, drain 3 pointers and simply work harder. Even with that - my favorite thing about this season is how much the players and coaches appear to really like each other. Martin is the perfect example - he was ready to start again and looked just fine knowing Aberdeen was going to continue to be in the first 5. This team chemistry is once in a lifetime (or once every 2 decades)
A thought hit me about Chins exceptional play. Could his improvement be because of Hands coming back? I think it might, not because of competing for court time, but better chemistry. Think back, these two have been banging and going at it in practice for several months. This getting to know each other builds morale. Chins sees Hands getting his opportunity might have added to his desire to be better as well. Either way, I like where this team is heading.
I remember a Chins interview from I think pre-season. He was talking about the team and how guys were from everywhere (US, Canada, Australia, Serbia, Nigeria, Slovenia, Lithuania, Pennsyltucky...) and how special it was to have all these unique cultural experiences and outlooks and how they all were sort of weaving together. It stuck with me as I saw it as such a potentially huge bonding opportunity. This team seems to really play for each other. No matter what happens, this has been a fun team to watch grow and play.
I think it's effort. We are demoralizing other teams with sheer effort. And toughness. OK. It's toughness. That's my favorite thing. Toughness. And effort of course. Effort is right up there.
Gotta like that this has been a second half team. Sometimes they get off to a slow start but always bring it in the second half. I recall those old days of blowing big first half leads. Haven't seen that this season.
Lets not forget that LSU plays a lot of 4 guard lineup. Chins' play has me excited too, but if there was ever a game he was going to explode in - it was this past one.
I’m sure you guys have seen this example of the I was able to attend this game, living just an hour away. I was early and the team was doing pre-game drills; I was able to stand near courtside and watch my favorite team warm up. I agree on the team chemistry! During the warm-ups, every single Gator player passing by another player brushed hands together in show of solidarity and esprit de corps of sorts. It was cool to see and you could sense they were getting ready for battle as a TEAM. They looked confident and prepared. Here are a few observations I made while watching the players fairly close: 1. Clayton is very lean and muscular and extremely athletic looking. 2. Martin looks like a piece of hardened steel and looks bigger than on tv. 3. All of the players are very fit and very big, even the height of the guards surprised me. The tall guys are lean yet strong and athletic. 4. Lee Humphrey still has his great jump shot. (he was shooting around on the other end from us until LSU came out)
NO ONE EXPECTS THE 2024-25 GATORS! Our chief weapon is Effort. Effort and toughness. Our two chief weapons are effort and toughness and chemistry. Our THREE key weapons are Effort, toughness, chemistry and an almost fanatical devotion to the Coach. AMONGST OUR WEAPONRY are Effort, Toughness, Chemistry, an almost fanatical devotion to the Coach and ...I'll come in again NO ONE EXPECTS THE 2024-25 GATORS! AMONGST OUR WEAPONRY are such diverse elements as Effort, Toughness, Chemistry, an almost fanatical devotion to the Coach and nice orange & blue uniforms.
