We got some bad breaks, but we also got some good breaks like banking in a 3, missing the second of two FTs and turning it into 2 extra points instead of the 1 we would have gotten if the FT went in (this actually happened two different times for us) and also UVA missed two different breakaway dunks with no one defending. The breaks work both ways. Bottom line is I'm proud of the team's effort, and I believe this is the best roster we've had in maybe half a decade.
Agree on the unforced errors issue but I am VERY impressed with our talent level and how well the team seems to be jelling after just two games. I think we have a really high ceiling this year! Gonna be fun to watch.
I think Kugel and Richard also need to be a little more active without the ball to help Clayton out. Clayton was dealing with major traffic at the top of the key all night. All three of UVA's guards were defending well the way they trapped and helped at the right times. He is only two games in, and I think he is going to be really good for the Gators.
We had one left at that point, as we used the final one a few seconds later to ice a free throw shooter. Of the three situations… next to last play, opposition ft, and last play… I think we used the final timeout in the least effective way. Oh well…
Yeah, the passes and drives that were easy against Loyola were not so easy against a strong defense. Gotta learn from that.
was at the game and I thought the opposite. Thought he was in “too on” mode. Was forcing things for most of the game and trying to do many acrobatic moves. He seemed frustrated most of first half.
Based on the play that was called and how we executed on that last timeout, it wouldn’t have mattered anyways. I was just thinking we should’ve called it with the final possession for the win.
Aside from refs calling fouls on us inside, it was our 28% from the 3-point line that also contributed.
Good game Florida…yall are good, and maybe better than some of you realize. Buchanan saved our butts, it would have been a beat down without him having a breakout, career performance. Not to toot my own horn but I did say we needed that kind of performance to beat you and your monster frontcourt. Please win LOTS of games the rest of the way, and if you take care of the ball a little better, I have no doubt you will. See ya in the ncaa tournament??
Yes, the key to UVa’s defense is to disrupt the opposing PG and hedge the ball screen at the top of the arc. If the PG can dribble through or pass the ball laterally, it creates just enough of a crack in the D to run your offense. Very insightful comment on your part.
Upon further review... Got to complete the game via on-demand this AM. Fun game to watch. I could pick apart all the parts to figure out what went right and definitely what went wrong, but I am just going to say that...this was a DAMN FINE teaching moment. We have a LOT of pieces to mesh and we weren't quite as in-synch against much better competition. But we kept it up and just didn't have enough confidence in what to do in the last minute to pull off the win. Micah was the MVG (obviously) and Samuel next. I thought that Kugel got too full of himself due to the last game's results, except he wasn't playing that team again. UVa, besides very good offense and 3-shooting, was REALLY good in their team defense. Perhaps Golden did not make adjustments when he should have, and it probably would have been better to have had a TO or two at the end, but in the end, this was a GOOD loss if there ever is one. I am not sure whether we were planning to drive and not shoot 3s or we just could not figure out their defensive rotations, but we were jacking up 3s instead of working it to an open 3. Can't do that, otherwise we are going to have to hope the basketball gods are smiling on the Gators. Clayton looks like he needs one more co-PG. He is effective and poised but he isn't The Man. Hopefully Pullin and he will get it working. The freshmen were...freshmen. It is what it is. And I hope that Aberdeen can figure out how to utilize his athletic skills on offense to keep him in the rotation. He is just outside the realm of effective. He is a place-holder until further notice.
