Gators In KenPom & Net [Update at #42]

Yeah, the next two contests, I expect, will see the stiffest tests UF will have faced so far.

Hoping our boys can keep up this impressive run, and get to 10-0, against a tough foe.

 

Up to #4
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d1/ncaa-mens-basketball-net-rankings

 

Thanks for the link. We deserve to be in the top 5 for sure. Surprised to see Miss St at 11! SEC is brutal

 

I have not seen Ga play yet; kind of surprised at their rank. We all are going to get beat in league play. I don’t think our guys will be intimidated whatsoever in key SEC matchups.

 

Schedule just did not work in our favor this year. Teams we expected to decent (USF, FSU, SIU, Wake, UNC) have played below expectations. I can see why some analysts aren't giving us as much as love as they should (just like that 05-06 team). But we have just outplayed everyone on our schedule, no matter the environment (again, also like 05-06). SEC schedule will be full of ups and downs, but experienced guard play + depth in the post + balance on offense means we should be consistently competitive.

 

Yep. Other teams we thought would be much better are Wichita State and Virginia. Teams that either won or played for national championships in recent years.

 

By the 3rd SEC game we should have a pretty good idea how we'll stack up against the rest of the elite. I think we win at least 2 of 3, but what do I know.

 

We are slightly favored in each of the first three games by KenPom. But favored by a single point isn't a game that you are sure you ae going to win. Even favored by 4 isn't a done deal.

 

4 points is essentially even in modern college basketball.

 

yes ESPN has us slightly favored at Rupp and at Ark & Tenn favored at UF. I like our chances in all 3 but anything can happen, especially against those programs, venues and coaches.

 

I am upset with Gator basketball. What is wrong with this team? I wanted to start SEC play under the radar, and what do these kids do?
They go unbeaten! Man, where is Mike White when you need him?

 

One real interesting thing as this team prepares for SEC play is how uniquely equipped we are to navigate a difficult conference season. If I had to compose a team in a lab to be competitive in a league like ours, it would probably include quality depth in the post, experience at the guard spots, relatively proficient at both ends of the court (6th Ken Pom offensively, 16th defensively), rebounds at high level at both ends (1st offensively, 4th defensively, 1st overall), and able to score inside and out (55th in 2pt%, 12th in fgm/game, 34th in 3ptm/game). That kind of team is almost blowout proof. Doesn't mean it is upset proof, but I think it does mean we are likely to be in just about every game we play. We can pretty much match up with anyone and play any style. I am particularly curious to see how we play against teams that really slow it down and grind it out (Tennessee, South Carolina, TAMU).

The other factor that gives me confidence is the overall experience in league play on our roster. Four of the guys in our current rotation were in the rotation throughout the SEC schedule last year, and this will be Richard's third trip through it. Aberdeen didn't play a ton last year, but got lots of run in the SEC tournament, and had that huge game in the semis. Martin has final four experience, so he isn't afraid of big games, and if there were anyone legitimately build for that kind of play, it is definitely him. Alexis and Chinyelu really haven't see this level of play before, so it could be an up and down stretch for those two, but I think most of our rotation will be prepared for it--at least, as much as you can be to play a SEC that has probably never been this competitive or deep.

Schedule is gonna be a real grind. How we got road games at Bama, Auburn, UK and Mississippi State with no home return, yet still have home-home with Tennessee, sort of boggles the mind. That's six games against teams currently in the top 20 NET rankings, and only one of them at home!

 

Florida defeats North Carolina in Charlotte
North Carolina defeats UCLA in NYC
UCLA defeats Gonzaga in Los Angeles

Gonzaga 9-4 remains ahead of Florida 12-0 in Ken Pom

https://kenpom.com/

 

KP is based on metrics, not head to head or the eye test (and we are where we are because of schedule strength). NET has us ahead of them, FWIW.