I strongly believe, as I did last year, that we had a Final Four caliber team for 2023... regardless of who would be the coach. Castleton, Keyontae, and Appleby is about as strong as a core of players as you could have. At risk of being turned into a Wendy's Baconator, I just don't understand why so many were against such a great story of KJ overcoming his medical event and coming back to lead his team to a deep tournament run. He was our guy, and we let him go. He should have finished his career as a Gator. I never understood the negative comments about Appleby, either. Fierce competitor and has the clutch gene. Last year, I stood up when he came out onto the floor to start the USF game and we gave each other the head nod. Cool dude. I'm glad he was with us for at least a couple years. That said, this year's team has grown on me... for all it's strengths and weaknesses. They play tough every night and have improved considerably. Golden will be a great coach here as long as we give him time. I'd like to see an improved offense next year and get rid of the 3 man weave, as well as better inbounds plays. Original Impatience Thread. I got roasted pretty bad in there.
I believe that by the time that off the field situation happened that the decision had already been made that he would not play at UF again. I could be wrong.
Welcome back, murph! I believe the UF hoops program was just a terrible victim of circumstance regarding Key's departure. Other than yourself, I wonder how many of us anticipated Appleby having a monster year this go round. I didn't and while I like the kid, was admittedly wrong in not lamenting his transfer. Like you, though, boy would I love to see this team play with both of them.
This year we will end up with a team just over 500. Next year we lose our best player. Unless he does great in the portal Golden might have a losing season. But he has instilled "no quit" in this team. Down by 29 at half and they play Bama equal in the second half.
I hope it’s obvious that my overall point is that we need to give Coach Golden enough time. It might be ten years… who knows? That’s just the nature of sports. We’ll never know what could have been with Castleton, KJ, and Tyree, but hopefully we learned from this and don’t repeat the same mistake.
the only thing Golden has clearly instilled in this team is “no shoot” worst shooting team in UF history?
With the portal and the one and done’s, “rebuilding “ seems to be a lost cause. One or two recruiting or portal pick ups on a regular basis. The turnover seems to great these days. Damn, I’m negative, but I just wanted a birthday win sipping my scotch! Lol
Your 100% on, especially on Key and Appleby. Heck if Appleby stays we have 3-4 more wins right now. He’s that good. I was shocked Golden didn’t make sure he stayed.
Oh, let's wait and see if the Dawgs can hang an L on the Gators before revisiting this conversation .
Good post. I'm not one to look back and don't see the point in what ifs. That said, Riley Kugel is going to be the face of this team next year. If he doesn't transfer. He won't transfer, right? Right!?
I believe you always need to look back to learn from the past. That doesn’t mean we need to dwell on it. My point is that we need to learn patience. We had the team we wanted finally, but did not keep it together.
Welcome back. I am confused by your last sentence. What was the team we finally wanted but did not keep together?
If Keyontae didn’t have his issue, he likely wouldn’t have been here, would have already been a pro. So to say this was setting to be a final 4 team or “the team we wanted all along” is off base. It’s unfortunate Kyontae’s time was interrupted, but that was beyond anyone’s control. He moved on (likely) because UF doctors wouldn’t clear him. I severely doubt coach Golden wouldn’t have wanted him if the opportunity and desire for him was to resume his career at UF. No clue on the situation with Appleby, if Golden tried to get him to stay as we know he did with Castleton and Reeves. Obviously we could have used him as it feels our PG play is a weakness, and if nothing else Appleby had more scoring pop.
