A lot of these guys are transfers that later blossomed. Pullin, Clayton, Szymczyk & Handlogten were NR as high school recruits. Haugh, Condon, Aberdeen, Richard & Samuel were 3*.
We achieved. The season put us in a position to make magic happen. The SEC is exceptionally strong by comparison to the norm, so in any other season with this team, I think a more dominant looking record could be expected.
Maybe this is the silver lining to transfers. Overlooked Kids out of high school getting a chance to play on the big stage!
Yeah, I'm thinking of having the SEC do very well in my bracket this year - moreso than usual. I haven't watch much of other conferences for comparison, but the SEC seemed very strong to me this season. Every SEC team seems to have at least two or three very good offensive players (or Knecht ). I wasn't surprised when they mentioned on tv that last season the highest 3-point shooting percentage in the league was 35-something percent. And that this season that would rank 6th in the league! Beating an A&M team that's been scoring around 90 ppg recently was quite a feat today IMHO. Our first meeting with them this year was the expected rock fight. Those A&M guys weren't shooting rocks anymore - and we still managed to beat them. Not too shabby!!! (as Adam Sandler might say)
We are about where I expected and where I hoped we'd be. I expected a slow start given how many new players were in the lineup but did not expect to lose all the close ones against Quad 1 and 2 in pre-SEC schedule. Overall, it seems a far easier task to think about individual players and components of our game and whether they met preseason expectations. For example, Pullin shattered my expectations while I never anticipated the extent of Kugel's struggles. Samuel's offensive game has outperformed my expectations Handlogten has disappointed. Even given my expectations of improvement, I didn't expect Florida to emerge as the offensive powerhouse they've been but I alternatively expected we'd be a better defensive team. I love the kind of ball movement we get, the unselfish team play and the big man passing. I underestimated how good we'd be on the offensive boards and SEC competition has greatly exceeded my expectations but never expected the Zone would become our Kryptonite. Somehow, all these variables have roughly translated to match my basic expectation we could be a 6 seed or better (still remains to be seen) with a solid chance to achieve a Sweet 16 appearance.
I doubt he left because he thought he wouldn’t play much. First, practice hadn’t even started yet- he left in September and practice started in October so it wasnt like he saw he wouldn’t get playing time. Second, Haugh and Condon were super raw when the season started in late November. And frankly, were not thought of that highly outside of Golden and like all freshmen, didn’t just come in and dominate practice from day 1 - they struggled. They improved a lot later in the season but Jarvis was way better than they were at that point. He was 23, a grown man, and a second team all conference player. They were young unknowns with zero reputation of being ballers. Micah is a rebounder - that is it. Little impact on Jarvis. Tyrese certainly would have impacted Jarvis playing time but can’t imagine Jarvis felt he wasn’t good enough to earn playing time. Jarvis announced he was leaving basketball- not just UF hoops. He is not playing hoops anywhere. It is not like he was afraid of competition at UF and decided to go play elsewhere. He basically retired from hoops with a degree from Yale and was seeking job opportunities along with potential academic ones. Likely didn’t have the passion to continue playing basketball. Don’t think he left cause of potential playing time issues.
agree…. Being in today’s finals kinda validates my season-long thoughts… gators are one of the most talented teams in the conference. So, yes… I think we are better than the 6th place finish. But, add this sec tourney run to the cumulative season… I’m happy! Of course, by 5pm… those achievements become a resume for for the Madness! I hate thinking about it, but turnover is always… and will be… significant. Gotta get it done with this group. I really think we will. Go Gators!
Speaking as an engineer, I would agree that the center of our bell curve for victories was a little to the right of our results given what we've learned about our roster. I wouldn't sweat it.
That's exactly what that chart is showing and exactly why it's ridiculous to declare a factual basis for "talent." The other diagram (wins vs. experience) is much more relevant since experience can be objectively measured.