Seth Davis' Hoop Thoughts - The Athletic ($)

YO GATOR NATION!!

We DESERVE THIS! A quick start to basketball is just what the Dr. ordered. Football is a mess and way too much unhappiness.

Lets get behind these Gators!! A special start to the year and
we have something POSITIVE to cling to!

Lets keep this train ROLLING!

 

CC putting up Joakim Noah stat lines, minus the assists. If only we had a Horford to go with him.

 

Agreed… I do have to point out that some of us have been behind Coach White and advocated for patience as he improves as a coach and recruiter. A lot of fans want to microwave success, but microwave food always tastes worse compared to the stovetop or oven. It’s also not healthy. Mike White is the kind of principled leader I want respect running our program.

 

Anthony Duruji says hello! Anthony has now got into the flow of the game with this team. he was about to lose playing time, but he has worked hard and is playing within the scope this team needed. He is fast, long arms that will block or just take it away from an opposing player. When he hits threes, finishes dunks, blocks shots and can handle the ball very well, he has earned the starting power forward position. he and Colin give a devastating inside game when they play focused and aggressive.

 

I really like Duruji, but he's no Al Horford. Seems closer to a Brewer with his versatility, especially how he likes to sneak up from behind and poke the ball away from unsuspecting ball handlers.

 

Duruji is a fine player, but Al Horford was destined to be an NBA All-Star.

I see Duruji playing for money somewhere when his UF days are over, but not like Al.

KJ might have been our new Horford and we might never know.

 

but can he dance like Noah?

 

Stickity

 

Sadly, I wish Keyantae Johnson was healthy..I mean could you imagine Key and CC in the paint? I mean my goodness

 

Who is a good Duruji comparable? For me, a combo of Prather's high-flying and Yeguete's unheralded origin and doing-the-dirty-work.

 

Adrian Moss?

 

I didn't think of him as a jump-through-the-ceiling type.

 

He had one hell of a Final Four game for us.

 

Duruji is way more athletic than Moss.

 

And a better shooter from deep.

We really don't have a comp as a Gator.

The Adrian Moss in the 2006 NC game is the guy I am thinking about. He was HUGE in that game.

 

If he gets a little more consistent with the 3pt jumper, the closest comparison is probably KJ. Both have elite athleticism that allows them to play multiple positions, rebound at a high level for their height, can get above the rim for dunks and alley oops, and can hit open threes. They are also both very good defenders, especially help defenders.

 

He is not the rebounding terror Al was, but he is faster getting down court. With us playing mostly small ball, Anthony is a key player for us just like Castleton. His quickness was key in toppling FSU.
This season will show where he falls into the best players to have played at Florida. I hope he can be consistent like Al then we can look at final year-end stats and see where he falls. Stealing the ball and out running the the whole FSU team and slamming it, only great athletes do that. He is unique in a way, that his all round game will get some comparisons to AL, but of course his game for this team is just what the doc ordered. Hoping he can keep the all round game going and give teams fit!

 

I tend to believe he is only going to get better as the season progresses. One thing that will contribute to that is the team learning the nuances of their fellow teammates. Anticipation of where another player will be in any given situation can be huge and allow plays to develop quicker thus giving the opposing defense more trouble when they are trying to guard our players. Of course that can also work for our opponents too. IE, UK as an example.

 

I would have put Duruji as a mix between Casey Prather and Adrian Moss as well. A little with the CP out hustling down low, offensively and defensively, doing the little things and some AM providing press coverage down the court. The CBD press was much more effective with AM out front, whereas the CMW press coverage is more of a slow down approach and make the guards work the ball up. We are seeing Duruji all over the court this year on defense which can only be a good thing. Granted CCs shot blocking fame now allows Duruji more opportunity to extend his court coverage on the ball.