Gators vs. bucknuts

[ETGator1]

FS1 tonight, Wednesday before Thanksgiving, at 8:30 PM ET after Cal and Seton Hall wrap up the consolation game:

floridagators.com/news/2021/11/24/mens-basketball-stuff-no-23-florida-vs-ohio-state-nov-24-2021.aspx

Should be a good game based on what I saw of the bucknuts vs. the pirates of Seton Hall. 

So far, UF is successfully pulling a 2020 Baylor with impact transfers who match up with the style of play UF HC Mike White has desired since he came to UF. The biggest win so far was against Florida State in the ODome. The Gators play hard defense for 40 minutes, like to press, and are pretty good offensively. 

It'll take toughness and effort to beat the bucknuts, but I think the Gators are capable of coming out of the game still undefeated and with a 5-0 record. Going on stats alone, UF plays better defense than OSU. We'll see if that plays out tonight.  

[ETGator1]

Terrific game, an NCAA tourney type of game in the neutral site Ft. Myers holiday tournament. It was a rough and tough slugfest from start to finish.

Florida 71
Ohio State 68

From floridagators.com

floridagators.com/news/2021/11/24/mens-basketball-buzzer-florida-ohio-state-nov-24-2021.aspx

Box Score

floridagators.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2021-22/ohio-state/boxscore/24523

If looking up a definition of grinding to a win, the definition would be UF in this game. In the 2nd half, the bucknets led by 10 on 57% shooting while the Gators were shooting 32%. However, every time tOSU punched out to a good lead, UF grinded defensively to stay in the game. The bucknuts ended up with 53.2% shooting while the Gators ended up with 36.7%. UF missed many point-blank shots as tOSU was playing tough defense affecting shots.

The game came down to the last minute of the game with tOSU leading 68-66. UF starting PG Tyree Appleby who finished the night uncharacteristically shooting 2 for 9 had two outstanding game winning plays. The first was a 30 foot alley-oop pass to a UF starting forward who made the slam with 35 seconds to play to tie the game at 68. The second was after tOSU star All-American Lidell missed a baseline shot which was rebounded by UF. The ball was passed forward to Appleby who drove across the halfcourt before pulling up for a 30 foot jumper that went through the net as the buzzer sounded giving UF the 71-68 win.

UF is now 5-0 and tOSU is 4-2.

Again, it was a terrific game. Fans of both teams can be proud of their team's efforts. Somebody had to lose. I'm just glad it was the team from Columbus rather than the team from Gainesville. The game could have gone either way. It just went UF's way in the last minute of the game.

Florida announcer Mic Hubbert on the game winning shot by Tyree Appleby

[beuycek]

Nov 25, 2021 0:15:41 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

Terrific game, an NCAA tourney type of game in the neutral site Ft. Myers holiday tournament. It was a rough and tough slugfest from start to finish.

Florida 71
Ohio State 68

From floridagators.com

floridagators.com/news/2021/11/24/mens-basketball-buzzer-florida-ohio-state-nov-24-2021.aspx

Box Score

floridagators.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2021-22/ohio-state/boxscore/24523

If looking up a definition of grinding to a win, the definition would be UF in this game. In the 2nd half, the bucknets led by 10 on 57% shooting while the Gators were shooting 32%. However, every time tOSU punched out to a good lead, UF grinded defensively to stay in the game. The bucknuts ended up with 53.2% shooting while the Gators ended up with 36.7%. UF missed many point-blank shots as tOSU was playing tough defense affecting shots.

The game came down to the last minute of the game with tOSU leading 68-66. UF starting PG Tyree Appleby who finished the night uncharacteristically shooting 2 for 9 had two outstanding game winning plays. The first was a 30 foot alley-oop pass to a UF starting forward who made the slam with 35 seconds to play to tie the game at 68. The second was after tOSU star All-American Lidell missed a baseline shot which was rebounded by UF. The ball was passed forward to Appleby who drove across the halfcourt before pulling up for a 30 foot jumper that went through the net as the buzzer sounded giving UF the 71-68 win.

UF is now 5-0 and tOSU is 4-2.

Again, it was a terrific game. Fans of both teams can be proud of their team's efforts. Somebody had to lose. I'm just glad it was the team from Columbus rather than the team from Gainesville. The game could have gone either way. It just went UF's way in the last minute of the game.

Florida announcer Mic Hubbert on the game winning shot by Tyree Appleby

Turnovers in the first half and missed free throws were the story for the Buckeyes. I thought the game was called fair but the refs were a little too involved for my liking. Young fouling out hurt, too and the Gators took advantage. Kudos to the Gators for hanging in there and hitting the huge shot to win it.

[ETGator1]

Seemed like UF center Colin Castleton couldn't buy a free throw. UF as a team also shot poorly from the stripe. Still Castleton had a double double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

The Buckeyes remind me of South Carolina under Frank Martin. The Gamecocks play extremely physical like tOSU does. Ohio State vs. South Carolina would be a great game to watch. The refs could foul out the whole team if they called all of the fouls committed. That's the type of game UF has lost in the past.

Must say I was surprised to see Young in the game with 4 fouls and so much time left. Facing the same situation in the 1st half, Appleby and Duruji, the two last minute game winning playmakers, sat of the bench with 2 fouls for a long time.

[ETGator1]

Courtside camera view of last minute of the game:

1. Colin Castleton setting the screen for Anthony Duruji, Tyree Appleby lobbing up the ally-oop, and Duruji slamming the dunk.

2. Eric Lidell leaning in to try to get Duruji to foul him on his missed baseline shot. He would have likely hit the shot had he not been off balance trying to draw the foul. Lidell was the best player on the floor. Duruji was the most athletic player on the floor. Duruji went off his feet, but still avoided contact with Lidell. Any other Gator would have likely committed the foul Lidell wanted.

3. Castleton tapped the ball out to Myron Jones who passed the ball up court to Appleby who hit the 30-foot shot with the ball going through the net as time expired. Bedlam ensues.

With the courtside camera, you have the best seat in the house.

[mscott59]

Nov 25, 2021 7:16:39 GMT -5 beuycek said:

Nov 25, 2021 0:15:41 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

Terrific game, an NCAA tourney type of game in the neutral site Ft. Myers holiday tournament. It was a rough and tough slugfest from start to finish.

Florida 71
Ohio State 68

From floridagators.com

floridagators.com/news/2021/11/24/mens-basketball-buzzer-florida-ohio-state-nov-24-2021.aspx

Box Score

floridagators.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2021-22/ohio-state/boxscore/24523

If looking up a definition of grinding to a win, the definition would be UF in this game. In the 2nd half, the bucknets led by 10 on 57% shooting while the Gators were shooting 32%. However, every time tOSU punched out to a good lead, UF grinded defensively to stay in the game. The bucknuts ended up with 53.2% shooting while the Gators ended up with 36.7%. UF missed many point-blank shots as tOSU was playing tough defense affecting shots.

The game came down to the last minute of the game with tOSU leading 68-66. UF starting PG Tyree Appleby who finished the night uncharacteristically shooting 2 for 9 had two outstanding game winning plays. The first was a 30 foot alley-oop pass to a UF starting forward who made the slam with 35 seconds to play to tie the game at 68. The second was after tOSU star All-American Lidell missed a baseline shot which was rebounded by UF. The ball was passed forward to Appleby who drove across the halfcourt before pulling up for a 30 foot jumper that went through the net as the buzzer sounded giving UF the 71-68 win.

UF is now 5-0 and tOSU is 4-2.

Again, it was a terrific game. Fans of both teams can be proud of their team's efforts. Somebody had to lose. I'm just glad it was the team from Columbus rather than the team from Gainesville. The game could have gone either way. It just went UF's way in the last minute of the game.

Florida announcer Mic Hubbert on the game winning shot by Tyree Appleby

Turnovers in the first half and missed free throws were the story for the Buckeyes. I thought the game was called fair but the refs were a little too involved for my liking. Young fouling out hurt, too and the Gators took advantage. Kudos to the Gators for hanging in there and hitting the huge shot to win it.

both teams play physical, but only one was getting fouls called on them early and it did matter. gators had 13 more ft's and made 10 more. that said, loved how uf defended all game long. bucks struggled plenty w/their sets... 18 turnovers and being outscored by 10 at the line helps negate tosu shooting 54% from the field (uf also had 13 more fg attempts thx in large part to the turnovers. bucks also shot much more poorly from 3 (5-19, uf was 4-14 including the game winner) than monday night. game certainly had a march feel instead of november... not sure if I'd call ft myers neutral... maybe semi neutral. lol.

on the ohio state side, this game was part of what I think is the toughest non-conference schedule the program has ever played. in addition to xavier, seton hall and uf, you have duke next week and uk the week before christmas w/a league slate that includes 2 games each vs wisconsin, indiiana and michigan, plus sparty here and road games at purdue and illinois. tough to see wins vs the blue devils and cats, so this loss to florida actually could matter come the ncaa. good win, tough loss.

[ETGator1]

Nov 25, 2021 11:35:28 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

Nov 25, 2021 7:16:39 GMT -5 beuycek said:

Turnovers in the first half and missed free throws were the story for the Buckeyes. I thought the game was called fair but the refs were a little too involved for my liking. Young fouling out hurt, too and the Gators took advantage. Kudos to the Gators for hanging in there and hitting the huge shot to win it.

both teams play physical, but only one was getting fouls called on them early and it did matter. gators had 13 more ft's and made 10 more. that said, loved how uf defended all game long. bucks struggled plenty w/their sets... 18 turnovers and being outscored by 10 at the line helps negate tosu shooting 54% from the field (uf also had 13 more fg attempts thx in large part to the turnovers. bucks also shot much more poorly from 3 (5-19, uf was 4-14 including the game winner) than monday night. game certainly had a march feel instead of november... not sure if I'd call ft myers neutral... maybe semi neutral. lol.

on the ohio state side, this game was part of what I think is the toughest non-conference schedule the program has ever played. in addition to xavier, seton hall and uf, you have duke next week and uk the week before christmas w/a league slate that includes 2 games each vs wisconsin, indiiana and michigan, plus sparty here and road games at purdue and illinois. tough to see wins vs the blue devils and cats, so this loss to florida actually could matter come the ncaa. good win, tough loss.

That small gym only holds 3500. Judging from the red and blue in the stands, it was close to 50:50 with the Buckeyes maybe holding a slight edge.

UF shooting from the field was the worst I've seen so far through 5 games. The tOSU defense had a ton to do with that. Billy D used the term "grinding" for games like this. UF couldn't win it offensively with their poor shooting from the field and the line, so they made up for it with turnovers and steals plus they won the rebound battle. With those 4 big inside players, I expected tOSU to win rebounds.

Ohio State has one of the toughest schedules in the nation. If they don't get beat up physically, they will be a tough out in the NCAA tourney.

UF's P5 OOC schedule: Florida State, California (N), Ohio State (N), at Oklahoma, Maryland (N - Brooklyn, NY), and Oklahoma State in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.