Florida Gators

[Deleted]

Okay, I watched the game. I meant to say first to 80 wins:

floridagators.com/news/2018/3/3/chris-harry-at-the-buzzer-kentucky-florida-instant-breakdown.aspx

The Gators beat the wildcats 80-67 to sweep UK for only the 6th time. The first half was a run and gun affair that I expected with UF scoring 48 points. The wildcats slowed things down going into an effective zone defense, but the Gators had run out to a 23 point lead that UK could not recover from even when UF only scored 3 points in a 9 minute span.

Along with UF's 80 points, the Gators had ten 3s, surprisingly rebounded with the bigger wildcats, and played terrific defense holding the wildcats to 33 points in the first half followed by 34 points in the second half.

UF's record advanced to 20-11 (11-7).

Next Up: the SEC tourney in the late game next Friday night as UF nailed down the #3 SEC seed with the win over UK.

[Deleted]

1. UF lost 80-72 in the first round of the SEC tourney.

2. UF was selected to go to Dallas as a #6 seed where they faced and beat #11 seed St. Bonaventure 77-62 in a game that really was as close as the score:

floridagators.com/news/2018/3/16/chris-harry-gators-defense-smothers-bonnies-in-77-62-rout.aspx

The Gators had 2 walkons on the court while the bonnies played hard to the final whistle. UF showed improvement against the dreaded zone defense which has caused them so much trouble all season. Play better against the zone and UF will be a tough out against anyone. There might only be a handful of teams that can play the Gators straight up man to man.

3. UF will play #3 seed Texas Tech on Saturday. The red raiders have a terrific backcourt, a decent frontcourt, and have stats that mirror UF's stats. It ought to be a heckuva game. The crowd in Dallas will be largely Texas Tech red. I like the Gators being up to play in that type of environment. The Gators beat Gonzaga in double OT in a game much like this in the PK 80 Classic out in Oregon back in November. Gonzaga and Tech Tech have in common that they can play good both inside and outside. ESPN has Texas Tech as a 65% chance of winning. I don't buy that as it is against Texas Tech's aggressive nature to play so much zone defense which is what it will take to beat the Gators. Texas Tech also reminds me of South Carolina in that they play hard and physical, but the red raiders have a much better backcourt. Both teams play out to 10 deep. The first team to 80 wins it. I have the Gators winning close sending the large Texas Tech crowd home disappointed.

[Deleted]

3.16.2018

Pregame Notes for Texas Tech reveal two statistical similar teams. The rosters are similar too playing out to 10 deep:

floridagators.com/documents/2018/3/16/2018_03_17_vsTexasTech_NCAATournament_2ndRound.pdf

FLORIDA’S PROBABLE STARTERS & DEPTH TO 10 DEEP 

# Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Min. Pts. R/A

13 Kevarrius Hayes C 6-9 225 Jr. 23.3 4.8 5.0r
3 Jalen Hudson G 6-6 192 Jr. 26.4 15.3 3.9r
4 Egor Koulechov G 6-5 205 Gr. 30.5 13.8 6.5r
5 KeVaughn Allen G 6-2 193 Jr. 31.2 11.1 2.3r
11 Chris Chiozza G 6-0 175 Sr. 32.2 11.1 6.2a
25 Keith Stone F 6-8 245 SO. 24.0 8.9 4.2r 
21 Dontay Bassett F 6-9 240 FR. 7.3 1.8 1.6r
12 Gorjak Gak C 6-11 245 SO. 9.1 2.3 1.6r 
00 Mike Okauru G 6-3 180 FR. 11.0 3.9 0.6a 
24 Deaundre Ballard G 6-5 195 FR. 10.8 3.8 1.8r


Texas Tech's PROBABLE STARTERS & DEPTH TO 10 DEEP

# Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Min. Pts. R/A

32 Norense Odiase C 6-9 245 RJr. 15.4 4.0 4.7r
2 Zhaire Smith G 6-5 195 Fr. 28.2 11.1 4.8r
5 Justin Gray G 6-6 210 Sr. 21.1 5.0 3.5r
12 Keenan Evans G 6-3 190 Sr. 29.2 17.7 3.2a
23 Jarrett Culver G 6-5 190 Fr. 26.2 11.5 4.8r
00 Tommy Hamilton IV F 6-11 250 SR. 14.9 5.7 3.1r
11 Zach Smith F 6-8 220 SR. 20.4 6.1 3.1r
1 *Brandone Francis G 6-5 205 JR. 15.6 5.3 2.0r
10 Niem Stevenson G 6-5 205 SR. 20.3 7.5 3.1r
25 Davide Moretti G 6-3 165 FR. 12.4 3.4 1.2a

*Florida transfer to Texas Tech 


Category Florida Advantage Texas Tech 

Scoring Offense 76.1 < 75.1
Scoring Defense 69.2 > 64.6
Scoring Margin +6.9 > +10.5
Field Goal Pct. .434 . > .464
Field Goal Pct. Def. .427 > .402
3-Pt. FG Pct. .373 < .363
3-Pt. FG Pct. Def. .351 > .329
3-Pt. FG Made 9.2 < 6.9
3-Pt. FG Allowed 6.8 = 6.8
Free Throw Pct. .719 < .700
Free Throws Made 14.3 > 15.9
Rebounds 35.1 > 36.1 Opp.
Rebounds 37.4 > 31.7
Rebounding Margin -2.2 > +4.4
Assists 13.2 > 14.4
Turnovers 9.8 < 12.6
Opp. Turnovers 14.0 > 15.1
Turnover Margin +4.2 < +2.6
Assist/TO Ratio 1.3 < 1.1
Steals 7.0 > 7.3
Blocked Shots 4.7 < 4.3

I'm thinking the first team to 80 wins. I've got Florida winning in my bracket as I suspect Texas Tech is too confident, physical, and aggressive to play the type of zone defense that it will take for them to beat the Gators, say 80-79 Gators in a fast and furious up and down the floor game.

[Deleted]

Florida got knocked out by a good Texas Tech team 69-66 in the round of 32. It was a frustrating season so I'm glad it's over.

[Deleted]

Florida and Butler agree to home and home in 18 and 19 with the first game in Gainesville:

floridagators.com/news/2018/3/25/mens-basketball-gators-agree-to-home-and-home-series-with-butler.aspx

Home ooc games announced so far are Butler and Michigan State. The MSU game is the backend of a home and home when the first game was played at MSU in 15.

[Deleted]

UF just became a better and more dangerous team in 2018-19:

www.gatorcountry.com/florida-gators-basketball/jalen-hudson-reportedly-returning-to-gators/

Jalen Hudson returning for his redshirt senior season keeps the roster at 13 and gives the Gators a team that can and will compete against anyone in the nation next season. Talent, depth at every position, and experience will be in surplus in Gainesville. HC Mike White has a luxury of riches to work with. Balance and depth was lacking last season due to injuries and not getting John Egbunu back at all proved to be fatal.

[Deleted]

Gators will spend Thanksgiving in the Bahamas at the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament:

floridagators.com/news/2018/5/15/mens-basketball-battle-4-atlantis-ticket-and-travel-packages-now-available.aspx?path=basketball-men

[Deleted]

The Gators will square off with West Virginia on December 4 in the Jimmy V. Classic in New York:

floridagators.com/news/2018/5/23/mens-basketball-gators-to-face-west-virginia-in-jimmy-v-classic.aspx?path=basketball-men

[Deleted]

Gators to visit TCU in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on January 26:

floridagators.com/news/2018/5/24/mens-basketball-gators-to-visit-tcu-in-sec-big-12-challenge.aspx?path=basketball-men

[Deleted]

HC Mike White yesterday at the SEC spring meetings in Destin confirmed that Jalen Hudson has withdrawn from the NBA draft and will return to UF for his redshirt senior season:

www.gatorsports.com/2018/05/hudson-returning-for-senior-season-at-florida/

UF is going to have an excellent and experienced team in 2018-19. I'm thinking Elite Eight or Final Four.

[Deleted]

Jalen Hudson coming back was the big news for UF, but the news was good throughout the SEC with the exception of Texas A&M:

SEC, it's a basketball conference:

www.gatorsports.com/2018/05/the-sec-its-a-basketball-conference/

[Deleted]

UF will tipoff the season at Florida State on November 6:

www.gatorsports.com/2018/06/gators-to-tip-off-season-at-florida-state/

The nolies beat the Gators like a drum in Gainesville last season and have 3 returning starters so I'm thinking this will be a very tough first game in which to avoid starting the season 0-1.

[Deleted]

Gators are hoping to be healthy and 13 deep in 2018-19:

www.gatorsports.com/2018/06/white-im-holding-his-breath-gators-can-stay-healthy/

[Deleted]

2018-19 Roster

floridagators.com/roster.aspx?path=basketball-men

All 13 ship players can contribute. Look for UF to play tight defense, run a lot of pressing coming at opponents in waves, and to be a very good scoring team. I don't know what the record will be like against a tough ooc schedule and a continuing to improve SEC, but I think the team will be fun to watch. The 2018-19 Gators should be like Arkansas on steroids with talent, depth, and experience. The piggies play out to 11-12 deep whenever they can.

[Deleted]

Gators open Battle 4 Atlantis vs. Oklahoma:

www.gatorsports.com/2018/07/florida-opens-with-oklahoma-in-battle-4-atlantis/

UF returns 4 starters while OU returns 3 starters.

If UF plays Butler in game 3, that will put the Gators vs. the bulldogs twice as Butler visits UF in December.