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2021-22 Basketball Primer

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Bull Gator
May 29, 2001
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Practice opened today, Tues. 9-28-21

The first game vs Elon comes on Nov. 9th, only 6 weeks away.
All SEC forward Keyontae Johnson has not yet been cleared to practice.... (the iG crosses fingers)

7 New to the Gators: 5 sfers + 2 Fr

0. CG Myreon Jones 6-3 175 Sr - Birmingham, AL, PSU xfer
23. CG Brandon McKissic 6-3 185 Grad-Sr - Ferguson, MO, UNKC xfer, Def. PoY
24. SG/SF Phlandrous Fleming Jr 6-5 205 Grad-Sr - Athens, GA - Cha-So xfer, 2X Def PoY
1. PF CJ Felder 6-7 231 Jr - Sumter, SC - BC xfer, #2 ACC Blks/Gm
32. PF/C Tuongthach Gatkek 6-9 172 So - Portland, MA, TX JuCo xfer
(10 Pts - 6.9 Rbs - 2.2 Blks, but needs to bulk up for the SEC)
-----

10. CG Elijah Kennedy 6-3 185 Fr - VaBch, VA , Va 5A PoY
14. SG/SF Kowacie Reeves 6-6 182 Fr - Macon, GA (why Locke might not be missed)

Three roster guys stayed in town all off season to train on the floor and work in the weight room.
That should show up on the floor in the coming season. (PG Appleby- C Jitoboh-CG/SF Lane)

 
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The Gators lost two players to the NBA Draft and another four to the NCAA transfer portal, but White was active in the portal himself, securing four marquee transfers, including two who were their respective conference's defensive player of the year last year.

 
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Mike White Presser 9-28-21
https://floridagators.com/

Fifth-year senior CG Brandon McKissic, the transfer from Missouri-Kansas City, already has established himself as an infectious tone-setter for the UF basketball team heading into the 2021-22 season.

"I've been blessed with an extra year of college basketball and a chance to play at a place like this; a place like the University of Florida," McKissic said. "This is my last year of college basketball. I'm going to go all out every day and hold guys accountable. I came here for a reason. To win, that's it."

"Competitive as hell,"
White said. "I love it."
"Coach White is why I'm here. He was the difference-maker," McKissic said.

"When some 2020 guys left and Mike brought in the new guy replacements, I said that it was team addition by subtraction. I believe that more than ever now."
-- The iG

A very good / Fun article here:

 
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A good chance of being the SEC Blocks Leaders.

2020-21 Stats:

C/PF Castleton - 54 Blks - starter, 25.8 Min/Gm

PF Duruji - 11 Blks - backup, 22 Min/Gm

C Jason Jitoboh - 8 Blks backup, 5.4 Min/Gm (in 2 seasons)
(expecting his playing time to increase greatly)

SF/PF KJ would also be good for 0.5 Blks/Gm if available.
====
PF CJ Felder - 42 Blks, 27.8 Min/Gm

PF Tuongthach Gatkek - 2.2 Blk/Gm (57 Blks?) - 10 Pts, 6.9 Rbs, 2.2 Blks per Gm.
He needs to bulk ups for SEC, unless he's another Cory Brewer (6-8 185).

And being a Mike White team, I'd not be surprised if they hold most teams below 55 Pts/Gm.
 
Castleton likes what he sees so far.

"As far as I’m concerned I think everyone’s on the same page," Castleton said. "Right now, before the season starts, guys are still earning minutes. Like I said, super competitive. They want to see how the thing plays out but I think all the guys on our team have a great mindset. I’ve gotten to know everybody and I think we’re all a unit right now. There’s still that part of it that guys are going to earn what they want and we’re going to have to go from there but I don’t think we have an internal talk about that. It’s kind of at that point where things are going to get ramped up. You have to play well to earn what you get."

White, too, has been pleased with the early chemistry.

"I don't really want to talk about lineups right now, but if Felder was coming off the bench and giving us great minutes as a rebounder and defender, well, that's what we've been lacking the last couple years," Pinkins said. "When's the last time we had had a guy we could call on with a dog mentality who wasn't worried about scoring, but focused on rebounding and defending and doing his job? We've missed that the last couple years." (Payne's failings and part of iG's reasoning on the addition by subtraction thinking.) Kevarrius Hayes, perhaps? Or dare we say … Will Yeguete?

Here's a couple of good articles on the upcoming Gator B-Ball season.

https://247sports.com/college/flori...o-make-or-break-UFs-2021-22-season-172509114/

 
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Wins and losses will be the only true indicator of what kind of team this turns out to be. Expectations are low, so maybe that's a good thing. I would love to see Mike White and his guys exceed expectations rather than underachieve, which has been the norm. Always pulling for them to do well. Hope it's a great season.
 
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Wins and losses will be the only true indicator of what kind of team this turns out to be. Expectations are low, so maybe that's a good thing. I would to see Mike White and his guys exceed expectations rather than underachieve, which has been the norm. Always pulling for them to do well. Hope it's a great season.


Absolutely correct.


Quality education, along with improving the personal responsibility of the student/athletes within the community, and true American citizenship development mean absolutely nothing anymore.

At Socialist-U, they always know what's important and what's not....
Soon they might be requiring both a Vax passport and a BLM membership card to attend anything on campus...
😉
 
Absolutely correct.

Quality education, along with improving the personal responsibility of the student/athletes within the community, and true American citizenship development mean absolutely nothing anymore.

At Socialist-U, they always know what's important and what's not....
Soon they might be requiring both a Vax passport and a BLM membership card to attend anything on campus...
😉
So are you now in the camp where winning championships means nothing? The only thing that matters is education, personal responsibility and American citizenship? Athletics is supposed to be about developing character, teamwork and learning how to WIN. Athletics is about winning and the University of Florida has set the standard in the SEC and the nation in regards to winning titles. Since Jeremy Foley took over, UF has been the benchmark of doing things the right way and still winning titles, being in contention on a consistent basis. It's not an either or. We don't have to say winning titles is not important as long as we develop character and good citizens. His ideal and Gator ideals is to do both. When a coach can't deliver both after a reasonable time, they are replaced. And that's the way it should be. Statistics are for losers (Steve Spurrier said that) and so just piling up wins without winning titles should never be enough for Gators. The goal that is expected is that you run a clean program, develop quality people in the process AND win championships. If a coach can't do that, then we need to find somebody who can. We've done it over and over before and there's no reason we can't keep doing it now. The University of Florida, like most college campuses has gotten more and more liberal and socialist. But that, to me, has nothing to do with the expectations of the athletic program. Winning titles is what it's all about. Run a clean program, hold your coaches and student athletes to a high standard, compete at a high level, reward success and punish failure to win. That's the way it works in life and that's the way it should work in college sports.
 
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Winning Championships means what it's always meant to me,,, it's the icing on the cake, but it ain't and never has been the cake itself. Athletes are one thing, but different from student/athletes imo.
Pro Athletes - It's a job so fire their ass if they don't win.

Mathematical odds of winning each year.
College - B-Ball NC = 1/350 -- 0 .3% chance yearly.
College - Football NC = 1/120 -- 0.8% chance yearly.
College - B-Ball SEC-C = 1/14 = 7%
College - Football SEC-C = 1/14 = 7%
While 'Entitled' fans demand championships at better than 50% of the time.

They fired the Muscle-cramp and McLame for not winning, so now that Mullen has gone 4 seasons without winning an SEC-C, should he be fired also, because WINNING is really all that matters at Championship Socialist-U?

So HELL YES, fire all of those losers, dump the loser ship players, and start all over again....
(be sure to line up the bag-men, honey recruiters, and the recruit family jobs service office)
=====

Things that people know about, but then seem to just gloss over when judging how a coach or a season unfolded.

"I can't imagine anyone really understands what this group went through last year and what Keyontae and his family went through," coach Mike White said. "Very, very unique year. It was a very difficult year, demanding year, taxing year, long year, you name it."

 
Winning Championships means what it's always meant to me,,, it's the icing on the cake, but it ain't and never has been the cake itself. Athletes are one thing, but different from student/athletes imo.
Pro Athletes - It's a job so fire their ass if they don't win.

Mathematical odds of winning each year.
College - B-Ball NC = 1/350 -- 0 .3% chance yearly.
College - Football NC = 1/120 -- 0.8% chance yearly.
College - B-Ball SEC-C = 1/14 = 7%
College - Football SEC-C = 1/14 = 7%
While 'Entitled' fans demand championships at better than 50% of the time.

They fired the Muscle-cramp and McLame for not winning, so now that Mullen has gone 4 seasons without winning an SEC-C, should he be fired also, because WINNING is really all that matters at Championship Socialist-U?

So HELL YES, fire all of those losers, dump the loser ship players, and start all over again....
(be sure to line up the bag-men, honey recruiters, and the recruit family jobs service office)
=====

Things that people know about, but then seem to just gloss over when judging how a coach or a season unfolded.

"I can't imagine anyone really understands what this group went through last year and what Keyontae and his family went through," coach Mike White said. "Very, very unique year. It was a very difficult year, demanding year, taxing year, long year, you name it."


Having an offense buys extra time the other coaches didn't get. We aren't as ruthless as a few of the West teams are with coaches but Coach Mullen will have to show he isn't going to let Georgia run away with the East.
 
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Great News from the AP's media-morons.
Not a single vote for UF in the preseason Top 25 Poll....

That's Great News, WTF????
😨

Well, UF's first B-Ball NC came when they were preseason ranked at #32, Soooooooo. 😁

not all that surprising.

a little surprising. I'll give you that. But not ludicrous.

the off-season transfer portal was wild for this team so I can see why people wouldn't know what to make of Florida.

now the part Insta doesn't want to hear.

wait for it.

maybe they also have no faith in Mike White and expect this team to literally make the Round of 32 and call it a season.

just saying.
 
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Great News from the AP's media-morons.
Not a single vote for UF in the preseason Top 25 Poll....

That's Great News, WTF????
😨

Well, UF's first B-Ball NC came when they were preseason ranked at #32, Soooooooo. 😁
Good point. However, that 2005-06 team had lost Anthony Roberson, Matt Walsh & David Lee to the NBA and people weren't yet aware of how talented sophomores Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green were. Plus we had juniors Lee Humphrey and Chris Richard, freshman Walter Hodge and senior Adrian Moss. That was a loaded team that just jelled together and put on a basketball clinic for 2 years. People just didn't know how good they were until they started the season 17-0. On top of that we had Billy Donovan as the coach. Those 2 seasons were lightning in a bottle and a great joy to watch. It would thrill me to no end if this year's team had all those unknown gems of super talent that emerged to shock the D1 world. And I like the idea of being the overlooked underdog. I'm very interested to see how it plays out. Always pulling for the Orange & Blue.
 
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No clue what to expect from this team. So we will find out pretty quick. I believe we have fsu 2nd game and they are really good again this year.
 
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Any word on who is going to be playing point guard? That is the key to whether this team is a true SEC contender or not. Castleton and Felder will be pretty formidable on defense.
 
1.Kentucky
2.Alabama
3.Arkansas
4.Tennessee
5.Auburn
6.LSU
7.Florida
8.Mississippi State
9.Ole Miss
10.Missouri
11.South Carolina
12.Texas A&M
13.Vanderbilt
14.Georgia


I guess this is how the media sees it. I haven't really looked into what these teams have this season but I think I heard KY brought in a few transfers to try to add to the one year recruits they get.
 
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I have no idea what to expect from the bball team this year. They could be really good or really struggle. I guess based on White’s tenure at UF to date my expectations for this year are fairly low.
 
I have no idea what to expect from the bball team this year. They could be really good or really struggle. I guess based on White’s tenure at UF to date my expectations for this year are fairly low.
Just saw an article claiming Appleby will be the starting PG with McKissic filling in when needed.
 
Any word on who is going to be playing point guard? That is the key to whether this team is a true SEC contender or not. Castleton and Felder will be pretty formidable on defense.
According to the article I linked just above your question, Appleby will be the starting point guard.
 
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I haven't seen a single negative article on White's coaching abilities, just the opposite.
He's had zero losing seasons at UF, made a Tourney every year, and never gone 1&done in a Tourney. I don't see Mike missing a Tourney for the 1st time at UF.
But I see he's won CoY in 3 different conferences. (MWC/C-USA/SEC-E8)

Record at UF: 123-75, (.621 entering 2021-22, 7th season)
Overall Record: 224-115 (.661 entering 2021-22, 11th season)
For his many other coaching achievements you can go to:

Many weeks ago, I said that the team has improved by, 'Addition by Subtraction.'
From that article: "There’s an argument to be made that the team came out the other side looking better than when the off season began." (does MW get any credit for that roster transition, that some here called a disaster when the players left)

Nothing but the iG's guesses at positions & depth:

PG Appleby, McKissic, Kennedy
CG Jones, Klatsky, May
SG/SF Fleming, Lane, Reeves (6-5, 6-5, 6-6)
SF/PF Duruji, Johnson (KJ is still a ?)
PF Felder, Gatkek (TG needs plus muscle/weight)
C Castleton, Jitoboh (JJ needs minus weight)

The iG's guess comparing last year to this:
+++ on defense, with ++ on offense.
With yet another 'MONSTER' SoS this year.
With the SoS, I don't know how the many roster changes will affect the final W/L.
Just keep in mind that no previous Gator B-Ball coach has played tougher SoS's than Mike White has every year at UF. Most here will admit to that, but then they gloss right over it when judging Mike's coaching performance. Just like with the player injuries he's had to deal with nearly every year. Also, the SEC is a lot tougher overall now, than it was 10-15 years ago.
 
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I haven't seen a single negative article on White's coaching abilities, just the opposite.
He's had zero losing seasons at UF, made a Tourney every year, and never gone 1&done in a Tourney. I don't see Mike missing a Tourney for the 1st time at UF.
But I see he's won CoY in 3 different conferences. (MWC/C-USA/SEC-E8)

Record at UF: 123-75, (.621 entering 2021-22, 7th season)
Overall Record: 224-115 (.661 entering 2021-22, 11th season)
For his many other coaching achievements you can go to:

Many weeks ago, I said that the team has improved by, 'Addition by Subtraction.'
From that article: "There’s an argument to be made that the team came out the other side looking better than when the off season began." (does MW get any credit for that roster transition, that some here called a disaster when the players left)

Nothing but the iG's guesses at positions & depth:

PG Appleby, McKissic, Kennedy
CG Jones, Klatsky, May
SG/SF Fleming, Lane, Reeves (6-5, 6-5, 6-6)
SF/PF Duruji, Johnson (KJ is still a ?)
PF Felder, Gatkek (TG needs plus muscle/weight)
C Castleton, Jitoboh (JJ needs minus weight)

The iG's guess comparing last year to this:
+++ on defense, with ++ on offense.
With yet another 'MONSTER' SoS this year, I don't know how the changes will affect the W/L.
Just keep in mind that no previous Gator B-Ball coach has played tougher SoS's than Mike White has, every year at UF. Most here will admit to that, but then they gloss right over it when judging Mike's coaching performance. Just like with the player injuries he's had to deal with nearly every year. Also, the SEC is a lot tougher overall now, than it was 10-15 years ago.

Hard to say until we see this team out there. Appleby could get a little reckless at times playing point guard. Coach White can start by beating FSU for the first time on our home court.
 
Hard to say until we see this team out there. Appleby could get a little reckless at times playing point guard. Coach White can start by beating FSU for the first time on our home court.
Yep, ole BillyD got that streak started and it'd be nice if Mike ended it.
Mike was beating them at Tallycrappy last year, until KJ did a face plant on the court.

However... Start by???
That will be very difficult to do, considering that they don't start with FSU.
They don't play FSUcks until the 3rd game of the season.

2021-22 Schedule:

1. Embry-Riddle -- Exhibition
2. Elon
3. FSUcks
4. Milwaukee
>> @ Fort Myers Tip-Off Tourney
5. Cal
6. tOSU/Seton Hall
---
7. Troy
8. @ OK (SEC/Big12 Challenge)
9. TxS.
10. UNF
>> Brooklyn, NY - HoF Invitational
11. Maryland
---
>> Sunrise FL Orange Bowl Classic
12. USF
---
13. Stony Brook
---
SEC Schedule Begins on Dec 29th with Ole Miss
 
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Great News from the AP's media-morons.
Not a single vote for UF in the preseason Top 25 Poll....

That's Great News, WTF????
😨

Well, UF's first B-Ball NC came when they were preseason ranked at #32, Soooooooo. 😁
You should be perfectly fine with that, based on statements you have made in the past where this level of "success" is plenty for you.
 
2021-22 Televised Games:

11-14 FSU --- ESPN 1 PM

11-22 Cal ---- FS1
(FoxSports1 is a pay channel/Ap)
11-24 tOSU - FS1 (or SHU)


11-28 Troy -- SEC-N 12 PM

12-01 Okla -- TBA

12-08 UNF -- SEC-N 7 PM

12-12 Mary - TBA

12-18 USF -- TBA
-----
01-29 Miss -- SEC-N 5 PM

01-05 Bama - ESPN2/U 8 PM

01-08 AU ----- ESPN2/U 8 PM

01-12 LSU --- ESPN2/U 7 PM

01-15 SCa --- SEC-N 1 PM

01-19 MsSt -- SEC-N 6:30 PM

01-22 VU ----- SEC-N 1 PM

01-26 TN ----- ESPN 6 PM

01-29 OkSt -- ESPN/2 4 PM
-----
02-02 Miz ---- SEC-N 9 PM

02-05 Miss --- SEC-N 3:30 PM

02-09 UGly -- SEC-N 6:30 PM

02-12 UK ----- ESPN/2 4 PM

02-15 aTm --- SEC-N 7 PM

02-19 AU ---- ESPN/2 2/4 PM

02-22 Ark ----- ESPN/2 9 PM

02-26 UGly --- ESPN/2 12/4 PM
-----
03-01 VU ---- SEC-N 8:30 PM

03-05 UK ---- CBS 2 PM
=====

-0 CG Myreon Jones 6-3 175 G-Sr

-1 PF CJ Fleder 6-7 231 Jr

-3 CG Alex Katsky 6-4 185 rsSo

-4 SF/PF Anthony Duruji 6-7 209 rsSr

10 PG Elijah Kennedy 6-3 185 Fr

11 SF/PF Keyontae Johnson 6-5 229 Sr

12 C Colin Castleton 6-11 231 Sr

14 SG/SF Kowacie Reeves 6-6 182 Fr

20 CG Jack May 6-4 175 rsSo

22 PG Tyree Appleby 6-1 163 rsSr

23 PG Brandon McKissic 6-3 185 G-Sr

24 SG/SF Phlandrous Fleming Jr 6-5 205 G-Sr

32 PF Tuongthach Gatkek 6-9 172 So

33 C Jason Jitoboh 6-11 290 Jr

44 SG/SF Niels Lane 6-5 206 So
 
I haven't seen a single negative article on White's coaching abilities, just the opposite.
He's had zero losing seasons at UF, made a Tourney every year, and never gone 1&done in a Tourney. I don't see Mike missing a Tourney for the 1st time at UF.
But I see he's won CoY in 3 different conferences. (MWC/C-USA/SEC-E8)

Record at UF: 123-75, (.621 entering 2021-22, 7th season)
Overall Record: 224-115 (.661 entering 2021-22, 11th season)
For his many other coaching achievements you can go to:

Many weeks ago, I said that the team has improved by, 'Addition by Subtraction.'
From that article: "There’s an argument to be made that the team came out the other side looking better than when the off season began." (does MW get any credit for that roster transition, that some here called a disaster when the players left)

Nothing but the iG's guesses at positions & depth:

PG Appleby, McKissic, Kennedy
CG Jones, Klatsky, May
SG/SF Fleming, Lane, Reeves (6-5, 6-5, 6-6)
SF/PF Duruji, Johnson (KJ is still a ?)
PF Felder, Gatkek (TG needs plus muscle/weight)
C Castleton, Jitoboh (JJ needs minus weight)

The iG's guess comparing last year to this:
+++ on defense, with ++ on offense.
With yet another 'MONSTER' SoS this year.
With the SoS, I don't know how the many roster changes will affect the final W/L.
Just keep in mind that no previous Gator B-Ball coach has played tougher SoS's than Mike White has every year at UF. Most here will admit to that, but then they gloss right over it when judging Mike's coaching performance. Just like with the player injuries he's had to deal with nearly every year. Also, the SEC is a lot tougher overall now, than it was 10-15 years ago.
If Gatkek is getting any playing time it won't be a good thing. He's a project, and at a minimum a year away.
 
If Gatkek is getting any playing time it won't be a good thing. He's a project, and at a minimum a year away.

That's likely true, without me seeing him play yet. But he's the same size as Corey Brewer was...
No, I'm not saying that he's a Brewer, but then sometimes an mostly unknown guy can surprise you.
Either way, he's not critical to this years roster imo.
-----

The Gators new roster has remarked about how well the team has bonded this off season, and this years Florida team may finally resemble the gritty, lock-down style of play White envisioned more than five years ago.

 
Yes if Gatkek is having to play this year then that isn’t a good thing. He’s a few years away.
 
He likely won't be 'HAVING TO PLAY,' but he may get a little playing time (1-3 min/gm) anyway, like the bottom 5 on the roster get most every year. I don't see what the big deal is about him getting some playing time?

https://www.si.com/college/florida/...basketball-guard-outlook-2021-22-myreon-jones

I'm guessing CG meant meaningful minutes in conference games, not so much garbage time against the JU's on the schedule.
 
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