By Franz Beard
A few thoughts to jump start your Friday morning:
GATORS HOST OKLAHOMA IN WEEKEND’S BIGGEST GYMNASTICS MEET
It will be senior night at the O-Dome tonight as the 3rd-ranked Gators host 2nd-ranked Oklahoma in what could be a prelude of the final night of the NCAA Gymnastics Championships. The Gators and Sooners have won six of the last nine NCAA championships including a shared 2014 title and they care currently separated by .010 in the average scores that determine the rankings (Oklahoma 197.640, UF 197.630). The Gators have the second highest score this season (198.250) while Oklahoma has the third highest (197.200).
Eight Florida seniors will be honored – super seniors Alyssa Baumann and Megan Skaggs and fourth-year seniors Trinity Thomas, Nya Reed, Leah Clapper, Savannah Schoenherr, Halley Taylor and Sydney Johnson-Scharpf.
It could be a very high scoring night for Thomas, who has posted four perfect 10s this year and has 12 in her career. Thomas has the nation’s top all-around score of 39.900. As a team, the Gators rank 2nd nationally on vault, tied for 4th on uneven bars, 1st on the balance beam and 5th on floor.
It’s the biggest meet in the country, yet it’s only going to be on SEC Network+. Go figure on that one.
UF WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: 28 TURNOVERS DOOM GATORS AGAINST VANDERBILT
The turnovers were Florida’s undoing in Nashville Thursday night. The 15th-ranked Gators (20-8, 10-5 SEC) turned the ball over 28 times which Vanderbilt (13-16, 4-11 SEC) converted into 28 points, leading to a stunning 63-59 upset at Memorial Gym.
The Gators had more turnovers (10) than points (9) in the first quarter when they fell behind by eight. They trailed by as many as 10 in the second quarter before closing to a 31-27 deficit at the intermission. The Gators grabbed the lead in the third quarter but couldn’t sustain it and trailed 48-46 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Gators just couldn’t knock down shots against the Vandy zone, making just 5-21 overall and 3-10 from the 3-point line. The Gators missed five consecutive shots when they had a chance to cut into Vandy’s lead in the final minute of the game.
Kiki Smith led the Gators with 18 points while Zippy Broughton had 14 and Nina Rickards 12.
SEC Women’s basketball
Thursday’s games: Vanderbilt (13-16, 4-11 SEC) 63, NO. 15 FLORIDA (20-8, 10-5 SEC) 59; Ole Miss (22-6, 10-5 SEC) 72, Auburn (10-16, 2-13 SEC) 52; Kentucky (14-11, 7-8 SEC) 78, Missouri (17-11, 6-9 SEC) 63; No. 25 Georgia (19-8, 8-7 SEC) 63, Arkansas (16-12, 6-9 SEC) 62; No. 8 LSU (24-4, 12-3 SEC) 58, Alabama (14-12, 5-10 SEC) 50; No. 1 South Carolina (26-1, 14-1 SEC) 89, Texas A&M (14-13, 4-11 SEC) 48
Sunday’s games: Missouri (17-11, 6-9 SEC) at NO. 15 FLORIDA (20-8, 10-5 SEC); No. 1 South Carolina (26-1, 14-1 SEC) at Ole Miss (22-6, 10-5 SEC); No. 8 LSU (23-4, 11-3 SEC) at No. 16 Tennessee (22-6, 11-4 SEC); Texas A&M (14-13, 4-11 SEC) at No. 25 SEC (19-8, 8-7 SEC); Vanderbilt (13-16, 4-11 SEC) at Alabama (14-12, 5-10 SEC); Auburn (10-16, 2-13 SEC) at Kentucky (14-11, 7-8 SEC); Arkansas (16-12, 6-9 SEC) at Mississippi State (15-12, 6-9 SEC)
UF MEN’S BASKETBALL: GEORGIA IS A MUST WIN GAME
Any hope the Gators (17-11, 7-8 SEC) have to get in the NCAA Tournament could hinge on what happens in Athens Saturday (12 noon, ESPN2) against Georgia (6-22, 1-14 SEC). The Gators already own a 72-63 win over the Bulldogs in Gainesville, but Georgia has a win over No. 24 Alabama and a near win over then No. 1 Auburn in Athens.
Florida’s NCAA Net Rankings have dropped to No. 56 and beating Georgia will hardly move that needle, but a loss to the No. 211 Bulldogs would do irreparable damage. With wins over Georgia and Vanderbilt next week, the Gators would have 19 wins and would be assured of at least a break-even season in SEC play. If the Gators could get to 19 wins and then somehow ambush Kentucky in the final regular season game, they might have a shot at getting in the good graces of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee.
UF basketball notes: In his six games since returning from the shoulder injury, Colin Castleton is averaging 18.5 points and 8.6 rebounds … Tyree Appleby his has 51 of his last 57 free throws … As a team the Gators are hitting just 30.5 percent of their 3-pointers and they’re shooting only 42.2 percent from the field overall.
SEC men’s basketball
Saturday’s games: FLORIDA (17-11, 7-8 SEC) at Georgia (6-22, 6-9 SEC); Vanderbilt (14-13, 6-9 SEC) at Mississippi State (16-12, 7-8 SEC); No. 6 Kentucky (23-5, 12-3 SEC) at No. 18 Arkansas (22-6, 11-4 SEC); Texas A&M (17-11, 6-9 SEC) at Ole Miss (13-15, 4-11 SEC); No. 3 Auburn (25-3, 13-2 SEC) at No. 17 Tennessee (20-7, 11-4 SEC); South Carolina (17-10, 8-7 SEC) at No. 24 Alabama (18-10, 8-7 SEC); Missouri (10-18, 4-11 SEC) at LSU (19-9, 7-8 SEC)
UF BASEBALL: NO. 15 GATORS HOST GEORGIA STATE
Lefty Hunter Barco (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will get the ball tonight (6:30 p.m., SEC Network+) when the 15th-ranked Gators (3-2) host Georgia State (4-1) for a 3-game weekend series. Barco was the Southeastern Conference pitcher of the week and the Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week after his opening game performance when he went five perfect innings before settling for a 1-hit, 11-strikeout performance against Liberty.
After throttling Liberty in the first game last weekend, the Gators lost twice, but they rebounded with midweek wins over Stetson and North Florida.
Right fielder Sterlin Thompson is off to a hot start for the Gators with three homers and eight RBI while hitting .400. As a team, however, the Gators are hitting just .232 and they’ve struck out 41 times in 164 at bats, 25 percent of the time. The Florida pitching staff has a 3.00 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 45 innings.
UF SOFTBALL: NO. 3 GATORS AT UCF KNIGHTS CLASSIC
The 3rd-ranked Gators (12-0) will be in Orlando this weekend for four games in the UCF Knights Classic. The Gators open the tournament tonight (8:30 p.m.) against DePaul (5-3) of the Big East Conference. Saturday (6:30 p.m.), the Gators will face Oakland (0-0) of the Horizon League. They close out the tournament with two games on Sunday, a 1 p.m. game with 22nd-ranked James Madison (3-1) and 4 p.m. against host UCF (7-5).
The Gators, who swept midweek games against North Florida, are hitting .358 as a team, led by freshman Kendra Falby (.513) who leads the team in stolen bases (12-12). Freshman Reagan Walsh (.333) leads the team with 14 RBI, while Skylar Wallace (.353) and Charla Echols (.316) have driven in 12 each.
Florida has a team ERA of 0.55, which ranks fourth nationally. Lexie Delbrey (1.06) and Elizabeth Hightower (0.69) lead the Gators with 4-0 records while Natalie Lugo (0.00), fresh off a no-hitter against North Florida is 3-0.
SEC FOOTBALL/BASKETBALL
Alabama: Former Florida defensive coordinator Todd Grantham is expected to join the Alabama staff in a to be determined role.
Arkansas: The Hogs (22-6, 11-4 SEC) have already knocked off then No. 1 Auburn and then No. 16 Tennessee at home. Saturday, they play No. 6 Kentucky (23-5, 12-3 SEC) in Fayette Nam.
Auburn: With eight blocked shots Wednesday night against Ole Miss, 7-1 Walker Kessler has broken the all-time single season record at Auburn. With 131 blocks, Kessler is also the leading shot blocker in the country ... Auburn (25-3, 13-2 SEC) is on upset alert Saturday when the Tigers visit No. 17 Tennessee Saturday.
Georgia: The candidates to replace Matt Luke as the O-line coach are said to be Auburn’s Will Friend, Baylor’s Eric Mateos and former Ohio State and LSU O-line coach Greg Studrawa … Georgia (6-22, 1-14 SEC) reportedly is firing assistant basketball coach Wade Mason. Head coach Tom Crean can’t be far behind.
Kentucky: Former UK center Drake Jackson, who wasn’t drafted by the NFL in 2020, is being hired as an assistant O-line coach.
LSU: Last year’s defensive coordinator Daronte Jones will coach defensive backs for the Minnesota Vikings, while former offensive coordinator Jake Peetz will be joining the offensive staff of the Los Angeles Rams.
Missouri: Former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels reportedly is expected to sign with Mizzou … Hoops coach Cuonzo Martin is firmly on the hot seat. The Tigers are 10-18, 4-11 in the SEC.
Ole Miss: Purdue special teams coordinator/outside linebacker coach Marty Biagi is leaving to coach special teams at Ole Miss.
Tennessee: The No. 17 Vols (20-7, 11-4 SEC) already have home court wins over then No. 6 Arizona and then No. 4 Kentucky in Knoxville. Saturday the Vols play host to No. 3 Auburn (25-3, 13-2 SEC)
Vanderbilt: Former Vandy running back Zac Stacy, already facing two felony domestic violence charges, has four more misdemeanor charges from the same attack added to his court docket.
ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: In a couple of weeks Florida will begin spring football practice. From what I’ve heard about the “identity program,” by the time the Gators hit the field, Napier will probably have a pretty good idea who’s going to be a contributor and who might finish the spring seeking a fresh start on his football career.
The more I’ve delved into what the “identity program” is all about, the more positive feedback I’ve gotten. The offseason programs that I’ve been accustomed to writing about all these years have everything to do with pushing players to their limits and finding out who the best competitors are. The stories about trash cans filled to the brim with puke are legendary. So are the stories about ultra-competitive types like Tim Tebow, who would dive head first across the finish line to win a race or a competition during mat drills when Mickey Marotti was in charge of the offseason program.
I’m sure they’ve had their share of playing puking out their guts in Napier’s “identity program.” Strength and conditioning coordinator Matt Hocke impresses me as one who is determined to elevate the entire team’s toughness quotient well beyond where it has been in the past 10 years, but the more I’ve been hearing, Napier and all his assistant coaches have taken time to know each player on the roster. There is no sense that the coaches are unapproachable or aloof, which is a different approach from what we’ve heard about the past few years.
“Likeable but definitely not someone you want to BS,” I was told by a player I ran into a couple of days ago. “He’ll [Napier] see right through the BS. You better be honest with him and give him straight answers.”
Between the offseason workouts and spring football, we can always count on a certain amount of attrition. With the transfer portal and NCAA rules making it so easy to seek greener pastures, I’m of the opinion that UF will lose anywhere from eight to 15 players who will either hit the transfer portal or retire from college football.
I feel certain Napier is not going to make a habit of going the Mel Tucker route of wholesale plunging into the transfer portal on a regular basis. He knows the foundation of the program is going to be recruiting highly ranked high school kids, but he’s seen how quickly old buddy Tucker transformed Michigan State by bringing in experienced plug-and-play types. I could see Napier adding 10 more transfers if attrition allows the scholarship numbers to work out.
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