Final Four Haiku
Gators passed the test
Adversity breeds team strength
One net cut remains
Praises:
* Start with Stricklin - Hiring Golden will be his legacy as Donovan's was Foley's. Easy to forget that Golden was from west coast and lost first round to Murray St and Coact Matt McMahon (who went to LSU) and was the hot coach. Also finding someone who embraced the analytics was key.
* Major kudos of course to Todd Golden - he came in with a vision and a plan. He is Florida's Moses - after leading the Gators out of the mediocrity and malaise experienced since the 2014 Final Four. Each year he has been able to learn and add pieces to this final four roster. The completed puzzle piece has led to the team's greatest strength - its depth, toughness and unselfishness. His greatest growth as a coach has been through this tourney run... will explain shortly
* Walter Clayton Jr - It takes a special talent to be willing and seeking the ball when the game is on the line and humble enough to perform within a team concept and avoid playing hero ball. WC has demonstrated when the team needs him most - he's willing to step up, yet cerebral enough to get his teammates involved all the while controlling pace of play.
*Thomas Haugh - Player with the most growth this season. As stated after Maryland game - I predict Thomas will be SEC POY next season and an All-American. When the TT game was most bleak - and the team can fracture - TH's resolve and belief in the team winning - was it's most pronounced. WC might have been the dagger - it was TH's who completely changed the momentum and the "I believe the Gators can win"
*Alex Condon - It's clear Alex is not at 100% and while he might be fighting himself in a battle of confidence - Alex is nothing short of a winner who makes winning plays... from the floor during Maryland game - to completely leaving himself at the end of the TT game - Alex makes a stamp on every game. So glad Auburn is the FF opponent - as one of Alex's best games (and coming out party) was against the Tigers.
*Micah Handlogten - Micah made the ultimate team sacrifice by playing less than 1/2 the season to allow this special team achieve the 2nd net cutting and be in position for final one. His contribution was greatest in stablizing the frontcourt against TT. He elevated the overall quality of the front court depth and allows his teammates to play more assertively - knowing he's available for offensive rebounds and blocking shots on drives to the paint.
*Will Richard - senior leadership, Todd's first recruit and so apropo for Will to seal the game from the foul line. He was first to buy in and such a unsung key cog when reflecting back on keys to a Gators Victory. Can impact the game in so many ways without scoring.
*Denzel Aberdeen - his abiity to add a different dimension to the big 3 and not have any drop off is another big reason in the team's success. Todd can allow his starters to get rest both in the 1st half and the beginning part of the 2nd half - which allows the depth to florish in crunch time. He can score like he did vs. Maryland as well and elevates his game when extended minutes are required of him.
*Alijah Martin & Rueben Chinyelu - both brought a level of defensive toughness that was sorely absent from last year's squad. Alijah's FAU FF experience has been exhibited in knowing when to step up (1st half vs. UConn, leading the D when it's time to hunker down in crunch time). The Gators feed off Alijah's thunderous dunks. For Rueben - he's a tone setter earlier and is that boxer who is throwing body blow after body blow. He's not going to be out muscled and outworked. if someone is going to set up in the paint - I want Rueben defending.
*Florida Victorious,
@SRGators,
@kcflagator and everyone else who has contributed and made a difference towards the success of this team. It's been loads of fun following this journey - Even if it ends short of a championship (which for a period - might have been as early as this past Sunday) - this year has been a smashing success and positions our program well for the long term. A big THANK YOU!!!! and humbly much appreciation all you have done.
Postulates:
Can't sing the praises of Golden's coaching growth enough - as
@kcflagator would say - "He just gets it"... It's the in game strategy and analytics that are implemented that are fantastic. Love using TO's while trailing in 2nd half - where game is see sawing within a certain boundary range - example UConn - where it's called after Gators scored - trying to "bank" the closer score, reset the mental mindset of both the Gators and the opponent - that objects are closer than they appear.
Another TO usage - is using them when trailing outside 1 min and earlier if needed - based on score and tempo. The clock stops after made baskets inside 1 minute and with all the offiical monitor reviews - "saving TO's" for the absolute end is no longer manditory. His use of TO's in the TT game was fantastic (props also to TT coach - who also strategically used all his before the 2 min mark). Golden allowed to substitute Offense for Defense, fully implement and take advantage of the 1:1 situation and extend the game. Additionally those hidden lost seconds between the made basket and the inbounds touching by the opponent are averted by this strategy.
Speaking of the last 5 minutes of TT game. Golden had a choice - let TT burn 25-30 seconds each possession while destroying us in the low block. Being down 9 with no defensive solution to above - got to extend the game. Their frontcourt - especially Oli - is a 70% shooter who analytics showed is more like 60% when 1:1 shooting... Even if he makes both - the Gators can play the 3-2 game and slowly narrow the gap. By missing 1:1 both times - each pair of possessions resulted in 3-0 outcomes and then a 3-2 outcome (which Walt hit to give the Gators a 1 pt lead). Foul till you make it a one possession game - with time in hand - was the secret strategy and ability to execute on FT defense and 3 pt offense (TH/WC) allowed it happen quicker than expected.
One thing that doesn't get enough attention regarding TT's successful ability to dominate down low. With AC's injured ankle - he's unable to set a solid base underneath him - so with TT backing down on him - his ability to resist and defend this action was severely compromised. The training staff have a week to do their best Mr. Miyagi impression - cause it wouldn't surprise me to see Auburn probe this potential weakness.
Florida has had the challenge of being the hunted instead of the preferred position of hunter. The FF will provide the Gators the ability to free their mind of the prohibitive favorites (thank you Duke) and the fact that they only need to bring their road jersey with them - should serve as motivation and reminder that the committee thinks they are not as good as the other 3 and the weakest 1 seed. Wearing the Orange & Blue will provide an opportunity again to feel like underdogs - in an us vs. the world environment.
The Auburn game is not going to be a game of surprises. Both sides know the other so well - from coaching to scouting of players. It will come down to execution and who wins at the 3 point line.
Individual front court matchups - which will be interesting:
Reuben vs. Caldwell - who is going to feast down low? who can get the other into foul trouble and closer to the team's bonus for those hidden points.
Condon vs. Broome - who is going to heal quicker... who will be able to take advantage of the other's injury and be most effective in their team's quest for winning.
What impact will Alijah make? Can he leave an imprint on the game like Urban did in the jungle.
Ever since the UConn game - I thought Todd should shorten his bench to allow Denzel more PT at the expense of Urban... does Todd trust Urban to play 3-4 minutes around the 8 min mark of the 1st half - to steal a couple of 3's on offense and not foul while defending the 3 point line and being strong with the ball while on offense?
How will the game be officiated... after the first foul - how tight will it be called in the paint and on the outside. Advantage/Disadvantage is always the first tenet of officiating - so I'm expecting no blood, no foul in the paint - those rebounds are going to be fun to see who wins those. On the perimeter - freedom of movement and avoidance of displacement will be monitored.
Hidden points and the game's outcome might come from the line - Gators need to shoot over 75% to win (needed over 90 to beat TT). Both sides have FT shooters (Clayton/Kelly) that they'll want on the line at crunch time... So the question is which front court shoots FT's better? Both sides have shooters who you have to watch through the sliver of the opening of your fingers while pressed over your eyes.
This will be a game where I expect a running theme of the score bug showing the # of lead changes and ties throughout the 2nd half. It will be as entertaining as riding a roller coaster. In the end - I believe front court FT shooting will be the difference and the Gators eek one out 87-81. I expect balanced scoring with 5 players in double figures and Will Richard leading the team in scoring with 16 points and Condon regaining his confidence with a double double (14/11).
As a Jewish person and looking for positive stories, it's pretty cool to see 75% of the Final Four teams led by a member of the tribe.
Go Gators !!!!
Prediction Haiku:
In Heart of Texas
Teams duke for supremecy
Gators win shootout
