Loyalty and being an excellent teammate go a long way in my book!
And from his HS Sr season to now, he's worked his butt off on getting better at his job. He's a very solid young man from what I've seen...
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2024-25 Basketball,,, all things considered...
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Loyalty and being an excellent teammate go a long way in my book!
And from his HS Sr season to now, he's worked his butt off on getting better at his job. He's a very solid young man from what I've seen...
Here's some bored off-season fan drivel for ya, feel free to add your own....
In basketball offense there are 3 things that you can do when you get the ball.
1. Shoot it
2. Pass it.
3. Dribble drive to the basket with it.
You should do one of those 3 things within a couple of seconds of getting it.
=====
What you don't want done with it is:
1. Stand around holding on to it.
2. Dribble around with it to no purpose wasting game clock.
3. Get it stolen from you.
Those are the iG's simplistic 'In General' rules on offense, understanding that time, score, and some other factors can play a role in what you're doing in a live game.
I think that these Gators are better when they are playing FAST, but maybe that's just me?
In basketball offense there are 3 things that you can do when you get the ball.
1. Shoot it
2. Pass it.
3. Dribble drive to the basket with it.
You should do one of those 3 things within a couple of seconds of getting it.
=====
What you don't want done with it is:
1. Stand around holding on to it.
2. Dribble around with it to no purpose wasting game clock.
3. Get it stolen from you.
Those are the iG's simplistic 'In General' rules on offense, understanding that time, score, and some other factors can play a role in what you're doing in a live game.
I think that these Gators are better when they are playing FAST, but maybe that's just me?
How fans in general judge coaches runs through many different factors imo
Aritcles with Agenda's are infamous for doing this, both for and against.
Cherry-pickin' the stats, W/L records, and general coaching acceptance.....
Golden was the first HC since 2003 to get a,,, Top 10 win on the road.
BillyD with the 2x NC 04's never accomplished it and never did it again while at UF.
That's showing it's importance to me as a fan...
-----
The Gators' scoring offense in 2023-24 was the highest in program history with an astounding 85.7 Pts/Gm, good for sixth nationally.
Whoop-eeeeeeee!
UF 70 - 73 Va
UF 71 - 82 WF
UF 66 - 85 TN
UF 66 - 67 aTm
UF 76 - 82 SCa
UF 78 - 79 VU
UF 67 - 86 AU - in the SEC Tourney final.
That kinda puts a wet rag on that 85.7 Pts/Gm average for me....
Even when scoring that 85+ average....
UF 91 - 95 Baylor
UF 85 - 87 UK
UF 85 - 103 MS
UF 93 - 98 UA -- in OT
UF 100 - 102 Colo -- going 1 & Done inn the Big Dance
https://www.si.com/college/florida/todd-golden-florida-gators-headed-right-direction-01j06rpykdxj
=====
Recruiting, both HS and X-fers, often factor in this area, with the slants from articles.
2024 Recruits are still visiting to see if UF is the place they want to be at?
Current HS Class is SG Isaiah Brown (signed NLI) and PWO C Olivier Rioux.
(the iG didn't realize that Rioux was a PWO)
PG Jeremiah Johnson is ranked as the 141st-best player and the 13th-best PG.
PG Keyshuan Tillery is ranked as the 135th best player and the 25th best PG.
"With both of these prospects visiting, it seems Gators’ Head Coach Todd Golden is planning for the future after adding tons of veteran experience through the portal over the last two years."
https://www.si.com/college/florida/...hosting-nationally-ranked-guards-01j04znt23k5
Here's to hoping that us long time Gator fans get to see even better B-Ball in the coming season.
Aritcles with Agenda's are infamous for doing this, both for and against.
Cherry-pickin' the stats, W/L records, and general coaching acceptance.....
Golden was the first HC since 2003 to get a,,, Top 10 win on the road.
BillyD with the 2x NC 04's never accomplished it and never did it again while at UF.
That's showing it's importance to me as a fan...
-----
The Gators' scoring offense in 2023-24 was the highest in program history with an astounding 85.7 Pts/Gm, good for sixth nationally.
Whoop-eeeeeeee!
UF 70 - 73 Va
UF 71 - 82 WF
UF 66 - 85 TN
UF 66 - 67 aTm
UF 76 - 82 SCa
UF 78 - 79 VU
UF 67 - 86 AU - in the SEC Tourney final.
That kinda puts a wet rag on that 85.7 Pts/Gm average for me....
Even when scoring that 85+ average....
UF 91 - 95 Baylor
UF 85 - 87 UK
UF 85 - 103 MS
UF 93 - 98 UA -- in OT
UF 100 - 102 Colo -- going 1 & Done inn the Big Dance
https://www.si.com/college/florida/todd-golden-florida-gators-headed-right-direction-01j06rpykdxj
=====
Recruiting, both HS and X-fers, often factor in this area, with the slants from articles.
2024 Recruits are still visiting to see if UF is the place they want to be at?
Current HS Class is SG Isaiah Brown (signed NLI) and PWO C Olivier Rioux.
(the iG didn't realize that Rioux was a PWO)
PG Jeremiah Johnson is ranked as the 141st-best player and the 13th-best PG.
PG Keyshuan Tillery is ranked as the 135th best player and the 25th best PG.
"With both of these prospects visiting, it seems Gators’ Head Coach Todd Golden is planning for the future after adding tons of veteran experience through the portal over the last two years."
https://www.si.com/college/florida/...hosting-nationally-ranked-guards-01j04znt23k5
Here's to hoping that us long time Gator fans get to see even better B-Ball in the coming season.
Gators are so much better offensively under Golden. No doubt he's proven that. Now he needs to get more Ws. Ultimately getting championship competitive again soon is how he will be, and should be judged.
Donovan didn't play any top 10 teams in a true road game I think the 2 championship seasons and only played one in the 04/05 season I think. Those are tough wins to get though.
Where Former Gators Are Playing Professionally | GatorCountry.com
www.gatorcountry.com
Great to see Big Al win a chip. Good group of gators in that article.Where Former Gators Are Playing Professionally | GatorCountry.com
Great article. Love hearing the success some of those guys are having.Where Former Gators Are Playing Professionally | GatorCountry.com
7'6" is more like it
Oh........that's more believable and totally normal.
😂The article I read said he's grown another inch or two since signing.
Holy crap. I've got to think he's going to be clumsy and awkward AF. That's insane!
He's definitely a project for next season. If he is getting any significant minutes that means we are injury riddled.Oh........that's more believable and totally normal.
The article I read said he's grown another inch or two since signing.
Holy crap. I've got to think he's going to be clumsy and awkward AF. That's insane!
At least put him in for the first 60 seconds of every game.......for the opening tip. 😂
You're right, he did grow about an inch or two, and 100lbs heavier than Manute Bol was.Oh........that's more believable and totally normal.
The article I read said he's grown another inch or two since signing.
Holy crap. I've got to think he's going to be clumsy and awkward AF. That's insane!
😳
Olivier Rioux is listed at 7-foot-9 on Florida's website, which would make him the tallest college basketball player ever. Rioux measuring at 7-9 is the result of a bit of a growth spurt. When Ballislife.com filmed him in November 2023, he was listed at 7-foot-6, (and 300 Lbs).
iG - Gaining height and losing weight, losing baby fat and/or developing playing muscle...
A three-inch gain over seven months is massive, especially for a guy who was already in the Guinness Book of World Records just two years ago for being the world's tallest teenager. He was 16 then, and already 7-foot-5. He told the Guinness Book of World Records website that his height is likely the result of having two very tall (though not record-breaking) parents. My father is 6’8, my mom is 6’2 and my older brother is 6’9. So we’re a pretty tall family!" Rioux said, according to Guinness.
According to GatorsWire, Rioux is considered a "developmental project" so not much is expected of him as a freshman. Then again, no one expected a 7-foot-5 16-year-old to grow four inches in two years, so anything is possible.
In the vids that I've watched, he doesn't look clumsy to me, but he should work on strength and speed with body control in order to reach his peak in basketball ability going forward.
In football, you can't coach raw speed, it's there or it's not.
Well, in basketball you can't coach raw height, you've either got it or you don't.
Now consider than Olivier can reach up and dunk without his feet leaving the floor..... 😲
https://www.aol.com/sports/7-foot-9-olivier-rioux-192230727.html
iG - Gaining height and losing weight, losing baby fat and/or developing playing muscle...
A three-inch gain over seven months is massive, especially for a guy who was already in the Guinness Book of World Records just two years ago for being the world's tallest teenager. He was 16 then, and already 7-foot-5. He told the Guinness Book of World Records website that his height is likely the result of having two very tall (though not record-breaking) parents. My father is 6’8, my mom is 6’2 and my older brother is 6’9. So we’re a pretty tall family!" Rioux said, according to Guinness.
According to GatorsWire, Rioux is considered a "developmental project" so not much is expected of him as a freshman. Then again, no one expected a 7-foot-5 16-year-old to grow four inches in two years, so anything is possible.
In the vids that I've watched, he doesn't look clumsy to me, but he should work on strength and speed with body control in order to reach his peak in basketball ability going forward.
In football, you can't coach raw speed, it's there or it's not.
Well, in basketball you can't coach raw height, you've either got it or you don't.
Now consider than Olivier can reach up and dunk without his feet leaving the floor..... 😲
https://www.aol.com/sports/7-foot-9-olivier-rioux-192230727.html
Gators add 6-foot-11 Serbian center to 2024-25 roster
Florida head coach Todd Golden has added at least one international player to his first three rosters in Gainesville
247sports.com
Looks like another project type player with a huge upside.Gators add 6-foot-11 Serbian center to 2024-25 roster
Florida head coach Todd Golden has added at least one international player to his first three rosters in Gainesville
Many of us have been wanting better size and depth concerning the front court.
C Olivier Rioux 7-9 290 Fr - PWO
C Micah Handlogten 7-1 225 Jr -- (likely out for 2024-25 rehabbing injury)
C Viktor Mikic 6-11 235 Fr -- 5-Star Rivals Ranking
C Rueben Chinyelu 6-10 250 So
PF/C Alex Condon 6-11 230 So
PF/SF Thomas Haugh 6-9 210 So
PF Sam Alexis 6-8 240 Jr
I'll give Golden credit for doing so, but now they need to perform up to their size.
2 Jr's, 3 So's, 2 Fr, so looking good for the near future.
Micah-Alex-Thomas have already shown excellent quality.
So now the newbees need to step up and do likewise.
Just the iG's WAG, but the new coming season should be better than the last, but we'll see....
C Olivier Rioux 7-9 290 Fr - PWO
C Micah Handlogten 7-1 225 Jr -- (likely out for 2024-25 rehabbing injury)
C Viktor Mikic 6-11 235 Fr -- 5-Star Rivals Ranking
C Rueben Chinyelu 6-10 250 So
PF/C Alex Condon 6-11 230 So
PF/SF Thomas Haugh 6-9 210 So
PF Sam Alexis 6-8 240 Jr
I'll give Golden credit for doing so, but now they need to perform up to their size.
2 Jr's, 3 So's, 2 Fr, so looking good for the near future.
Micah-Alex-Thomas have already shown excellent quality.
So now the newbees need to step up and do likewise.
Just the iG's WAG, but the new coming season should be better than the last, but we'll see....
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C/PF Viktor Mikic 6-11 235 (***** Rivals Recruiting)
Mikic moved to the United States after a successful 2022-23 season in Serbia's Junior League, where he averaged 17.1 Pts, 10.3 Rbs, 0.9 Blks in 25.9 minutes per game across 19 appearances.
His Sr season at Chattanooga, TN Hamilton Heights HS in 2023-24:
In his only season of B-Ball in U.S.
He averaged - 14.3 Pts, 10.2 Rbs, and 1.3 Blks.
When a big man comes out of HS with a Double-Double average, he's not a developmental project to me, he's a potential starter and a sure thing part of the rotation... Or he's getting some early playing time at the very least....
I'd put this international C/PF Fr with PF/C Soph Condon to get him up to speed...
PF/C Alex Condon 6-11 230
C/PF Viktor Mikic 6-11 235
Talk about an energetic 1-2 Punch in the mouth....
Rooming him with the rehabbing Handlogten might also be a big plus on and off the court....
The PG - SG - Wing positions look deep & flexible to me.
Who they play in any game, and their minutes played, will vary by the opponent and who's hot.
Plenty of experience and talent to fill those 3 positions imo.
PG/SG/SF Denzel Aberdeen 6-5 190 Jr - FL All State 1st Team & 7A Champ
>> UF 44 Gms as backup - 125 Pts, 33 Rbs, 25 Asts, 13 Stls.
PG Kajus Kublickas 6-2 171 So - Lithuania
UF 9 Gms as backup - 7 Pts, 3 Rbs, 4 Asts, 1 Stl.
SG/PG Alijah Martin 6-2 210 Grad-Sr - FAU xfer 124 Gms, 86 Starts:
2023 16.5 PPG & made the Dance.
4 Yrs: 124 Gms, 86 Starts:
1,476 Pts, 242 3's, 616 Rbs, 173 Asts, 161 Stls, 75.9% FT
SG/PG Walter Clayton Jr 6-3 195 Sr - Iona xfer - 16.8 PPG - MAAC PoY
Soph Iona: 538 Pts, 136 Rbs, with 73 made 3's, 59 Stls, 95.3% FT's
At UF, 2x 2nd Team All SEC - 2024 All SEC Tourney Team
2023 17.6 PPG & made the Dance.
3 Yrs: 100 Gms, 71 Starts,
1,404 pts, 200 3's, 340 RBs, 250 Asts, 120 Stls, 88.1% FT
SG/SF Will Richard 6-4 206 Sr - Belmont xfer after Fr All OVC season.
Belmont - Averaged 12.1 Pts, 6.0 Rbs in 33 Gms, 30 starts, 46.8% FG, 80.4 FT - NIT
UF 2 Yrs 68 Gms, 65 Starts: 744 Pts, 11.3 PPG, 287 Rbs, 121 3's, 81.8% FT
SG/SF Isaiah Brown 6-4 195 Fr **** - 25-4 State Champ runner-up.
Averaged 18.6 PPG. Also finished in 2nd place in Slam Dunk Nationals.
Represented Puerto Rico at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup:
8.7 Pts, 4.5 Rbs and 1.2 Asts in 5 Gms.
PG Bennett Andersen 6-2 190 Grad-Sr PWO to Ship
3 Yr Team Manager, 2023 WO, 2024 Ship, 4 Gms, 2 Pts
3X UF intramural champion. -- HS Hillsborough Co All Star + T&F.
PG Cooper Josefsberg 6-4 195 So
WO - HS 3A Champ - UF Scout Team + 2 Gms
Minimum Sweet-16 or BUST imoho.....
Who they play in any game, and their minutes played, will vary by the opponent and who's hot.
Plenty of experience and talent to fill those 3 positions imo.
PG/SG/SF Denzel Aberdeen 6-5 190 Jr - FL All State 1st Team & 7A Champ
>> UF 44 Gms as backup - 125 Pts, 33 Rbs, 25 Asts, 13 Stls.
PG Kajus Kublickas 6-2 171 So - Lithuania
UF 9 Gms as backup - 7 Pts, 3 Rbs, 4 Asts, 1 Stl.
SG/PG Alijah Martin 6-2 210 Grad-Sr - FAU xfer 124 Gms, 86 Starts:
2023 16.5 PPG & made the Dance.
4 Yrs: 124 Gms, 86 Starts:
1,476 Pts, 242 3's, 616 Rbs, 173 Asts, 161 Stls, 75.9% FT
SG/PG Walter Clayton Jr 6-3 195 Sr - Iona xfer - 16.8 PPG - MAAC PoY
Soph Iona: 538 Pts, 136 Rbs, with 73 made 3's, 59 Stls, 95.3% FT's
At UF, 2x 2nd Team All SEC - 2024 All SEC Tourney Team
2023 17.6 PPG & made the Dance.
3 Yrs: 100 Gms, 71 Starts,
1,404 pts, 200 3's, 340 RBs, 250 Asts, 120 Stls, 88.1% FT
SG/SF Will Richard 6-4 206 Sr - Belmont xfer after Fr All OVC season.
Belmont - Averaged 12.1 Pts, 6.0 Rbs in 33 Gms, 30 starts, 46.8% FG, 80.4 FT - NIT
UF 2 Yrs 68 Gms, 65 Starts: 744 Pts, 11.3 PPG, 287 Rbs, 121 3's, 81.8% FT
SG/SF Isaiah Brown 6-4 195 Fr **** - 25-4 State Champ runner-up.
Averaged 18.6 PPG. Also finished in 2nd place in Slam Dunk Nationals.
Represented Puerto Rico at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup:
8.7 Pts, 4.5 Rbs and 1.2 Asts in 5 Gms.
PG Bennett Andersen 6-2 190 Grad-Sr PWO to Ship
3 Yr Team Manager, 2023 WO, 2024 Ship, 4 Gms, 2 Pts
3X UF intramural champion. -- HS Hillsborough Co All Star + T&F.
PG Cooper Josefsberg 6-4 195 So
WO - HS 3A Champ - UF Scout Team + 2 Gms
Minimum Sweet-16 or BUST imoho.....
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