SEC Basketball

[ocalaman]

How bad is SEC basketball? Other than Kentucky, whose reputation combined with Calipari's willingness to take a bunch of 1 & done's every year will keep them in the national mix, the SEC is a horrible conference. The ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, Pac 12 and maybe even the Atlantic 10 and the Missouri Valley, are better in basketball than the SEC. Billy Donovan leaving hurt, but they keep saying the SEC has upgraded quite a few coaching position over the last few years. But for whatever reason, we're not recruiting enough top level players. This year especially, the conference was competitive, but at a very mediocre level. When a power 5 conference only gets 3-5 teams in the NCAA tournament (this year only 3) while others are getting 7,8,9 - that tells you we're not very good. And it's been that way for quite a while, even during the years when Florida & Kentucky were making deep runs. In virtually every other sport, the SEC is at or near the top nationally. But no longer in basketball.

 

[bradleygator]

How bad is SEC basketball? Other than Kentucky, whose reputation combined with Calipari's willingness to take a bunch of 1 & done's every year will keep them in the national mix, the SEC is a horrible conference. The ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, Pac 12 and maybe even the Atlantic 10 and the Missouri Valley, are better in basketball than the SEC. Billy Donovan leaving hurt, but they keep saying the SEC has upgraded quite a few coaching position over the last few years. But for whatever reason, we're not recruiting enough top level players. This year especially, the conference was competitive, but at a very mediocre level. When a power 5 conference only gets 3-5 teams in the NCAA tournament (this year only 3) while others are getting 7,8,9 - that tells you we're not very good. And it's been that way for quite a while, even during the years when Florida & Kentucky were making deep runs. In virtually every other sport, the SEC is at or near the top nationally. But no longer in basketball.

Yeah, the league seems pretty bad. It's a little weird, because there are some good coaches, at least guys who know how to recruit and make the tournament, and it seems like there's quite a few good players and definitely a lot of great athletes.

LSU is case in point as far as recruiting. They brought in the 2 best players in Florida and they just flat out sucked.

 

[MJWilliamson]

When your standard bearer is TAM this year, that is sad.

 

[TNole902]

UF and UK usually carry the SEC flag pretty well, but with Billy gone, UF is basically the SEC version of FSU basketball.

 

[MJWilliamson]

UF and UK usually carry the SEC flag pretty well, but with Billy gone, UF is basically the SEC version of FSU basketball.

That remains to be seen.

 

[bradleygator]

UF and UK usually carry the SEC flag pretty well, but with Billy gone, UF is basically the SEC version of FSU basketball.

This is a bad comparison. FSU is a football school in the best basketball conference in the country. Next to UK, UF has the most accomplished basketball program in the SEC, a football conference by several orders of magnitude over basketball. FSU has never shown it can compete consistently in the ACC. You'd probably get good odds if you wanted to bet FSU to win the regular season title in the next hundred years.

 

[mcanes]

UF is basically the SEC version of FSU basketball.

Not a good comparison.

GO Canes!

 

[alaskanseminole]

ACC ACC ACC

 

[MJWilliamson]

ACC ACC ACC

Hard to argue with that.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Hard to argue with that.

At least for this season. My final four bracket is still alive with Miami, UNC and UVA in it.

 

[MJWilliamson]

At least for this season. My final four bracket is still alive with Miami, UNC and UVA in it.

lulz

 

[Countygator]

I read the SEC commish has hired somebody to focus on improving basketball in the conference

 

[MJWilliamson]

I read the SEC commish has hired somebody to focus on improving basketball in the conference

The first order of business is to convince ALL the SEC programs to give a shit about basketball.

Right now only 3 or 4 really care.

 

[alaskanseminole]

The first order of business is to convince ALL the SEC programs to give a shit about basketball.

Right now only 3 or 4 really care.

Ha! Sounds like the ACC regarding football.

 

[bradleygator]

Depends on what you mean by "care." If you mean fan support, there's probably only three schools that really care: UK, Tennessee and Arkansas. Those are the only ones who draw fans. I don't know what everybody spends on facilities, but I think there are some pretty solid coaches. In terms of winning consistently and bringing in talent, Calipari is in a league alone. This year's talent was severely downgraded, and he still had three or four guys that UF would kill to get. People bag on Rick Barnes, but post Billy D, I'd take his Texas players and results no problem. Pearl's a good coach and recruiter, albeit a scumbag. Stallings is a good coach. Howland is a good coach. Frank Martin has shown he can recruit, and his teams play tough. Billy Kennedy looks like he knows what he's doing.

Right now, Mike White probably slides in behind those guys in league. I think if he returns Billy Kennedy type results in a couple years, I'd be pretty happy.

 

[MJWilliamson]

SEC fans and boosters do not demand excellence from the basketball programs like they do for football. They might want it, but they do not demand it. For example, Ole Miss would never fire their basketball coach they way they fired David Cutcliff.

 

[instaGATOR]

This is not the usual fodder, he's said it very well this time around imo.

* True Freshman Hayes has finally come out, as I expected him to much earlier in the season.
* Junior SF Leon is showing what I though he would be when he arrived here from JuCo.
** Junior PG Hill is finally coming through, like most Gator fans expected him to earlier in the season.
*** rsSr DFS is certainly going to be missed, (16 pts, 12 rbs) and I expect that he get's a shot at the NBA.
***** Mike White is one win away from becoming the Winning-est 1st year coach in UF History.

(his team beat Matta's tOSU schmuckeyes on their own home court!!!)

http://floridagators.com/news/2016/...keaway-uf-ohio-state.aspx?path=basketball-men

PS

"As long as we're in it, might as well try to win it," Soph PG Chris Chiozza said.
(I couldn't agree more with that attitude...)

"We want to prove to people we're still a good team that will compete." Soph SF Devin Robinson
(ditto!)

Next up - @ George Washington.
Then hopefully the 'Away-Game Warriors' will go on to the Garden Party.

PSS

Dancing: UK 79 - 58 OK (-21)

@ UK 80 - 61 UF (-19)
UK 88 - 79 @ UF (-9)

* NIT - UF 74 - 66 @ tOSU (-8)

But the over-rated Big12 gets 7-9 Dance bids every year....

(jus-sayin')

 

[instaGATOR]

SEC fans and boosters do not demand excellence from the basketball programs like they do for football. They might want it, but they do not demand it. For example, Ole Miss would never fire their basketball coach they way they fired David Cutcliff.

Ark hired BillyD's top assistant coach, John Pelphrey, and then fired him after 4 years.
BillyD hired him back as an assistant.

Then Bama hired BillyD's next top rated assistant Anthony Grant, and then they fired him after 6 years in Tusky.
BillyD hired him back as an assistant.

Tennis-sea is still going through B-Ball coaches, looking for a winner.
Auburn took a chance and hired 'cheater' Pearl....

The SEC has previously had 3 of the Final Four teams in the Dance (UF-UK-Ark), and just recently they've had 2 in the Final Four, (UF & UK in 2014)

So while I agree that the SEC is not generally known as a B-Ball Conference, they do seem to me to be trying to move more in that direction, while maintaining their Top Football Conference reputation.

 

[MJWilliamson]

As I mentioned, SEC fans might want to do well in basketball. But they do not demand it.

 

[instaGATOR]

Fine, as always, opinions vary from fan to fan no matter the school or the subject.

 

[ocalaman]

There are, obviously, more people with passion about Gator football than basketball. However, when Billy D was taking his teams to Elite 8's and winning National Titles, the O'Dome was packed, TV announcers were referencing the Rowdy Reptiles and talking about UF as one of the toughest venues for visiting teams. So when a winning product is being put on the floor, enough people get fired up to make Florida basketball very special. There is absolutely no reason why UF should not be a consistent contender for championships in basketball, just like we should be in football, and are now in baseball, softball, track & field, swimming, tennis, lacrosse and gymnastics. As a lifelong Gator, I expect ALL of our sports programs to be able to compete at the highest levels and if we're not, adjustments need to be made in that program until we are.

 

[bradleygator]

I agree we can be pretty good in hoops, I don't know about a consistent title contender. I think our fans are pretty weak for hoops. Our attendance was pathetic at times late in Billy's run. I remember we drew like 6,000 for Marquette and for Wisconsin coming off back to back Elite 8s.

 

[MJWilliamson]

I agree we can be pretty good in hoops, I don't know about a consistent title contender. I think our fans are pretty weak for hoops. Our attendance was pathetic at times late in Billy's run. I remember we drew like 6,000 for Marquette and for Wisconsin coming off back to back Elite 8s.

Were you at those games?

 

[MJWilliamson]

Kasey is his usual self. Making some good shots @ 6 points. Good assists @ 5. But three turnovers. Could have been more.

Not a bad half. Florida down by 3.

 

[MJWilliamson]

As I mentioned, SEC fans might want to do well in basketball. But they do not demand it.

1. 
   Thomas Goldkamp ‏@ThomasGoldkamp 7h7 hours ago
   Thomas Goldkamp Retweeted College Spun
   
   So LSU really wanted to fire Les Miles and is going to keep Johnny Jones? Makes sense.
   
   Thomas Goldkamp added,
   
   
   College Spun @CollegeSpun
   Report: Johnny Jones Will Coach LSU Basketball In 2016-17 http://collegespun.com/sec/lsu/report-johnny-jones-will-coach-lsu-basketball-in-2016-17

 

[MJWilliamson]

Getting out hustled and out rebounded.

I hope I am wrong, but I think this might be it.

We are only down 5 at the 14:40 mark, but I have yet to see a White coached team come back and win this kind of game.

 

[MJWilliamson]

sighhh...

 

[bradleygator]

Were you at those games?

No I saw the horrible crowds on tv and checked the attendance.

 

[bradleygator]

Hill 5-18. 1-4 from three. It's ridiculous that he shoots 4 threes in a game close all the way. One thing I have noticed this year is that he really needs to be kept in check. When he starts to make plays, he gets too confident and he gets reckless. I think coming off the bench got his head right, but he was definitely feeling it too much tonight. He shot one really bad three when we had just tied it with a couple minutes left and had momentum. I think they led the rest of the way.

He's easily our most physically talented player. It's a fine line between making things happen for an offense that lacks playmakers and trying to do too much. That will be one of White's most important jobs for next year. Still a pretty good end of year showing for this team, playing entirely on the road and without Egbunu.

 

[PacoGator19]

PG play PG play PG play. As good as Hill has played lately he has to understand to play within himself. For every good play he makes he makes a boneheaded decision. Score tied 70-70 and we have a chance to take the lead and he pulls up and take a bad 3 pt shot early on in the shot clock. Earlier he makes a great steal and decides to throw up an off balance and contested runner instead of just bringing it out and resetting the offense.

HI'll played maybe the best bball he's ever played while at UF the last 4-5 games but he still has lots and lots to work on.

 

[Countygator]

White kept us in the zone too long. GWU made 4 consecutive baskets and then we came out of zone and had 3 consecutive stops. Also, how in a tight game down the stretch are we not drawing up plays for KA? He is our best shooter and scorer. Strange.

 

[bradleygator]

White kept us in the zone too long. GWU made 4 consecutive baskets and then we came out of zone and had 3 consecutive stops. Also, how in a tight game down the stretch are we not drawing up plays for KA? He is our best shooter and scorer. Strange.

Yeah that zone was getting shredded. They were getting whatever they wanted. I would have liked to see more KA as well at the end. Best game he's played in a while, and the shots we ended up with were not good.

 

[sadgator]

We had no answer for #21. He was singlehanded kicking our nuts. Nobody on the floor could handle him.

And when missed off the TO late, that was it.

 

[MJWilliamson]

No I saw the horrible crowds on tv and checked the attendance.

Alrighty then. You feel the irony?

Plus, it is alwasy fun to put a few facts with perception.

To wit:



2013/2014 The O'Dome was the most packed arena throughout the SEC season, averaging 107.1 percent of capacity in nine league games at home.

plus

Gators make gains in attendance 2012/2013

and in Donovan's final, dismal year, attendence did drop, but we were still ranked 38 nationally.

So, I do not think it is a bad as you try and make it out to be.

 

[MJWilliamson]

Hill 5-18. 1-4 from three. It's ridiculous that he shoots 4 threes in a game close all the way. One thing I have noticed this year is that he really needs to be kept in check. When he starts to make plays, he gets too confident and he gets reckless. I think coming off the bench got his head right, but he was definitely feeling it too much tonight. He shot one really bad three when we had just tied it with a couple minutes left and had momentum. I think they led the rest of the way.

He's easily our most physically talented player. It's a fine line between making things happen for an offense that lacks playmakers and trying to do too much. That will be one of White's most important jobs for next year. Still a pretty good end of year showing for this team, playing entirely on the road and without Egbunu.

I agree with all of that.

 

[instaGATOR]

I agree we can be pretty good in hoops, I don't know about a consistent title contender. I think our fans are pretty weak for hoops. Our attendance was pathetic at times late in Billy's run. I remember we drew like 6,000 for Marquette and for Wisconsin coming off back to back Elite 8s.

JFYI, there were only a little over 6,000 for the UF - tOSU game in their house...

 

[instaGATOR]

Freshman SG KeVaughn Allen - 22 Pt's, 4 Rb's, 2 Stl's, 1 Ast,
Freshman C Kavarrius Hayes - 14 Pt's, 6 Rb's, 2 Blk's.
Sophomore PG Chris Chiozza - 7 Pt's, 5 Ast's, 0 T/O's.
Junior PG Kasey Hill - 12 Pt's, 7 Ast's, 2 Stl's.
Junior SF Justin Leon - 11 Pt's, 7 Rb's, 1 Stl, he was 2 of 2 from the arc.
rsSr DFS had an off night for him: only 9 Pt's and 8 Rb's.

I believe that not having our starting center and being in their house made that 5 Pt difference,,, ah well....

Coach White and his staff can certainly build on that last game for next season.
~ So long and good luck to DF-S in his B-Ball future, we'll miss him for sure.

 

[bradleygator]

Alrighty then. You feel the irony?

Plus, it is alwasy fun to put a few facts with perception.

To wit:



2013/2014 The O'Dome was the most packed arena throughout the SEC season, averaging 107.1 percent of capacity in nine league games at home.

plus

Gators make gains in attendance 2012/2013

and in Donovan's final, dismal year, attendence did drop, but we were still ranked 38 nationally.

So, I do not think it is a bad as you try and make it out to be.

I live in New Jersey, so Gator home games are a pretty tough sell to the wife. I rarely missed a home game when I was a student ('00-'02) and in fact became determined to attend UF after seeing "Terror between the rims" beat 'Bama in the O'Dome on leave from the Coast Guard in 1999.

As far as the 2013 season, I think 6 sellouts out of 15 home games is pretty horrible, given a 12,000 seat stadium and the fact that we were in the midst of three straight elite 8s and were into year 17 of the tenure of the best coach we'll ever see at UF. That article says we were fifth in SEC attendance behind UK, Tennessee, Ark., Bama and Mizzou. Only UK had anywhere near the results UF had during that span. We did draw well in 2014, as we should have, as that team was one of the special Gator teams all time in any sport.

 

[bradleygator]

Alrighty then. You feel the irony?

Plus, it is alwasy fun to put a few facts with perception.

To wit:



2013/2014 The O'Dome was the most packed arena throughout the SEC season, averaging 107.1 percent of capacity in nine league games at home.

plus

Gators make gains in attendance 2012/2013

and in Donovan's final, dismal year, attendence did drop, but we were still ranked 38 nationally.

So, I do not think it is a bad as you try and make it out to be.

I checked the NCAA attendance rankings for 2011 - 2015, and generally we were ranked in the 30s, which I admit is not terrible. Maybe a little bit below what I would expect (and below our rankings for the most part) but not terrible. Generally, we were in line with programs like Villanova, Texas and Purdue, which seems about right, although now I'm disappointed in their fans as well.

 

[HardeeWildcatFan]

I do know know what I seen last night was selfish and no discipline basketball. Very selfish players on UF.