I know I sound like a broken record, but i continue to be blown away by this basketball team. We are in rare air and I want to enjoy every single breath.
The Gators have won 10 of their last 11 games - in the most loaded conference in the history of college basketball. The SEC is in beast mode right now. The 4 teams left in the SEC Tourney are all sitting in the top 8 of the polls and are all realistically Final Four teams. The games today and tomorrow are like watching the final week of the NCAA tourney. And we are right in the middle of it.
I believe that no matter what happens today, the Gators are a #1 Seed. Bama is 6-4 over their last 10 games with a big loss at home to the Gators. Auburn is 7-3 over their last 10 games and, like Bama, lost to us at home. The Gators have defeated every single team in the SEC this year with the exception of Kentucky. Yeah, I get that our strength of schedule outside the conference was not as good as others but when should you apologize for playing UNC, Wake, FSU, Virginia, Arizona St and Wichita State? We went 15-4 against SEC opponents. That should be good enough.
Golden was ramped up last night. He called it "full tilt". He ran the gamut of emotions. At some point last night, he was ticked off at just about everyone - including himself. Heck, I think he was even mad at the trainers when Walt was cramping up. But, unlike Chris Jans at Miss St (and others) who berate their players for all the world to see, Todd simply pulled people, adjusted and moved on. Someone else posted here and they are 100% right: Todd is maturing as a coach before our eyes and it is really fun to watch. He is becoming elite.
We may never see a team like this again at UF in a long time. Imagine having all of those guards in your arsenal. Analytics say there is no way they will all have a bad game. Will Richards was sizzling in the first half. He does not get enough credit for shutting down Mizzu's Caleb Grill who singlehandedly beat us in Gainesville. Todd was not letting that happen again, and Will is our best defender. He did not score much in the 2nd half because he left it all on the defensive side of the ball and held Grill to 11 points on 3-11 shooting in 31 minutes of play. Kudos to Will Richard!
And then 4 legit bigs who play with big motors. 20 fouls to give (25 when Alexis is back) is a huge luxury. If you have not seen a Gator game in person this year, you are missing something. Condo runs the floor like an Australian Peregrine Falcon - full throttle every single time. Tommy is the same. Just so much fun to watch.
At this point of the season, these games can be fragile as the one and done concept takes center stage. I am enjoying every second of the hype and Gator-praise being thrown at our Gators. Loving these huge wins and watching this team compete is an absolute blast. Cancel your plans this afternoon and watch these boys.
You never know when you will get to see something like this again...
KC
The Gators have won 10 of their last 11 games - in the most loaded conference in the history of college basketball. The SEC is in beast mode right now. The 4 teams left in the SEC Tourney are all sitting in the top 8 of the polls and are all realistically Final Four teams. The games today and tomorrow are like watching the final week of the NCAA tourney. And we are right in the middle of it.
I believe that no matter what happens today, the Gators are a #1 Seed. Bama is 6-4 over their last 10 games with a big loss at home to the Gators. Auburn is 7-3 over their last 10 games and, like Bama, lost to us at home. The Gators have defeated every single team in the SEC this year with the exception of Kentucky. Yeah, I get that our strength of schedule outside the conference was not as good as others but when should you apologize for playing UNC, Wake, FSU, Virginia, Arizona St and Wichita State? We went 15-4 against SEC opponents. That should be good enough.
Golden was ramped up last night. He called it "full tilt". He ran the gamut of emotions. At some point last night, he was ticked off at just about everyone - including himself. Heck, I think he was even mad at the trainers when Walt was cramping up. But, unlike Chris Jans at Miss St (and others) who berate their players for all the world to see, Todd simply pulled people, adjusted and moved on. Someone else posted here and they are 100% right: Todd is maturing as a coach before our eyes and it is really fun to watch. He is becoming elite.
We may never see a team like this again at UF in a long time. Imagine having all of those guards in your arsenal. Analytics say there is no way they will all have a bad game. Will Richards was sizzling in the first half. He does not get enough credit for shutting down Mizzu's Caleb Grill who singlehandedly beat us in Gainesville. Todd was not letting that happen again, and Will is our best defender. He did not score much in the 2nd half because he left it all on the defensive side of the ball and held Grill to 11 points on 3-11 shooting in 31 minutes of play. Kudos to Will Richard!
And then 4 legit bigs who play with big motors. 20 fouls to give (25 when Alexis is back) is a huge luxury. If you have not seen a Gator game in person this year, you are missing something. Condo runs the floor like an Australian Peregrine Falcon - full throttle every single time. Tommy is the same. Just so much fun to watch.
At this point of the season, these games can be fragile as the one and done concept takes center stage. I am enjoying every second of the hype and Gator-praise being thrown at our Gators. Loving these huge wins and watching this team compete is an absolute blast. Cancel your plans this afternoon and watch these boys.
You never know when you will get to see something like this again...
KC
