Wisconsin probably has too much for us...

[sadgator]

sadgator spent a little time scouting.

It is easy to forget how much recent success Wisconsin has had, including that 2015 title game appearance, that sadgator literally had no recollection of.

They were totally under-seeded. No matter, because we would have had to play them anyway, but they are an awfully good team, especially in tournament-style play.

It is hard to imagine us matching them offensively with that experience and the way Allen and Barry disappeared in Orlando.

it may be close, but Wisconsin will probably have more dependable scoring in the clutch when it counts.

 

[bradleygator]

I see what Sad is doing, and I support him in it. So far so good.

 

[Gator Fever]

I think that big guy is going to cause some problems but I think we match up good with them besides that and we have played a bunch of these hard nosed defensive games already.

 

[sadgator]

Objectively, they really are just a more experienced and consistent team. It will be very difficult to hang with them. Florida's D will help keep them in the game, but the offense will likely come up short.

This Wisconsin team is not your average 8 seed. They are a 2 or a 3 in disguise.

 

[bradleygator]

Objectively, they really are just a more experienced and consistent team. It will be very difficult to hang with them. Florida's D will help keep them in the game, but the offense will likely come up short.

This Wisconsin team is not your average 8 seed. They are a 2 or a 3 in disguise.

Wisconsin was a Final 4 pick pre season, but they did lose to some mediocre teams. I think they lost 4 out of 5 before the Big 10 tourney. As always, if we defend we'll have a good shot. I like the way we kind of rediscovered our defense in the tournament. We play with a lot more confidence when we defend.

 

[ocalaman]

Wisconsin is historically a fundamentally sound team that makes few mistakes and shoots the ball well. Our defense can disrupt them some, but I have to think that if we play like we did during our 9 game winning streak we win. If we don't we lose. To me it's more about whether or not we play solid ball because they are the more consistent team. If Allen gets his shot back and we play great team defense and pound the boards without getting in foul trouble, I think we win.

 

[Countygator]

Their size is going to give us some problems. We have to take advantage of our speed. Need to get their 2 bigs in foul trouble.

 

[ifuaintagatorumustbegatorbait]

I don't know who's gonna win, but I do know that making these kids tip-off at 10pm is fecking ridiculous!

 

[sadgator]

I don't know who's gonna win, but I do know that making these kids tip-off at 10pm is fecking ridiculous!

Yes. That makes absolutely no sense in the Eastern Time Zone. sadgator could not agree more.

It is SO unfair that either Wisconsin or Florida are going to have to play the winner of USCe/Baylor probably on Sunday afternoon. Those teams will be sleeping in their beds at the 4 seasons by halftime of our game Friday night. It is totally absurd.

 

[tnole903]

Wiskie likes to go inside and pound early getting bigs in trouble. Florida is shallow upfront. Gak is going to have to show up and play, bc Rimmer is terrible and more likely than not, Hayes will be in foul trouble early.

 

[instaGATOR]

sadgator spent a little time scouting.

It is easy to forget how much recent success Wisconsin has had, including that 2015 title game appearance, that sadgator literally had no recollection of.

They were totally under-seeded. No matter, because we would have had to play them anyway, but they are an awfully good team, especially in tournament-style play.

It is hard to imagine us matching them offensively with that experience and the way Allen and Barry disappeared in Orlando.

it may be close, but Wisconsin will probably have more dependable scoring in the clutch when it counts.

Too much for 'US' (you and me) but not to much for the Gator Team imo.
No guarantees either way though, that's why they play the games.

2nd Year Gator Basketball Coach Mike White has already been named SEC Coach of the Year. He was also named the USBWA District Coach of the Year, and the NABC District 21 Coach of the Year, along with being named a Naismith Coach of the Year Semifinalist.

~~ Coach White's 47 wins within his first 2 seasons are already the 4th most in SEC history.
Now White is a Sweet 16 coach, the 1st in UF history to get the Gators there in just his 2nd season.
(iG crosses his fingers and is hoping that they make it 48 wins on Friday night)
===========

But, so what, right? Well, this is a real nice what...
According to ESPN recruiting analysts, the Gators have a top-10 incoming freshman class for 2017-18 in 6-foot-6 PG DeAundrae Ballard (Atlanta), 6-8 forward Chase Johnson (Ripley, W.Va.) and PF/C Isaiah Stokes (Memphis, Tenn.). All three rate among the ESPN Top 100 prospects. UF could sign a fourth player during the spring period, depending on attrition.

And oh BTW, does this mean that UF has to buy the B-Ball team some 'state Championship rings for B-Ball' now?

 

[bradleygator]

Too much for 'US' (you and me) but not to much for the Gator Team imo.
No guarantees either way though, that's why they play the games.

2nd Year Gator Basketball Coach Mike White has already been named SEC Coach of the Year. He was also named the USBWA District Coach of the Year, and the NABC District 21 Coach of the Year, along with being named a Naismith Coach of the Year Semifinalist.

~~ Coach White's 47 wins within his first 2 seasons are already the 4th most in SEC history.
Now White is a Sweet 16 coach, the 1st in UF history to get the Gators there in just his 2nd season.
(iG crosses his fingers and is hoping that they make it 48 wins on Friday night)
===========

But, so what, right? Well, this is a real nice what...
According to ESPN recruiting analysts, the Gators have a top-10 incoming freshman class for 2017-18 in 6-foot-6 PG DeAundrae Ballard (Atlanta), 6-8 forward Chase Johnson (Ripley, W.Va.) and PF/C Isaiah Stokes (Memphis, Tenn.). All three rate among the ESPN Top 100 prospects. UF could sign a fourth player during the spring period, depending on attrition.

And oh BTW, does this mean that UF has to buy the B-Ball team some 'state Championship rings for B-Ball' now?

Well we lost to FSU and Miami, so probably not. However being in the Sweet 16 more than makes up for it.

As far as recruiting, you get the feeling that Mike White might be about to start killing it the way a young Billy D did.

 

[ocalaman]

Well we lost to FSU and Miami, so probably not. However being in the Sweet 16 more than makes up for it.

As far as recruiting, you get the feeling that Mike White might be about to start killing it the way a young Billy D did.

We actually beat Miami 65-56 on 11/27/16

 

[46885]

Wiconsin has taken a pretty good amount of poundings this year to decent teams at best, they don't have the same players they have that have given them their success and deep runs... and most importantly, they don't have their HOF coach walking out there against us anymore...


Our big guys never do anything on offense in the post anyway so nothing on that end will change, but Allen CANNOT only score less than 5 again for the 5th straight game along with Berry or we will just simply not score enough to win with their length and slow pace, defense... Our big guys better get on the boards and not give them 2nd chance points like they get prone to doing fighting each other and bobbling balls and have to be able to at least catch the ball on the other side in double teams without fumbling and throwing it away for pick sixes trying to get it back out when they panic immediately by the rim.

Anything we do from here in is playing with house money regardless for once... We are the underdog for the first time in this point in the tournament for the first time since I can't even remember, it's not like the other years we have gone deep or blown big leads in the Elite 8 with better teams... The last time we were in the tournament the expectations were the exact opposite and it was Final Four or bust and basically a waste, that team still should have won it all or at least played for the title, but Scottie getting hurt ruined that completely... Anything we win now is just icing on top with this team, those big guys we have not even close to anyone elses we will face from here in.. Ours can't even catch a basketball so... I expect nothing out of them

 

[bradleygator]

We actually beat Miami 65-56 on 11/27/16

Oh yeah. Was thinking about last year.

 

[miksta]

Wiconsin has taken a pretty good amount of poundings this year to decent teams at best, they don't have the same players they have that have given them their success and deep runs... and most importantly, they don't have their HOF coach walking out there against us anymore...


Our big guys never do anything on offense in the post anyway so nothing on that end will change, but Allen CANNOT only score less than 5 again for the 5th straight game along with Berry or we will just simply not score enough to win with their length and slow pace, defense... Our big guys better get on the boards and not give them 2nd chance points like they get prone to doing fighting each other and bobbling balls and have to be able to at least catch the ball on the other side in double teams without fumbling and throwing it away for pick sixes trying to get it back out when they panic immediately by the rim.

Anything we do from here in is playing with house money regardless for once... We are the underdog for the first time in this point in the tournament for the first time since I can't even remember, it's not like the other years we have gone deep or blown big leads in the Elite 8 with better teams... The last time we were in the tournament the expectations were the exact opposite and it was Final Four or bust and basically a waste, that team still should have won it all or at least played for the title, but Scottie getting hurt ruined that completely... Anything we win now is just icing on top with this team, those big guys we have not even close to anyone elses we will face from here in.. Ours can't even catch a basketball so... I expect nothing out of them

What happened to Canyon's aggression? I remember that awful game at SC - he was our only offense when he was attacking the rim.

 

[bradleygator]

What happened to Canyon's aggression? I remember that awful game at SC - he was our only offense when he was attacking the rim.

I've read on here that he's banged up? In the two games prior to the SECT, he put up 22 shots in 55 minutes and scored 29. In the tourneys, he's playing 16 minutes a game and getting about 4 shots. He's been playing better in the NCAAT. He's getting decent shots and getting to the line. His shots just aren't falling. Hopefully that changes Friday.

 

[46885]

I saw a little spark from him the other night and his shot looked better, hope it happens.

 

[ocalaman]

For the 1st 2/3 or so of the season Barry was regularly driving to the hoop and getting layups or getting fouled. Seems like after the ankle sprain, his first step hasn't been as quick and when he does try to drive he gets tied up or forces up a bad shot. We definitely need he & Allen to score more than they have been and for Robinson to keep playing like an All American.

 

[Countygator]

I saw something that said Canyon was about 80%

 

[bradleygator]

This is a pretty funny article about Horford's takeover of the Sweet 16 game against Butler, from both his perspective and his current coach, then Butler assistant, Brad Stevens. I remember watching this game in a bar in New Jersey. Nobody cared about either team, so it was on this tiny TV in a really crowded bar, and I remember just being nervous as hell. Bonus: there's a link to a Youtube video of the entire game!

 

[instaGATOR]

The keys to the game are always coming from the most experienced players,,,,, except of course when they don't....

PG Eric Herster needs to go 4/4 from the arc again.

PF Keith Stone needs to score 16+ in a game again..

C Gorjok Gak needs to control the paint and get his first double-double as a Gator.

The difference between being 'hopefully optimistic' and 'totally delusional,,,' is much like seeing beauty, it's mostly in the eye of the beholder...

 

[GordonGecko]

We have a better scoring defense.

It's tough to tell, but if we can run and the refs let us play like they did versus UVA, we should have a good chance.

 

[SwampMaster]

sadgator spent a little time scouting.

It is easy to forget how much recent success Wisconsin has had, including that 2015 title game appearance, that sadgator literally had no recollection of.

They were totally under-seeded. No matter, because we would have had to play them anyway, but they are an awfully good team, especially in tournament-style play.

It is hard to imagine us matching them offensively with that experience and the way Allen and Barry disappeared in Orlando.

it may be close, but Wisconsin will probably have more dependable scoring in the clutch when it counts.

Sad Pitino

 

[Dannygator1989]

PF Keith Stone needs to score 16+ in a game again..

The cheap beer guy?

 

[46885]

We couldn't have begged for a better draw on our sides of the bracket, look at the teams we would have to beat to get all the way to the Title game... It's really a shame we don't have one of our teams from the last five years or we would legit have a shot at the whole g damn thing...

 

[46885]

The cheap beer guy?

no, the one with the worse hands...

 

[46885]

Xavier has now won two games straight as 7.5 point dogs

we are favored by 2 again... I can't sleep, our chances just keep getting better with all the better teams getting knocked down and out.. It will be really disheartening if we don't play well like we have been, knowing that we can make a real pass to do the ultimate dancing...

 

[ocalaman]

Kansas looks great.

 

[miksta]

Xavier has now won two games straight as 7.5 point dogs

we are favored by 2 again... I can't sleep, our chances just keep getting better with all the better teams getting knocked down and out.. It will be really disheartening if we don't play well like we have been, knowing that we can make a real pass to do the ultimate dancing...

We have to beat 3 very good teams to get to the championship game. That's a very difficult thing to do. Just keep that in mind and enjoy the ride. It certainly is a better path on our side of the bracket but the likelihood that we make the final game is maybe like 15% vs 5% (if we were on the other side).

 

[LizardGrad89]

The tournament is all about guard play. We need to deny the entry pass and not allow them to drive to the hoop.

I'm not really concerned about their bigs, I'm concerned about their guards. If their guards outmatch us, that will open things up for their bigs. But if we are able to use our speed to keep their guards from setting up the offense, we will be in good shape.

 

[bradleygator]

All these games are coin flips from here on out. UNC and especially KU has better talent. For everyone else, whoever is hitting shots is going to win. All you can do is make their shots tough, which we have done very well, and rebound, which may start getting tricky, starting tonight. We've got as good a shot as anyone else playing in MSG tonight.

I just got my ticket and am going to take full advantage of the late start to get irresponsibly drunk. GO GATORS!

 

[LizardGrad89]

We have to beat 3 very good teams to get to the championship game. That's a very difficult thing to do. Just keep that in mind and enjoy the ride. It certainly is a better path on our side of the bracket but the likelihood that we make the final game is maybe like 15% vs 5% (if we were on the other side).

On "enjoying the ride":

Keep in mind that 52 teams are gone. Including the Nolies, who were supposed to be a NC contender. Pretty joyous right there.

 

[TheRealJoePistone29]

From a Nole.....I hope you guys lose, wish we had your coach.

 

[46885]

We have to beat 3 very good teams to get to the championship game. That's a very difficult thing to do. Just keep that in mind and enjoy the ride. It certainly is a better path on our side of the bracket but the likelihood that we make the final game is maybe like 15% vs 5% (if we were on the other side).

yea but we aren't having to go through the defending champs on basically their home court tonight, or Duke, OR Arizona, three of the best teams we would have had to play we don't have to play ANY of them...

 

[ifuaintagatorumustbegatorbait]

Ummmm....NEXT!

 

[GordonGecko]

Never a doubt in that game...just like they practiced all week.

 

[GatorGray]

From a Nole.....I hope you guys lose, wish we had your coach.

Your AD isn't smart enough to make that good of a hire.

 

[instaGATOR]

From a Nole.....

I hope you guys lose,

wish we had your coach.

 

[TheRealJoePistone29]

Your AD isn't smart enough to make that good of a hire.

Agreed!