Gator Basketball ***Official Basketball Thread - Florida vs Loser State University***

[Captain Sasquatch]

Well I guess I'd rather be peaking at this time of year than in December like a couple years ago. It's just too bad we played like hot, stinking garbage for so long that it's going to kill our chances of a good tourney seed and we'll have to play somewhere other than Tampa the first weekend.

 

[g8tr72]

IF the Gators win out (and if they play like last night they beat UK) then I think they grab a 7-9 seed in the tourney.

 

[LeeForThree]

Great complete win. Loved the attacking the basket all game. We had the most dunks in a game since I cant remember when. Was fun to see them playing like a complete team for a whole game. Need more of that down the stretch

 

[Frozen Gator]

Great complete win. Loved the attacking the basket all game. We had the most dunks in a game since I cant remember when. Was fun to see them playing like a complete team for a whole game. Need more of that down the stretch

That's the word Lee COMPLETE

 

[ATXGator]

Well I guess I'd rather be peaking at this time of year than in December like a couple years ago. It's just too bad we played like hot, stinking garbage for so long that it's going to kill our chances of a good tourney seed and we'll have to play somewhere other than Tampa the first weekend.

Yeah... I get playing in Tampa would be nice, but the bigger issue is that we are going to get a seed that makes it really difficult to move past the first weekend. That is why the poor play earlier in the year is so painful.

 

[MertzJay26]

IF the Gators win out (and if they play like last night they beat UK) then I think they grab a 7-9 seed in the tourney.

If we win out we’ll grab a 5-6 IMO

 

[Marine1]

The youngin’s are getting better. The soph’s have taken another step forward even as Locke struggles with consistency. That’s 8 players who are improving......some faster than others. With this youth I can only take it one game at a time. Last night they were wonderful. How will they play the next game? I have no idea.

I don’t complain about White’s player development, defense or even half court offense. My issue is more with failure to extend the court defensively and apparent disdain for any transition offense along with taking the air out of the ball too early with leads. It’s philosophical and I disagree with his approach.

 

[g8tr72]

Noah needs to stop dribbling and driving - catch and shoot only.

 

[stephenPE]

Highlights for those who missed it (@stephenPE)

Like Miss Daisy said to Hoke. You're my best friend, Jay. I reminded my brother and a friend to watch the game. And I still forgot about it. IF I HAD listened to my neighbors message last nite I would have remembered. Looks like I missed the Scottie Lewis coming out party. Keyonte securing his All Sec selection. I could tell all year Lewis wanted to drive to the basket but was hesitant. Maybe now he will feel more confident. AND it will lead to better looks from three from the rest of them. Jay made my day with the highlights Thanks again.

 

[Woodstork]

The LSU coach is a sore loser of a douche.

All you had to say was ‘LSU coach.’ That covers douche automatically (and athletic directors). I kind of like Ogre though.

 

[Woodstork]

This is the team I thought we’d get this season! We shall see what unfolds, but they may be gelling in the nick of time.

If so, kudos to Mike White. Not that White gives a crud, but I will apologize for calling him the devil spawn of an unnatural mating of Ron Zook and Will Muschamp - if the team continues playing at last night’s level.

 

[gatordad3]

This is the team I thought we’d get this season! We shall see what unfolds, but they may be gelling in the nick of time.

If so, kudos to Mike White. Not that White gives a crud, but I will apologize for calling him the devil spawn of an unnatural mating of Ron Zook and Will Muschamp - if the team continues playing at last night’s level.

As for me, I'm not ready to apologize to Mike White yet.

 

[g8tr72]

 

[GatorBart]

Very proud of this team. They’ve fought through adversity. They’re young, starting to jell. Could make some noise in the tournament.

Next year is going to be the year we crush it and bring it all together.

 

[GatorBart]

NV every time we win:

View attachment 20005

You do realize that was sarcasm on NVs part, right?

 

[lagator]

Jittaboh is TERRIBLE and flat footed as can be. The LSU player has scored over him about 8 times this half with easy layups.

I thought he was going to average 20 pts and 8 boards? Sorry Rog :D, couldn't resist, but it was one of the more absurd posts I've seen here in a long time.

 

[FireFoley]

I was unable to watch or even get any updates b/c of prior plans. So I think the best is for me to do that when there is a game. I am going to stick to that.

 

[Jack o' Diamonds]

I was unable to watch or even get any updates b/c of prior plans. So I think the best is for me to do that when there is a game. I am going to stick to that.

Thank you!!

 

[lagator]

It was our best game of the season. Is it a trend, hope so. But, it helped that LSU has had moments all season where they are just awful on defense. They rotated so infrequently that our drives were wide open.

Locke needs to move a great deal more wi Tj out the ball. He is not being shut down by lowering his shooting%, it’s more reducing his shots by staying on him. Kenpom has some interesting analysis on how little 3pt shooting % defense matters (offensive %’s matter a lot). How many 3’s you allow per game is more important because it is a truer test of how you guard the line. Whether the other team hits them is not really a factor the D impacts much if they give up the shot in the first place. Anyway, since starting so hot, Locke is on a stretch of being made irrelevant. 2 3pt shot attempts tonight. Maybe the defensive focus on him opened those other lanes though. I don’t know b-ball (or LSU’s scheme) at that level to really know if the lack of rotation was due to driving to Locke’s side toward someone that wouldn’t leave him.

Some of it could be in Locke's head. He had an open 3 that he dribbled into a contested 2 in this game. I think he needs to get some of his confidence back. He's not going to suddenly become a good defender or more athletic, but if he is going to be on the floor he has to get and take his shots to help the team. You are right that he has to move more without the ball and coaches have to help him get open looks.

Of course if we can keep playing up-tempo and scoring inside like we did in this game, his 3's aren't going to be so make or break for team success and his minutes might decrease in order to get a better defender on the floor. Especially if Tre and Scottie can get their 3 pt percentages up. SL has been shooting the 3 with a lot more confidence of late.

 

[Ancient Reptile]

Wonder if Locke might become a sixth man?