Gator Basketball ***Official Game Thread BBALL*** Florida at Georgia

[lagator]

This was a good win and pretty much what I expected from the second half. Tre Mann just continues to get better and better, and with KJ out, Mann is clearly our best player and probably gone at the end of the year unfortunately. I'm happy to see Payne taking on a bigger role on offense and we are seeing some potential with his added athleticism with this team that is still finding it's identity after having to be completely reworked with the loss of KJ. Castleton played well (again) today and is really a throwback kind of player, back to the basket traditional center. Mann and Appleby proving to be a really good guard combo and Locke doing what he does best today. Osifo with some good minutes off the bench and he has earned the right for some more playing time going forward.

Overall you have to be impressed with the last couple games that put us tied for second in the win column in league play, at least until LSU plays later. One thing I wonder about is how we will integrate Scottie into the lineup when he finally comes back. As I recall he was getting heavy minutes, like 30 when not in foul trouble but I'm not sure we want to mess with the chemistry we seem to be finding. I'm sure he will still be a major part of the rotation but hopefully he will be okay with some reduction in minutes for the betterment of the team.

 

[gardnerwebbgator]

Any win over that sewer in Athens pretending to be an institution of higher learning is a good win.

 

[Ancient Reptile]

Question for basketball devotees: are we missing Nembhard?

 

[GatorBart]

Castleton is Erik Murphy. He added a good bit of weight and it allows him to play his game rather than getting beat up. Whether MW should get the credit for that I don’t know.

Respectfully disagree. Murph was a stretch 4 specialist that sucked underneath, really sucked. CCs game is all underneath. I haven’t seen CC shoot a longer shot than a FT, and those were FTs.

 

[rogdochar]

Could Nembhart keep pace with these Gators? I think not. He would crank it to a halt.

 

[maheo30]

Respectfully disagree. Murph was a stretch 4 specialist that sucked underneath, really sucked. CCs game is all underneath. I haven’t seen CC shoot a longer shot than a FT, and those were FTs.

Between his sophomore and junior season, Murphy added about 25 pounds. It completely changed his game, allowing him to become a decent defender. Before that, he got physically manhandled. I know they have different skill sets. Castleton is the same way. He’s added about 30 pounds. It is why he has gone from a career average of like 1.7ppg to 12.6ppg.

 

[CGgater]

Theyre going to go over 90 points....complain about the defense if anything

I'll complain about whatever I want to, but thanks for the suggestion.

 

[lagator]

I'll complain about whatever I want to, but thanks for the suggestion.

Well you're in the right place then.

 

[Jbossgator8]

Florida 92, Georgia 84 - Florida Gators

Offense Clicks in 92-84 Win at Georgia - Florida Gators

Couple of good reads about the win.

 

[JDW]

I listened to it on the radio...sounded exciting

 

[MertzJay26]

I'll complain about whatever I want to, but thanks for the suggestion.

K

 

[Marine1]

Mann’s development has been in-season. He was clearly not ready for SEC ball at the beginning of year last year. By the end of the season you could see a clear improvement. He lost minutes and then earned some back. Castleton has steadily improved over the course of this season.

Adjustments made....confidence rising....weight gain...outside trainers.....assistant coaches.... it doesn’t matter. Head Coach gets credit when players improve and the blame when they don’t. We have seen both.

 

[Marine1]

Question for basketball devotees: are we missing Nembhard?

He’s good and from what little I’ve seen he’s running up tempo at Gonzaga. But sometimes it’s all about fit and chemistry. He dominates the ball and that might take away from Mann and Appleby’s flow.

 

[Ancient Reptile]

He’s good and from what little I’ve seen he’s running up tempo at Gonzaga. But sometimes it’s all about fit and chemistry. He dominates the ball and that might take away from Mann and Appleby’s flow.

Thanks. Much appreciated.

 

[rogdochar]

What if this UGa game was an off-day for our defenders?

 

[Musclepug]

 

[oxrageous]

Final Four baby. I was in a full movie theater in Gainesville right after UF beat Boston College to go the the FF. The place was buzzing. Someone shouted out "How 'bout them Gators?!" and the whole theater erupted in cheers. Good times.

 

[CGgater]

K

Oh lighten up, jay... a little sarcasm there. Yes the D was the bigger issue, but I'm tired of seeing what appears to be a stubborn inability to learn from mistakes.

Happy for the win, and glad we didn't fall flat after the big win over tinerc.

 

[Double Gator Dad]

Yeah I don't like giving MW credit either but he has allowed Mann to open things up and run and gun with his all around game. Castleton at Michigan wasn't used at all and was NOTHING there while averaging 3 points a game. He has really blossomed since coming to UF. Watching tape of him at Michigan and I can see that he is MUCH more aggressive here at UF than he ever was at Michigan. He also has an attitude on the court which was NOT seen while at Michigan. Refs have talked to him a few times to ton it done and even gave him a T in one of the games. Both of these players are great leaders and proving it on the court.

I still shake my head at the technical he got for simply staring at a player after dunking over him which is something you see regularly without a whistle.
When it happened the announcers assumed that he said something until the replay proved that he said nothing which left them dumbfounded as well.
I guess only certain types of players are allowed to taunt people.

I like his attitude and I would like to see others embrace it as well

 

[Double Gator Dad]

This was a good win and pretty much what I expected from the second half. Tre Mann just continues to get better and better, and with KJ out, Mann is clearly our best player and probably gone at the end of the year unfortunately. I'm happy to see Payne taking on a bigger role on offense and we are seeing some potential with his added athleticism with this team that is still finding it's identity after having to be completely reworked with the loss of KJ. Castleton played well (again) today and is really a throwback kind of player, back to the basket traditional center. Mann and Appleby proving to be a really good guard combo and Locke doing what he does best today. Osifo with some good minutes off the bench and he has earned the right for some more playing time going forward.

Overall you have to be impressed with the last couple games that put us tied for second in the win column in league play, at least until LSU plays later. One thing I wonder about is how we will integrate Scottie into the lineup when he finally comes back. As I recall he was getting heavy minutes, like 30 when not in foul trouble but I'm not sure we want to mess with the chemistry we seem to be finding. I'm sure he will still be a major part of the rotation but hopefully he will be okay with some reduction in minutes for the betterment of the team.

Great point about Scottie returning.
Sometimes less is more and a player returning can be a negative since the current guys are enjoying their expanded roles.

When he first went out I thought it was going to be a disaster but it has been a positive in the short term at least