Gator Basketball Gators vs West Virginia

[Marine1]

Great win against #11! Shot well 47%/47%/83%.

Loved starting the 2 bigs and then dusting off Jit. Out rebounded WVA.

Offense was efficient...more assists than turnovers.

I like Lewis coming off the bench. He was +11.... best on the team.

Team did not fold despite some tough officiating. They showed some grit.

Much better personality and chemistry this year is obvious.

Well coached game by MW.

Thoroughly enjoyed the game. 4 in a row!

 

[rogdochar]

Bring on South Carolina. Working up a solid post-season resume.

 

[TLB]

Thread title sucks.

Who uses "vrs" ?

It is the married version of vs, at least until the gender police show up.

Team did not fold despite some tough officiating. They showed some grit.

Much better personality and chemistry this year is obvious.

Well coached game by MW.

Fully agree. I'm struggling in giving MW credit as he's disappointed so much thus far. But to have the complete team performing better, that cannot be just the players. Last season's slow us to sleep style was MW's decision with Nembhard and resting Blackshear. They are gone, as is half the roster from last year (mostly good moves I think we can agree). Now, other than Jitoboh, we don't appear to have a lot of fat or wasted seats on the bench. No seniors, and other than perhaps Lewis and maybe Mann, we shouldn't lose a lot from this roster looking to next year. The adjustment to losing KJ at the start of the season, the way the whole team changed their approach without Castleton and Lewis to stomp TN and keep rolling with that energy still? Last game was a bit awkward, but Lewis and Castleton starting to re-integrate AND we're keeping the intensity? Somewhere in there has to be some credit for MW. I'm still not back on the MW train, but he's making me reconsider.

In the meantime, I love this team, their heart, their speed and vision. Yeah, there are lapses on defense - luckily WV did the same during those periods. But there's no quit. We're able to flow with whatever five are on the court - some lineups better than others, but always we find a way to keep clicking. Not one guy taking over, not like Culver who made his team so lopsided with the +/- when he's on court or bench. Toughness, gritty, not getting down by bad calls throughout the game. Very proud of those boys today. They, and their coach, earned the win at #11.

 

[rogdochar]

Take each game as a learning experience while winning. Still remaining for us :
1) Scotty will continue to iron out kinks from COVID inactivity.
2) Osifo is making good strides.
3) Mann & Applebee will gel more.
4) Locke finding his 3-spot.
5) Castleton is asserting himself more & more.
6) Plenty of room for Payne to learn & develop with max playing time.. (I mean without the worry he might cause a loss.)
7) The spaced-grace that allows Jitiboh to bang & hold ground defensively. (The playing-time to learn to be a contributor. - a spare part.)
8) Others supporting when fouls cripple starters >> Glover & Russky,
9) A spirit of speediness to run 'em ragged. Flashing hands going after deflected turnovers.
Plenty to look forward to.

 

[ChiefGator]

It comes down to talent, this team is deeper than any I can remember. More improvement is of course needed.

 

[deuce]

I wonder if those of you who posted so much doom and gloom at the start of the 2nd half have any remorse?
Probably not, just waiting for your next opportunity to predict the demise of Gator Basketball again.

I'm not a big White supporter but I am able to see that he is doing some good work with this young team. I don't think we will make a deep tourney run but anything is possible in team sports. Maybe we will catch lightning in a bottle and surprise the World again. I don't see any unbeatable teams in the SEC, the door may be opening for us, or not...... Good road win!

Go Gators!

 

[rogdochar]

It sure feels like our players are driving the winning personality of this team. White is just standing aside to observe their continued successes.
Our bench gets more excited over our success moves than White does. We still don't have an enthusiastic BB HC. Probably KJ is driving this team with more know-how advice than White.

We could easily:
1) up our blocks by 2 to 7 per game
2) up our steals by 2 up to 9 per game
3) up our rebound margin by 6
Let the Gator boys mature in confidence.

 

[GatorBart]

I wonder if those of you who posted so much doom and gloom at the start of the 2nd half have any remorse?
Probably not, just waiting for your next opportunity to predict the demise of Gator Basketball again.

I'm not a big White supporter but I am able to see that he is doing some good work with this young team. I don't think we will make a deep tourney run but anything is possible in team sports. Maybe we will catch lightning in a bottle and surprise the World again. I don't see any unbeatable teams in the SEC, the door may be opening for us, or not...... Good road win!

Go Gators!

Happy to be wrong. I’m pretty good at it.

 

[Frozen Gator]

Bring on South Carolina. Working up a solid post-season resume.

USCe looked surprizingly good against ugly the other night. It will be another tough challenge. Go Gators

 

[Born2beagator]

Seems to me we are getting close to safely in the dance?

 

[Ancient Reptile]

Seems to me we are getting close to safely in the dance?

Two very good wins. This one on the road.
P. S. Some of you would prefer a cheerleader to an actual coach.

 

[t-gator]

When has Bob Huggins ever won shcit?

 

[maheo30]

 

[Frozen Gator]

I guess Swonkey doesn't enjoy winning!

 

[deuce]

Seems to me we are getting close to safely in the dance?

Amazing that several weeks ago there were several posters who thought we would be lucky to win 1 or 2 games the rest of the season.

 

[Jbossgator8]

Wow HUGE win vs a top team that was predicted to easily beat us cause they play tough Defense. To score 48 points in the 2nd half against a team like that is something special. Just absolutely CLUTCH by the players, CLUTCH halftime adjustments, and frankly CLUTCH coaching by MW surprisingly. The 2nd half offensive sets we ran and set plays called by White were just run to perfection and a thing of beauty. The refs did their darnest to step in and take control of the game but our guys just hung tough and were up to the challenge. We outscored WV in transition 26-5 which is huge vs a team who likes to get set in defense. That is coaching right there and MW talked about it during his postgame show that he wanted our guys to push the ball and not give WV a chance to set their D. Castleton continues to amaze with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Locke hit 4 3s on his way to 19 points. Locke has double figure scoring all 4 of our games during this 4 game win streak. Appleby very steady with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals which was huge during Mann's absence with foul trouble. It is very clear that Mann is the target of the officials with 2 quick fouls yet again in the first half so he has to be very careful as he likes to be aggressive on the court. Our Gators also outscored WV 26-6 in the paint which was huge. The Gators defense was outstanding in the 2nd half by only allowing 33 percent shooting by WV. WV Forward Culver scored 21 points in the first half but just 7 in the 2nd half so GREAT Coaching and adjustments by MW. Just another huge win for the Gators and a tough pill to swallow for the MW haters as we continue to choke on crow during this 4 game win streak. Just love how we are playing right now against all odds. Go Gators!!

 

[Marine1]

Take each game as a learning experience while winning. Still remaining for us :
1) Scotty will continue to iron out kinks from COVID inactivity.
2) Osifo is making good strides.
3) Mann & Applebee will gel more.
4) Locke finding his 3-spot.
5) Castleton is asserting himself more & more.
6) Plenty of room for Payne to learn & develop with max playing time.. (I mean without the worry he might cause a loss.)
7) The spaced-grace that allows Jitiboh to bang & hold ground defensively. (The playing-time to learn to be a contributor. - a spare part.)
8) Others supporting when fouls cripple starters >> Glover & Russky,
9) A spirit of speediness to run 'em ragged. Flashing hands going after deflected turnovers.
Plenty to look forward to.

5 and 6 are directly related. The more Castleton asserts himself the less Payne will get max playing time.....unless he also asserts himself.

 

[rogdochar]

We really need to better develop the referees.

 

[Marine1]

Two very good wins. This one on the road.
P. S. Some of you would prefer a cheerleader to an actual coach.

I’ve been noticing that also. Some of the greatest coaches ever never cracked a smile or hi-fived a player. Some screamed at refs too much.....others much less so. None of that matters. I do know this...anytime a coach tries to be something he’s not...the players see right through it.

 

[Marine1]

Random thoughts:

Noah Locke is a far better spot up shooter than off the dribble. He should also retire permanently the runner/floater.

Durugi needs lift and arc on his shot. Basic physics at play.

Mann and Appleby are not particularly good passers and sometimes take ill advised shots. However they play far better without handcuffs on them. The looser they play...almost freelancing....the more effective they are ultimately.

The biggest difference between Castleton and Payne is fire and assertiveness. Far less difference in talent and skill. Payne needs to attack the entire game like he does dunks and blocks.

Fundamentally we still have defensive issues to work out....on ball D, rotations and pick and roll D. But we do have a very disruptive and agitating mentality. We get after it.

Ruzhentsev has been slow to adapt to the speed and physicality of the game but may get there by tourney time.

Osifo is showing promise.