The Florida Gators added another tally to their perfect record in a 78-61 win over Belmont in Tampa, Fla. on Monday night. The Gators showed some real signs of life on offense in their best five minutes of the season, as they scored the first 15 points of the game and went on to take an early 20-2 lead.
Not only was it the best five minutes of offense this season, it was probably the best five minutes of defense as well. Florida caused six turnovers in that span and kept Belmont’s high powered offense off the board for the first 4:56 of the game.
“Our communication level, our attention to detail relative to the scouting report, our feeding off of the crowd — I thought the energy level in the gym at the tip was high — and we got into a really good defensive rhythm against a tremendous offensive team and program early on in the game,” said Mike White. “Not that it remained at that level for 40 minutes, but we had enough of it that was at that level during the next 35 or so minutes. We had spurts of seeing that again, and you’re striving moving forward to see that for 40. This team has a chance to be really good defensively.”
The Bruins slowed the Gators down and finished on a 15-8 run to end the half trailing 38-26. Belmont then cut Florida’s lead to single-digits early in the second half and things were beginning to look like St. Bonaventure all over again. The run was led by Belmont’s leading scorer, Evan Bradds, who had 17 points in the game – his fewest in a game this season.
“Against a team like Belmont and a program like Belmont, when you make a mistake a lot of times simply they just make you pay. Evan Bradds is one of the best offensive players in the country, regardless of level,” White said. “He was the focal point of the scouting report, and we threw a bunch of different bodies at him and gave him a bunch of different looks and he went 7-of-9. He’s really difficult to defend, and then they spread the floor most of the time with four shooters around him. … We didn’t hit on all cylinders defensively, fortunately, they missed a couple for us, but they cut it to 9 because they’re really good offensively and we just made a few mistakes there.”
Canyon Barry led the way for the Gators to erase any hope the Bruins had for making a come-back in the game. During a stretch of 3:28, Barry scored 11 of Florida’s 13 points to give the Gators back a comfortable 51-34 lead. It all started with a converted three-point play and was followed by two jumpers, a layup, and two more free-throws.
He led the Gators in scoring for the second game in a row, with a season-high 17 points. John Egbunu, Devin Robinson, and KeVaughn Allen also had double-digit nights for Florida, but Barry was once again the player of the game.
“He’s a good passer. He’s a quick thinker. He’s got a really quick first step,” said White. “He kind of understands what he’s doing with it almost before other guys at times. He’s a really versatile player and he’s an experienced player and we’ve got to continue to find ways to get him more and more involved in the offense and get him space to drive it a little bit. Obviously, we want him to get open looks as well, but he’s not only a catch and shoot guy. He can create for himself, he can create for others and he got it going offensively tonight and the other day. He’s in a good rhythm right now.”
With all the production Barry has had early on this season, he is still playing a role as Florida’s sixth man. White made it clear before the start of the season that the players who produce the most on the court will be rewarded with more playing time and a chance to start. Barry is playing starter minutes, but if White wants the best five players on the court to start the game, he should be out there. He is doing great things for the Gators and will accept his role, whatever that may be moving forward.
“Obviously I’d like to start,” said Barry. “I think everyone that plays basketball wants to be in that starting lineup, but at the same time it’s important to just play to your role and whatever the coaches ask, I’m definitely willing to do. The most important thing is wins and we’ve got four of them to start the year, which is great. So I’m just gonna keep playing to my role and do whatever I can to help this team.”