Noah Locke made a basket and Omar Payne dunked one home on Florida’s next possession to give the No. 6 Florida Gators a three-point lead as the game went into the under 12 timeout.
It was the first time the Florida Gators have had a lead against FSU at a media timeout in three years. It would also be short-lived. The Noles would retake the lead with 2:04 left before halftime and never give it back. For the sixth straight time, the Gators lost to the Noles and the last two contents haven’t even been close.
This loss feels different. The Gators came into this season ranked No. 6 in the country. ESPN and Dick Vitale were in Gainesville. Florida has been called a Final Four contender. Surely this year would be different. The hype, buzz, and excitement got to some of the players, Keyontae Johnson admitted after the game to Mike White’s shock and dismay.
“Back to what happened last year in the opener, it’s happened to us a few years now. I can’t imagine our guys were overconfident,” White scoffed. “I can believe they said that, but if they are (buying into the preseason hype) then I’ve really got my hands full.”
He does have his hands full. Florida has a lot of talent but they’re not playing like it. The Gators shot 4-of-22 from three against FSU and are just 7-of-37 from three-point land on the season. On a roster full of shooters that’s unacceptable. Too many times on Saturday the Gators were stuck on the perimeter passing the ball around, going through the motions. Only Keyontae Johnson really put his head down and drove the ball.
Andrew Nembhard said the plan was to get the ball into Kerry Blackshear and play inside out. That didn’t happen.
“We had one quick thought duck-in to Kerry Blackshear late in the game, and it was the only one we had all game,” White said. “And this guy draws 10 fouls. He should have the ball a lot more, and that’s on me.”
It’s been six years since the Florida Gators beat the Seminoles in basketball. That’s far too long for a program with two National Championships. White acknowledged the streak; he’s not avoiding it. White knows he has a talented team. They’re young and still developing their chemistry, that will get better as the season progresses but for now, they can take this game and use it as a wake-up call. It must have felt good to have everyone pat you on your back all offseason and tell you how talented you are. How far you’re going to go in the tournament. Leonard Hamilton’s team came in and punched you in the mouth.
Again.
The 2018 game exposed Florida basketball. They were blown out and the team went up and down the rest of the way to a frustrating season. Is this a sign of things to come like the game was in 2019?
“We know there’s a lot of things we have to work on. I think playing that game makes it more evident for us,” Blackshear said. “It can be a big wake-up call and show how this team can band together rather than splinter.”