Congratulations Patric Young

[HALLGATOR]

4 out 5 from the free throw line.

Of course 18 points and 7 boards wasn't sloppy either. Between him and Erik they had 34 points and 14 rebounds

[MadduxFanII]

Pretty beastly performance tonight. Only caught the second half, but A&M looked completely overmatched against Young.

[tommyuf21]

Also 3 steals, a couple of slams and a block.

Patric finally feels at home out there. He's running the floor, playing aggressively and smart too. He just looks so much more comfortable than he did last year.

[rserina]

The statistics don't even tell the story. He has denying entry passes, tapping rebounds around he couldn't get to, cutting off driving lanes, in general showing the energy level and scrappy play we saw at times his freshman year. If he keeps it up, the scouts will certainly notice because that is his meal ticket.

[exiledgator]

Playing like his fake girlfriend died!

[gatordavisl]

Ok, I do not wish to be a rotten tomato, but I have a question. Do you folks think Patric will develop a mid-range jumper? I ask because if he does, his NBA draft sky rockets. I don't see it happening this year, which makes me wonder if he can do it in the NBA. I imagine many players have done so. Did Karl Malone have a jumper in college? Patric took one tonight that was wide open and it appeared to miss everything. As everyone else wrote, though, GREAT game PY. It's a pleasure watching him dominate.

[tommyuf21]

I believe that he can. I'm not sure that he'll get the opportunity to work on it much at UF. Billy doesn't need him to do that, since we have so many other shooters.

[GatorPlanet]

Ok, I do not wish to be a rotten tomato, but I have a question. Do you folks think Patric will develop a mid-range jumper? I ask because if he does, his NBA draft sky rockets. I don't see it happening this year, which makes me wonder if he can do it in the NBA. I imagine many players have done so. Did Karl Malone have a jumper in college? Patric took one tonight that was wide open and it appeared to miss everything. As everyone else wrote, though, GREAT game PY. It's a pleasure watching him dominate.

Well, he's made that shot before. If they leave him open, he needs to take it.

I thought our shot selection was pretty good tonight. Not many ill-advised shots, which was what drove me nuts the last couple of seasons.

[gatordavisl]

Well, he's made that shot before. If they leave him open, he needs to take it.

I thought our shot selection was pretty good tonight. Not many ill-advised shots, which was what drove me nuts the last couple of seasons. Shot selection has certainly improved. It's obvious that Billy preaches this in practice and during games. A few times, it was almost too good. A couple open looks were passed up, but it's nice to know the players place a great deal of emphasis on working for good looks.

[tommyuf21]

Billy always stresses about how important it is to play the game the way it was meant to be played.

It's not often that you can get a bunch of 18-21 year olds to buy into that, but it sure seems like this bunch has to this point.

[bullish]

I know I sometimes forget how physically imposing PY is. He makes a mature Eric Murphy look small. Eric has put on weight and muscle over his career but when going up against these two, it is harder to score on than most teams think. I would hate to get pasted by Patrick. But just because he has the body of adonis, everyone feels he should dominate every game. I am one Gator that is glad this stud is on our team. Last night it took a little time for him to get his juices rolling, but once he did, Texas A&M said, forget it, who wants to play against that guy. Yes, our chisled Patrick Young, maybe not the greatest shooter that ever lived, but once you hit on him or score, he measures you to get a block, rebound and put backs. This guy will make it in the pros, mark it down. I for one hope he stays another year, but if he goes, he put his mark in College Basketball. Great game last night Pat.

[lhnewman]

he's still very raw...good upside I think...

[grant1]

Ok, I do not wish to be a rotten tomato, but I have a question. Do you folks think Patric will develop a mid-range jumper? I ask because if he does, his NBA draft sky rockets. I don't see it happening this year, which makes me wonder if he can do it in the NBA. I imagine many players have done so. Did Karl Malone have a jumper in college? Patric took one tonight that was wide open and it appeared to miss everything. As everyone else wrote, though, GREAT game PY. It's a pleasure watching him dominate.

That's pretty much how I see it; he's too short for the NBA with his current skill set. I'll also add that I think last night's performance should be his base-line with the skill set that he has.

[G8RNTN]

By far his best game I've seen in a while.... Few mistakes on some rebounds but he finally put together a dominant game!!

[dalwood13]

Pat's effort consistency has improved incredibly. He is bringing it on every play now and the impact on his play and the team's play is very noticeable.

[your_perfect_enemy]

Ok, I do not wish to be a rotten tomato, but I have a question. Do you folks think Patric will develop a mid-range jumper? I ask because if he does, his NBA draft sky rockets. I don't see it happening this year, which makes me wonder if he can do it in the NBA. I imagine many players have done so. Did Karl Malone have a jumper in college? Patric took one tonight that was wide open and it appeared to miss everything. As everyone else wrote, though, GREAT game PY. It's a pleasure watching him dominate.

I think he can, he reminds me of Haslem a little bit. I know the league is going to smaller centers so he might not need to, but if he can develop a 12 footer he might be able to play the 4 at the next level

[your_perfect_enemy]

The statistics don't even tell the story. He has denying entry passes, tapping rebounds around he couldn't get to, cutting off driving lanes, in general showing the energy level and scrappy play we saw at times his freshman year. If he keeps it up, the scouts will certainly notice because that is his meal ticket.

Exactly what I was thinking. At one point they showed his stats when he was at the line maybe 5 minutes into the 2nd half and I was shocked that he 'only' had something like 6 points and 3 boards just because it seemed like he was absolutely dominating down low, after that the stats started to catch up to his impact.

He was even chasing players he switched to on the perimeter much better than I have seen from him

[g8rboy]

he seems like he gets grabbed a lot when rebounding. so he ends up with a lot of one-handed rebounds. the price of being so intimidating looking; to me i think there should be more fouls called for what is done to him.

it doesn't seem he will have horford's mid range jumper, however.

[regurgigator]

He was even chasing players he switched to on the perimeter much better than I have seen from him

Yes, that too!

The way he was doubling on the high screens and then getting back quickly enough to guard down low was reminiscent of the way Horford and Noah did it... regularly.

[BengermanV]

Ok, I do not wish to be a rotten tomato, but I have a question. Do you folks think Patric will develop a mid-range jumper? I ask because if he does, his NBA draft sky rockets. I don't see it happening this year, which makes me wonder if he can do it in the NBA. I imagine many players have done so. Did Karl Malone have a jumper in college? Patric took one tonight that was wide open and it appeared to miss everything. As everyone else wrote, though, GREAT game PY. It's a pleasure watching him dominate.

He used to be able to make that shot. I think he has it in his head (because of the FT shooting) that he isn't a good shooter. He has the ability to knock down that 12 footer, it's just a matter of whether or not he can get the confidence to do so.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

I don't think he needs that shot, Ben Wallace didn't have that shot,
To me it looks like somebody finally got in Pat's head and told him

"big fella, look, when you have the ball within 5 feet of the rim there is nobody in college that can stop you without fouling you and even when you do get fouled you are strong enough to put the ball in the hoop, quit f'ing around and power it up"

That is how it looked last night anyway

[regurgigator]

He used to be able to make that shot. I think he has it in his head (because of the FT shooting) that he isn't a good shooter. He has the ability to knock down that 12 footer, it's just a matter of whether or not he can get the confidence to do so.

I have little doubt that Young can develop a good mid-range jump shot like Haslem has. His form on his FT's is actually not bad - and he puts a nice arc on the ball.

[themistocles]

Young has been a force this season since Billy D sat him.

The 10 foot jumper would, of course, be a very nice addition.