A few thoughts after UMo

[InstiGATOR1]

What a great game:

1. This group really likes to play with each other ala the 04s and Humphrey. I think that has not been the case every year since them.

2. One of the great things about this team is after your best perimeter guys has been frustrated by Wilbekin, Wilbekin gets a rest and the best perimeter opponent has to contend with Boynton.

3. It appears that the talking to for the Frosh worked quite well. They appeared much to be playing much smarter, with much more focus and intensity.

4. Defense is contagious. When everyone else is playing tough D, you do not want to let down your teammates. I hope the contagion infect Hill and C.Walker too. It is really great that this program is becoming known for not only offensive guys but defenders ala Noah, Brewer and now this team.

[themistocles]

Before this season began, I was drawing some comparisons with the 06 team, although others noted that the 2006 team had 2 superstar bigs which this team lacks, plus a superstar 6'8" small forward, which this team lacks, but the teamwork and defense of this team appears to be as good as, if not better than the 006 and 007 teams. Note that in 06, Noah and Horford were terrors if you got past the guards. Murphy, Young and Yeguete simply are not in that class, but Wilbekin & Boynton (as you note) are considerably better defenders than Green (who was very good), and Humphrey (who also was quite good on defense - almost never out of position).

To blow out both Tex A&M and Missouri in successive games, both of which appear to be reasonably decent teams shows that this team, given it's opposition, is perhaps even better than those earlier teams. And those last two, playing without the Lockdown SF Prather.

Recall that the blowing out of Wisconsin occurred without either Wilbekin or Prather in the lineup.

I must say, they have impressed me.

[HALLGATOR]

Some good points. I really liked the difference in the play of the young guys. Looked much more focused out there today.

[kellgator]

Yes, I'd like to know what Billy said (did to) the freshmen. They were terrible at A&M, but today they actually extended the lead. Looked much more focused.

[HALLGATOR]

From what we were told the first thing that happened to them was a butt chewing by Coach Pelphrey right after the game.

[StrangeGator]

From what we were told the first thing that happened to them was a butt chewing by Coach Pelphrey right after the game.

Don't blame him. They let Mizzou score over fifty points on our home court.

[StrangeGator]

Yes, I'd like to know what Billy said (did to) the freshmen. They were terrible at A&M, but today they actually extended the lead. Looked much more focused.

Frazier looked good from the beginning, but there's always the question about how he'd play, or how much he would play when the conference season got under way. He's growing up before our eyes. He and Wilbekin will be hard to keep off the court next season.

[rserina]

All good points. The comparison that occurred to me earlier this year was the 09-10 Syracuse team, minus Wes Johnson. We are just so similar in terms of the depth of our rotation, our effectiveness defensively, our balance offensively, our experience, and our athleticism. Just a nice, well-rounded team.

No way to know how deep this can go in the postseason. But we will be competitive all season. It tells you something when our worst game of the year was a six-point loss on the road right before Christmas against a now-ranked team and our only other loss on the road by one point after a furious final-minute rally.

Where is that signature someone has about doubting the direction of the program a few years ago?

[GatorLurker]

This team reminds me of a 1991 UNLV-lite. Same kind of smothering D along with a very efficient O. UNLV was just a wee bit better with an amazing array of talent.

[ufgator4ever]

Freshmen were at home. That's a big difference for freshmen.

[sec1]

i agree the freshmen play better at home...

[gatorrick1]

You can't underestimate the value of having a veteran team defensively. We r so good technically on our help and ball screen defense. Our hedge and recover is the best in college ball this season IMO and the fact we are finishing with boxing out makes it so tough to score on us. Really active feet lead to great positioning and steals.

As a coach I know how long it takes to build a team defensively, it's not a one year process it's a process that has to be built on year after year.

[themistocles]

Excellent and very, very, very important points Rick.

That this year's team has 7 upper classmen playing key roles is vital.


Next year's team, if Young comes back, will have several players with at least one year playing together, although nowhere near as much experience together as this bunch, except for the 3 or 4 seniors.

[gatorbogey]

interesting being low behind the gator bench. could see a bit of the interaction between the coaches and the team.

what rick was saying about the veteran team struck me or was evident to me when, say, frazier II was on the court rather than the others. compared to the vets on the team, frazier was relatively lost, looking back alot to the coaches for instructions while the others almost knew what to do w/out the coaches on the sideline.

[GatorLurker]

I think that this team could go head-to-head with the 04's Back-To-Back teams and maybe come out a little better.

The 04's team didn't have a stretch 4 like Murphy. But they had Lee H who was always "money" to stretch the D so maybe it is a wash.


The 04's didn't have the defensive back court of Wilbiken and Boyton. They are killer.

On the other hand the 04's had a bit of an advantage on protecting the basket with Noah and Horford. But PY, Erik, and Will Y are VERY good and not to be dissed.

Needless to say i am HYPED about the current version of Gator Basketball. Awesome D with extremely efficient O is a winning combination. Personally I think that this is the best Gator team I have ever seen and I have been watching for well over 30 years.

[dangolegators]

I would still like to see the freshmen get a few more minutes in games like these, but that's never been Billy's style. Graham, Walker and Ogbueze only got 3 minutes each in a 31 point blowout. We only have 7 guys who are getting any real minutes right now, so reducing a little wear and tear by getting the freshmen a few more minutes wouldn't hurt and reduces the chances of getting a starter injured in blowout time. It also helps prepare the freshmen a bit more in case they are truly needed later in the season.

[themistocles]

One additional point.

We must remember that Wilbekin skipped his senior year of high school.

Thus, from a physical maturity perspective, his first year as a Gator was like the heavy maturing last year of high school, while last year was like being a freshman physically and mentally.

So now, having experienced that Freshman to Sophomore leap, he is a physically and mentally mature Sophomore, and, it really shows in more than one way.

[HALLGATOR]

I would still like to see the freshmen get a few more minutes in games like these, but that's never been Billy's style. Graham, Walker and Ogbueze only got 3 minutes each in a 31 point blowout. We only have 7 guys who are getting any real minutes right now, so reducing a little wear and tear by getting the freshmen a few more minutes wouldn't hurt and reduces the chances of getting a starter injured in blowout time. It also helps prepare the freshmen a bit more in case they are truly needed later in the season.

The only reason we don't have 8 getting significant minutes is because Prather has had a tough year with injuries. If he can get healthy we should go 8 deep. Frazier II may have been forced into his role tonight but he did log 22 minutes and I expect him to continue to get good playing time after Casey returns.

[dangolegators]

The only reason we don't have 8 getting significant minutes is because Prather has had a tough year with injuries. If he can get healthy we should go 8 deep. Frazier II may have been forced into his role tonight but he did log 22 minutes and I expect him to continue to get good playing time after Casey returns.

With 8 main contributors, it is not unusual for at least one to be unavailable any given night. Whether it's Prather now, or Murphy, or Rosario, or Yeguette, who is dealing with chronic soreness in his knee, having a player unavailable or at least limited is typical. And being at 8 deep, the likelihood of only going 7 deep, or 6 deep, only increases as the season goes on and injuries accumulate. I'd like to see the freshmen get more minutes in blowouts.

[HALLGATOR]

I believe there is a good chance they will if we continue to dominate opponents. You might see one of the others anyway if Billy feels they have progressed enough to get them in during the regular course of the game.

[tupacbiff]

Young spoke to each frosh individually during the time out before they went in.

[madgator]

All good points. The comparison that occurred to me earlier this year was the 09-10 Syracuse team, minus Wes Johnson. We are just so similar in terms of the depth of our rotation, our effectiveness defensively, our balance offensively, our experience, and our athleticism. Just a nice, well-rounded team.

No way to know how deep this can go in the postseason. But we will be competitive all season. It tells you something when our worst game of the year was a six-point loss on the road right before Christmas against a now-ranked team and our only other loss on the road by one point after a furious final-minute rally.

Where is that signature someone has about doubting the direction of the program a few years ago?



great post and a quality example.....a team effort with no true "superstar"

be nice to have a wes johnson. that's why I'm still skeptical as to how far this team can actually go

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Kurtz has got a nice little shot, great story, the kid attended every practice and sat up in the stands until a team manager left for some reason, the players suggest they ask Kurtz to take his place, then he gets a little scout team action, next thing you know, he dresses for last years Milk challenge and now he is actually contributing, sat next to his mom at the Sunrise game last year, she was beyond excited for him.

[GothamGator]

The help defense has been sublime. Every time someone beat his man off the dribble, or a pass found an open man, a Gator defender rotated perfectly to cut off the play. It's been like that all season.

[GatorPlanet]

It seems like Kurtz wasn't just sitting there in the stands watching the guys practice. He was STUDYING the practice. He looks like he has an awareness of where to be on defense, and understands that he's not going to get minutes by firing away, but by being in position, boxing out, and playing hard. I love this attitude.