Respect from the AJC!!

[PSGator66]

I totally agree with this being one of our best teams ever but hopeully our players keep even headed about their success.

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/college/florida-brings-one-its-best-teams-ever-athens/nT4YG/

[MJGator8104]

A good article from an actual AJC writer...

[GatorLurker]

I may have a minority view on this forum, but I would take this team against either Championship team. I think they are better.

[Colin]

I may have a minority view on this forum, but I would take this team against either Championship team. I think they are better.

The title team had advantages over this one, but it would be a good game. Who would guard Brewer?

[themistocles]

I may have a minority view on this forum, but I would take this team against either Championship team. I think they are better.

Well, you can't judge a team by it's players, because chemistry is so very important. Both the 2006/2007 and this team have rather outstanding team chemistry, so lets call that a push (when you and the dealer have the same card count in Blackjack - say 17 to 17).

The Championship teams both had a stronger and deeper Front Court, with 4 Bigs (this team has 3) and 1 6'8" in Brewer. These team has 3 excellent bigs, and, when Prather is healthy, a 3 who can also play 4 (as could Brewer). Advantage 06/07.

This team has a deeper and perhaps better backcourt. It lacks a true go-to shooter like Humphrey, but is deeper, with a solid 4 guys who are contributing, and I think that both Wilbekin and Boynton are better defensive players than any of the 3 06/07 backcourt players. Advantage - 2012.

Time will tell how good this team is, but it may be pretty close to those incredible teams, although it ain't gonna see 3 top NBA picks.

[tommyuf21]

I may have a minority view on this forum, but I would take this team against either Championship team. I think they are better.

The fact that people are starting to talk about this team in those terms is interesting.

I see some wonderful similarities, especially on the defensive end. However, with all due respect, the '04's were a one of a kind team. About 3/4's of the way through 2005-2006 season, I felt that they were a team of destiny. The following year, I was absolutely convinced that they would win it all.

I'm not convinced that this team, albeit very good and progressing well, has the same level of talent.

[MadduxFanII]

The fact that people are starting to talk about this team in those terms is interesting.

I see some wonderful similarities, especially on the defensive end. However, with all due respect, the '04's were a one of a kind team. About 3/4's of the way through 2005-2006 season, I felt that they were a team of destiny. The following year, I was absolutely convinced that they would win it all.

I'm not convinced that this team, albeit very good and progressing well, has the same level of talent.

I think this year's guards would give Green and Humphrey a lot of trouble; Wilbekin has a substantial size and athleticism advantage over Green, and if you let Boynton just play straight-up with Humphrey Kenny could do a lot to suppress Lee's game.

I think this team would get swallowed up inside by Horford, Noah and Richard, however. Young's improving, but he still doesn't have the talent, size or stubbornness of those three. And both Noah and Horford are agile enough to play with Murphy around the perimeter.

And then you have Brewer, who would be an utter mismatch unless Prather was playing the game of his life.

[tommyuf21]

Agree that the front court disparity between the 04's and this team is substantial. On the other hand, the tourney favors teams that have great guard play and this is something that this year's team has going for it.

It should be a great ride and who knows. It's hard to sell a Donovan coach team short because he knows how to get it done come tourney time.

[GatorLurker]

Noah vs Murphy is the most interesting match-up as they are totally different. Both are really awesome. Noah is a wee bit better overall, I think.

KB vs Hump is another one, but I would give KB the edge by a fair bit.

TG is a bit better on O, but Wilbekin is much better on D. Perhaps a push.

Horford gets a small edge over Patric.

Brewer vs Rosario/Frazier II/Prather is a big ? With a healthy Prather I give the edge to the current squad just because of the ability to mix and match.

I think that the backcourt advantage with the current team is the decider. The 04's may have had a slight edge in the frontcourt, but the guys in the backcourt handle the ball more. YMMV.

[Gator4Peace]

Are really comparing this years team to arguably the best College Basketball team of all time?

And we call Kentucky fans delusional.

I need to see a lot more out of this years team to even have that discussion.

[GatorLurker]

I need to see a lot more out of this years team to even have that discussion.

I have seen plenty. We are seeing something really special.

[tommyuf21]

Are really comparing this years team to arguably the best College Basketball team of all time?

And we call Kentucky fans delusional.

I need to see a lot more out of this years team to even have that discussion.

It sounds ludicrous at face value.

However, its nice that we've reached a point where some nice memories are being revisited. To date, this is clearly the best team we've had since them and I think that is spurring some of the discussion.

I think its important in these comparisons that the 04's place in history not get confused here. I mean, we are talking about one of the few back to back champions in our lifetime.

[GatorLurker]

I see a team with the D of the 1994 team with the O of the 2000 team. I just hope that they can keep it together.

And if they do it doesn't mean that they will win it all. 1991 UNLV didn't and they were one of the best teams ever.

[fox]

04s had a will to Win and uncanny ability to focus. The inside out game was the best I've ever seen. Just When you were thinking you could compete, Hump would stab u through the heart.

This year's team has a lot to prove. If they want to get better every game and increase the killer instinct they can get a title. Arizona proved we need a guy in the final minutes who refuses to lose. Or 2. Or 3.

[Gatuar]

Y'all are on crack

[GatorLurker]

The 2007 team had the ability to focus against a really bad LSU team late in the season? Please don't compare that to the AZ game with this year's squad.

[The_Graygator]

Are really comparing this years team to arguably the best College Basketball team of all time?

And we call Kentucky fans delusional.

I need to see a lot more out of this years team to even have that discussion.

I tend to agree.

This is a "very good" Gator basketball team, but they still have a lot to prove if they are even near the level our '04's were on IMO.

[Gatuar]

Imagine what the 04's would do in this upcoming NCAA tourney

In a year when most agree no dominant teams we are comparing to one of best teams in college bball history

[GatorLurker]

I will bet even odds that this team goes 17-1 or better in the SEC. Any other UF team win 17 regular season SEC games?

[Gator4Peace]

It sounds ludicrous at face value.

However, its nice that we've reached a point where some nice memories are being revisited. To date, this is clearly the best team we've had since them and I think that is spurring some of the discussion.

I think its important in these comparisons that the 04's place in history not get confused here. I mean, we are talking about one of the few back to back champions in our lifetime.

I hear you.

I will say this. It's nice to consider that this team still has a chance to be in that discussion.

On a side note; Kadji is killing it right now against Duke. We could use him.

[antny]

06-07 answered every challenge and won a ridiculous amount of tournament games in a row starting with the preseason nit I believe. They rarely played a close game when anything significant was on the line.

While the potential is there how can anyone take this years team over a proven great repeat champ like that 06 07 team?

[csugator]

Count me in with the "that's ridiculous" camp. No way.

[born2beagator]

06-07 answered every challenge and won a ridiculous amount of tournament games in a row starting with the preseason nit I believe. They rarely played a close game when anything significant was on the line.

While the potential is there how can anyone take this years team over a proven great repeat champ like that 06 07 team?

completely agreed. I don't think anyone is going to match them

[TampaGatorFan]

The '04s were one of the greatest college basketball teams ever assembled. This year's squad is great, but they would lose by double digits to the B2B champs.

[geauxgator1]

Back to back NC's vs. hasn't won anything yet.. No contest at this time. We'll see at the end of the year. There's a lot of BB yet to play.

[MJGator8104]

I will bet even odds that this team goes 17-1 or better in the SEC. Any other UF team win 17 regular season SEC games?

From what I remember reading, there have been maybe two teams who've gone 17-1...none have gone 18-0. Hoping this team is the first.

[Gatorgal04]

And . . . The follow-up article:

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/college/dogs-fold-2nd-half-vs-no-8-gators/nT5gP/

[gatorump]

Looking at this year's team:
http://www.gatorzone.com/basketball/men/stats/cumu.pdf

vs. 2006-2007
http://www.gatorzone.com/basketball/men/history/2006/review.pdf

What really strikes me is how alike the balance is for the starting 5 on both teams. The 06-07 team all were in double digits led by Green. (That really surprised me). This year's team 4 are in double figures and SW is at 8.9 led by Boynton who is at 13.3, the same as Green btw.
Many have overlooked, or have at least not mentioned, Chris Richard's and Walter Hodge's role on those teams, but just looking at stats Prather and WY are doing just as well if not better on paper. Frazier is also a great contributor as was Speights respectively.
I love the balance of this team and as we saw with Uga our offense can go cold but our defense will keep us from getting out of games. I am not ready to say this team is better, nor do I feel that a comparison is even fair, but looking at the one constant, Donovan, he has to love where this team is sitting.
One other great similarity that this team has, is that you can't just shut one guy down, someone always picks up the slack, very hard to have an off night when the whole team is the most valuable player on the court.
Time will tell, I just hope we get to have this debate in April!

[fox]

The Gators have now beaten UGA in men's basketball for the 17 times in the last 20 meetings.

ohnudge

[gatorbogey]

i'm not convinced we have great guard play. defensively yes, but lee could hit any /every shot it seemed [i don't think he was ever 'cold'] and green was a very good pg and could hit the outside shot alot too - knew when to shoot, knew when to drive, knew when to dish. it's still not all that natural for our guards on this team just yet.

no one's close to brewer. no one's close to noah and/or horford - defensively and offensively.

the great thing about the 04's too is that if you set about stopping one aspect, it opened the door for others , i.e. guard the perimeter, and the bigs had a field day, or pack the paint, and we'd kill u from outside. still don't have that level of comfort w/ this year's squad. but we are well balanced so that shows we aren't relying on one aspect, which is good.

defensively, really do love this year's squad. the guards especially. i think they do hustle and really do enjoy the defense they exhibit. it is a great mindset and attitude they have.

now, when you look at the metrics - such as pomeroy, you'd be hard pressed to pick out who's better. right now, in fact, this year's squad might be more efficient. but that may be due to less quality competition and/or there's just not that many really good teams performing at a high level.