we're all thinking it so I'll ask: Does our lack of competition in the SEC scare you

[pinecrestgator]

It concerns because we could be heading into the tournament without being battle-tested. Obviously, there's nothing our team can do except play their best but I hope we get tested a few times these next 11 games b/c we'll certainly be tested in the tourney. Especially, if we run into those big physical Big Ten teams.

[UFreak]

Absolutely does. Sadly, there is nothing we can do about it. You get good at winning close games by winning close games.
I am concerned with how we will react when we play someone in the tourney and it is going down to the wire.
We have had one game like that this year and it was a complete meltdown of epic proportions.

[madgator]

you worry too much


seriously

what conference really jumps out at your for being tough? The big 10? we played a good team that is competing well against their best....and we killed them

we traveled on the road, across country to play one of the best in the country.

K. St. is a tourney team


Plus, the SEC is not THAT weak. We are going to have to travel to UK, Vandy (always a tough game no matter what), Tennessee is not a bad team.

you might consider that you are over-stating weak competition.....that premise only applies for the PAC-10

[gatorman_07732]

It scares me a bit and I'll just use the analogy of football and FSU in the ACC. I think it is hard to gauge how hard we really are, and the AZ game was a real disappointment.

[xenythx]

It would scare me if we were struggling in our SEC contests, but we're not.

[bofusgators]

I'm not worried at all as, long as we'ge got Billy.

[pinecrestgator]

Absolutely does. Sadly, there is nothing we can do about it. You get good at winning close games by winning close games.
I am concerned with how we will react when we play someone in the tourney and it is going down to the wire.
We have had one game like that this year and it was a complete meltdown of epic proportions.

I've been watching a lot of big ten ball. The teams that we could potentially meet in the sweet 16, Michigan State and Ohio State, will be very tough to handle. We won't blow them out. What happens when it's a close game with 5 minutes left? That is my concern. I hope Kentucky gives us hell in Rupp on March 9th

[MadduxFanII]

As a general rule this isn't something I worry about, but the results are getting so out of hand it's hard not to think about this a little.

I mean, South Carolina is a major conference team. They should not be losing 55-15 in the second half of a game. Last night was basically one of our early-season outings against the likes of Northwest Idaho Tech State A&M. It's hard to see how helpful that sort of game is.

[madgator]

I've been watching a lot of big ten ball. The teams that we could potentially meet in the sweet 16, Michigan State and Ohio State, will be very tough to handle. We won't blow them out. What happens when it's a close game with 5 minutes left? That is my concern. I hope Kentucky gives us hell in Rupp on March 9th

I want nothing to do with Ohio St.

Michigan St. I think we can handle with ease.

[your_perfect_enemy]

when refering to big 10 teams as physical, do you mean slow and boring like their football teams?

[antny]

06 and 07 teams didn't always win close games I believe. The best way not to lose close games is to not play them. Eventually you will lose one no matter how many you play. The ball won't always bounce your way, Bad officiating, foul trouble...

[TheRaid]

I worry about how we will handle close games, end game runs, knowing what to do in adverse situations, not having been there done that. In fact, all we know about that is how poorly we screwed it all up at Arizona. I have no reason to think we know anything more about how to handle those situations than we did that woeful night and that game if you want to call it that against KSU.

And come Tourney time, you rarely have it otherwise. We will have to win several close highly contested games. I am not convinced we can win 1, much less multiples.

[rserina]

No. Playing teams that can beat us scares me. We went on the road to Tucson and Kansas City and hosted Marquette and Wisconsin, plus we will visit Lexington. It may not be the toughest schedule, but we have played some decent teams.

Moreover, seven kids in our rotation were in our rotation last year when we played UK down the stretch twice and made the Elite Eight. Did they forget how to play in tough games over the summer?

[ufgator4ever]

I'm not worried at all as, long as we'ge got Billy.

Yes, but Billy can't be on the floor with the team. We had Billy the last two years in the Elite 8 games where we folded and again at AZ.
The lack of close games and better competition could be the downfall to this year's squad. Its unfortunate, but nothing they can do about the SEC bball quality.

[swampgas44]

It scares me a bit and I'll just use the analogy of football and FSU in the ACC. I think it is hard to gauge how hard we really are, and the AZ game was a real disappointment.

We win the AZ game in spite of the meltdown had the bs technical on Yeguete for hanging on the rim not been called. :punk:

[garygator]

In a word ... absolfreakinlutely.

[gator1986]

We've been tested by a couple different teams? Georgia, Georgetown, Marquette, Arizona, Kansas st, ??

[UFreak]

Moreover, seven kids in our rotation were in our rotation last year when we played UK down the stretch twice and made the Elite Eight. Did they forget how to play in tough games over the summer?

I think like anything you get better at it when you do it more often. And you can get rusty at things over the course of a year. Plus, it likely will be a different dynamic on the floor for us in close late games this year. Beal and Erv out, Scottie and Rosario in.

In short, I would like to see us have some games that we need to close out toward the end. For instance, will we try to get the ball to Scottie to close out and rely on him to hit free throws like we did so effectively with Green not so long ago? Or will it be Kenny? Or more of a team and situational approach.

The deadliest thing about our back to back runs is when we had a game by say 10 points with 2:30 left, it was over. You were going to have to foul Green and he was automatic from the line and rarely turned it over in those situations.

[gatorman_07732]

We win the AZ game in spite of the meltdown had the bs technical on Yeguete for hanging on the rim not been called. :punk:

That is what you call an excuse. I didn't like the call either but blaming that for the loss is not accurate when we could handle AZ's pressure.

[themistocles]

I think Mad is correct.

You must realize that this team played the OOC schedule without having Wilbekin as the primary PG, which makes a huge difference in the team's efficacy.

The OOC was quite tough, which is a main reason the Gator's RPI is so high.

The SEC has quite several competitive teams, but this Gator team makes them all look like Division III middle-of-the-roaders the way they are playing now.

I mean, South Carolina just manhandled a decent Arkansas team - who would have expected last nights blowout???

You may recall that Tex A&M had just solidly beaten Ky in Lexington before facing the Gator defense, which they learned is very difficult to score against.

Missouri was considered a decent team due to their OOC play, until the Gators destroyed them.

Note that Marquette is tied for the Big East lead, 2 games ahead of Louisville and tied with Syracuse at 6-1 right now. You may recall that the Marquette coach said that the Gators gave them their worst lost in his 5 year term as head coach. And recall, they play in the top conference, the Big East.

I think you guys are underestimating just how exceptional this team really is. I mean, KenPom has them rated higher than any team ever has been in his ratings, which considers the nature of the competition.

Let me quote a wise and famous fellow, Bob Marley: "Don't Worry. Be Happy."

[jagervol01]

I think you should wait until after you have played at Kentucky before asking that...and I need to see you win in Knoxville before the coronation. Laugh if you want but it's just happened once since 2005 and Tenn won twice last year. You clearly are much better but that was the case last year and in 2007 as well. It is clear Tenn plays with a lot of confidence against Fla and is not intimidated.

[rounds]

Late game inbounds ability+
Patric & Yegettes FT clangs=
loss in most close games

Impressed with:
defense
Frazier
Prather
Drive to hoop by SW, KB, & MR as it helps their confidence in staying in the game and makes the threes come easier than staying outside jacking misses.
Yegettes hustle
Patric staying with it and not making excuses or getting attitude.

The 3 guards taking it to hoop has made the biggest difference, IMO.
Attitude & defense is on fire.

[rounds]

I think you should wait until after you have played at Kentucky before asking that...and I need to see you win in Knoxville before the coronation. Laugh if you want but it's just happened once since 2005 and Tenn won twice last year. You clearly are much better but that was the case last year and in 2007 as well. It is clear Tenn plays with a lot of confidence against Fla and is not intimidated.

Good points...who did Tenn lose off that team?

[UFreak]

I think you should wait until after you have played at Kentucky before asking that...and I need to see you win in Knoxville before the coronation. Laugh if you want but it's just happened once since 2005 and Tenn won twice last year. You clearly are much better but that was the case last year and in 2007 as well. It is clear Tenn plays with a lot of confidence against Fla and is not intimidated.

You have every right to feel that way and history would certainly make you feel that way. But I think we will beat you guys handily at both places this year. Now at UK at the end of the season is a tricky one. Because they are so talented and will have had the whole season to gel. At Mizzou is also going to be a tough one.

[jagervol01]

Good points...who did Tenn lose off that team?
Jerome Maymon is out for the season and has been missed but that doesn't explain Tennessee's struggles. Trae Golden is having a horrible season after playing great down the stretch last year. He is a turnover machine. Jarnell Stokes has also been a big disappointment. Also, Martin has had a hard time settling on a rotation. His substitution patterns are not consistent game to game. Sometimes Makadoula plays 30 mins a game and other times he doesn't play at all. Go figure.

[108]

Late game turnovers were the main reason we lost at Zona...I feel like we have done much better at bringing up the ball under pressure since then

We've clearly worked on it and Scotty is becoming much more comfortable as a ball handler

But yes, anything can happen, but what I like is that Billy seems to be teaching them even with the blowouts, and they seem to be responding

This group has a high basketball IQ

[corpgator]

No, I'd be scared if we weren't blowing them out.

[Bradass]

Not concerned...because we WILL be tested by the tournament. We still have to play @ Mizzou, still play Tennessee and Kentucky twice, Arkansas, etc. Yes, we are better than those teams, BUT those teams will be looking for resume-boosters at that point in time. We won't keep cruising like this in each and every game. Some of them will be close, and the SEC tourney won't be a cakewalk either. Not worried at all.

[108]

Tenn has generally beat us throughout the years by out hustling and getting more physical

I'm not worried about the hustling part this year

The best thing about a potential loss before the tourney is that it will help our team grow

[MichaelJoeWilliamson]

My goodness. We still have to go

@Arkansas
@Tennessee
@Mizzou
@Kentucky

Those are going to be all tough games. So, the "lack of competition" does not scare me at all.

[gtr2x]

Senior led team and veteran coach, not worried about the lack of close games. Enjoying the lack of game stress after football season.

Worried about free throw shooting and you never know when the shooting touch will disappear against a hot shooting team. Thankfully, the defense is always there.

[4everaGator]

I think Mad is correct.

You must realize that this team played the OOC schedule without having Wilbekin as the primary PG, which makes a huge difference in the team's efficacy.

The OOC was quite tough, which is a main reason the Gator's RPI is so high.

The SEC has quite several competitive teams, but this Gator team makes them all look like Division III middle-of-the-roaders the way they are playing now.

I mean, South Carolina just manhandled a decent Arkansas team - who would have expected last nights blowout???

You may recall that Tex A&M had just solidly beaten Ky in Lexington before facing the Gator defense, which they learned is very difficult to score against.

Missouri was considered a decent team due to their OOC play, until the Gators destroyed them.

Note that Marquette is tied for the Big East lead, 2 games ahead of Louisville and tied with Syracuse at 6-1 right now. You may recall that the Marquette coach said that the Gators gave them their worst lost in his 5 year term as head coach. And recall, they play in the top conference, the Big East.

I think you guys are underestimating just how exceptional this team really is. I mean, KenPom has them rated higher than any team ever has been in his ratings, which considers the nature of the competition.

Let me quote a wise and famous fellow, Bob Marley: "Don't Worry. Be Happy."
song was by Bobby McFerrin

[gatorman_07732]

Late game turnovers were the main reason we lost at Zona...I feel like we have done much better at bringing up the ball under pressure since then

We've clearly worked on it and Scotty is becoming much more comfortable as a ball handler

But yes, anything can happen, but what I like is that Billy seems to be teaching them even with the blowouts, and they seem to be responding

This group has a high basketball IQ

I agree with you about the AZ game. Once concern I have is how can this team do against a ranked team that has a big man physical physical presence.

[malscott]

Seeing we lost the two tough games we've played this year, it concerns me. Not worried though. I think the boys had a bit of a wake-up call from suffering those losses. Once we downright lost. The other we gave away. Actually, we may have given away both. Different team now. Playing team Billy Ball. If we're gonna lose any more games I hope we can do that soon so we can embrace winning from that point forward. Unless we can go from here to tournament champions...with no losses. :) Go Gators.

[gatorman_07732]

Seeing we lost the two tough games we've played this year, it concerns me. Not worried though. I think the boys had a bit of a wake-up call from suffering those losses. Once we downright lost. The other we gave away. Actually, we may have given away both. Different team now. Playing team Billy Ball. If we're gonna lose any more games I hope we can do that soon so we can embrace winning from that point forward. Unless we can go from here to tournament champions...with no losses. :) Go Gators.

In my mind we have to go into the Rupp and win that game

[ArtVandelay]

Seeing we lost the two tough games we've played this year, it concerns me. Not worried though. I think the boys had a bit of a wake-up call from suffering those losses. Once we downright lost. The other we gave away. Actually, we may have given away both. Different team now. Playing team Billy Ball. If we're gonna lose any more games I hope we can do that soon so we can embrace winning from that point forward. Unless we can go from here to tournament champions...with no losses. :) Go Gators.

The AZ loss doesn't concern me in the sense that we dominated that game. The K-State game is the one that concerns me because we basically didn't show up to play. If that happens in the tourney (except for the first round) we will lose the game. The good news is that we have shown up in a major way for every game since! Sure we have gotten off to 1 or 2 slow starts, but we were still winning the game.

There are only a few teams that have had more challenging schedules that we might have to face and we would most likely face them deep in the tourney once we are already in a groove.

so...NO...

[tupacbiff]

Jerome Maymon is out for the season and has been missed but that doesn't explain Tennessee's struggles. Trae Golden is having a horrible season after playing great down the stretch last year. He is a turnover machine. Jarnell Stokes has also been a big disappointment. Also, Martin has had a hard time settling on a rotation. His substitution patterns are not consistent game to game. Sometimes Makadoula plays 30 mins a game and other times he doesn't play at all. Go figure.

Utenn struggles are easily explained...they went from a very good coach with a good system to a below avg coach with a poor system.

[West_End_Gator]

I've had this worry increasingly with each game where the margin of victory increases, which is absolutely bass-ackwards.

The main thing that concerns me is that we just don't seem very crisp handling the ball. Half the entry passes into the post become turnovers. Young doesn't set up well to receive a pass or to hang onto a pass when he gets it, and nobody seems very good at post entry passing anyway. The staple high-low bounce pass from the 4, which Noah was so good at it, doesn't work very well with Murphy or Yeguete at the 4. But the worse our post offense gets, the better our post defense gets, and it turns into a contest of perimeter shooting, which we win easily.

So I guess the lesson is, quit worrying and enjoy the ride. I doubt we will ever see a stretch of sustained dominance like this again in the history of Gator basketball.

[REM08]

If I asked you guys to list how many teams there were out there that would make you worry if you played them, how many would it be? There CAN'T be that many. Its not like you'll end up playing more than a couple of them. Sure it matters a little. But its not like you'll have to dredge through 6 of these type games in a row.

Its great to have a team that's "battle tested" and has experience in close-game/last second situations. But honestly, I'd rather have the team that doesn't have as much of this experience because they humiliated most of the teams they played.

[ArtVandelay]

If I asked you guys to list how many teams there were out there that would make you worry if you played them, how many would it be? There CAN'T be that many. Its not like you'll end up playing more than a couple of them. Sure it matters a little. But its not like you'll have to dredge through 6 of these type games in a row.

Its great to have a team that's "battle tested" and has experience in close-game/last second situations. But honestly, I'd rather have the team that doesn't have as much of this experience because they humiliated most of the teams they played.

My list is short: Michigan

[rounds]

Love to see humiliation EVERY game to the title and we wouldn't even have this discussion, hehe...
Team is starting fast, then kickin' it up!

[REM08]

My list is short: Michigan

JUST made the connection with your name Art. You know I live in the city (Lexington) that is home to the real J Peterman.

http://seinfeld.wikia.com/wiki/Jacopo_Peterman

[Matthanuf06]

I'm not too concerned but it would be nice for this crew of guys to practice their primary weakness. The fact is we folded late in the game, after holding 3 big leads in the last two elite 8s and this years biggest game.

I think we will be fine, but practice makes perfect.

However I'd rather us blow through our competition, get a 1 seed, then have a handful of tight games and risk losing a 1 seed.

[bullish]

I few teams I would be worried about playing right now, Butler and Louisville, add to that Michigan, Villanova, Kansas, Arizona. SEC foes Kentucky, Tenn in Knoxville, Missouri in Columbia, MO., The toughest part of our schedule is coming up.

We will be remembered by what we do in the NCAA tournament. Hopefully we get a high seed, a close regional, and play Duke or NC in the East Regional Final. My recipe for the Final Four.

[tommyuf21]

If I asked you guys to list how many teams there were out there that would make you worry if you played them, how many would it be? There CAN'T be that many. Its not like you'll end up playing more than a couple of them. Sure it matters a little. But its not like you'll have to dredge through 6 of these type games in a row.

Its great to have a team that's "battle tested" and has experience in close-game/last second situations. But honestly, I'd rather have the team that doesn't have as much of this experience because they humiliated most of the teams they played.

We have actually faced some different situations this season, some quite unusual. I also feel that our tougher tests are yet to come and we can only benefit from being challenged.

That's why I hope that Kentucky gets a little better and that we have some challenges down the stretch. If we are the team that many think we are, we'll pass most of them and be in a great position to have a great NCAA run.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

I think Mad is correct.

You must realize that this team played the OOC schedule without having Wilbekin as the primary PG, which makes a huge difference in the team's efficacy.

The OOC was quite tough, which is a main reason the Gator's RPI is so high.

The SEC has quite several competitive teams, but this Gator team makes them all look like Division III middle-of-the-roaders the way they are playing now.

I mean, South Carolina just manhandled a decent Arkansas team - who would have expected last nights blowout???

You may recall that Tex A&M had just solidly beaten Ky in Lexington before facing the Gator defense, which they learned is very difficult to score against.

Missouri was considered a decent team due to their OOC play, until the Gators destroyed them.

Note that Marquette is tied for the Big East lead, 2 games ahead of Louisville and tied with Syracuse at 6-1 right now. You may recall that the Marquette coach said that the Gators gave them their worst lost in his 5 year term as head coach. And recall, they play in the top conference, the Big East.

I think you guys are underestimating just how exceptional this team really is. I mean, KenPom has them rated higher than any team ever has been in his ratings, which considers the nature of the competition.

Let me quote a wise and famous fellow, Bob Marley: "Don't Worry. Be Happy."

Dude, .... that was Bobby McFar..something or other...... Not Bob Marely... Who just rolled over in his grave I think

[MJGator8104]

Short answer, no. ;)

[regurgigator]

The AZ loss doesn't concern me in the sense that we dominated that game. The K-State game is the one that concerns me because we basically didn't show up to play. If that happens in the tourney (except for the first round) we will lose the game. The good news is that we have shown up in a major way for every game since! Sure we have gotten off to 1 or 2 slow starts, but we were still winning the game.



Even in our "slow starts", we've been playing stifling defense in every game (all game long) since about the Yale game. I didn't see the stifling defense in any of the 5-game stretch from Arizona (Dec 15th) (although we played very well offensively) until the Yale game (Jan 6th). But, I think it's back to stay :happy:

Like 108 said, you can see our obvious improvement (particularly Wilbekin's) in handling full-court pressure, which was our specific downfall against Arizona. I still wouldn't say we're great at it, but we've gotten much better and I doubt we'll see anything like the Arizona collapse again.

It would be optimal to have a few more close games, but no I wouldn't say it scares me. Plus, we probably will have a handful of close games to come.

But, if we actually get to the Tourney with no more close games, then I'd have start thinking we might run a few teams off the court in the Tourney also :happy:

[themistocles]

Dude, .... that was Bobby McFar..something or other...... Not Bob Marely... Who just rolled over in his grave I think

Well, honestly, I don't think Marley would roll over in his grave to have such a wonderful song attributed to him.

I apologize to Bobby Mcferrin for the error.

The idea, however, remains the same.


Oh, and Rem - regarding how many teams would make Gator fans anxious, you must realize that this group has seen so very many weir losses through the years (not that everyone hasn't), but things like that loss to Arizona, or the last two elite 8 losses to Butler and Louisville make threads like "Are we due for a letdown against South Carolina?" or "Starkville."

Really, very few teams look to be in the Gator's neighborhood, at least on paper, but you can lose any game.

[number1]

I will gladly take all of the blowout wins.

[TampaGatorFan]

I will gladly take all of the blowout wins.

^ this

[GatorNation850]

It doesn't scare me... Now if the games were closer I would be a bit nervous but the way we are blowing everyone out that shows that we are a REALLY good team