Official Final: Florida - 69 vs Arkansas - 80, Tuesday, 7:00 PM, ESPN

[HALLGATOR]

This week the Gators start off with a trip to Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks on their own turf. This will mark the halfway point of league play for Florida and possibly the toughest test so far of the SEC season. While Arkie is only 4-4 in league play they are also undefeated in Bud Walton Arena and have 4 impressive wins up to this point. There is no doubt the atmosphere will be electric with the 2nd ranked team in the nation coming to town and I have an idea the Razorback's coaches had to do little motivating to get their guys up for this one.

To me this is going to be an excellent test for the team, and from reading a lot of the posts being made I think it is fair to say quite a few of our members would like to see a bit closer game in order to see how the guys handle adversity. This may well be the kind of game where the guys have to scrap right up till the end and test their resolve. After this one then they will have 2 more home games against down teams and then a much anticipated match-up against the Wildcats of Kentucky. I am not discounting the toughness of Arkansas playing at home but once again I believe the Gators will prevail and finish the SEC season with an unblemished record.

As always.......

Go Gators!!!

Pregame notes are available here (http://www.gatorzone.com/basketball/men/)

You can listen to Mick and Mark here (http://www.wruf.com/listen-live/)

Read more about the Razorbacks here (http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=2421&SPSID=30746)

[gogators73]

Our best attribute in most of these blowouts is getting something like an 10-2 lead early.

We need to come out FIRED up, play lock down defense, run our offense, get the crowd out of it, and then cruise to a win!

[orlandogator]

I think they have lost 3 times at home.

[HALLGATOR]

My apologies to anyone who tried to post in the thread and found it closed. Checked the wrong box, when putting it up, by mistake.

[HALLGATOR]

I think they have lost 3 times at home.

The only home loss I see is a 91-82 defeat at the hands of Syracuse on Nov 30th.

[orlandogator]

The only home loss I see is a 91-82 defeat at the hands of Syracuse on Nov 30th.

Your right, wisconsin and Arizona state were neutral places for a tourney

[MadduxFanII]

Sorry, this time doesn't work for me. Someone tell Billy and get this pushed back two hours.

EDIT: aka, you're a big-time journalist now. Help a brother out.

[gatorbogey]

Work 'em Silly, Gators!

[The_Graygator]

This game worries me a lot after watching the refs try to hose us against 'Ole Miss, and the "Fayetteville Fix" back in 2007 immediately comes to mind, when Arkie went to the foul line about 30 times to UF's 12 times.

[LoyalGatorFan]

Me being the optimist, they seem to have 2 guys....Young and Powell...nobody else averages more than 7 a game....now they do average 77 a game but Ole Miss averaged 80 and we held them to 64...and thats with one guy scoring 25....if we can take care of the ball against their press and play good perimeter D, I like our chances...

[gatorbogey]

i do like that we'll be 'pressed'. we need to work against the press. gain confidence in beating pressing teams, etc.

[g8rboy]

so they are 4-0 at home in conference and 0-4 on the road. 'bout time for a home loss i would say.

[ThePlayer]

Me being the optimist, they seem to have 2 guys....Young and Powell...nobody else averages more than 7 a game....now they do average 77 a game but Ole Miss averaged 80 and we held them to 64...and thats with one guy scoring 25....if we can take care of the ball against their press and play good perimeter D, I like our chances...

Totally agree...plus, I don't see a starter over 6' 7".
How do they score most of their points anyway?

[kalaniocc]

go gators!

[sec1]

the hogs are a good team and if we are not focused they can certainly beat us , if we are ready to play then we win by 15 ... Go Gators

[LoyalGatorFan]

Totally agree...plus, I don't see a starter over 6' 7".
How do they score most of their points anyway?

They play a lot of guys who spread minimal points around...I think after Young and Powell they have 4-5 guys on the roster who average between 3-7 pts a game....but still they only average 2-3 more points per game than we do and we obviously play much better D...if we don't do things to beat ourselves (turnovers, missing FT's, etc) then we should be fine....and like you said they dont have a starter over 6'7"....Young and/or Murphy should be licking their chops...

[LoyalGatorFan]

BD might just let us take our chances guarding Powell and Young 1-on-1 to prevent other no-namers from beating us...

[XRAY]

After this one then they will have 2 more home games against down teams and then a much anticipated match-up against the Wildcats of Kentucky.

after this one only 1 more before UK

Sat, Feb 9 Mississippi State

Tue, Feb 12 Kentucky *

[lean_gator]

Almost that time....

[lean_gator]

Damn Jimmie Dykes......

[born2beagator]

Get a double digit lead early and take the piggy crowd out

[UFSECKINGS]

leeegggooo

[lean_gator]

BJ Young doesn't start? Interesting.

[born2beagator]

Gotta love gimmicks <_<

[gogators73]

Most nervous I have been in SEC play this year.

[rounds]

Run, run, run

[happygatorguy]

70-56 good guys prevail

[born2beagator]

Don't like how happy this crowd is right now, lets have them in their seats early shall we?

[rtgator]

Me too.

[born2beagator]

Oh wilby, you can't miss those...

[lean_gator]

Got to hit the easy ones Wilby

[lean_gator]

Foul?

[born2beagator]

Thats enough

[gatorbogey]

gotta guard the 3

[ApexNC]

getting good looks

[gogators73]

Hopefully that start entices Arkansas to take a ton of 3's.

[jcp]

You guys wanted some adversity to start the game? You got it. :tongue:

[born2beagator]

No really, enough with the 3s

[jcp]

Can they miss please?

[ApexNC]

maybe enough of the zone

[lean_gator]

Just like Georgia, they will go cold.

[gatorbogey]

we're missin', hogs are hitting

[born2beagator]

Coach whines and gets it reversed

[lean_gator]

Come on ref, cant be swayed by the crowd.

[UFSECKINGS]

They shoot 24% from 3... surely this will even out.

[jcp]

Let's start with the BS fouls please.

[born2beagator]

Arkansas can't miss. This ain't cool

[lean_gator]

Shoot when your open guys

[ApexNC]

nice passing on that possession

[flwgator2]

Arkansas won't let us get easy 3's.

[BengermanV]

I expected this game to be close.

[born2beagator]

Royal suckage right now. Arkansas looks like us

[gatorbogey]

13-5 hogs, going to the line for 1
15:53

[rounds]

Arky aint 24% at home!

[Jonas]

we are still going to win by 30

[ApexNC]

I expected this game to be close.

I'm beginning to hope it will be close ;-)

[mdgator05]

we are still going to win by 30

Not at Arkansas we aren't. Especially not playing like this.

[BengermanV]

Arkansas' intensity might wear off soon. Billy had to expect an early punch.

[born2beagator]

we are still going to win by 30

I don't care how much we win by.

[jcp]

I expected this game to be close.

I don't mind a close game as long as we're up by at least 15.

[gogators73]

Not an out of the ordinary start when on the road as the #2 team.

Just have to weather the emotion early.

[flwgator2]

Yugette limping

[1bobcat]

One and done on every trip.

[gogators73]

Good job KB

[lean_gator]

Man he damn near traveled

[born2beagator]

I am kinda upset with this start....

[jcp]

Yeguete. :(

[jcp]

These people are pulling shots out of their ass.

[born2beagator]

Screw you Pigs

[gogators73]

Arkansas is just hitting everything and playing great defense.

[jcp]

This is ridiculous.

[gatorbogey]

hogs hitting everything, the last 3 that was his only 2nd 3 of the year

[Gator_Joe]

Time out Billy! Jesus!

[UFFL]

Arkansas can't miss WTF

[gogators73]

That's 2 on Young and Yeguette is hurt.

[jcp]

I'm OK with no time out.

Not OK with that foul.

[born2beagator]

21-8

This is really embarrassing. What is wrong with you Gators!?

[ApexNC]

Sure glad Casey is back

[1bobcat]

This is a replay of the Georgia game from last season. Go ahead and chalk up an L.

[gatorbogey]

13:10
21-8 hogs

[UFFL]

Murphy just stands there. Doesn't try to block or anything

[jcp]

Embarrassing? Hehe get a grip.

[JohnC1908]

They are hitting everything.

[ApexNC]

26-10

[UFFL]

How the heck are they making all these 3 point shots

[gatorbogey]

deep 3 for hogs

[UFFL]

5-6 that is more than insane

[gogators73]

Lol.

Hitting literally everything

[lean_gator]

We will weather it

[born2beagator]

Embarrassing? Hehe get a grip.

Yes, 21-8 is and embarrassing start. This team is so much better than this.

[SwampBrody]

Holy crap they are dropping shots out of nowhere..

[UFFL]

They won't shoot like this all game, which is good.

[TWGator]

What are they shooting? 107%?? Holy cow....

[iam4uf]

Here's the game we all feared, a 24% shooting team shooting 83% while we're cold. This will be a great learning experience even if we lose.

[flwgator2]

That's a 3

[ApexNC]

They're shooting lights out, but most are uncontested

[UFSECKINGS]

This is absurd.

[jcp]

Yes, 21-8 is and embarrassing start. This team is so much better than this.

Stop watching.

[gatorbogey]

need to work it in to young, hogs are a small team

[born2beagator]

Stop watching.

No.

[UFFL]

What the hell was that

[CSpantheGatorFan]

How the heck are they making all these 3 point shots

We are their National Championship Game and they are really good at home. Have a bad feeling about this game.

[jcp]

need to work it in to young, hogs are a small team

Problem is he has to sit for a bit with 2 fouls already.

[UFFL]

better put their brains back in

[gatorbogey]

really out of sync, both ends of the court

[ApexNC]

Stop watching.

lighten up

[ufgator4ever]

This team needs some tests like this. Some adversity. It could easily happen in a tourney game like those matt walsh years.

[ih8danoles]

no chance they shoot over 90% the whole game. It will even out, I hope

[jcp]

lighten up

Hahaha I need to lighten up? Sure, whatever you say.

I am not the one calling this embarrassing because Arkansas happens to be shooting lights out.

[born2beagator]

no chance they shoot over 90% the whole game. It will even out, I hope

Watch them. We seem to be good for one poor shooting team having a fluky shooting night against us a year

[gogators73]

We have over 30 minutes left.

It has been 10 minutes. Now is the time to refocus.

[GatorAvatar]

What am I watching right now. Arkansas not missing anything.

[cstgator]

Yes, 21-8 is and embarrassing start. This team is so much better than this.

I agree with the poster that told you to get a grip. This is not embarrassing, it's just how sports goes sometimes. Give the Hogs credit, they're passing very well and nailing long 3s as well as finishing in the lane. They are pumped. It happens. Wouldn't be surprised to see Arky cool off and the Gators tighten up here.

[mdgator05]

This is the worst they have played all year. Arkansas is hot, but we aren't playing defense at all and our offense looks like it can't get set. They aren't hitting contested shots for the most part. They are open.

I really hope Yeguette is okay, because if not, we won't be able to win on attrition and I don't think we are going to win this game in the first half.

[born2beagator]

Hahaha I need to lighten up? Sure, whatever you say.

I am not the one calling this embarrassing because Arkansas happens to be shooting lights out.

I'm calling it what it is. This is a #2 team getting blown out.

[Gatuar]

Yeguette hurt and PY in foul trouble...recipe for disaster no post presence

[gatorbogey]

hogs have us doubled up 26-13

from donovan per wise: it's not the best team for 8 minutes, it's the best team for 40 minutes

[JohnC1908]

Hahaha I need to lighten up? Sure, whatever you say.

I am not the one calling this embarrassing because Arkansas happens to be shooting lights out.

Yeah it's a bit unrealistic for anyone to think the Gators are going to match that kind of shooting. Just need to get it within single digits by the half.

[gogators73]

Jeez. This is ridiculous.

[gatorbogey]

williams has made 2 threes now in this half, he made only 1 in all the previous games

[HumpGator]

Reckon this one is gonna be an L.

[born2beagator]

Yeah it's a bit unrealistic for anyone to think the Gators are going to match that kind of shooting. Just need to get it within single digits by the half.
its not unrealistic to expect better defense. A lot of these 3s were poorly guarded

[mdgator05]

Hahaha I need to lighten up? Sure, whatever you say.

I am not the one calling this embarrassing because Arkansas happens to be shooting lights out.

It isn't hard to hit open shots.

[ApexNC]

Arky is on pace for 124

[gatorbogey]

31-13 hogs on the turnover and fast break layin
10:25

[ih8danoles]

Jesus

[1bobcat]

This game is over already.

[UFFL]

31-13

[flwgator2]

Say goodbye to 18-0

[lean_gator]

Losing our cool

[Gator_Joe]

Murphy.....what did he expect the outcome to be?

[born2beagator]

F u Arky. Have your fluke game against someone else!

[UFFL]

They're just not missing. At all. Every possession seems like a make, and we're not doing anything to change that

[JohnC1908]

its not unrealistic to expect better defense. A lot of these 3s were poorly guarded

They're shooting from 3 feet behind the arc on half of these.

[UFFL]

Georgia did the same thing against us. woo

[GatorAvatar]

This game is over. We ran into a buzzsaw. That #2 ranking was a curse.

[ApexNC]

I"m betting Billy's embarrassed

[UFFL]

We can still win though

[mdgator05]

We better be careful, this could get Miami over Duke embarrassing, but to a much worse team.

[UFFL]

How in the ****ing world

[Bradass]

They can't miss from 3. I don't understand!!!!!!

[statesborogator]

6 of 8 on threes. Nuts. Make it 7 of 9

[kalaniocc]

Wtf is happening

[UFFL]

And we can't even make two point shots

[gatorbogey]

another friggin deep 3 for the hogs

[lean_gator]

Looking like it might be one of those nights.....

[ncgatorfan]

they make everything we miss everything ... so far so bad

[UFFL]

We are playing like bitches

[ih8danoles]

this is almost unbelievable.

[born2beagator]

This looks like a night we are just due to take it on the chin. Screw you arkansas.

[rtgator]

Getting beat both ways.

[mac4lyfe]

Arky with 31 points in 10 minutes.... Unreal.

[GatorChoice]

Wow, big dose of humble pie lol.

[born2beagator]

Not embarrassing at all.

[mdgator05]

Looking like it might be one of those nights.....

No Kansas State was one of those nights. This is a lack of effort, as Dykes just said. Embarrassing is the right word for it.

[ufgator4ever]

Well, one team came to play tonight but it wasn't the gators.
I guess other posters did have a reason to question if the team would be ready.

[Gatuar]

They are 14-18 with 7 3's

[mac4lyfe]

This chit is ridiculous. They can't miss from 3. I don't understand!!!!!!

[GatorAvatar]

I'm out.

[1bobcat]

This doesn't happen to top teams.

[gogators73]

You have to credit Arkansas' defense

[GatorPlanet]

The Gators didn't even show up tonight.

[MelBeachGator]

It's not like Arkansas is playing exceptional...they are hitting every shot they throw up...keep it close this half, they'll cool off in the 2nd.

[keypox]

they got big heads. And now they look scared.

[flwgator2]

Go inside, they'll not letting us getting easy threes.

[UFFL]

So when are these kids going to start playing

[nihilan_the_gator]

This doesn't happen to top teams.

Duke?

[born2beagator]

Donovan might just let them lose by 40. There is no effort here....at ALL

[Gator_Joe]

We are getting beat by defense just as much as we are by offense. Hats off to Arky, hopefully they start missing a few and we move the ball around better.

[Gator4Christ]

Being boatraced....please tell me a couple of guys are playing with the flu or something

[gatordavisl]

#1 traveled on the cross-over there. Don't know how they missed that. Foul on the Gators.

[mdgator05]

You have to credit Arkansas' defense

Not much of it. They have been okay, but we haven't run an effective play in minutes.

[born2beagator]

Duke?

Yup. I've given up on this game, but still am very excited for the season. This game will teach them they can't take any games off...ever.

[mdgator05]

Duke?

Miami>>>>>Arkansas.

[ApexNC]

Being boatraced....please tell me a couple of guys are playing with the flu or something

I was thinking the same thing

[nihilan_the_gator]

This is ridiculous.

[rtgator]

We look like Duke against Miami. Ugh.

[GatorPlanet]

It's not like Arkansas is playing exceptional...they are hitting every shot they throw up...keep it close this half, they'll cool off in the 2nd.

They're hitting every shot because--for the first time this season--we're not challenging shots. At all.

[1bobcat]

Duke?

They were without a key player. We have no excuse.

[Gatuar]

Shows we need PY or WY on court at all times

[gatordavisl]

Arky is doubling on the ball all the time. We need to make some good passes and continue to go to the hoop, forcing fouls. Must chip away at the foul line. Gotta get it down to 15 or so by the half. We must make a run or it's too late by half time.

[HALLGATOR]

Young and Yeguette being on the bench is making it hard on Murphy

[born2beagator]

Donovan has got to be royally ticked at these guys right now.

[keypox]

meh ark isn't playing that great. We have a ton of open looks, and they are making long contested 3s.

[JohnC1908]

They were without a key player. We have no excuse.

So it does happen to top teams.

[gogators73]

Need to get it down to about 15 at half.

[gatorbogey]

we boatraced arkansas last season, they are returning the favor this year. funny how those things work out.

[iam4uf]

F u Arky. Have your fluke game against someone else!

Teams always seem to have these games against UF, but top programs get presented with & have to withstand games like this.

[rounds]

We need some defense or go home

[Mr_Littlejeans]

embarrassing

[born2beagator]

Way to make Arkansas' season Gators. Maybe actually try next time?

[gatordavisl]

Not sure why we are in the zone when they are shooting lights out.

[ufgator4ever]

Well, they had the biggest margin of victory ever at Arky. Obviously the hogs were fired up by that.
But hey, maybe they can try to get biggest comeback ever at Arky?!
Gotta look on bright side in games like this.

[MelBeachGator]

Ark is 15-20 from the field....on jumpshots.

[mdgator05]

So it does happen to top teams.

Arkansas is not even the same weight class as Miami.

[jcp]

Got to keep trying to go inside and get some fouls.

[born2beagator]

Arkansas is not even the same weight class as Miami.

At home, they may be.

[gatordavisl]

Young got fouled. No call

[gatorbogey]

how was that not a foul on PY? muscles through it and makes the bucket

[born2beagator]

Young got fouled. No call

Are we really expecting the refs to help us get back in this on the road?

Not happening. We put ourselves in this mess with shoddy defense and offense, its on us to get out

[MelBeachGator]

They actually missed a 3?

[gatorbogey]

murphy ice cold tonight after being hot saturday.

[gatordavisl]

I got home late. What is our 3 pt shooting % tonight? Have only seen KB and Murhp misses

[ApexNC]

Murph is ice cold tonight

[gogators73]

Those shots are starting to hit rim for Arkansas

[born2beagator]

Did our championship teams have any game like this? I can't remember

[gatorbogey]

5:24
hogs up 39-20

[gatordavisl]

Are we really expecting the refs to help us get back in this on the road? No. Getting an obvious call right might be nice, though. Here we go - chance for a mini run. $hit. PY missed it.

[lean_gator]

Wtf Young

[Swampmaster]

no big deal---fla just showed up flat and overconfident. they'll pick it up big next game.

[gatorbogey]

hogs starting to miss

[iam4uf]

PY needs to take a dribble & dunk that!

[ApexNC]

wow..unguarded 10 second call

[gogators73]

Billy said my bad to KB. He was talking to him.

[Gator_Joe]

Really, 10 second call?

[gatordavisl]

WHat?! A lazy 10 second on KB? CRAP!

Edit: Billy acknowledged it was on him

Finally - a three!

[gatorbogey]

10 second violation on KB...or on donovan, he takes the blame

[lean_gator]

They going cold. Gotta take advantage.

[born2beagator]

Looks like no one was ready for this game, not even Billy.

[MelBeachGator]

Hogs started off hot as the sun...lets see what they do when they cool off.

[JohnC1908]

Arkansas is not even the same weight class as Miami.

So? I mean what's the point. Is FGCU in the same weight class as Miami?

[jcp]

Relax people BD was talking for too long

Great 3.

[gatorbogey]

scottie w/ a 3
nice pass from rosario

[lean_gator]

Wtf was that Wilby?

[UFFL]

Awful shot selection. It's like one man gets the ball, decides he needs to take the shot.

[gogators73]

Man we had a huge chance there to make a stop and get a rebound but we don't get the rebound and leave Mickelson wide open

[gatorbogey]

@3:12
41-23 hogs

[JohnC1908]

They're definitely flat. The early shooting has tempered and they're still making silly mistakes.

[born2beagator]

So? I mean what's the point. Is FGCU in the same weight class as Miami?

Exactly, these games happen even to top teams every now and then. These are college kids who have been KILLING everyone. it wasn't out of the realm of possibility that they come into a game like this overconfident and take it on the chin. Incredibly embarrassing when it happens, but you got to move on.

This is still final 4 team.

[ApexNC]

This conversation will Billy should be interesting

[gatordavisl]

Gamefullo reality checks. :roll:

[flwgator2]

And we play them on the road again next year.

[iam4uf]

Arky looks like they're using a subtle moving screen in the area between the wing/low block area that's causing defensive problems.

[lean_gator]

And we play them on the road again next year.

Thats strange

[rtgator]

A comeback has to start with better defense!

[diamondted13]

Did our championship teams have any game like this? I can't remember

Our 07 team got absolutely clobbered at UT. The games was uglier than Pat Summit's flashing of the home crowd.

[GatorPlanet]

At least we're starting to show a little effort on defense.

[born2beagator]

Our 07 team got absolutely clobbered at UT. The games was uglier than Pat Summit's flashing of the home crowd.

what was the score?

[UFG8rGuy3283]

Honestly, with how they have shot, if we keep it under 20 or so, we've got a chance.

[born2beagator]

Honestly, with how they have shot, if we keep it under 20 or so, we've got a chance.

yeah we do. There is simply no way they can keep shooting like that, unless they had some voodoo man curse the game or something

[lean_gator]

Man we are wasting opportunities here

[gatordavisl]

This just sucks. Our guys are struggling mightily with their shots tonight. Plenty of chances to get back in this thing.

[MelBeachGator]

This game is still very doable....

[jcp]

Man, just the way our night has gone... That 3 did not want to go in, hehe.

[gatorbogey]

nice extra pass by prather to find MF2 for the 3

[HALLGATOR]

Got it down to 15 with that 3 by Frazier

[ApexNC]

down to 15....let's keep it there and come out on fire in the 2nd half

[Gator40]

Just going to be one of those nights. Need to hope they just play tough, get the lead down, and have a chance near the end.

[UFG8rGuy3283]

Only 15...I'm telling you, keep this at 15 or so and I feel good we can get this back...this team is too good to give up.

[jcp]

yeah we do. There is simply no way they can keep shooting like that, unless they had some voodoo man curse the game or something

You already gave up on this game. Remember?