As much as you may disagree

[Coach1987]

We need a basketball game like this. We need to face adversity, and nut up. They have shot the ball in a manner they would beat anyone. We have had several opportunities to cut into the lead, missing babies.

Check youself right now. Learn a great deal about the team.

[happygatorguy]

IBTM...my first !!

[ovillegator]

We've had a couple of these already. Sloppy D, bad ball handling, no offense. Even when we get the ball inside, we hesitate on what to do.

We can shake out of it, but hard in an away building.

I believe I recall we lost 2 in a row about this time the year we won a NC.

[gatordavisl]

There's a basketball forum. And a game thread

[Bazza]

This will help Driskell more than you know. :yes:

[gatormoe1]

Obvious we didn't show up. Arkansas sucks, they won't make the tourney most likely. It's good to have a game like this after crushing so many teams. After this we will get focused for the long haul. Im just glad I was at school and didn't get to watch this game much.

[bakaduin]

It is unfortunate that this is the team we picked to play poorly against because it will almost certainly cost us the 1 seed. Can't have a bad loss like this on the resume.

[keypox]

meh

it was just a tough game Ark couldn't miss. The win would have helped us. The loss hurts us.

[tommyuf21]

It is unfortunate that this is the team we picked to play poorly against because it will almost certainly cost us the 1 seed. Can't have a bad loss like this on the resume.

Well, if we need to be a 1 seed to get to the final four, then we probably don't deserve to be there in the first place.

Everyone who is moaning and groaning about tonight should thank their lucky stars that it is February 5th and not March 24th.

[HALLGATOR]

Whether this cost us a #1 seed all depends on how the rest of our season and how all the other leading teams finish up. Lots of bb to be played yet.

[gatorbogey]

just shows, even w/ stellar - beyond stellar - ken pomeroy and sagarin #'s, you can get beat and beat badly.

gotta play each game, each half, each possession w/ all out intensity. can't afford to take a possession off.

[GatorLurker]

Tonight was Arky's night for the year. They would have beaten anyone tonight the way the ball was falling for them. Sucks for us. Move on to the next one.

[tommyuf21]

Tonight was Arky's night for the year. They would have beaten anyone tonight the way the ball was falling for them. Sucks for us. Move on to the next one.

Think about it this way, we've played like Arky played tonight more times than I can count this season.

There are nights when it doesn't fall for you and the other guy can't miss. You hope these nights happen before March.

[jeffphillips21]

we were down 36-15. at least we only lost by 11

[HALLGATOR]

We outscored them the 2nd half and we were still playing poorly for the most part.

[fox]

It only helps if it results in an increase of resolve. Leaders emerge or team whithers.

[born2beagator]

We outscored them the 2nd half and we were still playing poorly for the most part.

Yup, thats one of the reasons why this game screams fluke to me.

I think this game ends up being the "wake up call" many were saying we needed

[UFreak]

Yup, thats one of the reasons why this game screams fluke to me.

I think this game ends up being the "wake up call" many were saying we needed

We're people saying we needed a wake up call, or was it more a desire to see us play some close games so that we have the opportunity to try and persevere in a close contest?
I'm not sure we needed a wake up call, is the reason I bring it up. We had been playing quite well. Wake up calls usually are needed when a team is not playing well.

[Jonas]

I don't know if we really needed a "wake up call." Do you really think out guys were not focused? Our team is full of seniors and juniors who have been through several emotional losses. I don't think our team really takes much from this game that they don't already know.

Ultimately, Ark played out of their minds in the first 10 minutes, and we played like shit. It happens.

[UFreak]

I don't know if we really needed a "wake up call." Do you really think out guys were not focused? Our team is full of seniors and juniors who have been through several emotional losses. I don't think our team really takes much from this game that they don't already know.

Ultimately, Ark played out of their minds in the first 10 minutes, and we played like shit. It happens.

Word.

Plus, we had dead legs.

[rounds]

Dead hearts and brains, but not legs on 3 days between games.

[ncorangeblue]

Dead hearts and brains, but not legs on 3 days between games.

This. I kept waiting for us to match their intensity and aggressiveness but we never did. Better get physically ready for UK and UT coming up.

[UFreak]

Dead hearts and brains, but not legs on 3 days between games.

Two days rest, plus travel

They had the dead leg

[gatorbogey]

this was arkansas's 3rd game in 6 days. arkansas was the team energized, etc. if there was a team that could use the 'dead legs' excuse, it was the hogs.

[HALLGATOR]

They pretty much beat us by the margin they jumped out to early in the game. Even though they built it we were able to whittle it back down and were close to making it a much better game but couldn't hit simple shots we should have made.

[UFreak]

I saw a UF team with dead legs tonight. When you are missing layups and losing the race to the ball when you usually win it and when you are team that usually out rebounds a team like Arkansas with ease then you didn't bring your legs with you. Perhaps Arkansas should have been the team with dead legs after playing their third game in six days. But they were fresh and spry. We were lethargic and slow and sloppy. We did not have our legs

[tilly]

this was arkansas's 3rd game in 6 days. arkansas was the team energized, etc. if there was a team that could use the 'dead legs' excuse, it was the hogs.

Home court helps.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tablet using Gator Country

[toddsevans]

Absolutely. We can't just show up and win.....Further when the 3 is not dropping we have to be disciplined enough to get the ball in the paint. We have failed to do this in our losses and both Elite 8 loses. Defensive effort not our best either. Give Arkansas credit they shot nearly 70% in the 1st half. Hopefully a slap in the face for our Gators.

[WESGATORS]

It's a long season. Nobody ever won a championship in February. Learn from it, make improvements, and continue working towards an SEC Championship. Whether or not it costs us a #1 seed is immaterial in comparison to how much we bring it come tournament time.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

[rounds]

Billy knows how to protect their "legs". Damn, they didn't jog to Fayetteville!

[toddsevans]

LOL

[UFreak]

Billy knows how to protect their "legs". Damn, they didn't jog to Fayetteville!

It's not Billy's fault. It's athletics. It happens. We were not fresh tonight. We were bumbly and slow. It's a long season and there are going to be instances where you don't have your legs as a team. That's what I saw tonight, in addition to an Arkansas team that shot it unbelievably well in the first half.

[akaGatorhoops]

I don't know if we really needed a "wake up call." Do you really think out guys were not focused? Our team is full of seniors and juniors who have been through several emotional losses. I don't think our team really takes much from this game that they don't already know.

Ultimately, Ark played out of their minds in the first 10 minutes, and we played like shit. It happens.

Donovan basically said in the post game that the team did not handle success, did not show up and perhaps needed to be humbled.

[madgator]

Donovan basically said in the post game that the team did not handle success, did not show up and perhaps needed to be humbled.

all positive in the long run

[Jonas]

Donovan basically said in the post game that the team did not handle success, did not show up and perhaps needed to be humbled.

Honestly, after all we've been through, this kind of disappoints me, but I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I mean, how many times does KB, Murphy, and the juniors need to lose to embarrassing teams (South Alabama and JSU come to mind) to realize they need to always give 100%?

I'm fine with us just having a bad game because it just happens, but I hoped this group would never need to be humbled.

[Bradass]

Honestly, after all we've been through, this kind of disappoints me, but I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I mean, how many times does KB, Murphy, and the juniors need to lose to embarrassing teams (South Alabama and JSU come to mind) to realize they need to always give 100%?

I'm fine with us just having a bad game because it just happens, but if hoped this group would never need to be humbled.

+1

[regurgigator]

Honestly, after all we've been through, this kind of disappoints me, but I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I mean, how many times does KB, Murphy, and the juniors need to lose to embarrassing teams (South Alabama and JSU come to mind) to realize they need to always give 100%?

I'm fine with us just having a bad game because it just happens, but I hoped this group would never need to be humbled.


Even our legendary national championship teams had games where they were out of synch and looked pretty bad (and of course there were posters then who questioned their heart, hustle and commitment...........even in the 2nd of those championship seasons :jeez::awkward:)


I'll quote what I said on a thread in the Full Court Press forum:

"I didn't see anything that concerned me too greatly tonight other than concern over Yeguete's health.


We missed some open threes - not surprising
We had some turnover issues - same old, same old
We were a little out of synch offensively - it happens, but credit Ark also for that with their effective switching defense
Defense was good, but not quite as good as our best - it happens
Arkansas played a heckuva of a game - it happens, tip your hat to them"

Read more: http://www.gatorcountry.com/swampgas/showthread.php?t=256252#ixzz2K6euBMvA



aka - I'm not surprised Billy said we didn't show up. As coach, it's his responsibility to say what needs to be said to get this team as "on edge" as they possibly can be. But, I think in reality it's overstating the situation to say we didn't show up. Yes, we weren't as energized as Arkansas, but I still saw a lot of effort from our guys. This is a gritty, hustling group that has players like Murphy who we know has been praised by the coaches for his willingness to play through pain that many players wouldn't - and many of the fans that so blithely jump on the players now for their so-called "disgusting" performance :roll:

[ncg8or]

This is a team with a great starting 5 that have a chance to go far in the tournament. But this is also a team without a leader, and without a superstar/1st round pick type of player that can carry the rest of the team on nights like this. Most NC teams have a player like that, the '04's had several...

[grant1]

Yup, thats one of the reasons why this game screams fluke to me.

I think this game ends up being the "wake up call" many were saying we needed

Arky shooting 75% early in first half was a fluke, but they didn't cause us NOT to play defense. It reminded me of Kansas State when we were a step slow all night. Also, the Sugar Bowl, if you're not playing with 100% intensity, an average team can make you look pitiful.

[PSGator66]

I do agree with the premise of this post.

[No1GatorFreak]

Yeah, it sucks to get beat like that but this is basketball after all. Tourney seeding is very important and also how we are playing is crucial. Lets just hope we didn't peak at the wrong time. We have a great shot at a #1 or #2 seed still and more importantly lets hope that we are playing some stellar ball going into the postseason. If we win the SEC Tourney and enter March as a #2 seed then we will be right where we need to be. There really isn't a difference between a 1 seed or 2 seed anyhow. This really isn't a loss to be too alarmed about. It was just a bad game for the Gators. Still got a lot of our big games coming up. Our boys are having a terrific season so far and I'm sure we will be at least a #2 seed come March. IF the boys can make it to the Final Four in ATL I will most certainly be there and can't wait!

[swampgas44]

IBTM...my first !!

??? Acronyms suck.

[HALLGATOR]

??? Acronyms suck.

Means "in before the move" and usually refers to a thread which was started in the wrong forum or one that could be moved for other reasons such as having political overtones. Thus a member will make a post before the thread is moved to another forum.

[iam4uf]

Part fluke, part good play on the part of Arkansas but to what do we attribute our poor play? "Off night", distracted by media, fatigue from a lot of road games/limited rotation?

[tegator80]

What I saw was the essence of college basketball. A raucous crowd firing up the home team who shoots lights out and plays passionate defense. The other team, while talented, doesn't have that special player who can take over the game and keep things from getting too far out of reach. We are a team that the whole is definitely stronger than the sum of its parts. Last night was a mostly a bunch of parts and they lost - rather badly. I think they now know that they can't not show up and win in any away venue.

Now is the time for the senior leadership to make sure that these moments don't happen for the remainder of the season. And it would help if we can avoid the injury bug and maybe develop one more freshman as a defensive player, just in case.

[Matthanuf06]

What we may have needed was a close game where we got to practice some end game sets, a final shot, inbounding in critical spots, pressure FTs, etc. AND win such a game.

Getting blown out answers none of the questions we had a day ago. It's not the end of the world by any stretch, but there really is no silver lining.

[REM08]

I'm just not sold that any team "needs" to do something other than win games by as much as possible. I think teams need to be tested - in so far as a team coming out and playing very well against them, maybe even in a tough environment. But I'm not sure the "need" has to include a close game, adversity, or a wake up call.

If you see a team get blown out (which isn't 11 points), then maybe after the game I'd suggest that hopefully it will get their attention or something along those lines. But, if I gave you the choice for any game on your schedule - that it could be a "wake up call" or an easy win, when exactly are you NOT going to pick the easy win? "Nah, I think it'd be better if we lost this one..." Dont' see this happening or being helpful.

I can picture Donovan hoping that his team gets tested by other teams playing great against them. But do you really think he wants any other response from his team than still winning by as much as possible? Just my opinion, but I don't think so.

Cal was asked this question last year after losing to Indiana. He said that every coach will try and use lessons from a loss to help their team grow, but that in the end, he still wants to take the other teams best shot and still win every game by 40. Maybe some coaches feel differently, but I'd bet most fall along these lines. He added that if players are coach-able (its about execution), they can learn end of game situations in practice, instead of needing close game after close game during the season.

[gatorbogey]

re-sets the team. re-focuses when you lose.
humbles the fanbase a bit, and the team too, to lose.

everyone playing UF will target us. it's a big game. we need to realize that every team here on out is going to come at us like gangbusters! we need to anticipate that; expect it, and match it.

[tegator80]

I'm just not sold that any team "needs" to do something other than win games by as much as possible. I think teams need to be tested - in so far as a team coming out and playing very well against them, maybe even in a tough environment. But I'm not sure the "need" has to include a close game, adversity, or a wake up call....

I think that what most of the posters want to embrace (rationalize?) is that this team isn't built for going undefeated (already lost two early) and going undefeated in the SEC isn't that big of a deal. Getting focused, and humility, during the regular season is MUCH better than being the '90/'91 UNLV team (34-1). Not that this team is that good but you get the drift.

[qwghlmgator]

I think that what most of the posters want to embrace (rationalize?) is that this team isn't built for going undefeated (already lost two early) and going undefeated in the SEC isn't that big of a deal. Getting focused, and humility, during the regular season is MUCH better than being the '90/'91 UNLV team (34-1). Not that this team is that good but you get the drift.

So getting a regular season wake-up call is better than getting paid to throw the national championship? I agree! :joecool:

[gulfgator]

We've had a couple of these already. Sloppy D, bad ball handling, no offense. Even when we get the ball inside, we hesitate on what to do.

We can shake out of it, but hard in an away building.

I believe I recall we lost 2 in a row about this time the year we won a NC.


Just to add perspective, UF had rough stretches with both championship teams.

The 06 team lost 3 straight toward the end of the season
The 07 team lost 3/4 in the middle of the season

Heck, even last years great 8 team lost the last 3 regular season games, 4 out of the last 5.

Bad game?.... yes, but no reason to panic.