Official Final: Florida - 64 vs Alabama - 52, Saturday, Noon, ESPN

[HALLGATOR]

Saturday, for the first time in many days, the Gators will take to the floor with a full compliment of players available. With Bama coming to town Billy can look down his bench and draw on eight players whose experience, and ability, will be needed to finish out the season and carry over into post-season play. Although, from what I have read, Yeguete will not see a lot of minutes he is supposed to contribute and this will be a plus while helping to get him back into full playing form as we move further into March.

Bama, under the guidance of former Gator assistant Anthony Grant will come into the game with a record of 19-9 overall and 11-4 in the conference. The Tide need this win if they can hold out any hopes of a shot at the SEC title and a possibility of an NCAA bid. Florida, on the other hand, also needs this if they want to hold onto their league-leading record along with helping to determine how they will be seeded in the post-season tournaments.

With the players finally getting healthy once again I look for a very inspired Gator team to show up for this game. Kenny is due to come out of his slump and Will will be able to help out underneath the basket while once again Coach Donovan will be able to send in sharpshooter Michael Frazier II from the bench. All-in-all the next week should be a very exciting one for Gator fans as the team closes out the regular season.

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/)

More on the Tide can be found here (http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-baskbl/alab-m-baskbl-body.html)

[gatorbogey]

take down the pachyderms!

[TWGator]

Heading over to the Dome in a few hours - first home basketball game I've been to in years - can't wait!!


GO GATORS!

[gatorbogey]

enjoy!

grab a 'shaker' on the way in.
when the announcer says 'gator basketball', answer back w/ 'Fantastic'

[Bazza]

Bama has a lot of momentum coming into this game.......glad we have all our players back - we will need them!

Go Gators! :yes:

[Efeezy]

I think we win but not by 16 like Vegas thinks.......$$$$$$$$

[gatorbogey]

i'm not expecting much from WY or MF2 today.
took prather a while to get back into the groove after his concussion(s). he seemed a step slow.
WY may be in a transition mode. get some play time just to get some confidence that the knee can hold-up. but not over-extend it or stress it too much.

i wonder if Braxton O and DWalker will be integrated into the gameplan today too and what extent they play.

[ETGator1]

Frazier II missed 1 game - he will play as usual without any limitations regardless of what Billy says.

Will Yeguete hopefully will be allowed to find his time of play based on in game strength and performance rather than have an arbitrary 5 minutes in each half put on him. He's not a pitcher working back from arm trouble under a pitch count.

[ETGator1]

Gators 72
tide 55

Gators cover the spread by 1.

[tegator80]

If our record is any indication, I envision a 20+ point win...that doesn't really mean anything except that we play well at home, especially after a loss on the road.

[DuPontGator]

Weird feeling about this one. Good guys by 3.

[gatorbogey]

Frazier II missed 1 game - he will play as usual without any limitations regardless of what Billy says.

Will Yeguete hopefully will be allowed to find his time of play based on in game strength and performance rather than have an arbitrary 5 minutes in each half put on him. He's not a pitcher working back from arm trouble under a pitch count.

if BD is saying 'something': i'd listen. he probably is witnessing that MF2 isn't quite playing in practice like he did before the concussion. if he hits his shots - so much the better. there's an equally likely chance he's a bit off. of course, he could also be 'in the zone', too.

i'd rather WY be 100% for the ncaa's. don't want to risk another injury by overly stressing him at this stage of the season.

[lean_gator]

Easy W

[gatorbogey]

bama's got a top 30 [strong] D according to pomeroy,
but their offense efficiency ranks 166th or so.
gators are top 5 in both. but have been 'sliding' a bit in both w/out WY in the lineup.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Go gators I'll be watching on DVR later!

[gogators73]

Let's Go Gators!

[xenythx]

I didn't like the matchup of Wilbekin against McRae in the UT game but I think Wilbekin does a good job of containing Releford.

[BengermanV]

Can't tell how I feel about this one. Generally, when I've had a bad feeling about a game, it's ended up being a loss. But I feel like we'll win by a 5-15 point margin.

[lean_gator]

Freethrows

[gatorbogey]

4 guard line up for bama

[lean_gator]

Please lets not have Lacy have a McCrae type game guys

[gogators73]

Good offense so far.

Bama with a tough 3

[gatorbogey]

2 3's for bama
murphy answers from the arc
7-6 gators early

[BengermanV]

Boynton getting some nice penetration early on today.

[gogators73]

Finally got a stop on defense

[tegator80]

Crowd is a little flat. 12p is too early after a Friday night.

[gatorbogey]

bama likes to run the shot clock down,
they've been hitting their shots.
we had one bad defensive possession where a guard got loose under the bucket and we've not closed out on the perimeter after a drive or getting over the screen on another possession. need to get the 'd' in gear.

[gogators73]

Yea this is our first really early game in awhile isn't it?

[xenythx]

Holy crap. Move the mic away from that Bama banshee.

[gatorbogey]

4 for 4 in free throws early

[BengermanV]

Hey Boynton. Do that a lot please!

[lean_gator]

KB getting into the lane early

[gatorbogey]

boynton penetrates and scores

[gatorbogey]

whoa! what a pass by rosario to murph wide open under the bucket

[GatorNation850]

whoa! what a pass by rosario to murph wide open under the bucket

That was beautiful

[lean_gator]

Prather beasting

[xenythx]

I love how quickly Prather gathers himself after a missed shot.

[gatorbogey]

prather gets his rebound and puts it back
17-8 gators 13:10
10-0 gator run

[gatorbogey]

KB w/ a deep 3
gets fouled

[gatorbogey]

will yeguete in the game!

[HALLGATOR]

Gators up 18-8

[gatorbogey]

MF2 checks into the game too

[HALLGATOR]

19-8

[ThePlayer]

Is KB now tied for 2nd place with Andrew Moten in Gator scoring history?

[tilly]

Not on ESPN3 :/

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tablet using Gator Country

[lean_gator]

Young and his hands.....

[Bradass]

Patric's hands....smh

[gatorbogey]

young fumbles the pass from rosario under the bucket

[gatorbogey]

11:37
19-10 Gators

[gogators73]

WY definitely looks a little uncomfortable.

Those first few times out on a basketball court after being out for a month can be tough in pick-up basketball. I can't imagine how hard it is at this level.

[gatorbogey]

good zone. causes a turnover

[xenythx]

Ball movement in the half court is not very crisp today.

[gatorbogey]

5 fouls on bama, zero on UF

[Singaporegator]

WY was looking to score

[lean_gator]

Rosario! Didnt think that shot had a chance.

[bakaduin]

Great transition basket by Young to Rosario.

[gatorbogey]

nice work by MF2 getting the tie ball

[gatorbogey]

shot clock violation

[gatorbogey]

gators in the bonus now
8:55

[tegator80]

Good news: we're in the bonus.

Bad news: we're in the bonus.

[BengermanV]

Ugh, free throws.

[gatorbogey]

MF2 misses both foul shots

[lean_gator]

Freethrows *sigh*

[gogators73]

Our FT shooting is atrocious

[gatorbogey]

21-16
8:15

[bakaduin]

Boynton just forced a shot and then worse didn't hustle back on D and his man got an easy layup.

[gogators73]

Looking like crap now

[xenythx]

No ball movement on offense at all. What the hell guys?

[tegator80]

Who let Erv back on the court? Come on Kenny, you are better than that.:angry:

[gogators73]

KB is just not helping us at this point

[JohnC1908]

If we're gonna make it deep Kenny will have to figure it out.

[gatorbogey]

crowd seems really flat; no energy

[LetItFly]

KB is just not helping us at this point

Really...if he makes the fts he has 6 pts, without him we losing....thats more than all of our guards combined

[iam4uf]

Woke up late & missed the beginning. Since watching, I see we're slow rotating on defense & allowing drives to the basket. On offense they're really pressuring Wilbekin & keeping him from initiating the offense.

[gatorbogey]

both teams shooting 50%

[gogators73]

Already 11 FT's

[channingcrowderhungry]

Can someone smack that lady screeching during our free throws. Thanks!

[gatorbogey]

gators 8 of 11 in free throws

[flwgator2]

KB is just not helping us at this point

At least he makes his free throws.

[xenythx]

Rosario has missed some pretty good looking threes so far.

[gatorbogey]

block by murphy

[xenythx]

When you get blocked by Murphy in the block, it's time to go to the bench.

[tegator80]

Something is going on with the team. They look more like last year than this. The pace is not what we want.

[flwgator2]

Oh great Young to the line.

[gogators73]

At least he makes his free throws.

This is true.

Young knocks down 1 of 2 and I am very happy

[gatorbogey]

young hits 1 of 2 free throws

[CAGator93]

somebody shut that stupid screamer up

[g8rboy]

why is it fun to say Moussa Gueye?

[xenythx]

Somebody rebound.

[iam4uf]

Why does PY chase those 3 pt shooters like that & leave the inside wide open? Chasing like that is my one big gripe about his defense.

[gatorbogey]

murphy w/ both of the gators 2 team fouls
heads to the bench

[xenythx]

I'd prefer Boynton not to shoot threes anymore.

[lean_gator]

Frustrating

[gatorbogey]

lead down to 2
24-22 on a give and go
4:50

[BengermanV]

Wilbekin passes wide open three, Rosario takes a covered one. Story of the season.

[bakaduin]

This is where we struggle. Shots aren't faling and we can't manufacture easy points with FTs or getting the ball to Young.

[gogators73]

When was the last time we sent it into Young?

[mjbuf05]

Team is sleepwalking so far, very sloppy on offense. Need to wake up.

[gogators73]

Finally KB hits a trey

[bakaduin]

Nice rhythm shot by KB.

[xenythx]

We don't even look to get the ball inside anymore.

[gatorbogey]

KB hits a 3 from the corner

[Bradass]

Wilbekin passes wide open three, Rosario takes a covered one. Story of the season.

Really?

[mjbuf05]

Haha, he wasnt even been close in his shots

Think i am also

[gatorbogey]

3:16
27-22 uf

[iam4uf]

Two Rosario air balls, what's up with his shot?

[ThePlayer]

Wow...more poor shot-selection today.

Thankfully KB bailed us out with his 3-ball.

[xenythx]

Hopefully we close the half with a nice little run but this team really needs to get out of the funk it's in.

[iam4uf]

Our defense no longer looks fluid, it's been kind of ragged for the past few games.

[ThePlayer]

Whenever Murphy is off the floor we seem to lose IQ points. :huh:

[BengermanV]

Really?

Really, as in did that really happen? Or really as in I was exaggerating?

If the second, yes, I was exaggerating. I don't really believe Wilbekin not taking open shots and Rosario taking covered ones would be the story of our season.

Still having trouble rebounding. Was hoping having WY back would help.

[gogators73]

We look horrid

[mjbuf05]

Arkansas was close at the half also. We cant play much worse on offense.

[tegator80]

Flat, flat, flat.

[dakcman]

The past couple of months we've gone through huge scoring droughts during games.

[xenythx]

We're letting Alabama lull us to sleep.

[gatorbogey]

1:23
27-26

[BengermanV]

By the way, VCU is absolutely smashing Butler right now.

[gatorbogey]

PY w/ an inside touch and bucket

[DuPontGator]

Team is playing soft.

[born2beagator]

Yeah, final four team? Doesn't look like it. Hope Will and MF2 can get back on track

[xenythx]

I swear if we see another run down the shot clock, heave a three play here...

[gatorbogey]

time out gators
w/ 0:39 sec left in the half. something new for BD. set up a play?

[gogators73]

Anyone want to bet our last shot is a long 3?

[ThePlayer]

We seem to be playing right into Alabama's low-scoring plans.

Any chance we can defend the paint a little better?

[HALLGATOR]

Thought we would be a little sharper on offense today but the second part of this half has been bad

[gator85jd]

Damn, Scotty.

[BengermanV]

We just look lost on those final plays of the half. I'm not sure what it is.

[mjbuf05]

Another great possesion at the end of half or game, unreal

[bakaduin]

Horrible execution after a timeout.

[gatorbogey]

bama's defense is solid. and that's a reason why we're looking out of sync

[xenythx]

Alabama is even dumber than us right now.

[tegator80]

Well, we tied a different end of half play. Same result.

[iam4uf]

Teams have figured out how to exploit out interior defense.

[gator85jd]

That was an unimpressive half.

[iam4uf]

Flat, flat, flat.

The crowd seems really flat - anyone at the game that can fire them up??

[gatorbogey]

BD is saying we took a great crowd totally out of the game

not taking great shots is affecting our energy level per BD

[xenythx]

That ball movement was absolutely terrible in the 1st half. Guys taking contested threes, shots going up before multiple passes, guys trying to go one on one that aren't really good at it.

[gatorbogey]

Boynton and Murphy lead the gators w/ 9 pts at the half
prather and murhpy have 4 rebounds each

[tegator80]

bama's defense is solid. and that's a reason why we're looking out of sync

Yes, they know how to play us. But it also shows that we haven't figured out to counter good pressure on the ball.

And if we go back to habits that are shooting 3s and going on funks on D because the 3s don't go in then I don't see many good things in the tourney. I hope it is just the early start.

[born2beagator]

Is it just me or does this team seem selfish right now? Not seeing much in the way of team out there

[trufloridagator]

KB playing a big better.

Rosario and Scottie are killing us.

Scottie is no threat to score at all

Sent from my iPhone using GatorCountry

[trufloridagator]

Is it just me or does this team seem selfish right now? Not seeing much in the way of team out there

Meh i dont think thats it. Just not smart or good

Sent from my iPhone using GatorCountry

[rounds]

Does Billy keep the team together in a hotel before daytime Sat. games? Prolly should, if not.

[xenythx]

Frazier and WY were both definitely looking to get their own shot when they were in the game, and that's not really either of their games. But I'll chalk that up to wanting to get themselves back into the groove.

And while I do like to see aggressiveness in attacking the basket, our guys are kind of just putting their heads down and driving without really any idea what they're trying to accomplish when the layup isn't there.

[iam4uf]

Only 4 assists at half - we're averaging 16 per game.

[iam4uf]

Murphy came to play, and Boynton is playing pretty well but everyone else is really failing today.

[gatordavisl]

I guess the good news is that after playing a poor first half, we lead by three. The first few minutes of the second half will be big for this team. Go big and take control of the game, or go small and struggle til the end.

[ApexNC]

Gotta get this straightened out in the 2nd half. No way this bama team should be playing us this close

[gatorbogey]

WY and MF2 definitely forced some shots. Rosario missed some open looks. same w/ KB. offense was out of sync. later in the half. bama influenced that. made adjustments to take away the drive. we were up by 10 pts in points in the paint early, but now bama leads that stat.

assists down - that's really telling.

[xenythx]

Yeah, it seems like we can't get everybody to play well at the same time like we were early in the season. Boynton and Murphy struggled BAD against UT. They're playing well in this game but Rosario and Wilbekin are playing terribly.

[gator85jd]

Gotta get this straightened out in the 2nd half. No way this bama team should be playing us this close

If Bama wins, they have a 20 win season. It would be their 3rd in a row. Not sure if that's got them fired up, but could it explain the first half?

[HALLGATOR]

Holding them to 26 is good. Only scoring 29 is bad

[gatorbogey]

let's get some energy going in the 2nd half!

[Noahtogo24]

Yes Murphy!!

[gatorbogey]

nice move underneath by murph

[HALLGATOR]

Going inside early. That's good

[xenythx]

I think Mike needs to see the bench...

[gatorbogey]

rosario throws it away on a fast break

[mjbuf05]

Rosario is killing us

[flwgator2]

Bad pass Rosario.

[HALLGATOR]

What the hell was Rosario doing with that pass

[xenythx]

Rosario is trying to throw no look whip passes cross court.

[supagator]

Whats the score 29-25?

[gatorbogey]

KB misses from downtown

[gatorbogey]

17:40
31-26 Gators

[HALLGATOR]

31-26 Gators

[trufloridagator]

KB not helping our ball movement

Sent from my iPhone using GatorCountry

[flwgator2]

Another forced shot by Boynton.

[trufloridagator]

Murphy needs an inside touch every possession

Sent from my iPhone using GatorCountry

[gatorbogey]

BD doesn't like the decision making on the last 2 trips

[mjbuf05]

Might be our chance to win a close game

[gogators73]

Bad basketball still.

Get the ball to PY and Murphy.

[gatorfansrule]

Murphy should have either 20+ points (inside scoring) or 10+ assists (passing out of double teams) in this game if we were playing our strengths to their weaknesses. He has a 5-6 inch height advantage and a weight advantage on Alabama's 4 man.

[JohnC1908]

Just the definition of flat today.

[iam4uf]

Rosario: 1-5 shooting, 1 assist, 1 steal 2 TO's.

[xenythx]

Somebody grab a damn rebound.

[gatorbogey]

8th offensive board for bama, gators w/ 3
leads to a nice block by young

[gatordee]

nice block by Young!

[mac4lyfe]

Why can't we rebound???

[gatordee]

sloppy play by Gators!!!

[gatorbogey]

geezus. loose w/ the ball. almost about 5 turnovers on that possession

[gogators73]

We're horrible

[mjbuf05]

Beautiful offensive possesion.

[Noahtogo24]

Offense is sloppy right now...

[bakaduin]

That was two absolutely horrible possessions.

[gatordee]

Even worse! Now another to

[mac4lyfe]

Murphy has stone hands...

[flwgator2]

This team have a lot of work to even think about going to Atlanta.

[bakaduin]

WTF kind of D was that! PY can't cover two players at once.

[ApexNC]

At some point, beating UF will not be that big of a deal

[iam4uf]

Wilbekin isn't working at PG, Ogbueze might be better.

[mjbuf05]

No way this team is a #1 seed

[gatordee]

Tie game! nOW uf UP BY 2

[gatorbogey]

3 ties it up for bama
15:35
31 all
rosario hits 33-31

[xenythx]

What the hell is Young doing out there? Grab a freakin' rebound.

[bakaduin]

How do you let a guard get that rebound?

[gatorbogey]

rebound and tip in to tie it again

[born2beagator]

and people jumped on me when I said I was worried about this game

This team has lost something

[dakcman]

This team is broken.

[co_gator89]

We look BAD.

[gatorbogey]

14:43
33 all

[gatordee]

33-33

[mac4lyfe]

Murphy bobbles another rebound then the smallest man on the court gets a put back rebound. That is pathetic.

[ApexNC]

and people jumped on me when I said I was worried about this game

This team has lost something

Yep...this isn't the same team we started the season with.

[mjbuf05]

Playing our way to a #4 or even 5 seed. Lunardi currently has us a #3

[bakaduin]

Scotty and PY need to freaken block out. You see Rosario down there blocking out a guy a foot taller than him and PY and Wilbekin can't get any position.

[lean_gator]

Get off the got damn court if you are going to give a half ass effort

[xenythx]

Nobody was boxing Young out yet he stands there watching the smallest guy on the court grab the rebound.

[GatorWon]

Well, if we can't play offense, then how about some damn defense gators?

[gatordee]

Gators cannot buy a rebound

[CBGator87]

This team peaked way too early. Hopefully they can get their groove back before the tourney.

[HALLGATOR]

Looks to me like Bama wants this game more than the Gators do

[ThePlayer]

How does our all-time second-leading scorer miss a 2-ft runner in the lane?

[gatordavisl]

Lookin like a down-to-the-wire struggler. Hope the Gators get their shot to fall, but doesn't appear they are ready to take control of this one.

[gatorfansrule]

Our rebounding is pathetic. Our big guys just watch the ball half the time.

[Noahtogo24]

KB and Rosario seems to be killing the flow on offense right now.

[JimBobTheClown]

Gators getting manhandled. No excuses

[iam4uf]

Being out-rebounded by 4, 7 TO's & we still have just 4 assists. 20% from 3pt land.

[ApexNC]

How does our all-time second-leading scorer miss a 2-ft runner in the lane?

by shooting it 1 ft

[ThePlayer]

Gators cannot buy a rebound

Worst Top 10 rebounding team in NCAA history.

[born2beagator]

Feels like I am watching the team when we had calathes. At times it just seems we don't care. Billy has got to be furious with this team right now

[108]

Team doesn't want to win

[HumpGator]

I'd hate to see us against a really good team.

[gator85jd]

Looks to me like Bama wants this game more than the Gators do

They're playing for their third consecutive 20 win season. What are we playing for?

[Gatuar]

PY is an all uniform guy....he's too jacked his wingspan is like a guards

[gatorfansrule]

It looks like this is going to be a chance to get our first close game win of the year. I hope we don't fall apart in the last 5 minutes of the game like we usually do.

[kansascitygator]

I expected more fire than this. Alabama has it.

[GatorWon]

Team doesn't want to win

I'm sure they want to win...they just don't want to put in the work in the game.

[xenythx]

They're playing for their third consecutive 20 win season. What are we playing for?

Oh, just a thing called an SEC title. No big deal.

[mjbuf05]

Jimmy dykes must be bad luck, 0-4 when he calls our games

[hoopnscoopuf]

2nd game in a row where the opponent plays like they want to win. Murphy and Wilbekin have regressed to 2011

[bakaduin]

Wow.

[xenythx]

Releford just outhustled both our guys to a 50/50 ball.

[gatordee]

Smallest man on the court taking it to us

[lean_gator]

Pathetic effort. F this.

[bakaduin]

This game feels just like UT.

[gatordavisl]

My word. We are FOLDING. Timeout Billy!

[born2beagator]

0 effort

[gatorbogey]

bama w/ the fastbreak off WY's forced miss
bama then hits a 3
up 5

[gogators73]

We deserve to lose. I feel bad for Bama if we win

[JohnC1908]

I have that sick feeling right now.

[ApexNC]

Put Wilbekin on the bench...turns the ball over and slowly jogs down the court

[iam4uf]

Bench Wilbekin & Rosario or we'll lose.

[mac4lyfe]

I'm seething right now. We have zero effort/desire right now.

[BengermanV]

Like I said last week, this team is not very good. Was hoping having WY and Frazier back would help.

[dakcman]

Now the team is just quitting. Pathetic getting back on D by Wilby after turning it over. Transition 3 for Bama.

[ThePlayer]

We're starting to look like one of those teams the Harlem Globetrotters play against. :whoa:

[gatordee]

Finally Murphy stops the bleeding

[JohnC1908]

We deserve to lose. I feel bad for Bama if we win

Feel bad all you want, I'll take a win.