Florida is shredding everybody. How?

[ufgator4ever]

Looking forward to this game. A very good challenge for this team, as besides zona's offense, sean miller is a good all around coach.
Would be surprised if the final was more than 8pts either way.

[GatorPlanet]

Originally Posted by g8rboy

Exactly what the problem is with an extremely balanced team. I always figured the best way to defend our title teams was stop the bigs and hope the shooters are off. It is a great problem to have.

That's a good strategy, but it didn't work. If the perimeter guys were off--which was rare--the bigs would clean up the rebounds and dunk 'em back in. Those two teams really had no weakness.

[GatorLurker]

Originally Posted by corpgator

Pomeroy points out that 3pt FG% defense is irrelevant. It's how many you give up that counts. % always regresses to the mean.

His analysis is flawed. By taking the top and bottom after just a few games he is actually getting almost random samples. Hence there is no surprise that when more data comes in he gets what he got.

[themistocles]

I really think that the ability to switch defenses rapidly is a big factor and I think that results largely from two factors: (1) a ton of experience, and (2) no real defensive weak points.

[InstiGATOR1]

Originally Posted by rserina

I've been going back and forth over this the last few days. Yes, zone can be vulnerable to good three point shooting teams, but the big question is whether they can get the shots they want against the zone, not so much whether they can hit them. Can the kid from Xavier penetrate and dish? Will Hill be the guy flashing to the high post and kicking it back out to the perimeter? Will it be Parrom? Penetration off the dribble and passing out of the high post to my mind are the most important things when it comes to scorching a 2-3 from the arc and I just don't know how they will handle that because I haven't seen them much against zone.

If they execute well, I have no doubt Donovan comes out of the zone quickly. The only matchup that doesn't favor us defensively is maybe their length at the three when we have Rosario or Frazier there. This will be a real test for Wilbekin cutting off dribble penetration from their point guard.

One of the big topics on the Zona boards is how ineffectively they play against zones. They view that as Sean Miller's one real weakness.

[Juggernautz]

No "I" in team.

[sec1]

i agree we have a longer and more athletiic team this season , if we continue to gel and improve we will have a special season , this team has to keep working very hard for that to happen , Go Gators !!

[oneatatime]

Originally Posted by GatorPlanet

Each of those points are well-informed and valid, and each point is part of the equation. I'd add to those the individual improvement in Yeguete, Young, and Wilbekin. I'd also add in the greater experience level overall. It's an upperclassmen team, which generally pays off in better teamwork on offense and defense. On defense, it's really noticeable; you hardly ever see one of these guys out of position or missing the rotation on the defensive end.

All these things are adding up to one really good team.

Murphy's overall game is much improved as well. He is no longer just an outside shooting big man.

[jmoliver]

Jay Bilas Tweet - Watching tape of Florida right now. Billy Donovan is not a good coach. Rather, he is a Naismith Hall of Famer. He does a tremendous job.

[InstiGATOR1]

Originally Posted by oneatatime

Murphy's overall game is much improved as well. He is no longer just an outside shooting big man.

Actually, the first big shot he ever made as a UF player was a put back against FSU for the game winning points his Soph year. So always had an inside game.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by Juggernautz

No "I" in team.

Yet there is an "I" in both Florida and Arizona. Interesting...

[GatorPlanet]

Originally Posted by Juggernautz

No "I" in team.

True. However, there is a "me". For that matter, we could construct a sentence by using the word "team" several times, and rearranging the letters, to say "Me eat meat!"

[grant1]

Originally Posted by GatorPlanet

Each of those points are well-informed and valid, and each point is part of the equation. I'd add to those the individual improvement in Yeguete, Young, and Wilbekin. I'd also add in the greater experience level overall. It's an upperclassmen team, which generally pays off in better teamwork on offense and defense. On defense, it's really noticeable; you hardly ever see one of these guys out of position or missing the rotation on the defensive end.

All these things are adding up to one really good team.

I would add Murphy into the mix for his improved inside game. It seemed last year, his inside game was a bit timid in fear of getting his shot blocked. He seems more confident this year.

[regurgigator]

Originally Posted by InstiGATOR1

Actually, the first big shot he ever made as a UF player was a put back against FSU for the game winning points his Soph year. So always had an inside game.

Yes, Murphy has always shown evidence of a lot of offensive skills. I think the biggest thing for him has just been getting stronger and more physically mature. I would think that in an individual skills demonstration (i.e., no defense), he would look more skilled (inside and outside) than any other big man in the Donovan era.

[regurgigator]

Originally Posted by jmoliver

Jay Bilas Tweet - Watching tape of Florida right now. Billy Donovan is not a good coach. Rather, he is a Naismith Hall of Famer. He does a tremendous job.

Bilas nailed that one!

[GatorLurker]

Originally Posted by regurgigator

Yes, Murphy has always shown evidence of a lot of offensive skills. I think the biggest thing for him has just been getting stronger and more physically mature. I would think that in an individual skills demonstration (i.e., no defense), he would look more skilled (inside and outside) than any other big man in the Donovan era.

I like Eric's game, but Matt Bonner was incredibly skilled his Senior season and I would give him the nod.

[chompalot]

Zona coach Sean Miller says this Gator team reminds him of Maryland's 2002 national champion team (Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter, Chris Wilcox, Byron Mouton, and Steve Blake).

Here's his breakdown of the Gators:

During a 13-minute interview on an ESPNU podcast released Monday, Miller said Florida is reminiscent of the Maryland teams in the early 2000s led by Steve Blake and Juan Dixon.

"They have two things that are just really difficult," Miller said. "One, they're an amazing passing team ... they share the ball and they pass it so easily, and they're just clever. … They are really unselfish and you can tell that Billy (Donovan, Florida coach) has really made that an emphasis, because as talented as their individual players are, their team is even better.

"The reason I compare them to Maryland is they test you in all phases - you take the ball underneath your own basket and they're trying to trap and create turnovers. Their zone is really aggressive and their man-to-man is really aggressive. You have to concentrate for 40 minutes because they're such a good passing team that when they get out in transition, it's two points and sometimes three points." http://azstarnet.com/sports/basketba...cefbb4770.html

[corpgator]

Originally Posted by madgator

If I had to choose an either or....it would be to protect the basket first.

You don't have to choose either. The best defenses protect the basket and the 3 point line. They let teams hoist 2 pt jumpers all day since those are the worst shots you can take: low % and still only worth 2 points instead of low % and worth 3.

[madgator]

Originally Posted by corpgator

You don't have to choose either. The best defenses protect the basket and the 3 point line. They let teams hoist 2 pt jumpers all day since those are the worst shots you can take: low % and still only worth 2 points instead of low % and worth 3.

rep for you sir!

[swampgas44]

Originally Posted by chompalot

Zona coach Sean Miller says this Gator team reminds him of Maryland's 2002 national champion team (Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter, Chris Wilcox, Byron Mouton, and Steve Blake).

Here's his breakdown of the Gators:

I think his analysis is 'spot on', not just the usual coachspeak.