Something needs to change...

[UFG8rGuy3283]

Originally Posted by og8trz

This game epitomizes why I can't take basketball seriously. The officiating in the last few minutes made it very clear the home team was supposed to win. Just like strike zone preferences in baseball, officials call games based on home teams.

Just as a strike should be the same regardless of locale, a foul at home should be a foul, home or away.

I don't think that's unique to any sport, is it? I've seen it in football too, ie Bama and "holding".

[themistocles]

Originally Posted by LeeForThree

Also, Frazier and Prather should play a lot more than what they did tonight. They bring an added dimension to this team that needs to be utilized.

This, I think was the key point you made.

This has been Billy D's tendency in comparatively close games, to underutilize his bench. In 11 minutes, Prather had 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 TO and 1 Steal.

Frazier only played 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, Boynton had 2 assists and 3 TOs, Rosario was 3 & 3, Murphy was 1 & 5 (TOs),.

Although it was true that 2 of the Arizona players were on the floor for 37 minutes, whereas Gators were only 35 for Wilbekin & Boynton and 33 for Rosario, I really think that the fact that all of your guards are at least somewhat tire reduces their efficiency at the end of games. Sometimes this doesn't hurt (like when the opponents don't get hot), but the fact that Billy D has historically had a very poor record in games that are close at the end can, I think, since about 2001 or so, be attributable to fatigue among key Gators. Prior to 2001, Billy D rotated frequently, even when he had inferior players coming off the bench (I mean, look at his first year, when he had a walk-on white guy starting at Power Forward, and his reserves didn't exist, yet he rotated regularly).

[fox]

We have everything except the team leader that will keep everything together at the end of games. We need a guy with fire who wants the ball. Who will take it and get fouled and make the shots.

It's either KB or MR. BD has spent a year converting MR into a role player - a team player first. And he needed to do that. I think KB has to be the guy. The refuse to lose guy.

[bullish]

Themiscoles, I agree, Billy's tendency is to tighten up and the bench hardly ever plays meaningful minutes. He knows who can do what but this tendency doesn't allow a team to grow up until we lose a few then panic steps in and he goes radically different in line-up and playing time. Just use the young guys with Prather, allow them to grow and help this team prosper. We have a lot of talent. Would Frazier have made two awful passes in the last minute, could he get open to help the break the press, we didn't find out last night. Oh well, I knew this was going to be a tough game, we barely beat them last year and this year they had a lot more young talent. Add this to playing at home and a sold out crowd and the officials being homerized. Ha.

It is evident Kenny needs to play shooting guard and rest Rosario, begin developing Ogbueze and Frazier at their positions allow Rosario to come off the bench and give us a spark, when he plays too long he gets careless with the ball as evident last night. Can he score no doubt. The development of this team starts with playing the bench more and moving Kenny back. I kinda expected this outcome but we almost did them in.

Here's for making the needed changes!

[phideltdj]

Let's not get too carried away..we have been dominant all year with this team and they really had a double digit lead on the road against a top ten team with some tough officiating and breaks. Sure they made some mistakes to blow the game but radical changes are not needed...this team can play with anyone in the country. It's not like they lost by 20 and were never in the game...then you make radical changes. I'm sure Billy realized he should have subbed more and we need to execute better with in-bounds and end of game situations.

[grizgator]

What a meltdown last night! Yes, the officiating was poor and the difference in the number of fouls/free throw attempts was telling. However, it is all on the Gators at the end. They had a lead and blew it. Boynton, a 91% FT shooter, misses the front end of a 1-on-1. Obviously we don't know how to inbound very well against a press. The last two minutes were a nightmare, with no organization at all, let alone execution. The players did finish and I can't say that I give high marks to the coaching staff either for the play I saw at the end (players execute what they are taught and the play at the end represents some pretty poor planning). I guess there's something to be said about blowing away too many opponents......these guys were not "battle tested" and it showed down the stretch. Hopefully they can learn from this and can get better in some of the areas where they were exposed by a less-talented Arizona team. What a way to lose. Ugh.

[HALLGATOR]

While Billy is not one to make excuses I wonder if the guys didn't lose their focus due to be fatigued. I mentioned in the game thread that I was concerned the trip out and the late start may factor into the outcome and I still think it could have played a part. Still doesn't mean the guys shouldn't have won the game but I think it is something to take into consideration when looking at the overall picture.

[G8RNTN]

Originally Posted by HALLGATOR

While Billy is not one to make excuses I wonder if the guys didn't lose their focus due to be fatigued. I mentioned in the game thread that I was concerned the trip out and the late start may factor into the outcome and I still think it could have played a part. Still doesn't mean the guys shouldn't have won the game but I think it is something to take into consideration when looking at the overall picture.

When did the team get to Arizona? Didn't really think about that until u just mentioned it. Not a excuse but the way we play defense and the start with the trip.... Had to take some toll at some point. But still shoulda had the win at the end.

[samit23]

The issue isn't who starts or who gets minutes, Billy has that worked out. The issue with the program the last 2.1 years ha been closing out games. That is likely a by product of not have a true dominant point guard on the roster. I am optimistic that this team has what it takes to figure out the answers.

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[gatorman_07732]

Originally Posted by og8trz

This game epitomizes why I can't take basketball seriously. The officiating in the last few minutes made it very clear the home team was supposed to win. Just like strike zone preferences in baseball, officials call games based on home teams.

Just as a strike should be the same regardless of locale, a foul at home should be a foul, home or away.

The officiating complaint is a cop out. The game was completely blown in the last minute have pretty much dominated the game despite the foul disparity.

[Swampmaster]

last 5 UF possessions (6 point lead, with the ball):

turnover
turnover
turnover
miss free throw
wild, off balance shot

That's the reason for the loss, not the officiating.

[HALLGATOR]

Originally Posted by G8RNTN

When did the team get to Arizona? Didn't really think about that until u just mentioned it. Not a excuse but the way we play defense and the start with the trip.... Had to take some toll at some point. But still shoulda had the win at the end.

I'm not really sure when they took the flight, I just read about it somewhere. Was looking around to see if I could find it, but didn't. Again, I am not saying that was the reason we lost but it could have been a contributing factor which, in a close game, can be a difference maker.

[DrewGator15]

Line up needs to be

PG- Wilbekin
SG- Boynton
SF- Rosario
PF- Murphy
C- Young

[madgator]

Billy has to stop calling timeouts on the oppositions made basket. All we had to do was inbound and they were forced to foul. When you call timeout you stop the inbounders ability to run the baseline, thus limiting the play.

Then you have the 6'0 wilbekin inbounding the ball when the other team is putting their 6'8 PF on the defensive point.


The players still need to be able to execute a simple inbounds play, however the coach's decision to call timeout with 54 seconds left did not put the players in an opitimal situation.

We played an almost perfect game for 37 1/2 minutes and an absolutely horrible game for the last 2 1/2. This was a game where we were expecting to see exactly what we are and what we are capable of. I think both points were certainly accomplished. I am not going to over-react to this loss.

[PIMking]

They were up by 10 with a few mins to go but kept turning the ball over and over.

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[akaGatorhoops]

Originally Posted by madgator

Billy has to stop calling timeouts on the oppositions made basket. All we had to do was inbound and they were forced to foul. When you call timeout you stop the inbounders ability to run the baseline, thus limiting the play.

Then you have the 6'0 wilbekin inbounding the ball when the other team is putting their 6'8 PF on the defensive point.


The players still need to be able to execute a simple inbounds play, however the coach's decision to call timeout with 54 seconds left did not put the players in an opitimal situation.

We played an almost perfect game for 37 1/2 minutes and an absolutely horrible game for the last 2 1/2. This was a game where we were expecting to see exactly what we are and what we are capable of. I think both points were certainly accomplished. I am not going to over-react to this loss.

I hate to rehash this, but can not help but point it out. If Erv had the game KB did, you would have posted only on the subject and suggested you that you have been validated.
While i am certainly not meaning to invite you to dump on boynton, i do find it a bit interesting that you are "not going to over-react to this loss".
I agree!!!!!!!
But I wish you had the same reasonable approach across the board, and during the past couple of seasons.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Originally Posted by akaGatorhoops

I hate to rehash this, but can not help but point it out. If Erv had the game KB did, you would have posted only on the subject and suggested you that you have been validated.
While i am certainly not meaning to invite you to dump on boynton, i do find it a bit interesting that you are "not going to over-react to this loss".
I agree!!!!!!!
But I wish you had the same reasonable approach across the board, and during the past couple of seasons.

Exactly, against Louisville in the elite 8 our #3 pick in the draft has two turnovers in the last two mins and tonight Murph turns it over up 8 on back to back possessions followed by two absolutely awful 3 attempts by Boynton not to mention wilbeken, Rosario and Murphy all kicking it off their feet on inbounds plays - maybe Erv wasn't the problem

[SmootyGator]

Originally Posted by madgator

When you call timeout you stop the inbounders ability to run the baseline, thus limiting the play.

Is this true? Has this changed recently? I always thought that even after a timeout that the inbounder could still run the base-line as if the basket was just scored.

[jmoliver]

yes he could have still run the baseline.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Originally Posted by jmoliver

yes he could have still run the baseline.

The announcer said otherwise, was he wrong?