Gator Country

HALLGATOR · 01-26-2013, 10:37 PM

Which of course we all know ended in our first ever NC. I know the SEC is down this year but the thing is we are winning by such large margins that it has to be taken into consideration no matter how down the league is.

I'm not making any brash predictions but I will say this team has what it takes to win it all. Injuries happen and we may never get all of our first 8 totally healthy at one time but it sure would be nice to see. Word is Prather was back to full speed tonight but he was not cleared to play. Maybe we will see him next Wednesday again SC.

HALLGATOR · 01-26-2013, 10:39 PM

Meant to post this in NBN.

**GatorNorth** · 01-26-2013, 10:40 PM

Team is solid but eventually we'll have a bad night and drop an SEC game, which is fine. Good news is defense usually takes fewer nights off in the season than offense does.

rserina · 01-26-2013, 10:43 PM

We are definitely as competitive as any team under Donovan other than the second national title squad. Such an efficient, consistent, balanced, versatile, well-coached team. We've got our issues (turnovers, handling the press, point guard depth, etc.), but in general this is a team that has throttled nearly everyone it has played.

108 · 01-26-2013, 10:44 PM

Only worry is that our wins may be inflated by poor SEC play

HALLGATOR · 01-26-2013, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 108

Only worry is that our wins may be inflated by poor SEC play

I would agree if we were beating teams by single digits but as I said in the op the way we are winning is an indicator of how good we are. When you are consistently beating teams the way the Gators are there's a good reason for it.

BengermanV · 01-26-2013, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 108

Only worry is that our wins may be inflated by poor SEC play

Hard for me to agree when we dominated good teams like Marquette and Wisconsin. We even dominated Arizona outside of 2 minutes in the game. If we lose, it will be because of a fluky shooting night for another team (KSU) or because we beat ourselves.

themistocles · 01-27-2013, 12:45 AM

Well, this very experienced team has exhibited a consistency that one rarely sees in College basketball. A few somewhat "down" games, like KSU, UCF, Air Force and Georgia in Athens, but overall, they are playing with amazing consistency.

Of course, Ole Miss is also 6-0, but their wins haven't been nearly as impressive, and their losses were to not the best teams (like Middle Tennessee State, who the Gators handled 66-45 in Gainesville, admittedly, while the Rebs lost on the Road).

**regurgigator** · 01-27-2013, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BengermanV

Hard for me to agree when we dominated good teams like Marquette and Wisconsin. We even dominated Arizona outside of 2 minutes in the game. If we lose, it will be because of a fluky shooting night for another team (KSU) or because we beat ourselves.

My perception while watching the Arizona game was that we were not playing the intense defense we had shown earlier in the season (and lately) although we did play very well offensively IMO.

I was trying to decide during that game whether our defense was really less intense or whether it was Arizona's guards (who are pretty good) whose good play was blunting the effectiveness of our defense.

I think it was the former given that our defense didn't seem as intense for several games during the holiday season when the team wasn't playing regularly and seemed to let their focus falter a bit with other things going on during that time of year (e.g., holidays, final exams, etc.).

I do think that if we're playing even half-way decently on offense that it will take a team with outstanding guard play to withstand our pressure defense and beat us.

**GatorNorth** · 01-27-2013, 08:31 AM

Arizona has good guards and we looked a step slow at the end of each half, with an epic fail in the press break in the second half.

Believe we out scored them by 13 for 38 minutes and were outscored by 14 in the last one of each half combined.

fox · 01-27-2013, 09:09 AM

Stay healthy, strive to get better, get hot, and we could make the final 4 - then it's about experience and will. Which would mean we have a good chance.

Very little to criticize for this team. The one thing we lack, and why we withered at Arizona, is one guy who wants the ball at the end. Who wants the last shot. Who wants to get fouled. It needs to be Wilbekin. This team is so unselfish - they need to appoint that spot.

NoahBeanBizzel · 01-27-2013, 09:13 AM

Let's get the comparisons rolling....

TWGator · 01-27-2013, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themistocles

Well, this very experienced team has exhibited a consistency that one rarely sees in College basketball. A few somewhat "down" games, like KSU, UCF, Air Force and Georgia in Athens, but overall, they are playing with amazing consistency.

Interesting that most of us consider the Georgia win on the road a "down" game - and, yet, we still won going away by a very comfortable margin (17 points). Points to just how good this team is, IMO.

traubgator · 01-27-2013, 10:06 AM

Should be a fun run. We will be everyone's national championship game from here on out. There only chance to make the dance could be a signature win over the gators.

However biggest difference with this squad - once we get up 10, they seem to get even better and don't let the hammer down. The defensive intensity picks up with every made bucket. This is a special group.

**regurgigator** · 01-28-2013, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traubgator

Should be a fun run. We will be everyone's national championship game from here on out. There only chance to make the dance could be a signature win over the gators.

However biggest difference with this squad - once we get up 10, they seem to get even better and don't let the hammer down. The defensive intensity picks up with every made bucket. This is a special group.

...well, at least until we're up 30