Digger just said UF is the best team in the nation..

[gator7_5]

On sportscenter. He said eventhough Michigan will be ranked #1, the gators are the best team right now. Says D wins championships, but that we can also score. I always enjoy listening to DF, this just proves how smart he is.

[gogators73]

I hope we handle the success of being highly ranked better than other teams have this year (including ourselves). Today will be the highest we've been ranked all season.

[Go2gtr]

He must not be listening to Miami fans.

[REM08]

So the blind squirrel found a nut. He's an old curmudgeon that needs to retire (not the only one).

[bmfgator]

BELIEVE!!

[rserina]

I tend to disagree that defense wins championships in hoops. Bad defense sure won't help you win, but it takes far more than good defense to win it all. That's why our recent offensive improvement has been encouraging. Part of it is simply the fact that we are playing twice a week now and getting into a rhythm, as opposed to the more random schedule of November and December.

But much of it I would attribute to Wilbekin establishing himself at the one. His ability to create off the bounce and score in the lane, though in general his increased aggressiveness in all phases of the offense, has really opened things up for others. Murphy is getting a ton of pick and pop opportunities off the staggered and high screens, Young is being used on more pick and rolls and lobs, Rosario and Boynton are getting more spot up looks on the wings and in the corners due to help against the pick and rolls.

[gator7_5]

Originally Posted by rserina

I tend to disagree that defense wins championships in hoops. Bad defense sure won't help you win, but it takes far more than good defense to win it all. That's why our recent offensive improvement has been encouraging. Part of it is simply the fact that we are playing twice a week now and getting into a rhythm, as opposed to the more random schedule of November and December.

But much of it I would attribute to Wilbekin establishing himself at the one. His ability to create off the bounce and score in the lane, though in general his increased aggressiveness in all phases of the offense, has really opened things up for others. Murphy is getting a ton of pick and pop opportunities off the staggered and high screens, Young is being used on more pick and rolls and lobs, Rosario and Boynton are getting more spot up looks on the wings and in the corners due to help against the pick and rolls.

I think someone did a recent post showing the d rankings of the last 10 final fours. Something like all but 2 champs were top 10 in defense in the country. It's obviously a vital part of championship basketball.

[iam4uf]

UF will become the latest team to talk about, especially if we win the next couple of games. It's nice, but probably distracting to the goals of winning championships.

[gatorbogey]

in defense of defense: could be he's saying that good offensive teams, if they have an off night shooting, they go down to defeat, but a solid defensive team is more consistent and less likely to lose if their offense is having an off night.

[sgtfury]

Originally Posted by gator7_5

On sportscenter. He said eventhough Michigan will be ranked #1, the gators are the best team right now. Says D wins championships, but that we can also score. I always enjoy listening to DF, this just proves how smart he is.

He said this because his ESPN crew will be doing the Ole Miss game Saturday.

[Bradass]

Is it possible college gameday will be in gainesville this weekend, or did they pick somewhere else to go?

[PowerGator]

Originally Posted by Bradass

Is it possible college gameday will be in gainesville this weekend, or did they pick somewhere else to go?

Doesn't Indiana play Michigan next Saturday? If so, I'll bet they will be there.

[InstiGATOR1]

Originally Posted by rserina

I tend to disagree that defense wins championships in hoops.

Exactly as in all sports defense DOES NOT win championships. In basketball for example Wisconsin is not in the final four every year. You need an offense, you need a defense and they work together.

It is my theory that this old coaching bromide about defense comes in part because a bad team with a good defense will lose game more closely giving a stronger argument to give the coach more time. So it could be defense leads to longer coaching tenures though maybe not at schools like UF where fans expect championship level teams.

[REM08]

Originally Posted by gator7_5

I think someone did a recent post showing the d rankings of the last 10 final fours. Something like all but 2 champs were top 10 in defense in the country. It's obviously a vital part of championship basketball.

You remember that correctly except that it was 8 of the last 10 national champs were either 1st or 2nd in offensive efficiency.

I think there's no diminishing the importance of offense or defense when it comes to winning the NCAA tournament. When it comes down to it, it appears that how many points you average per possession matters most, but the adage that "defense never takes a night off" is important as well. No team is immune to an off shooting night, but great defensive teams always show up and keep you in the game in spite of bad shooting.

[gator7_5]

Originally Posted by PowerGator

Doesn't Indiana play Michigan next Saturday? If so, I'll bet they will be there.

They will be there. Not at the UF game. He said it becasue he believes it I think.

[Jonas]

Originally Posted by InstiGATOR1

Exactly as in all sports defense DOES NOT win championships. In basketball for example Wisconsin is not in the final four every year. You need an offense, you need a defense and they work together.

Exactly. The saying goes "offense wins games, defense wins championships." IMO, it was always suppose to imply you need BOTH to win a championship, not that a defense is all you need.

Most fans just care about offense because it's exciting, and defense is less glamorous. The intent of the saying was to show that you need both to be truly great. It doesn't mean the best defensive teams will win the most.

In bball, I'm pretty sure a team with a great offense but bad defense will go farther than a team with a great defense but bad offense. Look at FSU. They are normally a great defensive team, but still lose a ton of games because they can do crap on offense.

[gator7_5]

Originally Posted by InstiGATOR1

Exactly as in all sports defense DOES NOT win championships.

This is a basketball board, so we won't get into it here. But if you think you can win a MNC in college footbal without a top rated D, you're crazy. Same can't be said for offense. It may happen, rarely, but it's definitely the exception.

[MadduxFanII]

My thinking was always that a slow-em-down, all-defense, no-offense approach put you in a place where you were at once more capable of winning and losing a given game. It's hard to blow anyone out when your goal is to score 55 points. On the other hand, if you're only giving up 50 points a game, you're never really out of it. So it's a useful strategy for a team with lesser talent that is just trying to elevate its chances of winning.

Now, when you combine a great defense with a highly efficient offense, well, that's how you end up murdering people the way we've been this year.

[Lawdog88]

I like to see aggressive defensive basketball and love to see quick buckets off steals and forced turnovers. MissStake caught us a few times with that drill last game, and hopefully that sharpened our focus, i.e., that what we do to others can happen to us if we don't pay attention.

Good D also demoralizes and frustrates in a way that swishing a 3 does not, and shot clock violations - like we have been getting - are absolutely the bees' knees.

Like everyone else, I really appreciate our defensive emphasis this year and am truly amazed at the high level our guys work together. It is indeed a thing of beauty to behold.

[madgator]

Not sure if we are the best....but definitely one of the top 4 best with Kansas, Michigan, and Indiana

we can play and beat any of those teams, just don't know if we are so head and shoulders better than them to definitively say that we are the best.

it's a nice thought though