the results are in: Gators at #4

[themistocles]

Only one ranking matters, the one following the NCAA championships. Prior to that, all this stuff is largely speculative.

[ThePlayer]

Originally Posted by themistocles

Only one ranking matters, the one following the NCAA championships. Prior to that, all this stuff is largely speculative.

As long as we win the SEC championship and make the Final Four...I will cherish this year.
Even more help is on the way next year.

[rserina]

Not sure what to make of Michigan. Beilein has a great offensive system, but I am not entirely sold on him in a playoff environment. They don't have a presence offensively or defensively in then post and seem to rely over much on Burke to penetrate and create opportunities for others. I like teams with better inside-out balance in the tournament. Again, though, that is Beilein's scheme and it produces points in bunches.

[GatorLurker]

Michigan is a REALLY good team on offense. They are like 2007 Gators in terms of being really good on O. Points come thick and heavy from everywhere.

On D they are just OK.

(Now I might get some $h1t from other posters)

The 2007 Gators were good on D, but really didn't hang their hat on that to be a top 5 team on D that year. Probably Top 20, but with their O that was more than enough.

And I think the 2006 team played better D.

Continuing along this line I think this current Gator squad plays MUCH better D than either of the Championship teams.

(Part where I will get $h1t from most other posters is over. Some will give me it regardless.)

This year Michigan is more like a Top 40 team on D with a #1 O. Kind of like the 2003 Gator team with a better O.

Certainly Michigan is a dangerous team. If they get hot they can win it all.

[ufgator4ever]

Interesting to see the younger horford(michigan) and kenny kadji(miami) doing well, two big men florida didn't pursue or discarded.
The program has come along way from three years ago.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by GatorLurker

The 2007 Gators were good on D, but really didn't hang their hat on that to be a top 5 team on D that year. Probably Top 20, but with their O that was more than enough.

And I think the 2006 team played better D.

Continuing along this line I think this current Gator squad plays MUCH better D than either of the Championship teams.

Sort of. The 2005-06 team was much better getting afters shots, but it struggled defending the arc and got bit by it during conference play.

The 2006-07 team was much better defending the arc, but we squeezed shooters on the perimeter more often and forced opponents into the lane. The big difference to my mind is that we dominated people so much in 06-07 that there lots of late points scored in blowout games.

I do agree that this team is better. Maybe not "much" better given that we don't have individual defenders as good as those we had on the frontcourt then, but our ball defense, help defense, and press are all better.

[GatorLurker]

Our perimeter defense this year is so unbelievably good that the small drop-off in interior defense is not that important.

It is a joy to watch.

[madgator]

Originally Posted by ArtVandelay

Mine is just as opinion too and I respectfully disagree. Burke and Hardaway have a decent amount of experience. They are both NBA players next year, plus Robinson.

Kansas relies on a Freshman.

I think Duke and Syracuse are looking at an early March exit.

If I could pick one team to be on the other side of the bracket, it would be Michigan. I think last year was the time they underachieved.

Getting back to the Gators...would you want to be ranked #1 in the country or do you think they might play better if they weren't?

Kansas starts 4 seniors. That's huge come tourney time.


and I fear Duke more than Michigan....I think we would KILL michigan. Their matchups against Indiana are going to reveal a good bit about them. Didn't shock me at all when they lost at Ohio St. A tough team with good perimeter defenders.

and we're better than Ohio St. WAY better.

don't get caught up in the flash of Michigan. I can see them being the #2 seed that makes an early exit.

too young and too dependant on outside shooting. Not a ton of depth, no real experience, lacking in size, and I'm not impressed with their team concept.

depending on their matchups in the tourney, I'm looking to bounce them early.



As for us? I think we can beat anyone out there.

[co_gator89]

Originally Posted by themistocles

Only one ranking matters, the one following the NCAA championships. Prior to that, all this stuff is largely speculative.

This. The polls are largely irrelevant in basketball. As long as we dont lose more than a game or two between now and the SEC tourney and win the SEC regular season title and the tournament I will be happy and we will be in prime position for a 1 seed.

[dadx4]

Originally Posted by tilly

#4 is great...as long as it translates into a #1 seed in March.

Exactly

[fox]

Originally Posted by themistocles

Only one ranking matters, the one following the NCAA championships. Prior to that, all this stuff is largely speculative.

Matters not to a team but a lot to a program. Better than unnoticed, unloved, irrelevant, outrecruited, and depressed.

[gatorbogey]

now the hype and attention and analysis comes. it has been coming - good stuff. but can we overcome the hype and not get too far ahead of ourselves w/ visions of grandeur and not get over-confident? that's going to be another part of the challenge.

i sure do like the mindset, though. it's defensively driven. i think they really take pride in denying the opponents points, shots, the ball, getting it up the court, all that stuff!

[orlandogator]

Originally Posted by GatorLurker

Michigan is a REALLY good team on offense. They are like 2007 Gators in terms of being really good on O. Points come thick and heavy from everywhere.

On D they are just OK.

(Now I might get some $h1t from other posters)

The 2007 Gators were good on D, but really didn't hang their hat on that to be a top 5 team on D that year. Probably Top 20, but with their O that was more than enough.

And I think the 2006 team played better D.

Continuing along this line I think this current Gator squad plays MUCH better D than either of the Championship teams.

(Part where I will get $h1t from most other posters is over. Some will give me it regardless.)

This year Michigan is more like a Top 40 team on D with a #1 O. Kind of like the 2003 Gator team with a better O.

Certainly Michigan is a dangerous team. If they get hot they can win it all.

In football, IMO, good defense beats good offense. I think the same in basketball really. Think Detroit Pistons in their championship years. A good offense looks very pedestrian when they played the Pistons. I don't care what kind of a shooter you are, if you get the ball stolen from you or a hand is in your face, your taken out of synch.

When Florida plays hard, their defense is really swarming and I don't think you will see Michigan score in bunches against us. Only if we have an off shooting night, could I see us losing.