Why is Florida better without Bradley Beal and Erving Walker?

[regurgigator]

Originally Posted by PSGator66

I think that this discussion should wait until the season is over.

In the immortal words of Steve Martin: Naaaaaah!

Where's the fun in that?

I don't judge how good a team is solely based on how far they get in a single-elimination Tournament. Whether this team gets knocked out in the 1st Round or makes it to the Championship Game, it won't change my impression that we're seeing a Gator team playing a very special brand of basketball this season. I and other posters have been calling this team "special" (and other superlatives) since November and I don't feel we're a bit premature.

And, it has little to do with the amazing stats this team has so far. I think their outstanding play, particularly on the defensive end (not counting the holiday period where I thought their defense didn't look as intense for several games in a row), is evident in the "eye test". The stats just reinforce what the "eye test" is telling us. And that is: These guys are flat getting after it on defense like no other Gator team we've ever seen.


There is a superstitious side of me that's a little uncomfortable with "vocalizing" how thrilled I am with this team, but I'm hoping jinxes aren't real

[traubgator]

i think simply because billy's best teams have always been exactly that "teams".

that being said, beal would make this team even sicker. he's too good a player.

[MJGator8104]

The biggest difference between this season and last is that everyone has bought into team defense.

Beal would have been great on this team; however, it hasn't hurt to not have him return due to the return of WY and the improvement of Rosario.

[GatorAvatar]

Originally Posted by PSGator66

I think that this discussion should wait until the season is over.

Exactly. In fact, I just want to beat UK. If we can't beat then this year then we are not a good team.

[MaceoP]

I'll add my 2 cents. Young played injured most of last year. Wilbekin is young... last year he was younger and a little more immature. Wilbekin size alone is a big improvement over walker on D. Our starters improved dramatically this year. I see Yeguette as being a much more complete player this year. Overall, we have alot more depth. Let's not forget Beal improved as the year went on. IMO, he wasn't much of a factor in the first part of the season last year.

I would say our team had a very, very good year last year, and it remains to be seen whether we will surpass that team with this year's version.. I believe we will and I also think this team is better, however we need to wait till the tourney is over to truly judge this years team.

[g8tr80]

hrd to say if this team would be even better wtih Beal. Chemistry is a strange thing. Throw in a player like Beal and rotations change, players get different minutes, etc. I dunno, hard to see how we would be significantly better than we are right now.

Biggest difference? Everybody is a year older and we now have a defensive minded floor general who is improving his leadership game by game. IMHO, we haven't had a true point guard like Wilbekin since Green.

[madgator]

Originally Posted by g8tr80

hrd to say if this team would be even better wtih Beal. Chemistry is a strange thing. Throw in a player like Beal and rotations change, players get different minutes, etc. I dunno, hard to see how we would be significantly better than we are right now.

Biggest difference? Everybody is a year older and we now have a defensive minded floor general who is improving his leadership game by game. IMHO, we haven't had a true point guard like Wilbekin since Green.

regardless of the reasons; all of which are valid. this brand of basketball is a lot more pleasurable to watch. I'm sure we all agree on that.

Over the EW years I had my opinions of watching his execution which I made very clear. The play of this years team has, in the aforementioned regard, vindicated what I have been saying.

Is the loss of EW the only factor in the equation? Of course not. However, the team concept, the defense, the rotations and allocation of minutes and diversity of lineups were all dramatically impacted by EW getting 33 minutes a game.

we are better off without him in all of the above mentioned points. a quality Gator and good kid by all accounts. Had a fully successful career at UF.

despite all that, I enjoy gator basketball better without him

[jhbyrd]

Originally Posted by gatorrick1

It's all about defense!!!!!! We are one of the top defensive teams in the country.

We are more athletic and quicker on defense this year. We are almost as good on offense. Frazier has been a pleasant surprise on offense, he has lessened the blow of losing Beal.

[4everaGator]

Could it not be that some of our defensive prowess can be attributed to Pelphrey returning? He came back for the 2011/12 season but I think his impact is far greater in the second year.

[themistocles]

Originally Posted by 4everaGator

Could it not be that some of our defensive prowess can be attributed to Pelphrey returning? He came back for the 2011/12 season but I think his impact is far greater in the second year.

I think that both he and Grant had an enormous impact on historic Gator teams.

Coaching, playing and development are all evolutionary phenomena. Those who evolve get better, those who keep their heads in the sand tend to not do that.

I must admit that no matter what happens in the long run, this team has really surprised me. I expected them to be better than most people expected - for example, when people were talking about how GREAT the 2013 is going to be, I was say, I think 2012 is going to be very good. But they have really surpassed my expectations.

[gogators73]

Originally Posted by GatorAvatar

Exactly. In fact, I just want to beat UK. If we can't beat then this year then we are not a good team.

I'll be pretty disappointed if we don't embarrass them. We are wayyyyyy better.

Everyone saw them beat Ole Miss thanks to 9739 free throws and says they turned the corner. They were just coming off beating LSU by 5 in Rupp. I guarantee you UK struggles at TAMU tomorrow and maybe even loses. They aren't any better. People just think Ole Miss was really good.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Originally Posted by madgator

regardless of the reasons; all of which are valid. this brand of basketball is a lot more pleasurable to watch. I'm sure we all agree on that.

Over the EW years I had my opinions of watching his execution which I made very clear. The play of this years team has, in the aforementioned regard, vindicated what I have been saying.

Is the loss of EW the only factor in the equation? Of course not. However, the team concept, the defense, the rotations and allocation of minutes and diversity of lineups were all dramatically impacted by EW getting 33 minutes a game.

we are better off without him in all of the above mentioned points. a quality Gator and good kid by all accounts. Had a fully successful career at UF.

despite all that, I enjoy gator basketball better without him

I would enjoy this board better without you

Erv got 33 mins per game because he was the best option, you act like we had a better option but the only other option was Scotty and you are the only one who thinks he was remotely ready to take major minutes prior to this year, hell he was suspended for the first 4 games this year, obviously he had some maturing to do, he has surpassed all expectations this year, a big part of that may be based on the time he spent on the bench watching and learning the last two years, your refusal to acknowledge that not only makes you look like a fool but also makes you extremely annoying - enjoy the current team - quit trying to beat your chest while denigrating a kid who was a big part of two of the most successful teams in the history of Gator basketball

[madgator]

Originally Posted by NorthCaptivaGator

I would enjoy this board better without you

Erv got 33 mins per game because he was the best option, you act like we had a better option but the only other option was Scotty and you are the only one who thinks he was remotely ready to take major minutes prior to this year, hell he was suspended for the first 4 games this year, obviously he had some maturing to do, he has surpassed all expectations this year, a big part of that may be based on the time he spent on the bench watching and learning the last two years, your refusal to acknowledge that not only makes you look like a fool but also makes you extremely annoying - enjoy the current team - quit trying to beat your chest while denigrating a kid who was a big part of two of the most successful teams in the history of Gator basketball

I was one of the few who stated two years ago that SW was going to be a top rate player for us. For me, I could see the talent and said that it was in our teams long term best interests to start him as a freshman and bring Walker off the bench in a 22 minute per game basis as a combo guard in advantageous situations.

were you one of the many who felt that SW was never going to be more than an average off the bench role player?

I'm pretty sure you were.

[Jonas]

You also thought Larson was going to be a major player for us (I did too) so it's not like your some genius evaluator of talent. I'm pretty sure most of us here were pretty optimistic on Scottie's development.

I love how you keep implying throughout the years that you know more about PG play and evaluation than Billy ****ing Donovan. You are insane if you think Scottie was ready to play as a freshmen. He was 17 years old and should have still been in HS. There are very few players who are ready to start at PG in Billy's system as a freshmen. I can entertain the argument that Scottie should have started last year (even though I disagree with it), but to say it was the right call 2 years is ridic.

[madgator]

Originally Posted by Jonas

You also thought Larson was going to be a major player for us (I did too) so it's not like your some genius evaluator of talent. I'm pretty sure most of us here were pretty optimistic on Scottie's development.

I love how you keep implying throughout the years that you know more about PG play and evaluation than Billy ****ing Donovan. You are insane if you think Scottie was ready to play as a freshmen. He was 17 years old and should have still been in HS. There are very few players who are ready to start at PG in Billy's system as a freshmen. I can entertain the argument that Scottie should have started last year (even though I disagree with it), but to say it was the right call 2 years is ridic.

you do know that BD did all he could to keep Larson in the program and has stated that he does have an open door back if he wants it.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Originally Posted by madgator

I was one of the few who stated two years ago that SW was going to be a top rate player for us. For me, I could see the talent and said that it was in our teams long term best interests to start him as a freshman and bring Walker off the bench in a 22 minute per game basis as a combo guard in advantageous situations.

were you one of the many who felt that SW was never going to be more than an average off the bench role player?

I'm pretty sure you were.

I have always been high on Scotty Wilbekin my only concern is his ability to beat pressure defense and that concern still stands today. If you think we would've been "better off in the long run" with Walker coming off the bench and Wilbekin starting your nuts, the long-run is right now and were pretty damn good, without Walker we do not make elite 6 last two years

[Jonas]

Originally Posted by madgator

you do know that BD did all he could to keep Larson in the program and has stated that he does have an open door back if he wants it.

Yep, but do you know it would be as a walk on? He still had a lot more to do earn his scholarship back. He was still a long way from becoming an impact player especially with all the bigs we are getting next year.

I'm not confident anymore he would have made anymore of an impact this year if he hypothetically stayed than last year considering he did something to warrant his scholarship getting pulled.

[madgator]

Originally Posted by NorthCaptivaGator

I have always been high on Scotty Wilbekin my only concern is his ability to beat pressure defense and that concern still stands today. If you think we would've been "better off in the long run" with Walker coming off the bench and Wilbekin starting your nuts, the long-run is right now and were pretty damn good, without Walker we do not make elite 6 last two years

I respectfully disagree. particularly when it comes to last year's team.

I liked Walker much better in the "rosario role" of this year.

[tommyuf21]

He just hates Erving Walker and no amount of evidence to the contrary will ever change his mind.

It's a good thing our coach doesn't have time to read this board. Some of the things that have been said about a player that he highly valued would have made him upchuck.