we're all thinking it so I'll ask: Does our lack of competition in the SEC scare you

[rounds]

Love to see humiliation EVERY game to the title and we wouldn't even have this discussion, hehe...
Team is starting fast, then kickin' it up!

[REM08]

Originally Posted by ArtVandelay

My list is short: Michigan

JUST made the connection with your name Art. You know I live in the city (Lexington) that is home to the real J Peterman.

http://seinfeld.wikia.com/wiki/Jacopo_Peterman

[Matthanuf06]

I'm not too concerned but it would be nice for this crew of guys to practice their primary weakness. The fact is we folded late in the game, after holding 3 big leads in the last two elite 8s and this years biggest game.

I think we will be fine, but practice makes perfect.

However I'd rather us blow through our competition, get a 1 seed, then have a handful of tight games and risk losing a 1 seed.

[bullish]

I few teams I would be worried about playing right now, Butler and Louisville, add to that Michigan, Villanova, Kansas, Arizona. SEC foes Kentucky, Tenn in Knoxville, Missouri in Columbia, MO., The toughest part of our schedule is coming up.

We will be remembered by what we do in the NCAA tournament. Hopefully we get a high seed, a close regional, and play Duke or NC in the East Regional Final. My recipe for the Final Four.

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by REM08

If I asked you guys to list how many teams there were out there that would make you worry if you played them, how many would it be? There CAN'T be that many. Its not like you'll end up playing more than a couple of them. Sure it matters a little. But its not like you'll have to dredge through 6 of these type games in a row.

Its great to have a team that's "battle tested" and has experience in close-game/last second situations. But honestly, I'd rather have the team that doesn't have as much of this experience because they humiliated most of the teams they played.

We have actually faced some different situations this season, some quite unusual. I also feel that our tougher tests are yet to come and we can only benefit from being challenged.

That's why I hope that Kentucky gets a little better and that we have some challenges down the stretch. If we are the team that many think we are, we'll pass most of them and be in a great position to have a great NCAA run.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Originally Posted by themistocles

I think Mad is correct.

You must realize that this team played the OOC schedule without having Wilbekin as the primary PG, which makes a huge difference in the team's efficacy.

The OOC was quite tough, which is a main reason the Gator's RPI is so high.

The SEC has quite several competitive teams, but this Gator team makes them all look like Division III middle-of-the-roaders the way they are playing now.

I mean, South Carolina just manhandled a decent Arkansas team - who would have expected last nights blowout???

You may recall that Tex A&M had just solidly beaten Ky in Lexington before facing the Gator defense, which they learned is very difficult to score against.

Missouri was considered a decent team due to their OOC play, until the Gators destroyed them.

Note that Marquette is tied for the Big East lead, 2 games ahead of Louisville and tied with Syracuse at 6-1 right now. You may recall that the Marquette coach said that the Gators gave them their worst lost in his 5 year term as head coach. And recall, they play in the top conference, the Big East.

I think you guys are underestimating just how exceptional this team really is. I mean, KenPom has them rated higher than any team ever has been in his ratings, which considers the nature of the competition.

Let me quote a wise and famous fellow, Bob Marley: "Don't Worry. Be Happy."

Dude, .... that was Bobby McFar..something or other...... Not Bob Marely... Who just rolled over in his grave I think

[MJGator8104]

Short answer, no.

[regurgigator]

Originally Posted by ArtVandelay

The AZ loss doesn't concern me in the sense that we dominated that game. The K-State game is the one that concerns me because we basically didn't show up to play. If that happens in the tourney (except for the first round) we will lose the game. The good news is that we have shown up in a major way for every game since! Sure we have gotten off to 1 or 2 slow starts, but we were still winning the game.

Even in our "slow starts", we've been playing stifling defense in every game (all game long) since about the Yale game. I didn't see the stifling defense in any of the 5-game stretch from Arizona (Dec 15th) (although we played very well offensively) until the Yale game (Jan 6th). But, I think it's back to stay

Like 108 said, you can see our obvious improvement (particularly Wilbekin's) in handling full-court pressure, which was our specific downfall against Arizona. I still wouldn't say we're great at it, but we've gotten much better and I doubt we'll see anything like the Arizona collapse again.

It would be optimal to have a few more close games, but no I wouldn't say it scares me. Plus, we probably will have a handful of close games to come.

But, if we actually get to the Tourney with no more close games, then I'd have start thinking we might run a few teams off the court in the Tourney also

[themistocles]

Originally Posted by NorthCaptivaGator

Dude, .... that was Bobby McFar..something or other...... Not Bob Marely... Who just rolled over in his grave I think

Well, honestly, I don't think Marley would roll over in his grave to have such a wonderful song attributed to him.

I apologize to Bobby Mcferrin for the error.

The idea, however, remains the same.


Oh, and Rem - regarding how many teams would make Gator fans anxious, you must realize that this group has seen so very many weir losses through the years (not that everyone hasn't), but things like that loss to Arizona, or the last two elite 8 losses to Butler and Louisville make threads like "Are we due for a letdown against South Carolina?" or "Starkville."

Really, very few teams look to be in the Gator's neighborhood, at least on paper, but you can lose any game.

[number1]

I will gladly take all of the blowout wins.

[TampaGatorFan]

Originally Posted by number1

I will gladly take all of the blowout wins.

^ this

[GatorNation850]

It doesn't scare me... Now if the games were closer I would be a bit nervous but the way we are blowing everyone out that shows that we are a REALLY good team