Gator Country

GatorJason · 02-12-2013, 10:06 PM

Patric Young was the best big man on court, leading the Gators to a convincing 69-52 home victory over the Kentucky Wildcats. Young had a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds along with 4 blocks and a steal for 86 value credits. The 4 blocks didn't tell the whole story as he physically dominated the paint, making the Wildcats bigmen work hard for any points they scored. Scottie Wilbekin had a masterful game at point scoring 14 points and dishing out 8 assists with 2 steals to earn 73 value credits. Casey Prather provided a big spark offensively with 12 points, 3 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals to finish with 62 value credits. Defensively Casey took several charges which contributed to an overall great team defensive effort.

This game had all the classic hallmarks of a Gator victory this season where 5 Gators scored in double figures (Boynton almost made it six with 9 points) on 17 assists while the defense held the talented Wildcats to an SEC season low 52 points. The Gators also blocked 9 shots versus only 3 for Kentucky, the SEC leader in blocked shots. The only negative of the game was an injury to Wildcat freshman sensation Nerlens Noel who hurt his knee while chasing down a Gator fast break and attempting to block the layup. He was the Wildcats most productive and disruptive player.

The Gators have a potential trap game at Auburn this coming Saturday as some may be looking ahead to playing a hot Missouri Tigers team next Tuesday on the road. Expect Billy to have the Gators ready for the "Auburn" Tigers with the road loss to Arkansas still fresh in their minds.

Box Score Value Leaders:
Young...''.....86
Wilbekin......73
Prather........62

Click on this link to see all player value scores for this game

Awesome game-day pictures posted by Jaggator starting with post 466.

Value Credits* are assigned as follows:
+5 credits for each Steal and Assist
+4 credits for each Point scored, Rebound and Block
.-5 credits for each Turnover
.-2 credits for each Field Goal Attempt
.-1 credit for each Free Throw Attempt

* Value Credits are based solely on Box Score data and do not reflect total game contributions by players

Kentucky Game Official Box Score

The Gators next game will be against Auburn on Saturday, Feb 16th at 1:30. ESPN-850AM WRUF

**bofusgators** · 02-12-2013, 10:13 PM

Patrick Young was a very definite thorn in Ky's side.

HALLGATOR · 02-12-2013, 10:26 PM

I was thinking Patric would get the MVG from you tonight. His play tonight was exemplary, and if any scouts were watching they had to be impressed.

GatorJason · 02-12-2013, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HALLGATOR

I was thinking Patric would get the MVG from you tonight. His play tonight was exemplary, and if any scouts were watching they had to be impressed.

HALLGATOR, just to make sure everyone understands, I never pick the Gator MVG.
The box score numbers determine MVG. I just post the results.

gatorfansrule · 02-12-2013, 10:36 PM

Young played great tonight. Also have to give a lot of credit to Wilbekin who played great defense and also got some very nice drives and lay-ins or short jumpers when the offense went stagnant.

InstiGATOR1 · 02-12-2013, 10:40 PM

Yet so many Gator fans has Noel as better than him in the pre-game discussions. Personally, I can not imagine a good guy with a good head on his shoulders with that NBA body and his game will be passed for 32 picks in the NBA draft.

HALLGATOR · 02-12-2013, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GatorJason

HALLGATOR, just to make sure everyone understands, I never pick the Gator MVG.
The box score numbers determine MVG. I just post the results.

I understood that, bad choice of words.

gatorbogey · 02-12-2013, 10:56 PM

giant game by everyone. they all stepped up their game for this one. gator nation is very proud of the performance!

rserina · 02-12-2013, 10:58 PM

One of the unfortunate side effects of a terribly unfortunate injury for Noel is that the injury will detract attention from what was a monster game by Young.

gatorbogey · 02-12-2013, 10:59 PM

maybe add a score for charges taken too. do those show up on the box score(s)?

madgator · 02-13-2013, 01:09 AM

Young showed us a lot tonight....best post defender in college hoops today

BAR NONE!

SW is BY FAR the best perimeter defender in college basketball right now

BAR NONE!

BECAUSE of this. Our success is limitless!!!!

GatorJason · 02-13-2013, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorbogey

maybe add a score for charges taken too. do those show up on the box score(s)?

I agree. If forced turnovers were attributed to players in the box score, I'd give the player +5 for each. It's equivalent to a steal in my mind. Unfortunately, since many forced turnovers are based on team defense, they don't show up in the box score associated with a player, even for charges where the person taking the charge should be given the credit.

It's just one of several things this team does well that doesn't show up in the box score. Others are: setting picks to free up a player, boxing out so someone else can clear a rebound, getting in someone's face on the perimeter so they don't have a clean shot, hustling downcourt on transition defense, passing the ball to an open man instead of taking a bad shot that results in a miss and quick transition bucket by the opponent, etc, etc.

It's because of these shortfalls in the box score stats, I fully understand why people could choose someone else as MVG. The Gator radio announcers picked Casey Prather as MVG because he had an outstanding game at the 4 spot. Statistically, Casey did not have as an impactful game as Patric, but he did show up bigtime helping the team fill void with the loss of Will Yegute. Casey does not have Will's strength and physicality, but he may be the Gator's most athletic player who can use his quickness and leaping ability to be another critical piece of a championship team puzzle.

Casey getting a hand up from appreciative teammates.

fox · 02-13-2013, 07:14 AM

On that fast break bucket he looked like a guard.

Nblue · 02-13-2013, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InstiGATOR1

Yet so many Gator fans has Noel as better than him in the pre-game discussions. Personally, I can not imagine a good guy with a good head on his shoulders with that NBA body and his game will be passed for 32 picks in the NBA draft.

Noel is clearly the better NBA prospect. I think it's debatable which one brings more to a team right now. I thought Patric held his own on both sides of the floor and won the matchup tonite. Of course that is made a lot easier with our guard play relative to UKs. I certainly hope Noel is okay for the rematch at Rupp -- would be fun to see those 2 go at it again!

KAGator67 · 02-13-2013, 07:52 AM

Clearly?? Not clear to me judging by his performance compared to young's last night.

yellowboy90 · 02-13-2013, 01:42 PM

Didn't he have big games against Davis too. Maybe I am wrong on that.