I want it all

[Brewski]

Watching these guys lately gets me optimistic about winning the SEC, and then taking the SEC tourney. Follow that up with a high dance seed and marching to the final four. In past years I wasn't so greedy. However, I think these guys may have what it takes to make it a more than special season.

[GatorPlanet]

Yep. This group has the talent and chemistry to finish on the top of the heap in April.

[gatorbogey]

seeing this post, i have the urge to 'reverse jinx' the gators
i love these guys too. just a joy to watch.
i think they have what it takes to do what you say. i think they know that too. still alot of basketball to play and anything - from glory to disaster - can happen in a single-elimination tourney...anything....

so: cliche #1: take one game at a time.

to me, the season is like 4 mini-seasons. first, you've got the regular season prologue to the sec games. then the sec slate. then the sec-tourney. finally the ncaa's. which is a series of 2-game weekend tourneys in itself. each builds on the last.

[rserina]

Hey, don't we all. But single elimination tournaments are fickle beasts. The more tangible goal for me is to win the league with no more than two losses. That would essentially be our best league performance in school history and only our--what?--fifth league title overall. That is something we can easily control.

After that, the rest of the season is sort of a tightrope. I just want to see the kids play hard, not get screwed with frustrating injuries or bad officiating, and come what may.

[gatordee]

A special group for sure.

[GatorPlanet]

I'm not one of those guys that labels a season a 'bust' if you don't go deep into the tournament. Upsets happen. Bad games happen. We're having a great season, and we have a team with the ability to win it all. If we get knocked out in the second game, that'll be disappointing but it won't ruin the season for me. Enjoy the ride.

[InstiGATOR1]

Originally Posted by GatorPlanet

I'm not one of those guys that labels a season a 'bust' if you don't go deep into the tournament. Upsets happen. Bad games happen. We're having a great season, and we have a team with the ability to win it all. If we get knocked out in the second game, that'll be disappointing but it won't ruin the season for me. Enjoy the ride.

I agree with you. I don't think less of the 2002 Gator Basketball team because some guy burried on Creighton's depth chart had the game of his life.

But I also agree with the original poster. I want it all. This team can win the SEC, can win the SEC Tourney and can win the NCAA tourney. Why not UF this year.

[gatorbogey]

SEC titles are certainly rare for the gators. likewise, so is the SEC T. those are in our grasps. let's get those! want that regular season conference title, for sure!

[rounds]

The chances of all FIVE three-ball shooters being ice-cold at the same time are slim, but stranger things have happened. Prather can create inside and Boynton & Scottie can drive and score or dish which takes the pressure off the 3-ball.
We have a better chance to win it all than most. Fun team to watch, come what may. Some luck is always involved.
GO GATORS!

[dailydoublecat]

I think you have a hell of a chance of a 3 champ season--Sec, sec tourney and NCAA. I believe it's in Atlanta. Go make some history!!!!!!
Jeff

[red4512]

If Young reaches his potential and Yeguete comes back at 100% for the tourney, it matter who is scary! Hopefully those ifs arent very big.

[benheb]

I don't know what the Vegas odds are right now but I believe objective look at the field means you pick Gators as the favorite.

I know it's not necessarily reasonable but I would be disappointed with anything less than a final four appearance. If Yeguete is able to come back by SEC tourney, it seems his injury just made the Gators tougher and more difficult for opponents to game plan. It also seems to have hardened resolve on this team - As for me, I'm getting back to the point where I find it difficult to imagine anyone else beating them in regular season.

[tebowharvin]

Originally Posted by dailydoublecat

I think you have a hell of a chance of a 3 champ season--Sec, sec tourney and NCAA. I believe it's in Atlanta. Go make some history!!!!!!
Jeff

Has there ever been a treble in the conference tourney era in the SEC?

[GatorNorth]

Didn't uk do it just last year, and us in 06 and 07?

[InstiGATOR1]

Originally Posted by GatorNorth

Didn't uk do it just last year, and us in 06 and 07?

UF did not do it in 2006. UK did not do so last year. Vandy won the tourney. UF did win all 3, SEC, SEC tourney and NCAA tourney in 2007.

[regurgigator]

Originally Posted by benheb

I don't know what the Vegas odds are right now but I believe objective look at the field means you pick Gators as the favorite.

I know it's not necessarily reasonable but I would be disappointed with anything less than a final four appearance. If Yeguete is able to come back by SEC tourney, it seems his injury just made the Gators tougher and more difficult for opponents to game plan. It also seems to have hardened resolve on this team - As for me, I'm getting back to the point where I find it difficult to imagine anyone else beating them in regular season.

I saw something a few days ago where we were second to Indiana as having the best odds to win the Tourney - something like 5:1. I'd agree with us being the favorite, although we would be far from a favorite over the field.

I'll be disappointed too if we don't reach the FF. Heck, I was disappointed the last 2 seasons when we missed the FF even though I was somewhat skeptical that we were "FF good" going into both Tourneys.

But, if we lose early, I'll be disappointed for the coaches and players, not disappointed in them - as they say

[benheb]

Originally Posted by regurgigator

I saw something a few days ago where we were second to Indiana as having the best odds to win the Tourney - something like 5:1. I'd agree with us being the favorite, although we would be far from a favorite over the field.

I'll be disappointed too if we don't reach the FF. Heck, I was disappointed the last 2 seasons when we missed the FF even though I was somewhat skeptical that we were "FF good" going into both Tourneys.

But, if we lose early, I'll be disappointed for the coaches and players, not disappointed in them - as they say

I won't say I wasn't disappointed we lost in the elite eight - I can look back on it now and feel pretty good about it. Maybe because I was skeptical about our overall chances like you were. But I look at our guys this year and I have sky high expectations. I know the luck thing is real in college bball - I wouldn't trade places with fans that have no hope but I think a lot of Gator fans would be disappointed with anything less than ff appearance.

But I'm with you on not being dissapointed with our coaches and players. It just another measure of how great Donovan has made our program and maybe silver lining to not winning it this year would be Donovan staying until he does.

[oneatatime]

I posted this on the eve of the first of the back-to-back championships

"Why not us?"

Especially if Will can come back to some level of performance by tournament time, I have not seen a better team

"Why not us?"

[GatorJeff]

Originally Posted by rserina

Hey, don't we all. But single elimination tournaments are fickle beasts. The more tangible goal for me is to win the league with no more than two losses. That would essentially be our best league performance in school history and only our--what?--fifth league title overall. That is something we can easily control.

After that, the rest of the season is sort of a tightrope. I just want to see the kids play hard, not get screwed with frustrating injuries or bad officiating, and come what may.

This would be our 6th SEC Championship. The Gators won or shared regular season titles in 1989, 2000, 2001, 2007 and 2011.

[Brewski]

Step one complete. Now bring on Nashville.