Gator Country

SwampFox · 02-23-2013, 06:52 PM

Driving to the hoop is, simply put, not this team's MO. Casey Hill may change all that, but till then, this is a jump shooting team looking for easy opportunities if they are there, if not, expect the 3 point hoist. It is what this team is about like it or not.

gulfgator · 02-24-2013, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelJoeWilliamson

It is not that we lose, it is the way we lose. Donovan has a losing record in close game for his career. He is by far the worst in that statistic among the active top coaches in college basketball.

When games get close, the Donovan guards almost refuse to go inside and instead seem to rely way to much on contested threes.

The Gainesville Sun had a nice article about this right after the Mizzou loss.

Interesting.... I prefer this stat:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Me...e_team_records

MichaelJoeWilliamson · 02-24-2013, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gulfgator

Interesting.... I prefer this stat:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Me...e_team_records

It is a good NCAA record. Here are the stat to which I referred;

Quote:

Brockway of the Gainesville Sun

But the Achilles heel of Donovan's coaching tenure in 17 seasons showed up again in UF's 63-60 loss at Missouri ? his ability to get the Gators to close out tight basketball games. The loss dropped Donovan to 67-76 overall in gamed decided by five points or less, and 58-75 in gamed decided by five points or less at UF.

Florida has won eight games by 30 points this season, but is 0-2 in games decided by 5 or less. And UF's last two Elite Eight losses have come in games decided by five points or less due to questionable shot selection by Kenny Boynton and the now departed Erving Walker. There are many theories why Florida struggles to score in clutch situations and most center around UF's reliance on the 3-point shot. Donovan also appears to give his guards too much freedom late in games without consequences for their actions. (My note: Boynton seems to confirm this in his post games comments.)

For context, here's a look at how Donovan's record in games decided by 5 points or less measures up to contemporary active coaches who have won national titles. Interestingly enough, Donovan is closest in record to his mentor, Louisville coach Rick Pitino:

Jim Boeheim, Syracuse ? 190-112 .628

Bill Self, Kansas ? 80-60 .571

John Calipari, Kentucky ? 81-61 .570

Roy Williams, North Carolina ? 91-73 .555

Mike Krzyzewski, Duke ? 139-112 .554

Tom Izzo, Michigan State ? 76-63 .547

Rick Pitino, Louisville ? 94-93 .503

Billy Donovan, Florida ? 67-76 .469

MichaelJoeWilliamson · 02-24-2013, 11:06 AM

Another troubling statistic;

"Tuesday night's 63-60 loss at Missouri dropped Florida (22-4, 12-2 SEC) to 0-3 in games decided by six points or fewer this season and was the Gators' eighth straight loss in games decided by fewer than 10 points."

BobK89 · 02-24-2013, 12:21 PM

We blew a 13 point lead on the road. The last two tournaments we blew late leads to go to the Final Four. Some melt down concerns after the MO loss may warranted.

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Brewski · 02-24-2013, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelJoeWilliamson

Another troubling statistic;

"Tuesday night's 63-60 loss at Missouri dropped Florida (22-4, 12-2 SEC) to 0-3 in games decided by six points or fewer this season and was the Gators' eighth straight loss in games decided by fewer than 10 points."

Get to the final 8 two years in a row and I don't care if he loses the whole season. As another UF coach says (Muschamp) stats are for losers. Just win when it counts baby. I'd take Billy D over any coach right now.

rserina · 02-24-2013, 12:49 PM

Losses like Zona and Mizzou don't really bother me. At the time, sure, but in the grand scheme of things close road losses where you lead the entire game then fart it away on missed free throws, turnovers, bad shot selection, etc., don't reflect much on the team as a whole or its prospects. Arky and K-State were a little worse, but still par for the course in a long season.

MichaelJoeWilliamson · 02-24-2013, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewski

Just win when it counts baby.

We could not close out two elite eights when it counted.

rserina · 02-24-2013, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelJoeWilliamson

We could not close out two elite eights when it counted.

Yet he somehow found a way to close out those two national titles and get that other trip to the national title game. Guess he has lost his way.

Your other stat about eight straight losses is completely off. That would make five (three this year, two at the end of last year). All of those were on the road or at a neutral site. Never mind that we were 7-6 in such games last year, or that we have been dominant enough this season to win 22 games by more than ten points.

I guess you can spin it however you want if the goal is to criticize the best hoops coach in our league since Adolph Rupp.

WESGATORS · 02-24-2013, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rserina

Never mind that we were 7-6 in such games last year

My understanding of the rules is that you are only allowed to reference past seasons when bringing up negative stats/trends.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

rserina · 02-24-2013, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WESGATORS

My understanding of the rules is that you are only allowed to reference past seasons when bringing up negative stats/trends.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

Silly me. Sorry. I need to read the rulebook on pessimism again.

MichaelJoeWilliamson · 02-25-2013, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rserina

Yet he somehow found a way to close out those two national titles and get that other trip to the national title game. Guess he has lost his way.

Your other stat about eight straight losses is completely off. That would make five (three this year, two at the end of last year). All of those were on the road or at a neutral site. Never mind that we were 7-6 in such games last year, or that we have been dominant enough this season to win 22 games by more than ten points.

I guess you can spin it however you want if the goal is to criticize the best hoops coach in our league since Adolph Rupp.

I am often astonished at the knee jerk reactions from some Gators. There is a difference between analysis and unjustified criticisms. You should learn the difference.

**ThePlayer** · 02-25-2013, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampFox

Driving to the hoop is, simply put, not this team's MO. Casey Hill may change all that, but till then, this is a jump shooting team looking for easy opportunities if they are there, if not, expect the 3 point hoist. It is what this team is about like it or not.

You mean...this team is a reflection of it's coach?

gatorsfan530 · 02-25-2013, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePlayer

You mean...this team is a reflection of it's coach?

Nice swipe at Billy Donovan. I wouldn't expect anything less from you.

WESGATORS · 02-26-2013, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelJoeWilliamson

I am often astonished at the knee jerk reactions from some Gators. There is a difference between analysis and unjustified criticisms. You should learn the difference.

In 2011, we were coming off an OT win against BYU, and we lost an OT game on Sunday (to Butler). We saw an 11-point lead shrink to a 3-point lead from the 9:26 mark left in the 2nd half to the 5:46 mark left in the 2nd half. But it's not like we were dominating the whole game, we led by 3 points only a few minutes prior to the largest lead of the game for us. So from the 13:02 mark in the 2nd half to the 5:46 mark in the 2nd half FLORIDA and Butler each scored 12 points, that our 3 1/2 minute stretch came before their 3 1/2 minute stretch should not be confused with a late game collapse that are otherwise being referenced. That game was tight the whole way through.

In 2012, we played over our seed, other than the frustration of having it all come to an end, it's hard not to face the realization that we were a 7 seed. FLORIDA did a fine job without Yeguete and let's not forget that they knocked of Marquette (#3) the round earlier. Sometimes we get too caught up in complaining about our misfortunes that we neglect to give the other team credit for being good enough to put us in that position to begin with.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

MichaelJoeWilliamson · 02-26-2013, 02:44 AM

Wes, I am not disputing that Donovan has done a great jop at Florida. But one can also make a credible case that Florida has left a lot on the table.

**sec1** · 02-26-2013, 03:31 AM

this team should of never been compared to the 2006 /07 team ... too many differences, this team is good but the 2006/07 were amazing , a true TEAM ...

GatorJeff · 02-26-2013, 03:53 AM

By the comments of some posters, you'd never suspect that Donovan has won 73.3% of his NCAA tournament games. It's the sort of pouty fan entitlement that eventually ran off Spurrier and Meyer.

oneatatime · 02-26-2013, 06:13 AM

just get us to the 8 healthy regulars by NCAA tournament time and I will put us up against anyone, irrespective of our seed

G8R92 · 02-26-2013, 07:40 AM

Quote:

"Any more coaches here? Want to ask another coaching question? I'd be happy to take it. I've only been doing this 37 years, I'm sure you've got more ideas of who we should play or we shouldn't play or who should lead? What do I know?"

- Jim Boeheim after the 3 point loss to Marquette last night