Gator Country

**gatormann** · 02-27-2013, 12:16 AM

With friends like these...

Actually, I didn't get to watch too much of tonight's game (the final 8 mins) and listened to second half with Mick and Mark Wise. I really can understand peoples' frustrations. From what I watched, Florida just wasn't the same team tonight that we have seen for much of the year (despite what the naysayers may have you believe) and that was disappointing. Offensively, they weren't sharp, they were out of synch and they weren't hitting from the outside.

Everybody knows that Florida is decimated by injuries and was short handed against a rising UT team on the road. They have struggled against UT last season (and before). Looking at this one objectively, this one had all the makings of a loss from the outset. The cards were stacked against Florida.

From what I saw, Florida played hard. Boynton was cold and Murphy had another off night. You could see it unraveling when Prather when out with an injury and when the refs made the errant charge call against Rosario on a would be three point play, the game was over. It just wasn't meant to be.

Still, it seems like Gator fans are all piling on at a time when we ought to rally behind them. While Florida may not earn the top seeding that we hoped they are a very good team when healthy will have a chance to do well in the tournament, could win the SEC regular season and tournament. The team is down. No need to pile on to their misery. Let's root for them and not beat them up while they are down.

Florida will soon get healthy again. They will regroup and they will play at a much higher level. Let's get behind 'em even now when the road is bumpy rather than just be there for the highs. There's plenty of basketball ahead and we shall see how it all turns out. Opposing fans and the talking heads are sure to take their shots against 'em. Let's not join in with that.

InstiGATOR1 · 02-27-2013, 12:31 AM

No need to cut anyone a break. The only recent loss that was a surprise at all was at UAR.

It would have been nice to win at UTn, just like it would have been nice in 2006, 2007 and last year for that matter.

gatorfansrule · 02-27-2013, 01:49 AM

Not really sure what happened tonight. I felt like we were playing great to start the game. For most of the first half really. But no matter how good we seemed to play they kept staying close to us, bringing our lead back down to 3 or 5. Then, like usual, we lost the last few minutes of the half and they took the lead into halftime. I think this game in particular we really missed Will. He would have been able to play defense on McRae and probably hold him to much less than 27 points. Prather is our only other player who could take McRae with his size and athleticism.

**regurgigator** · 02-27-2013, 04:07 AM

Well said, OP!

As for Yeguete, I agree he's very important for us, but not sure I'd put him on McRae. If we play them again, I'd still leave Wilbekin on him and take my chances that he wouldn't hit that many contested jump shots again. (And, hopefully, we don't feed him a couple of breakaway dunks off bad passes next time either

)

I like our chances if we face them again in the SEC Tourney.

oneatatime · 02-27-2013, 06:24 AM

I'll take our 8 guys against any team in the country

NorthCaptivaGator · 02-27-2013, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneatatime

I'll take our 8 guys against any team in the country

Two things about a team with a lot of seniors, one good and one bad,

the good: they realize that a late season road loss in the conference is really not that big of a deal.

the bad: they realize that a late season road loss in the conference is really not that big of a deal

gatorbogey · 02-27-2013, 06:52 AM

if you remember: it took us awhile to adjust to the loss of WY. once adjusted, we did well.

we seemed to be in the midst of the adjustment this year too - then MF2 goes down. have to then undergo a reset of the adjustment. takes some time and not likely we'd find our groove on the road.

there might be some collateral benefits - building some depth so that we'll make quicker recoveries to injuries in the future.

just need to get back on the winning track again - to keep the lead in the SEC. HAVE to win this weekend! work the main reserves - WY and MF2 back into "game form", too.

108 · 02-27-2013, 07:50 AM

I think we will be fine when we get back to full strength

My only real concern is KB

I do not trust him anymore on offense and he is the most likely person to get the ball in crunch time

SmootyGator · 02-27-2013, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 108

I think we will be fine when we get back to full strength

My only real concern is KB

I do not trust him anymore on offense and he is the most likely person to get the ball in crunch time

Agree with you on the part about being fine once we get back to full strength.

Disagree somewhat about KB. I said in another thread that KB seems to be as hot or cold as the team is. I really think that this team gets healthy, gets hot and make a couple nice tournament runs. I truly believe that KB will be a big factor in both those runs. That being said, I will still be pretty nervous if it comes down to the last shot and KB has the ball! I really hope that if KB does pull one of those crazy last second shots out of his azz he finally makes it and wins a big game for us. He definitely deserves one! Gators everywhere will go nuts!

ofmgator · 02-27-2013, 09:10 AM

Any Gator fan who knocks this team is, IMHO, not a true Gator.
We're thin in depth and that simply tires a player out. No shame here just get healthy and show all of the naysayers how good we really are.

**gatormann** · 02-27-2013, 12:45 PM

I cried in my beer (figuratively) last night watching the end of that game. You could see the writing on the wall going into Knoxville and the game went as we feared it probably would. If you didn't see it coming, you just aren't paying close enough attention. If people are unsure about the importance of Florida's bench, you had a perfect demonstration against the Vols. You probably don't have to look much further than what happened on the glass. Like Missouri, Florida was outrebounded soundly. That just didn't happen when this team was at full strength and playing its best.

Now, however, is not the time to beat up on a team that is at its low point this season. It is time to get behind them and rally the troops. Hopefully, we've bottomed out. I've watched enough of this team to know, when healthy, they can play much better basketball. I am not sure that Florida will return to form will happen instantly, but there's plenty of reason to believe that it will happen. Then, it will be plenty of fun for everyone.