Why the 'Meltdown'?

[Noahtogo24]

Only 4 teams have made the elite eight the past two seasons. Two of them, UNC and Kentucky, may not make the tourney this season. We have it good here at Florida.

[number1]

We still have tough road games at Tennessee(who will be a tournament team) and Kentucky.

[number1]

So this should mean that we beat Arkansas by 40 on Saturday. lol

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by Matthanuf06

It's a combination of venting and analysis. This team, over the last few years, has had fatal flaws at the end of big games. You wouldn't be a real fan if you don't get frustrated by our choking MO.

Those teams (and this one too) are far from perfectly constructed. We have flaws.

I could see the venting if this was the 2006-07 team or that UNLV super team.

Some people refuse to rationally analyze this team's strengths and weaknesses, hence the comparisons to the 04's. When we beat a bad team by 30, it doesn't mean we're a championship team. However, after Saturday, you would have thought that if all you read was the bragging that was going on from some people.

[bakaduin]

I don't think its a "meltdown" but the facts remain. We have played a fairly weak schedule because of the SEC being down.

We are 21-4 but have 0 quality road wins and only one win vs a top 25 team. We have one of the weakest resumes of a contender in NCAA history and tonights game was our last chance to get the quality road win. Now the chances of us getting a #1 seed are slim and getting a 2 is going to take us winning out in all likelihood based on our competition.

[gatordavisl]

The explanations here are 100x better than the accusations. This was a game that deserved a "meltdown" to a certain extent. And this coming from a big-time sunshine pumper. When it comes to close games, this team chokes on it. Period. They have not made a single indication that they will come up big in a close game, esp. away from home.

[Matthanuf06]

Originally Posted by Noahtogo24

Only 4 teams have made the elite eight the past two seasons. Two of them, UNC and Kentucky, may not make the tourney this season. We have it good here at Florida.

So what? That doesn't mean we don't have a major flaw, which is our major choking at the end of close games.

You do realize that we can be happy and thrilled that we are as good as we are, yet worried and annoyed that our fatal flaws are holding us back.

[GatorEcon]

The data is speak of is largely from home. I'm worried my chance at UF during a natty are going down the tubes because of poor inside play and free throws amongst the inability to finish close games on the road. Our biggest weaknesses as a team are arguably the most important factors a team needs during March so its pretty understandable that people are taking tonight loss pretty hard, myself included. With that said I believe in Donovan and his ability to make the team learn from this. Add Yugete to the mix and March should still be interesting.

[Jaggator]

Originally Posted by WESGATORS

Passion. I think folks are pissed because they saw this as a game within reach that slipped away. They are concerned over what this may imply regarding close games going forward. They are disappointed about the progress/struggle to obtain a #1 seed. It's natural for fans to be upset after a loss.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

+ 1...And fans have every right to feel that way and express their feelings. You've got to let it out somewhere.

[nastyreptile]

Originally Posted by hgators

Freaking spolied ingrates. 21-4 with many more W's to come.

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know I was supposed to be happy about a loss to a team we killed in the first game.....

[gtr2x]

Losing a close game to a team that you feel is inferior is always more gut wrenching than getting blown out imo. To me this was worse than losing to ARky where the team simply didn't show up.
That said Im ready to move on. The good thing about basketball is one game doesn't define a season, at least not at this point.

[BLING]

Meltdown after a loss, it's what fans do.

But furthermore, I think this team now officially has some real issues that are being exposed. We are basically batting 1.000 in terms of failing in tough environments and close games.

I think part of the aggravation is also that Florida have/had a #1 seed on the line, and it seems like every time this particular 2012-2013 team has it in their grasp, it slips away in an ugly and frustrating manner. And also while it's great to have OVER-achieved the last 2 years and be an elite 8 team, those two teams also had final 4's within their grasps that sort of slipped away in the last 2 minutes.

The *WAY* this team has closed out the only close opportunities it has had, leaves some real question marks about what happens the next time we get in a close game. Maybe UF blows out every team they face from here until the NCAA's, but in the 2nd round it comes down to the final minutes....this team has no recipe for success in the final minutes... so what happens? I'm worried that this might end up being an UNDER-achieveing team despite the run of blowouts we had early in SEC play. Got to figure out a way to score in the paint when the 3-point shot isn't falling.

[number1]

Originally Posted by bakaduin

I don't think its a "meltdown" but the facts remain. We have played a fairly weak schedule because of the SEC being down.

We are 21-4 but have 0 quality road wins and only one win vs a top 25 team. We have one of the weakest resumes of a contender in NCAA history and tonights game was our last chance to get the quality road win. Now the chances of us getting a #1 seed are slim and getting a 2 is going to take us winning out in all likelihood based on our competition.

What's the big deal? We weren't a 1 or 2 last year and we made it to the Elite 8. It is all about matchups, not the seeding. A lot of times the 1 or 2 seed will end up with a very dangerous 2nd round matchup with a talented, but underachieving major team that is looking to prove itself at an 8-9 or 7-10 slot(like we were last year).

[Noahtogo24]

Originally Posted by Matthanuf06

So what? That doesn't mean we don't have a major flaw, which is our major choking at the end of close games.

You do realize that we can be happy and thrilled that we are as good as we are, yet worried and annoyed that our fatal flaws are holding us back.

I do realize why some Gator fans are upset, since they feel like Florida is not playing to their ability. However, I do find it funny some are saying Florida has not shot for the NC after the loss tonight. Again, hopefully this helps with Coach Donovan drawing better players up at the end.

[lean_gator]

Originally Posted by bakaduin

I don't think its a "meltdown" but the facts remain. We have played a fairly weak schedule because of the SEC being down.

We are 21-4 but have 0 quality road wins and only one win vs a top 25 team. We have one of the weakest resumes of a contender in NCAA history and tonights game was our last chance to get the quality road win. Now the chances of us getting a #1 seed are slim and getting a 2 is going to take us winning out in all likelihood based on our competition.

So

[BengermanV]

The Arkansas loss didn't worry me too much, and this one worries me even less. HOWEVER, I did warn people after the Arizona loss that this team was going to get it in their heads that they can't win at the end of games. The fact is, if a game comes down to the wire in the NCAA tournament, I don't like our chances. Not one bit.

I wanted a close game, and we got one. I just wanted the Gators to have this kind of opportunity to prove themselves, and for lack of a better term, they choked. Let's all hope someone else tests us in the near future.

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by bakaduin

I don't think its a "meltdown" but the facts remain. We have played a fairly weak schedule because of the SEC being down.

We are 21-4 but have 0 quality road wins and only one win vs a top 25 team. We have one of the weakest resumes of a contender in NCAA history and tonights game was our last chance to get the quality road win. Now the chances of us getting a #1 seed are slim and getting a 2 is going to take us winning out in all likelihood based on our competition.

There are roughly 15 teams that could get hot in March-April and win it all. We are one of them.

It will come down to the luck of the draw. Who will be in our bracket? Who gets upset? Seeding is pretty much irrelevant, if you are 1-3. If Michigan State is in our region, unless they are upset, then we are unlikely to get to the Final Four. Conversely, if Duke or someone we match up well with is in our region, our chances improve tremendously.

If this year was a typical year, with two or three outstanding teams, then I wouldn't be picking us past the Elite 8. However, the lack of quality in the field gives everyone a good chance, including us.

[Matthanuf06]

Originally Posted by number1

What's the big deal? We weren't a 1 or 2 last year and we made it to the Elite 8. It is all about matchups, not the seeding. A lot of times the 1 or 2 seed will end up with a very dangerous 2nd round matchup with a talented, but underachieving major team that is looking to prove itself at an 8-9 or 7-10 slot(like we were last year).

Because its common sense you'd rather have the easier path than the harder one? Well it is far more likely a lower seed will have an easier path. Not guaranteed, but much more likely.

And I've been repeating this bc too many people think seeds are not important.

[number1]

Originally Posted by BengermanV

The Arkansas loss didn't worry me too much, and this one worries me even less. HOWEVER, I did warn people after the Arizona loss that this team was going to get it in their heads that they can't win at the end of games. The fact is, if a game comes down to the wire in the NCAA tournament, I don't like our chances. Not one bit.

I wanted a close game, and we got one. I just wanted the Gators to have this kind of opportunity to prove themselves, and for lack of a better term, they choked. Let's all hope someone else tests us in the near future.

This just means that the team needs to just blow out all of the teams they face in the tournament. lol

[bakaduin]

Originally Posted by number1

What's the big deal? We weren't a 1 or 2 last year and we made it to the Elite 8. It is all about matchups, not the seeding. A lot of times the 1 or 2 seed will end up with a very dangerous 2nd round matchup with a talented, but underachieving major team that is looking to prove itself at an 8-9 or 7-10 slot(like we were last year).

That is like saying why recruit 5 star players when a few 3 stars pan out. A 1 or 2 seed has far and away more likelihood of making the Final Four. Yes it is all about matchups but a 1/2 seed leads to favorable match ups.

Last year was a 1, 2, 2, 4; year before was 8, 11, 3, 4; year before 1, 2, 5, 5; year before 1, 1, 2, 3.

So in the last 4 years 50% of the Final Four teams were a 1 or 2 seed.