The question isn't whether or not we've ever won a close game in our history, we have. The question is whether or not our recent run of choking in close games will be our demise, as it has been the last two years.
Relax dude! This just means we're due! Haven't you heard of the law of averages?
The problem with focusing only on "close games" is that it discounts the good being done in playing to not have as many close games. Obviously that, to some extent, can be attributed to lack of talent from the opposition, but not all of it. Is it better to be 7-3 in close games or to be 0-2 in close games where the other 8 games were won by double-digits? At the end of the day you are still looking at a 7-3 record vs. an 8-2 record.
There is something to be said for winning close games. It seems that teams winning the majority of their "barn burner" have developed a knack for doing so. IOW - they understand HOW to win the close ones. Your point about 7-3/0-2 is noteworthy, but there is more data than 8-2, esp wrt to close games. Over the past couple of seasons, the Gators have lost 8/9, which is the likely cause for concern here.
Mentally, this team is soft. Not able to get one tough road win worries me. What Indiana did on the road at Mich State is pretty impressive. Wish our boys could do something like that. We also missed the front end of three 1&1 free throws, probably the difference in the game in my opinion.
We could of locked up a one seed last night, but I'm afraid we end up with 2 or 3 seed.
^ this
Another road game the Gators should have won, but choked away down the stretch. It's clearly in their heads now. Come tourney time, most of the games are going to be like the one last night, and I don't give our boys much hope in that scenario, tbh.
why the panic after a loss? why the meltdown? why the 'woe'?
come on, now, we've got alot of data points to examine that should temper our responses. from the championship teams dropping games leading to the post-season. we panicked back then too.
last 2 years, the teams haven't been near as good at this stage of the season as this current team. come tourney time, though, we advanced to the elite eight. this team is better: yet we have several on the board almost to the point of throwing in the towel, it seems. i don't know if it's melodramatic or hyperbole.
anything can happen in the tourney - i hope we are all mature enough to agree about that. but one thing that we might do better on the boards is not get so giddy after a win and not get so l-o-w after a loss. what's astounding to me - and yeah i'm guilty of this reaction from time to time - is the spikes and valleys in the sentiments after a game - whether it's a big win and we predict we can compete in the nba [tongue in cheek hyperbole] or we'll make a first round exit in the ncaa's after a loss.
Also, that guy walker who sucks so bad at the end of games was on the floor for both and had a beautiful assist in the second one.
These are plays I remember. You remember gut wrentching losses. Glad I'm me and not you.
Oh wow..I completely forgot that was at the end of the game!!! Sheesh, we lose a ton of short 3s and Parsons hit that one from the other end. Karma:-)
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"I am a Republican, a black, dyed in the wool Republican, and I never intend to belong to any other party than the party of freedom and progress" - Frederick Douglass, lived a slave, died a statesman, and 1st Black Presidential candidate
Don't agree the team is soft. Have you seen the D? But do agree they have no quality post offensive players and desipite a great deal of success driving to basket to initiate offense, they tend to fall in love with throwing it around outside and settling for 3s. When they are cold like tonight, and as they will be at least one game in tourney, vs top competition they'll lose. Just like the last two years, when they had more inside offense (see macklin) and still failed to use it.
Well said!
And, a much better way of explaining our weaknesses than calling our players "chokers". There is no need to use such an ugly term against our student-athletes
I'm one of the ones who has built this team up in my mind to "other-worldly" dimensions. My opinion is that while this team has some offensive shortcomings (but, not as many as I had expected coming into the season) this team plays defense as tough and as sound as any Gator team I've ever seen; and I'm excited as hell looking forward to seeing what they can do in the Tourney. But, despite how great I think we are, I'm not one of the ones that goes ballistic after every loss. To me, that's just the nature of basketball and we've seen every top team in the nation struggle at times this season.
The incredible level of anguish over our record in close games reminds me of the hysteria created over the Miami Heat losing a number of close games.
We've seen plenty of instances where supposed chokers have done fine in the Tourney and where teams that won a lot of close games ended up losing early in the Tourney. As for me, I think we'll go as far as our defense takes us (again, similar to the Heat in the NBA playoffs last season), and if that defense is as good as I believe it is, we'll be hard to knock out.
Mentally, this team is soft. Not able to get one tough road win worries me. What Indiana did on the road at Mich State is pretty impressive. Wish our boys could do something like that. We also missed the front end of three 1&1 free throws, probably the difference in the game in my opinion.
We could of locked up a one seed last night, but I'm afraid we end up with 2 or 3 seed.
But, didn't Young shoot two of those? Unfortunately, that's somewhat par for the course for Young. We basically have to accept some missed FTs if Young goes to the line in exchange for all the other good things he brings to the table.
I think Wilbekin missed the other one-and-one front end, but when you're talking about 70-75% FT shooters, you can't really lambaste him for missing a single FT.
We got to the double bonus with over 5 minutes left in the game, which I thought might end up being big for us. But, it didn't end up being a big factor down the stretch.
I think Wilbekin missed the other one-and-one front end, but when you're talking about 70-75% FT shooters, you can't really lambaste him for missing a single FT.
Throughout his career, Scottie has been a mid 60's FT shooter. Part of that is not having many attempts, but he has to improve at least 10%. If he's going to continue to be our primary ball handler at the end of game situations, he simply has to improve into the mid 70's.
Relax dude! This just means we're due! Haven't you heard of the law of averages?
That's the point though. For 99% of teams it's just a matter of simple probability on how they do in close games. Having more of them doesn't really make them better in close games. If two teams are similar, it's a coin flip. Hence your law of averages. The problem here is the sample size is getting large enough to say that we may actually perform worse, that it may not be a coin flip.
Those two wins got us back into the NCAA tourney, after two years of NIT.
That 70-footer against NCST was a thing of beauty. I was watching that game at home, and when it went in, I was screaming "OH SH*T! OH SH*T!" about a dozen times. What a great day that was!
That 70-footer against NCST was a thing of beauty. I was watching that game at home, and when it went in, I was screaming "OH SH*T! OH SH*T!" about a dozen times. What a great day that was!
why the panic after a loss? why the meltdown? why the 'woe'?
come on, now, we've got alot of data points to examine that should temper our responses. from the championship teams dropping games leading to the post-season. we panicked back then too.
last 2 years, the teams haven't been near as good at this stage of the season as this current team. come tourney time, though, we advanced to the elite eight. this team is better: yet we have several on the board almost to the point of throwing in the towel, it seems. i don't know if it's melodramatic or hyperbole.
anything can happen in the tourney - i hope we are all mature enough to agree about that. but one thing that we might do better on the boards is not get so giddy after a win and not get so l-o-w after a loss. what's astounding to me - and yeah i'm guilty of this reaction from time to time - is the spikes and valleys in the sentiments after a game - whether it's a big win and we predict we can compete in the nba [tongue in cheek hyperbole] or we'll make a first round exit in the ncaa's after a loss.
Because most on these boards have no clue, quite frankly. When UF was winning by large margins early, people were comparing this team to the 06 and 07 teams, which was absolutely crazy. There is not one player on this years team (except maybe Boynton) who would have started on those teams.
This is a very good team but it has its flaws (primarily a lack of an inside game or a SG/SF type who can slash to the basket). That said, this team, with the right match ups can make another nice run come tourney time.
When UF was winning by large margins early, people were comparing this team to the 06 and 07 teams, which was absolutely crazy.
Vegas has already made the comparisons; they're not crazy. It's not about evaluating individual talent vs. one another, it's about evaluating their chances of success as a team. The GATORS in February of 2013 are viewed more favorably as a contender than the GATORS in February of 2006 were. Consider this, in the February 28th, 2006 AP poll we had just dropped from 12th to 17th after our 3rd consecutive loss and an 8-6 conference record. People weren't very optimistic about a national championship around here at that time. I know a few folks had tickets to cash, but how many of those folks do you recall claiming it was a good bet before the season? Or even at that point during the season? None that I recall.
Boo! Hoo! Imagine how tragic it would be if Florida only made it to another Elite 8.
Enjoy the ride with all its ups and downs.
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“We could be a high-octane offensive team that scores a lot of points, but if we don’t defend and rebound it’s not going to make a difference,” Donovan said. “That is going to be something that is going to be a driving force for our team. They need to understand the importance of that.”
Vegas has already made the comparisons; they're not crazy. It's not about evaluating individual talent vs. one another, it's about evaluating their chances of success as a team. The GATORS in February of 2013 are viewed more favorably as a contender than the GATORS in February of 2006 were. Consider this, in the February 28th, 2006 AP poll we had just dropped from 12th to 17th after our 3rd consecutive loss and an 8-6 conference record. People weren't very optimistic about a national championship around here at that time. I know a few folks had tickets to cash, but how many of those folks do you recall claiming it was a good bet before the season? Or even at that point during the season? None that I recall.
Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS
A lot of casual hoop fans must think UF went virtually undefeated 06-07, and of course these types of fans knew, the 04s were going to win it all, so don't be comparing this bunch to them......or they'll laugh.
Vegas has already made the comparisons; they're not crazy. It's not about evaluating individual talent vs. one another, it's about evaluating their chances of success as a team. The GATORS in February of 2013 are viewed more favorably as a contender than the GATORS in February of 2006 were. Consider this, in the February 28th, 2006 AP poll we had just dropped from 12th to 17th after our 3rd consecutive loss and an 8-6 conference record. People weren't very optimistic about a national championship around here at that time. I know a few folks had tickets to cash, but how many of those folks do you recall claiming it was a good bet before the season? Or even at that point during the season? None that I recall.
Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS
I don't care what Vegas said in mid Feb of 2006. Obviously, UF came out of no where that season and at that time, no one knew how good the Noah's, Horford's and Brewer's would become.
I am just saying there is no comparison in the talent levels of the two teams and if you asked the "experts" in Vegas, they would say the same thing. But, like I said before, this year's team is very good and if they get favorable match ups and the ball bounces their way, UF has the ability to make a nice run again next month.
A lot of casual hoop fans must think UF went virtually undefeated 06-07, and of course these types of fans knew, the 04s were going to win it all, so don't be comparing this bunch to them......or they'll laugh.
They can laugh if they want, but I'll compare them: This year's team has played better, more consistent basketball during the regular season than either of the championship teams.
That doesn't mean I think they're as talented as the championship teams. I most emphatically do not. But, as a team, this year's group is performing very, very well.
And, it doesn't mean I believe this team is as well-equipped as the championship teams to win 6 straight games in the NCAA Tourney. I don't think they are (this team has great defense, but has more weaknesses on offense), but I'm anxious to see them in the Tourney because I think they are pretty a pretty special team.
I know there's always the possibility you can lose to a team in the Tourney that's just playing a great game, but if this team wilts and plays a poor game in the Tourney, I'll be shocked.
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.
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