Gator Country

InstiGATOR1 · 02-19-2013, 11:53 PM

Keep in mind:

1. If UF cuts down the nets in Atlanta you will not remember this game at all.

2. If UF fails to get to the final four winning this game would have been no solace at all.

It will be nice for UF to win the SEC. A decent seed is helpful sometimes. Still the bottom line is how you feel about this season will be determined in March.

HALLGATOR · 02-19-2013, 11:55 PM

To hell with that, don't you know it's much better to panic.

BengermanV · 02-19-2013, 11:57 PM

Completely agree! Hell, I am GLAD we got tested tonight. My problem with it is that this team is going to have it in their heads that they can't win games late. It's not so much that I worry about what this loss will do for our resume, it's what it will do for the team's psyche that bothers me.

gatorfansrule · 02-19-2013, 11:57 PM

Most of us probably just need to vent. I know it calms me down to get it out of my system on these boards since I don't have anyone at home to vent to (wife doesn't know a basketball from a football and my son is 2).

spongeBob88 · 02-19-2013, 11:57 PM

Agree completely, tough loss but it doesn't mean much. We're still leading the conference and in a good position for the tournament. Might cost us a #1 seed but if you can't get to the Final Four as a 2 seed you don't deserve to be there.

lean_gator · 02-20-2013, 12:01 AM

I didnt know so many people predicted us to be better than 21-4 right now at the start of the season. Has to be the reason why people are so upset.

tommyuf21 · 02-20-2013, 12:01 AM

I'd rather see this team go into the SEC tourney 16-2 or 15-3, as opposed to unbeaten.

Very few teams have the talent to wipe everyone out, even the 04's had their issues during the regular season.

I'd never want to be that UNLV or Georgetown team that dominated everyone until the Final Four or Championship game and have absolutely nothing to show for it.

Jonas · 02-20-2013, 12:01 AM

My only fear is if this game indicates that there is a fundamental problem with our team and winning close games. Was it just variance, or is there something more? We are going to have close games in March Madness.

Gator40 · 02-20-2013, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lean_gator

I didnt know so many people predicted us to be better than 21-4 right now at the start of the season. Has to be the reason why people are so upset.

I think the point us we are 21-4, but against who? Our schedule is pathetic because the SEC is so bad. Plus, the only games we could have hung our hats on (besides Arkansas), we've lost. Wisconsin is a good win...at home, that's it. Nothing on the road.

InstiGATOR1 · 02-20-2013, 12:09 AM

All I know is that Green made a key turnover in a close loss on the road in 2006 and he was very careful not to make that mistake again for the rest of his career. So hopefully this group will learn some from their mistakes tonight.

WESGATORS · 02-20-2013, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lean_gator

I didnt know so many people predicted us to be better than 21-4 right now at the start of the season. Has to be the reason why people are so upset.

It's not that, it's just that they thought the losses would be the less tragic blowout losses. If we had lost by 15 tonight, it would be no big deal because it wouldn't have revealed how we can't win the close games.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

xenythx · 02-20-2013, 12:11 AM

I had mentally prepared myself for a loss in this game because it's hard to win on the road, especially with the refs as evidenced in this game.

But now I worry that the losses this year combined with the last couple of Elite 8 losses leads to a cumulative psychological effect that could linger in any future close games.

ufgator4ever · 02-20-2013, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BengermanV

Completely agree! Hell, I am GLAD we got tested tonight. My problem with it is that this team is going to have it in their heads that they can't win games late. It's not so much that I worry about what this loss will do for our resume, it's what it will do for the team's psyche that bothers me.

+1
All the talk about veterans and expeience being important, but when all the experience is losing close games, veterans with those memories can be bad for the tourney.

lean_gator · 02-20-2013, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gator40

I think the point us we are 21-4, but against who? Our schedule is pathetic because the SEC is so bad. Plus, the only games we could have hung our hats on (besides Arkansas), we've lost. Wisconsin is a good win...at home, that's it. Nothing on the road.

We blew the doors off of Marquette too..........

Jonas · 02-20-2013, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gator40

I think the point us we are 21-4, but against who? Our schedule is pathetic because the SEC is so bad. Plus, the only games we could have hung our hats on (besides Arkansas), we've lost. Wisconsin is a good win...at home, that's it. Nothing on the road.

Eh. Marquette too. You are right that our best wins have been at home. We don't have a quality road win.

**gatorblues** · 02-20-2013, 12:18 AM

Who have we beaten? Wisconsin. Who have we beaten on the road? No one good. That's the problem. NCAA crowds pull big time for the underdog. We need to learn to execute under pressure, with the crowd pulling against us. Nothing we've seen this year suggests we are capable of doing it. I hope to be proven wrong come tournament time.

tommyuf21 · 02-20-2013, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenythx

I had mentally prepared myself for a loss in this game because it's hard to win on the road, especially with the refs as evidenced in this game.

But now I worry that the losses this year combined with the last couple of Elite 8 losses leads to a cumulative psychological effect that could linger in any future close games.

We really played poorly down the stretch last year, losing on the road at Georgia, UT and Vandy.

It didn't effect us in the NCAA tourney.

I think we'll close the season playing much better this year than we did last season.

The tourney is completely its own deal.

**GothamGator** · 02-20-2013, 12:21 AM

If we lose a close game in the tournament, we will not forget this game. We will look back on it as emblematic of the problems that doomed our chances in the big dance.

You have to win tough, close games away from home to advance deep into the NCAA tournament. This team has to learn that skill, but they seem to be out of opportunities.

BengermanV · 02-20-2013, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufgator4ever

+1
All the talk about veterans and expeience being important, but when all the experience is losing close games, veterans with those memories can be bad for the tourney.

Yeah, it's pretty ironic how the season has worked out.

Either way, this team needs a close win. But it's just that. All we need is one close win and we'll be fine. We'll have another couple of chances.

WESGATORS · 02-20-2013, 12:25 AM

So many are saying "we need a close win" is that just a gut sentiment or is it based on any relevant data?

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS