Another close game. Another choke.

[number1]

Yeah that Patrick Young lay-up miss was absolutely killer. It was an excellent play and he just didn't convert.

[UFG8rGuy3283]

Originally Posted by IH8REFS

What irritates me is seeing cupcake bakers think that they get to decide who has earnedc the right to post about the Gators, negatively or otherwise.

Let's just not even discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our team because maybe next time they'll play like Michael Jordan.

Let's see what happens. If we don't win the SECT next week, then what?

Grow up chief. You are the exact "fan" of this team that irritates the piss out of me.

It's called life perspective and respecting the guys who suit up for this team. I've been posting here for quite a while and I take no issue with anyone who wants to give constructive criticism of the team. Name calling and being disrespectful to college kids working their asses off to win for this university, yeah, I take major league issue with that.

Your handle explains to me where your mindset and maturity level lies.

I've been posting here a long time and, quite frankly, can't remember seeing many of your posts on NBN, and based on your name calling, which makes no sense and lacks creativity overall, I can see why they would have been forgettable if I had read them.

Go Gators!

[IH8REFS]

Originally Posted by UFG8rGuy3283

Grow up chief. You are the exact "fan" of this team that irritates the piss out of me.

It's called life perspective and respecting the guys who suit up for this team. I've been posting here for quite a while and I take no issue with anyone who wants to give constructive criticism of the team. Name calling and being disrespectful to college kids working their asses off to win for this university, yeah, I take major league issue with that.

Your handle explains to me where your mindset and maturity level lies.

I've been posting here a long time and, quite frankly, can't remember seeing many of your posts on NBN, and based on your name calling, which makes no sense and lacks creativity overall, I can see why they would have been forgettable if I had read them.

Go Gators!

Life perspective? This is a board to discuss a college basketball team. If you had half the perspective you claim to you'd realize that what gets posted here is pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things. That being the case, if your "life perspective" tells you that white knighting grown men on the internet is enriching to your life then have at it.

[CAGator93]

we punch teams when they can't punch back.

If they show a little fight, we have no answer.

And I mean a "little" fight. Kentucky scored 11 points in the final 9 minutes of a tie game -- and won

[RealGatorFan]

It's not just this team. Every team we've had under Billy never played well on the road. Neutral sites yes but not true road games. Sure we won against the bottom half but if it was a .500 team or better, we usually lost the game. Go back all the way to 2000 and count the number of road games we lost against decent teams or better. It's a high percentage.

[UFG8rGuy3283]

Originally Posted by IH8REFS

Life perspective? This is a board to discuss a college basketball team. If you had half the perspective you claim to you'd realize that what gets posted here is pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things. That being the case, if your "life perspective" tells you that white knighting grown men on the internet is enriching to your life then have at it.

Nice comeback and superior reading comprehension.

[benheb]

Originally Posted by IH8REFS

Life perspective? This is a board to discuss a college basketball team. If you had half the perspective you claim to you'd realize that what gets posted here is pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things. That being the case, if your "life perspective" tells you that white knighting grown men on the internet is enriching to your life then have at it.

Really? You're the one with perspective? I didn't like what I saw today - not at all. My reaction to it is I may scale down my expectations for where the gators finish. But I have no qualms with anyone expressing their issues with those that come on here and spout their corrosive bs opinions about the character of players or the team.

I agree it is meaningless - I mean who really cares how disgusted I feel about those posters and how i feel it basically destroys the camaraderie we get by coming here?

By the way, what is the reason you come here? The talk about "life perspective" seems reasonable to me when talking about sports at any level. Are you saying you only want to analyze statistics or what?

[GatorRade]

Originally Posted by UFish

Advancing to the elite 8 and taking either a comfortable or at least commanding lead into the last 8-10 minutes before losing a close game is choking.

Make no mistake. If someone offered me a choice between a blowout loss in the Sweet 16 or a heart-wrenching close loss choke job in the elite 8, I'd take the latter ten times out of ten.

Depending on where we're seeded, I honestly think we'll walk to the Sweet 16. But I'd be surprised if we went further than that. This group has the same habits of the last two teams with better defense and less talent.

Well, if you would prefer to be blown out than lose a close one, I guess you are right to be upset with this team. They just won't get blown out. And I guess you are right about the tournament too. It's unlikely they'll get blown out there either.

[lhnewman]

its the "pattern" that's most disturbing...

[lhnewman]

we sure miss a 6'4-6'5 swing man who can take it to the hole and score or get fouled and make free throws..i.e Beal, Brewer, etc

[WESGATORS]

Originally Posted by ncbullgator

...then you accept mediocrity.

And what is the alternative? How do we not "accept" what happened today? Just pretend it didn't happen?

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

[bullish]

Wow, glad I didn't see this game. At some point, Billy has to win a close game on the road with a team with a pulse. He wants to teach guys it's a journey in life. Well, I for one would like him to concentrate on playing more players each game. He is the one who tightens up in close games, it feeds down to the players. We are starting a trend to showcase anyone we play on TV.

Mark it down no SEC tournament title, short NCAA stint, as in maybe a game. We aren't playing very well, we peaked too soon with too few players getting time. Now we are what we are. It starts with the coach, we can only vent.

I guess this takes me out of going to Nashville due to not wanting to be disappointed. Billy can blame it on the players, fine, but he recruited these guys. Don't shoot the messenger. Where is white chocolate when you need him, or the M&M boys. We don't have the players to elevate their game when the bright lights are on. I am now officially looking forward to next year's crop, we need help.

This game meant everything for the cats on their senior day, and we already secured the SEC reg season championship, but we go on the road for the tournament and will probably get Tenn or Kentucky early. Wow top ten, no, 4 seed probably right for us in the NCAA tournament. This year is one that will be forgotten quickly which is sad. People all over, the Media and other coaches see us losing on the road consistently also seed us. They will now predict an early exit. Embarrassing as I watch the media talk about Kentucky and how they are tough and can play half court basketball.

[GataBaitx3]

Originally Posted by UFreak

Choke job. Plain and simple

I LOVE the Gators and consider my self some what of a homer. But when I'm filling out my bracket, and they run into a team and I think can give them ANY sort of adversity, I will pick against them. They haven't shown me anything to think different. Hope I'm wrong, though.

Go Gators.

[ReggieNelson]

i still think we win the sec tourney with ease

[62gator]

Had the chance to bury a weak UK/Cal team and maybe put the final nail in their box for the season and blew it. How do you not score at all in the final 7+? Unreal...

[mac4lyfe]

I gave 4 years of blood, sweat and tears for UF. 20 years later I walk with a limp, have had several back surgeries to go with my handicap sticker as proof.
Excuse me if you think this couch potato is a fool.

I've never been much of a sunshine pumper. I call it as I see it. I love everyone of those guys but I have no problem calling out poor coaching/performance. You can get bitter or you can get better. I sure hope our guys are a lot more thick skin than some of you make them out to be.

Originally Posted by WESGATORS

Classless. The players can say whatever they want because they're the ones putting in the effort and busting their butts to win championships (you know, like the one they just won the other night). If us couch potatoes call them chokers, that just makes us look like fools.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

[jms]

This team hasn't matured or developed an inside threat. Hence the low scoring games down the stretch that they can't seem to find a way to win. Missing that guy that has IT. The ability to finish

[whitelakegator]

Originally Posted by 62gator

Had the chance to bury a weak UK/Cal team and maybe put the final nail in their box for the season and blew it. How do you not score at all in the final 7+? Unreal...

THIS. Maybe the weakest UK we'll see within a ten year window and we have an epic failure in the last 7-8 minutes. We could have pounded them into submission and make some points recruiting. It was a very disappointing loss.

I would venture to say if you look at all the top ten teams each one has some type of goto player that can manufacture a shot or points. We seem to lack that "star". What was the kid from UCONN that basically took them on his back and won it all. Crazy. Do you see anyone with that type of ability on our team? Pretty scary when you objectively look at our weaknesses.

I have seen several posters say we peaked too early and I kind of agree.

[diamondted13]

Originally Posted by mac4lyfe

I gave 4 years of blood, sweat and tears for UF. 20 years later I walk with a limp, have had several back surgeries to go with my handicap sticker as proof.
Excuse me if you think this couch potato is a fool.

I've never been much of a sunshine pumper. I call it as I see it. I love everyone of those guys but I have no problem calling out poor coaching/performance. You can get bitter or you can get better. I sure hope our guys are a lot more thick skin than some of you make them out to be.

Amen brother! I don't care if I personally fit the "couch potato" profile or not. What does that have to do with anything? Some folks don't understand that you can love your school and team, as well as it's players, and still be critical when it's warranted.

Louisville last year, Zona and UK this year are examples of huge gag jobs that have been the pattern in close games over the past 12 months. To watch a team w/ experience and the #3 pick in the draft score one FG in the final 6 min or so in an elite 8 game (details are sketchy in my mind as I have blocked those last 6 min out), then watch an even more experienced team unable to inbounds the ball 3 times in the final 75 seconds of a game (Zona), and finally watch the team go completely scoreless in the final 7:36 against an inexperienced, mediocre team shows a very obvious pattern. You can call it whatever you want, but it is very troubling when the next 4 weekends are predicated on winning close games.

With that said, the "negative nellies" (myself included) will be watching this team and rooting like Hell for them to break that pattern over the next few weeks.

[mac4lyfe]

I can bet you that most of these guys absolutely hate suck up students telling them "you'll get them next time", "good game", "Ya'll played real well". yada, yada. They don't want to hear that crap and really don't need smoke blown up their butts.