Gator Country

NoahBeanBizzel · 03-12-2013, 11:31 AM

Also, remember we aren't really playing anymore "away" games. It's all about who's got the biggest bicepts at a neutral site.

Every team will be forced to win on an unfamiliar court. Who exactly should we be afraid of, anyway? Seriously, what team do we have to obsess about and be scared of as we round third base?

**regurgigator** · 03-12-2013, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoahBeanBizzel

Like Donovan said, though, so much of it is about whether or not you get the breaks. Does Florida go to the Final Four if Miller doesn't get that ridiculous basket at the end of the game in the opening round? What if that doesn't go in? What if Georgetown buries that wide open shot Reilly talks about in that article they had at the end of the game? I mean the 2005-2006 team was great, but Georgetown was one missed open look away from being better.

To me, it's about whether or not this team can play its best ball of the year before it's too late. Even if it does, history shows us that we still need a few breaks to go our way to advance deep into the tourney. That's both the beauty and the beast of college basketball. Unlike football, it doesn't always come down to who's better-and deeper-across the line of scrimmage on the biggest stage. Often times it comes down to who can make the shots that count.

I think we have as good a shot as any...

Excellent perspective!

And on the flip side, who knows how far those Gator teams might have gone if (1) Calvary doesn't make that lucky tip-in for Gonzaga and (2) that Creighton bench player didn't turn into Michael Jordan for a half?

GatorJeff · 03-12-2013, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoahBeanBizzel

Also, remember we aren't really playing anymore "away" games. It's all about who's got the biggest bicepts at a neutral site.

Every team will be forced to win on an unfamiliar court. Who exactly should we be afraid of, anyway? Seriously, what team do we have to obsess about and be scared of as we round third base?

Its not just a handful of our fans that go into free-fall pout whenever we lose a road game. I checked out the Ohio State and Michigan State message boards in the wake of Indiana's win over Michigan because it cost both schools a share of the title. There were lots of whinny fans on those boards too, saying "it's our own darned fault for losing all those close road games".

SmootyGator · 03-12-2013, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regurgigator

Excellent perspective!

And on the flip side, who knows how far those Gator teams might have gone if (1) Calvary doesn't make that lucky tip-in for Gonzaga and (2) that Creighton bench player didn't turn into Michael Jordan for a half?

Yep. It goes both ways, and usually evens out in the end!

NoahBeanBizzel · 03-12-2013, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GatorJeff

Its not just a handful of our fans that go into free-fall pout whenever we lose a road game. I checked out the Ohio State and Michigan State message boards in the wake of Indiana's win over Michigan because it cost both schools a share of the title. There were lots of whinny fans on those boards too, saying "it's our own darned fault for losing all those close road games".

Fans are fans. FSU, Texas, us, Ohio State, etc...we all have the half-empty/half-full types. I even resentfully blurted out that, "This team doesn't have a set of balls." to my wife after the game at Rupp, so I'm not going to be a hypocrite. We all get a little carried away in the moment.

Anyhow, I think we're in good shape going forward.

MadduxFanII · 03-12-2013, 12:15 PM

Quote:

I even resentfully blurted out that, "This team doesn't have a set of balls." to my wife after the game at Rupp, so I'm not going to be a hypocrite. We all get a little carried away in the moment.

I believe I called our late game struggles "obscene" in at least two different forums, including Facebook.

SmootyGator · 03-12-2013, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadduxFanII

I believe I called our late game struggles "obscene" in at least two different forums, including Facebook.

Don't get me wrong... I was so mad after the UK game, I wanted to punch a baby in the face (figuratively). That being said, I'm nowhere close to writing this team off.

MadduxFanII · 03-12-2013, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmootyGator

Don't get me wrong... I was so mad after the UK game, I wanted to punch a baby in the face (figuratively). That being said, I'm nowhere close to writing this team off.

Yes. Me too. "Figuratively". And "wanted" to. Indeed.

**regurgigator** · 03-12-2013, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GatorJeff

Its not just a handful of our fans that go into free-fall pout whenever we lose a road game. I checked out the Ohio State and Michigan State message boards in the wake of Indiana's win over Michigan because it cost both schools a share of the title. There were lots of whinny fans on those boards too, saying "it's our own darned fault for losing all those close road games".

"free-fall pout"

DuPontGator · 03-12-2013, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtVandelay

Okay. I have a life. It's pretty good. I'm sure you would be jealous of it.

I'm sure...

DuPontGator · 03-12-2013, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtVandelay

I don't have orange and blue glasses on. I am as pissed at them for choking games away as anyone else. It's been a great season, but there have been many missed opportunities and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about being in a close game in the tourney.

The point is that moving forward, there is no reason to say they are going to choke and have an early exit (in the manner that you wrote it) I'm not saying you shouldn't express your belief that they won't win it all or whatever.

What manner do you suggest?

tgatorstew · 03-12-2013, 06:46 PM

I also remember people complaining about that 2005-2006 team at the end of season. They are choke artists, we will be lucky to get out of the first round, we are not a top tier team blah blah blah blah. I am not saying that this team is as good, however I do believe we have the ability to win it all. Biggest downside is that they can not seem to win a close game. Biggest upside is Coach Donovan.

DuPontGator · 03-12-2013, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgatorstew

I also remember people complaining about that 2005-2006 team at the end of season. They are choke artists, we will be lucky to get out of the first round, we are not a top tier team blah blah blah blah. I am not saying that this team is as good, however I do believe we have the ability to win it all. Biggest downside is that they can not seem to win a close game. Biggest upside is Coach Donovan.

Link?

tgatorstew · 03-12-2013, 07:11 PM

I don't have any links to 2006, but I am sure there are several people that can attest to the fact that there were several bloggers whining incessantly about the 2006 championship team.

**gatorowen** · 03-12-2013, 07:15 PM

'06 and '07 teams had 3 players taken in top 10 picks. No comparison except for the 6 losses.

Brodeur · 03-12-2013, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgatorstew

I also remember people complaining about that 2005-2006 team at the end of season. They are choke artists, we will be lucky to get out of the first round, we are not a top tier team blah blah blah blah.

Was it really? That team started 4 sophomores, none of whom started the previous year, and were unranked until almost December. The mood I remember was more like "they're young, next year is our year" which was a fair and reasonable mindset at the time, very few predicted the 06 run.

And I really don't think the two situations are similar. The difference is that team was very young an inexperienced, so it was reasonable to expect them to mature and improve. This is a team filled with experienced upperclassmen, that maturity probably should have happened by now. Instead they're either in a funk causing late game struggles, or are on a run of bad breaks.

InstiGATOR1 · 03-12-2013, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brodeur

Was it really? That team started 4 sophomores, none of whom started the previous year,

Well those memories are tricky things. It turns out that Brewer started 32 out of 32 games as a Frosh:

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/pla...a/corey-brewer

Also Horford started 25 out of 32 games as a Frosh:

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/pla...ida/al-horford

So while your overall point is ok and to it I would add that the 2005-06 UF program had never won a NC so the expectations were different, I am not sure we can completely trust your memory about whether there were negative posts on message boards at the time.

Bradass · 03-12-2013, 09:19 PM

There are some incredibly sad and petty posts on this thread. Why do people have to take disagreements while talking sports so freakin' personally? Especially amongst Gators on our own board? I thought such animosity was relegated to our rivals, or at least Too Hot. Can't we all just get along?

GatorLurker · 03-12-2013, 10:10 PM

I remember the 05-06 season very well and what my thoughts were.

The Tuesday after trouncing 'Nova I told my class (it was a Tuesday/Thursday 4-credit class at UF) that there would be no class the following Tuesday as everyone will be celebrating all night on Monday.

I didn't tell them that I would be flying home from a weekend in Indy on that Tuesday.

**regurgigator** · 03-13-2013, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgatorstew

I don't have any links to 2006, but I am sure there are several people that can attest to the fact that there were several bloggers whining incessantly about the 2006 championship team.

As unbelievable as it seems, there were plenty of posts in the 2007 season denigrating the team and their chances in the Tourney when we lost a few late in the season.

And, no I don't have any links either. I'm not sure how you'd link to comments from last year.