Thoughts On Late Game Woes

[108]

This year has only magnified what has been a trend over the last few years, due to a lack of star players. No Beal, no Chandler, not even a Calathes.

On offense, to me, it starts at the PG position. We have not had a true PG since T.Green that could control the tempo, break the press, drive/dish, and manage the team when needed. In-fact, under Donovan there have been very few true PG's. Nelson, Roberson, Calathes, Erv, were all combo guards, some being shoot first. When you have these type of players, getting the ball down low can become a struggle. I remember David Lee not even getting enough touches. Love Scotty, but he is in the mold of a Justin Hamilton PG. I look for Hill to start at the PG position next year, with Scotty playing the 2, and the back up PG position, which will give us starting senior leadership. I really hope Donovan sees the need for true PG's going forward.

This offense really needs a 3 that can drive since our 2's tend to be skilled shooters. We simply have to have players that can consistently create their own shot from the first 3 positions. They don't have to be stars, but we've seen plenty of teams who had serviceable players who could drive to the basket when needed. From what I have seen of Finney-Smith, this won't be a worry next year.

On defense, when we start struggling on offense, this team tends to stop playing with the same level of intensity on defense. We could have won yesterdays game despite the horrible offensive 2nd half performance if we kept our defensive intensity. Billy's comments today highlight that what he was most upset about was our defensive performance in the second half.

This team has really maximized their lack of star players by playing good defense and generally being offensively skilled enough to take advantage of opposing teams weaknesses. This is essentially a team of role players, with Boynton being the closest to a go-to guy, but a player who isn't clutch because of his streaky shooting.

Going forward, I really hope this team doesn't try to be more than who they are after being embarrassed on national television by the punk from Ole Miss. Do what you do well, and what this team does well is play good defense and good team offense. If we can do that with great effort, I think we can again make it to the Elite 8, and everything is gravy after that.

Go Gators!

[GatorPlanet]

I pretty much agree.

However, I try to keep it all in perspective. The team has a few warts but has performed well over the course of a season and is a legitimate contender for the title, in my opinion. Maybe not the fave, but a contender, along with maybe a dozen others. It's that wide open.

[grant1]

As far as late-game struggles go, maybe it was a positive note that we were even in the game late as we were on verge of a double-digit loss. I thought they were going to completely fold, but they didn't.

They are a strong contender, as Vegas suggests with a 7:1 odds IF they play with the passion that's required. Playing our style of defense, when done properly, will overcome our FT and offensive misgivings.

However, since we continue to show that we can't do that, anything beyond Sweet 16 will be gravy for me.

I hope Billy makes them pack their bags and store everything on the bus on Friday.

[Brewski]

Originally Posted by grant1

As far as late-game struggles go, maybe it was a positive note that we were even in the game late as we were on verge of a double-digit loss. I thought they were going to completely fold, but they didn't.

They are a strong contender, as Vegas suggests with a 7:1 odds IF they play with the passion that's required. Playing our style of defense, when done properly, will overcome our FT and offensive misgivings.

However, since we continue to show that we can't do that, anything beyond Sweet 16 will be gravy for me.

I hope Billy makes them pack their bags and store everything on the bus on Friday.

I thought your prediction was 1 and done in both tourneys?

[g8rboy]

just want to make the second weekend, which they should. then, anything can happen.

[ufgator4ever]

I'm just sorry we'd have to play in the gigantic jerry jones dome if making it to the second round. Can't imgine a tougher place to shoot 3s. Maybe on the deck of a ship.

[UFish]

Wilbekin is a true point guard. He's just a limited true point guard. It's also not exactly fair to compare him to Taurean Green, who was surrounded by incredible talent and the best outside shooter Florida has ever had. Green also had his shortcomings; they were just easier to mask behind the players around him.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Wilbekin and Hill starting together next year. Whatever weaknesses Scottie has as a point guard, Hill will likely cover for them and vise versa.

[grant1]

Originally Posted by Brewski

I thought your prediction was 1 and done in both tourneys?

As I may have been hard on them, I never said that. I think I said 2 and done for each. I was wrong on the first, hope I'm wrong on the second.

[hoopnscoopuf]

The team just can't finish. Don't see how we go deep in the tourney unless they all start shooting like Lee Humphrey and WY reaches 100% and KB plays PG a lot and...

[xenythx]

I said it in another thread but I feel like Scottie plays the position a little too mechanically. I liken him to a very young QB that a coach will give limited reads to. Scottie has been thought to react to what the defense does based on how they switch on ball screens. But sometimes all available options are defended well and a great PG needs to improvise and create a play or lead someone to an open look. Scottie needs to improve that aspect of his game.

[TampaGatorFan]

Originally Posted by hoopnscoopuf

The team just can't finish. Don't see how we go deep in the tourney unless they all start shooting like Lee Humphrey and WY reaches 100% and KB plays PG a lot and...

I don't know if we'll ever see another Gator quite like Humphrey. That dude was a stone-cold assassin from beyond the arc. I think he holds just about every SEC 3-point shooting record. He even broke the net with a shot once in the tourney...remember that?

[fairfaxgator]

Originally Posted by ufgator4ever

I'm just sorry we'd have to play in the gigantic jerry jones dome if making it to the second round. Can't imgine a tougher place to shoot 3s. Maybe on the deck of a ship.

only if they throw water on the court...now that would be a game!