No.10 Florida defeated Miami 82-68 on Sunday night, improving to 3-1 on the young season. The Gators’ defense was dominant once again, holding Miami to 33.8% shooting from the field with 10 turnovers. However, Florida’s backcourt is still trying to find their way after replacing a trio of NBA guards.
Starting guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee have struggled from three-point range to start the season, connecting on just 8-51 (15.6%) combined attempts through four games. Against Miami, Fland and Lee were a combined 0-10 from beyond the arc.
Slovenian guard Urban Klavzar picked up the slack vs. the Canes, recording a career high 15 points with four three pointers to match.
“[He] stepped up and hit some really big shots in some moments tonight that allowed us to run out of here with a pretty big win,” head coach Todd Golden said on Klavzar.
Much like the rest of the team, Klavzar’s shot was off through the first three games, making just 3-14 (21.4%) three-point attempts. His breakout performance vs. Miami was more in line with what Florida’s staff expects from the junior guard.
“Really, really happy for [Klavžar]. Obviously, stepped up huge for us in conference play last year when we were dealing with some injuries, was great in the exhibitions and had a slow start to the season, but the Urban Klavžar you saw tonight is the guy that we know we have on our roster,” Golden said postgame.
It wasn’t just his 4-7 shooting from three; Klavzar had two gorgeous assists, both of which were passes to Rueben Chinyelu through traffic. While undersized, Klavzar is a high IQ guard that understands spacing.
Florida’s bigs were in foul trouble in the second half. Both Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon fouled out with 5+ minutes to play, meaning the Gators had to run with smaller lineup. Klavzar stepped up and gave the Gators valuable minutes, recording the second highest +/- in the contest at 12.
“I feel like you just have to stay ready,” Klavzar said postgame. “I saw they got five fouls there and I had to stay ready to shoot those jump shots. We play with great guards and I knew Xaivian and Boogie can get me open anytime. Or even Thomas. I just had to stay ready and shoot the shots with confidence.”
Confidence is the key for Klavzar.
“I’m just trying to be confident every day, more and more,” Klavzar said. “We work a lot every day. I worked a lot with Taurean [Green] on just shooting. The work that we put it has to show every night. You have to stay confident and take those shots.”
Klavzar recorded a career high 26 minutes vs. the Canes, matching Xaivian Lee’s total. Klavzar’s 15 minutes in the second half were more than Fland (14) and Lee (12), which is something to watch moving forward.
Florida is in desperate need of an offensive spark plug, and Klavzar can be that guy with more consistency.
Great article Nick, to address your article, I hope so and expect so. The young man has a sweet stroke. While different era different team, it’s hard not to think of him contributing like Lee Humphrey.
If will really help Todd and the low post guys if Urban and the other guards can hit from the perimeter forcing defenses to move out a bit and guard the perimeter.
I have faith that Lee and Fland will begin to find the range. Should Urban, Lee and Fland “find it”
,well, UF will be one tough out.