Game Recap: Florida Gators 69-Clemson Tigers 71

In a game that went down to wire and thrilled attendees of the Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise, Florida, the Gators fell in a tight one to the Clemson Tigers 71-69. Leading the way for the Tigers with 22 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds, Marcquise Reed frustrated the Gators with his ability to constantly get into the lane and make plays or draw fouls. In a game where Florida had a significant lead in the second half, this is a tough pill to swallow for a team that has taken some lumps in the non-conference. Jalen Hudson was the bright spot for the Gators, scoring 23 points and adding 4 rebounds.

Instant Offense

Usually we talk about “instant offense” players as guys who can come of the bench and provide a spark, but Jalen Hudson is redefining that label as a guy who can score from the opening tip. Hudson scored the first 12 points of the game for the Gators which happened to be their only points scored in the first ten minutes of the first half. He then passed the torch to KeVaughn Allen who went on a run of his own, scoring 8 straight. Though these individual offensive performances are great, it highlights the fact that secondary scoring has not been there for Florida.

Letting it Slide

Tonight wasn’t the first time the Gators have squandered a game where they had a firm lead in the second half, and that trend is extremely concerning. The Gators need to find a way to get key scores in big situations, and get massive stops when the game is on the line. Lots of times the up tempo, fast and loose style works early but it can be tough to play late in the second half when the game slows down. Like all non-conference games, this has to be a learning experience for the team as the season is far from over and the Gators have a ton of games left to make their mark on college hoops.

Individual Defense

During a first half timeout, coach Mike White expressed displeasure with how he team was guarding the ball one on one. His frustration was justified, as Clemson guards Marcquise Reed and Gabe DeVoe were both able to constantly beat their man to get into the lane and force Florida to scramble to help. Torching the Gators for 41 points on 12 of 20 shooting, the inability to defend these players was one of the differences in this game. You can scheme and game plan all you want to play unique defenses, but if a player can’t keep himself between an opposing ball carrier and the hoop it is really difficult to play any type of defense properly. We know the Gators have struggled to guard interior players on the block, but not being able to contain perimeter players has been as big if not bigger of an issue. Patching up the perimeter defense would be a huge step in getting the team towards the defensive level they need to be at to go deep in the NCAA Tournament.

Trust is Earned

In a press conference earlier this week Mike White stated that Michael Okauru needed to earn his trust to earn his spot back in the rotation. He gave him another opportunity tonight with 5 minutes played, but he was relatively silent and turned the ball over once. Going back to Okauru shows that Mike White is really looking for some options off the bench to make a splash and change the pace when they enter the game.

“Not a Huge Fan of Zone”

When asked how he felt about the Gators’ first half performance, coach White indicated he was “not a huge fan of zone.” Florida tried out a zone defense for short stretches but they never really seemed comfortable. Not picking up cutters or recognizing defensive responsibilities, there is a lot of work to be done on the zone before it is used heavily. Especially in situations when Florida wants to play small a zone defense would be extremely useful, so hopefully they can get to a point of comfort with a zone they can turn to when they need key stops in conference play and beyond.

Up Next

The Gators now head back to Gainesville to take on the James Madison Dukes of the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dukes have struggled so far this season so the Gators will have to come into this game with a mindset to take care of business and not play down to their opponent’s level. In the world of college basketball you can never take a day off, and I’m sure Mike White will not allow complacency from his players. That game goes down on December 20th in Gainesville.

What did you think of the Gators’ performance tonight against Clemson? Leave a comment here or post on the Gator Country forums.

Eric Fawcett
Eric is a basketball coach and writer from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. His work has been found at NBA international properties, ESPN, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Lindy's and others. He loves zone defenses, the extra pass, and a 30 second shot clock. Growing up in Canada, an American channel showing SEC basketball games was his first exposure to Gator hoops, and he has been hooked ever since. You can follow him on Twitter at @ericfawcett_.