Everything went right for the Gators on Friday as they controlled Grambling State from start to finish on their way to a decisive 96-57 win. Grambling State had a bit of a run near the midway point of the first half to bring the game within two possessions but after that the Gators’ offense took off and they never looked back. It was the exact type of performance the Gators wanted to have before taking time off for the holidays and there was no letdown of intensity after the double overtime thriller against Michigan which was a bit of a concern entering Friday’s matinee.
Leading The Way
One of Florida’s top performers against Michigan was wing Will Richard who led the Gators in minutes and was impactful defensively on the ball, as a help defender, and as a cutter. The one area of his game that wasn’t up to his standard was three-point shooting as he went 2-8 from deep. That was corrected against Grambling State as he went 5-9 from three to lead the Gators with 17 points. Richard has been a steady contributor in any role the Gators have put him in and against Grambling State it was to find shots behind the three-point line and when he was able to get free–he was lethal.
Hot Shooting
An area of concern for the Gators this season has been their three-point shooting which has come and gone but has generally left something to be desired, but their performance against Grambling State could be a cause for optimism. Florida had a season high 11 made threes on only 21 attempts, making for a crisp 52% three-point efficiency. As previously mentioned Will Richard played a huge role in the three-point shooting but it was generally spread throughout the roster as seven different players made a three-point shot. Part of the reason why the Gators got so many good shots was a clear focus in moving the ball, as the Gators had a remarkable 27 assists on 38 made baskets. If you’re looking for even more positives from a shooting standpoint–the Gators were also 9-10 from the free throw line.
Stepping Up
Before the game it was announced that Riley Kugel would be sitting out due to a bruised foot. Kugel has played a big role for the Gators and his absence meant there would be a lot of extra minutes and shots available and while a number of players stepped up to fill the void it was Denzel Aberdeen in particular who took advantage of a bigger opportunity. He finished with 11 points, 5 assists, and 1 block off the bench–and he did it in style. He had some smooth threes, a powerful dunk, and a flashy behind the back dish to Thomas Haugh in transition and you could tell that he was playing with freedom and confidence. The Gators have a lot of capable players at the guard position, but it looks like Aberdeen will continue to push for minutes.
Final Thoughts
This game had the potential for the Gators to come out flat given that they just had an emotional double overtime game against Michigan and it was now a buy game happening right before players head home for the holidays. Instead, they came out with some fire from the jump, absorbed the one big run that Grambling State had in them, and ended up winning emphatically. There’s not much more you could ask for from the Gators, and they’ll have a chance to keep spirits high once again when they return next week against Quinnipiac.