Saturday night started with some bittersweet tears as the Gators celebrated the work of their outgoing senior class and it ended with happy tears as they completely controlled the game with the Ole Miss Rebels coming away with a 90-71 win. You never know how a team is going to respond to Senior Night festivities after the emotional ceremony before tip-off, but for Florida the celebration seemed to fuel them as they played an inspired game of basketball keeping the Rebels at arm’s length as they took an easy victory. With the win the Gators improved to 27-4 on the season and 14-4 in the SEC, locking up second place in the league and also adding another quality win to their NCAA Tournament resume that sees them right in the mix for a 1-seed. Earning a double-bye in the SEC Tournament, the Gators will now have the opportunity to get some much-needed rest as they wait upon seeing who they will play.
A Fitting Close
Playing in the O’Dome for the final time, outgoing guards Walter Clayton, Will Richard, and Alijah Martin all played outstanding basketball in which they demonstrated the traits that make them great in order to secure the Florida victory.
Walter Clayton led the way with 23 points and 8 rebounds, playing with the confidence, joy, and swagger that made him a fan favorite in his two seasons in Gainesville. At first he was dazzling fans with his elite footwork and shotmaking, and then in the second half it was all about him demonstrating his playmaking as he looked to create points for his teammates. Clayton’s decision to come to Florida has been arguably the biggest single player element that has turned the Gators’ program around after a few years of mediocrity, and no matter what happens next for the Gators–that will never be forgotten.
Will Richard finished with 10 points and 3 rebounds while playing excellent on-ball defense, one of the elements of his game that has made him so valuable as a Gator. Richard was one of the first players to believe in Todd Golden when he got the job at Florida and has ushered in a new era of Gator basketball and he will be extremely missed by fans.
Alijah Martin had 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals, demonstrating the toughness and physicality from the guard spot he has brought ever since coming to the Gators. While he was only with the team for one season he immediately endeared himself to Florida fans who appreciated his intensity, defensive-mindset, and leadership.
Gator Country congratulates these seniors on tremendous careers, and wishes them the best as the Gators continue their season.
Staying Hot
Coming off arguably the best game of his career against Alabama, Alex Condon was excellent once again with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 assists. Controlling the glass is nothing new for Condon, but in the first half his efforts were at a new level. Before halftime he already hit double-digit rebounding numbers, and if the game was closer you could have seen him push for the 20 rebound mark, though luckily he was able to take things easy in the second frame. There is no question Condon is playing his best basketball going into the postseason which is exactly what the Gators need.
Tight Defense
Ole Miss has been a consistently strong offense this season but the Gators were able to completely turn off the water, holding the Rebels to 33% field goal shooting with 9 turnovers. Florida’s defense was even better than that percentage would suggest as there was some incredible shot making from Ole Miss’ guards, but ultimately not enough to make up for an offense that wasn’t getting any clean looks. Florida’s defense in this one was all about completely taking away the paint with heavy help in the gaps and it meant the Rebels were never able to get any action towards the rim which completely stalled out their attack. This was a style of defense the Gators played earlier in the season but has slowly gotten away from it, and you have to wonder if it’s a style they’ll use in the SEC Tournament and beyond.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to note that Ole Miss is a rock solid team that is ranked 26th in KenPom and has wins over Alabama and Tennessee. They have no bad losses and are one of the oldest teams in college basketball and are likely to get a 6 or 7-seed in the NCAA Tournament. That’s important to note–because it shows just how impressive Florida’s outing was. Their defense was at a level it hasn’t been at in weeks, and the offense was playing freely and efficiently in the exact way they have been when they have played their best basketball. If college basketball is truly about playing your best basketball at the right time–the Gators are certainly in great shape heading into the postseason.