The 2006-07 season is just about half done. The 15-game pre-conference slate is completed with the Gators checking in at 13-and-2. Florida now faces a 16-game SEC gauntlet in search of the school’s first conference title since sharing the league crown in 2001. With SEC and NCAA Tournament play to follow, the Gators have a long way to go in this campaign.
Still, checking out some of the numbers for the team and some individual players, it’s already been a momentous season. So let’s look at Gator Basketball by the numbers at mid-season.
11,491 —– Despite playing a less than exciting home schedule and having three home games after final exams the Gators are on a pace to break the season attendance record. With every SEC game virtually sold out Florida will likely average close to 12,000 for 18 home games. That would shatter the school record of 11,047 set in 2003-04. The Gators are almost certain to draw over 200,000 fans to the O’Dome for the first time ever.
70 —– Has become a magic number in the first part of the season. The Gators have only allowed one team to score more than 70 points. That was Kansas, and they lost. The Gators have only been held under 70 points one time and that was by FSU. Again, the Gators lost. So it stands to reach if the Gators continue to score more than 70 points and give up less they should have a lot of success in the SEC.
886 —– Career points scored by Corey Brewer, the most for any current Gator. At his current scoring pace, “Spiderman” will become the 38th Gator to reach the 1,000 point mark when Florida plays at Georgia in February.
11 —– The number of wins Billy Donovan needs to reach the 250-mark for his Gator career. It’s also the number of consecutive free throws Taurean Green needs to make to break his UF record of 37. Green has made his last 27 at the charity stripe dating back to the Kansas game.
98 —– Number of career SEC wins Donovan has entering the Georgia game. He’s still 28 conference wins shy of Norm Sloan’s UF record 126, but Sloan coached in 90 more SEC games than Donovan has.
208 —– The total of three point shots Lee Humphrey has made in his career. He needs 67 more to pass Brett Nelson as the most prolific long range shooter in school history. Assuming the Gators play a half dozen post-season games, Humphrey would need to average just over three a night to set the mark.
6 —– Number of double-doubles Al Horford has registered, despite his ankle injury. That’s more than all of his teammates combined.
5 —– Number of consecutive SEC openers the Gators have won. Florida’s last loss to start conference play came in 2001 at South Carolina when the Gamecocks hit a three pointer at the buzzer for a one point win.
9 —– The number of consecutive 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament bids the Gators will be celebrating come March.