Hello, friends!
It’s another Thursday morning, and that means another basketball newsletter coming in hot and fresh to your inbox. Since we last talked the Gators have played only one game–last night against the Ohio Bobcats in Tampa–so this might be a bit of a brief newsletter. However, just because there has only been one game since we last talked, it doesn’t mean I don’t have things I want to say! Here we go:
Kowacie Reeves needs a bigger role.
We have already talked about how Kowacie Reeves was benched for essentially three games and shouldn’t really have to rehash it, but it still seems crazy in retrospect–especially with games like last night where Reeves hits four threes and leads the way with 20 points.
He did this coming off the bench, which seems to be the role he’s in…at least for now.
I am someone who believes in the old adage “it’s not who starts, it’s who finishes” and there can be plenty of minutes for Reeves off the bench, and quite frankly I don’t care if he starts or comes off the bench but I think he needs to be in the high twenty minutes per game, and it’s not just total minutes I’m concerned with. He needs to be someone the Gators actively utilize when he’s on the floor, and someone that they aggressively hunt shots for. The Gators have a couple of baseline out of bounds plays they run to get him free, something that has worked with great success, and it should be an example of how effective Reeves can be when he’s able to catch and to shoot.
Not every player would be able to bounce back from a benching in a big tournament like the PK85, but it looks like Reeves is still playing with plenty of confidence.
Alex Fudge looks to have taken over the starting power forward spot.
Alex Fudge is instant energy whenever he’s on the floor whether that’s from the opening tip or if it’s him coming off the bench. He was one of the only players able to compete with a very talented UConn team and against Ohio he was dominant with an efficient 13 points and 10 rebounds. Every time the Gators have played a low or mid-major opponent, Fudge has looked downright comical on the floor. Well, more accurately…he has made the competition look comical. He is so, so athletic and so, so long that there are times he looks like a varsity player out there with the JV team, almost toying with younger players. Fudge is explosive, he has an extremely quick first step, and he has a nose for the ball. Really everything you’d want from a forward in the modern game. Will CJ Felder get a chance at starting again? Perhaps, but it seems like Fudge is pretty well established in the role for now and that’s for good reason.
The Gators looked improved defensively against the Bobcats.
I have been critical of Florida’s defense this year but I truly do think they made some positive steps against Ohio. You might remember in a previous newsletter where I talked about how the Gators struggled to guard actions and were very lost navigating screening plays away from the ball.
It’s clear that this is something that they have worked on as they changed their off ball screening defensive principles and looked much more comfortable handing these actions against the Bobcats.
Look, I have been critical of some elements of Florida basketball this year, but I can acknowledge there is a ton of time left for improvement and it’s great to see positive steps.
The Gators will see one heck of a coach in their next game.
Florida’s next game will be the Jumpman Invitational against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Longtime Gator Country readers will know that I might be the biggest Porter Moser (currently the head coach at Oklahoma) fan out there right now, and have often pointed out his excellent tactics. In last year’s matchup, despite the Gators having an objectively much more talented roster last season, the Oklahoma Fightin’ Porter Mosers had an excellent game plan and controlled the game, winning by 7.
Once again this Oklahoma team doesn’t have a lot of talent (to the point where I am truly questioning Moser’s recruiting, truthfully) but it doesn’t take away from the excellent schematic mind of their head coach. The Gators will need to have a quality game plan going into this one and be ready to make changes on the fly.
I hope everyone is having a tremendous holiday season, and I’ll talk to you next week!