Gator Basketball: Return To Toughness?
by mlmintampa on Nov 15, 2009 12:37 PM EST
in Florida Basketball
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PrintWhen you have two season like the Gators had in 2006 and 2007, the hangover can last a while. The Gators were fat and happy following the accomplishments of the Oh Fours, with guys like Nick Calathes and Jai Lucas thinking that the name on the front of the jersey guaranteed success for the name on the back. But two trips to the NIT have lead to a reinvention of the Gators, as dead weight like Calathes, Lucas and Eloy Vargas dropped the program.
In their place, Vernon Macklin, Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker are three guys who won't shrink back from pressure. The dark horse in this role would be Israeli Rod Tishman, since the only soft Israelis are supermodels. This isn't a team that needs two balls on the court to play happy. Macklin is still rough on offense, but he is a physical presence inside that has been lacking the past two seasons. Boynton and Walker will score and play off each other.
Alex Tyus needs to grow up and bit and run violence on the SEC with Macklin. Two big bodies inside, with Boynton and Walker, Florida can seriously challenge in the SEC. Maybe not get past Kentucky, but the way John Calipari is, maybe UK is under probation by March. As for Dan Werner, I just hope he doesn't get in the way and get hurt. And also stop chucking crappy threes.
Of course, it all starts and ends with Billy Donovan. He's had to reinvent himself every few years as he is trying to find the right chemistry to win again. The losses in personnel lately fit into Donovan's play to build a starting five, rather than finding individual stars and hoping they can spread the wealth. Donovan has had to do this before. The 2000 Final Four team, which included SEC regular season titles in 2000 and 2001, was built that way. Those teams, while talented, knew how to fight back after getting punched in the face. This team might be just as bad as the previous seasons, but on the surface, that does not appear to be the case this season. As of now, Bracketology puts the Gators as a 9th seed. In an improved SEC, Florida will get smacked around this season, but this team will be able to fight back.
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Nov 27th
Is when we know what this team is made of. Will they allow themselves to be blown on the field by a superior unit, or battle? We’ll find out then.
Went to the Game Today...
…only stayed for the first half, but that was plenty. The press is back, as usual, but it’s better with Walker-Shipman-Boynton than it ever was with Hodge and Calathes. Murphy looked lost on offense, Parsons lost on defense, Werner lost with the ball in his hands — Werner took the first three threes of the game, and missed all three.
Boynton’s deft touch with his shot is evident, but he never got it going. He relishes defense, and one play where he made an excellent move to the basket to score and then got right back into his press stance really impressed me. I was also impressed by Macklin-Tyus-Kadji, mostly on defense. They rotated well and closed out with blocks.
That said, I worry because Boynton may have problems if he is expected to be the megastar, Tishman was really bad (like, three minutes of play and getting yanked), and Parsons has let his hair grow stupidly. The latter troubles me most.
by Andy Hutchins on Nov 15, 2009 8:56 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
AH MAN!
I forgot about the game! I wanted to watch it.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Keeper of the "That's what she said"
AH MAN!
I forgot about the game! I wanted to watch it.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Keeper of the "That's what she said"
Yeah i forgot about the game
Current Phinsider Feud Points: 23
Sparano: Joey Porter, What is best in life?
Porter: To crush The Jets, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of Mark Sanchez
Ironic
Gator basketball has been pretty forgettable as of late. Last year’s stinkers will cause this season’s TV games to be few and far between. I wish them luck though.
I blame Calathes for leaving early even though he really doesn have the skills to be able to play in the NBA. He shouldve realized that his skills were very Pistol Pete era and needed another year of college ball to maybe get some newer school skills. Also without him this team is without a real upperclassmen leader… cuz we sure as hell cant rely on Parsons with all the crap he throws up. So yet again i think we all can chalk this up as another rebuilding year, unfortunately.
Him and a good couple of other Gators players
They leave too soon and it kills their careers.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Keeper of the "That's what she said"
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