Same Old Crap; Gators Lose To Vanderbilt 64-60
by mlmintampa on Mar 2, 2010 9:45 PM EST
in Florida Basketball
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PrintWith a chance to erase the epic fails of the last two seasons, the Gators score one point in the final four minutes and lose 64-60 to Vanderbilt. The Gators are 20-10, but 9-6 in the league when 10 wins can guarantee an NCAA spot. Kentucky stands in the way of a tenth win on Sunday.
Vanderbilt (23-6, 12-3) played a beautiful inside-outside game as A.J. Ogilvy (16pts, 8reb) abused Vernon Macklin and guard John Jenkins was on fire with 18 points on six 3-pointers. Macklin did score 21, but it came on a night when Chandler Parsons finally hit the wall, as he scored 3 points and attempted four shots. It did not help that Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker were a combined 3-24 from the field. Boynton missed an open 3-pointer with ten seconds left as Billy Donovan could never find someone to consistently run the offense.
Dan Werner was cheered on Senior Night, a difference from the usual response he gets. Werner played more aggressively than he has all season, scoring 8 and pulling 5 rebounds. However, his own goal gave Vandy the 62-60 lead with 2:24 left that they would never give up.
Vandy raced out to a 9-0 lead in the first half and led by 12 before UF clawed their way back to a three point game at the half. But it was apparent that Vandy was too much for Florida, and once again, the Gators could not win when it counts most. Florida goes to Kentucky (27-2, 12-2) Sunday.
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im done...
ive put way too much damn time, effort, money, and frustration into this team. they dont and havent earned my respect or yours and they dont deserve it from the fan base. Its time Donovan starts investing in a complete overhaul or benching players regardless of talent because the guys out there dont care about winning or the representing the University. Regardless of if we make the NCAA tourney or not this team had top 25 potential but played down to competiton and blew TONS of winnable games. Thats a freaking lack of effort. and im not gonna cheer for a team that gets OUTWORKED because of effort and dedication. Makes me sick.
i think they fought hard...
i would disagree and i think they fought hard. they are missing someone that can catch and shoot. i think they played pretty good defense. just had some breakdowns with jenkins on the perimeter.
yes they were in many games at the end but to me that is surprising given their lack of depth.
you can say they lack talent but i dont think there’s a lack of effort.
Vandy fan here.
I completely respect Florida for the unbelievable credibility you constantly add to the SEC. This was a huge win for Vandy. When’s the last time Vandy won a game like this against an opponent like that who was fighting for their lives on their home court?
Also, this is a kick-ass blog. I check it out whenever there is Florida news.
But I’m writing because I read the post you guys had about Werner earlier in the week, and I thought it was hilarious that he tipped in the winning shot for us. I’m guessing you guys will be fine next year. Donovan can coach. Calathes kinda screwed you. Add him back in this year, and Vandy’s looking at 3rd in the SEC.
Anyway, this was probably a waste of time, but Werner – HA! Priceless.
"And with the 16th pick, the Tennessee Titans select..."
its not a waste of time...and i dont think they fought Hard Enough.
…i have respect for vandy fans and athletes as i have a few friends on the football team…but it makes me sick that Dan Werner blew the game like that…but the fact is GatorChuck that when its a game YOU HAVE TO HAVE. not scoring in the last 2 and a half minutes means the team did NOT push their hardest when they had too. Thats what bothers me. Now its up to Kentucky to choke or for us to win in the SEC tourney…we will see if im completely wrong in the next few weeks…
Tough loss
I disagree on the Gators effort last night. Early in the game, we couldn’t hit the ocean from a boat. That put us (as usual) in a big hole that we had to fight back from. To say that the Gators lacked effort when they scratched and clawed their way back into that game is not fair. I also disagree that this team has top 25 potential. The Gators run 5 deep (I don’t even count Werner). Murphy and Shipman come in for little spurts, but the starters play too many minutes. When other teams get meaningful bench play, and rest their starters for the stretch run, the Gators starters are all on the floor trying to sprint back into games. And then we wonder why they can’t close?
Vandy was shooting the lights out last night. It seemed everytime we made a run, Vandy just drained another 3. Also, every loose ball rolled right to a Vandy player. It looks like that wasn’t really Werner’s last home game, as the Gators are likely to host a game or two in the NIT….again. I said this team needed to win either against UGA OR Vandy. they lost both. Now they will get rolled in Rupp heading into the SEC tourney. Even if they win a tourney game, the selection committee is going to pass on a team that loses 4 of their last 5 games. Amongst all of Werner’s other faults – he doesn’t grab rebounds – instead, he tips them back up into the air, which explains his own goal. Perhaps he is better suited to play volleyball?
I don’t think last night’s game was a lack of effort. In fact, I think the team left it all out on the floor – they just aren’t nearly as good as Vandy, and when you play a better team who is hitting shots, you have little chance to win.
by skigator93 on Mar 3, 2010 10:21 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Its time for the Gators to Grow up or go home...literally
I understand what you mean by we are not a deep team and we fought hard…but the fact is the complete effort HAS to be there from beginning to end. and by falling behind in the big games late in the season it shows the team is NOT coming out with intensity they need. I understand Georgia is good at home , but I was at that game. and Flat Out Florida came out with ZERO intensity ZERO effort and survived by hitting tons of threes and playing a lazy press defense. That is lack of effort. Same with the opening of the Vandy game, we came out like it was a mid-season meaningless conference game and used tons of energy to push back into it. My point is Florida seems to come out with zero intensity and then plans to make some miraculous comeback. Thats not how it works in the SEC…or in any major college basketball game… Florida has done this against Kentucky, Xavier, Georgia, and now Vandy. ONE of these wins would have put is in the NCAA tourney…the players are NOT getting this message for the third straight year. and its starting to get Embarrassing. Im not expecting a final four here i am not trying to be unrealistic. But this team is too talented and too good to not be playing AT LEAST on the first weekend of the NCAA tourney. and you know that.
I think the real problem is....
We’re just not a good shooting team. We often start games (like last night and at UGA) by missing our first few buckets. If the other team can shoot (like Vandy for instance), then BAM, you’re down 12-3 in the first few minutes. Walker and Boynton can get hot, but neither has been a good consistent shooter, and which Tyus’ offensive woes as of late, we are weak inside as well.
I think this team is still a year away. Losing Werner automatically makes a better team by subtraction. If Murphy can bulk up and get stronger, and Patric Young is finally that big man we’ve been missing inside, then we’ll be a strong tournament team next year.
As far as this year is concerned though, I see more of the same at Kentucky and then 1 win in the SEC Tourney. Losing 4 of 5 to finish the season isn’t going to do it. I really think we’re NIT bound. A team this shallow can’t make run playing in the SEC tourney because we’d have to play back-to-back-to-back-to-back!!
I was at the UGA game too – very disappointing…..although Athens is a great college town.
got to agree with skigator93...
they managed to find a way to still be in games despite low shooting percentage, esp from the arc.
when you look at the better teams… they have more shooters on the floor and depth.
macklin and parsons both have improved a lot. tyus as well.
reduce the turnovers and get a bump up in consistent perimeter shooting … and continue working hard on defense and i think this team is back in the bracket.
oh and get some bench help. you need quality minutes to get the starters rest.
i agree..
that we need more depth…however slow starts cant always be attributed to shooting…if you can start off hot from outside than you need to pound the ball inside…and the way to make up for bad offense early on is good defense something we have NOT done…overall we still have a chance and the bubble is MUCH weaker this year…Athens is a great college town..i live in Atlanta and have many friends who attend uga and have a great time every time i go over for a visit…its just clearly not as much fun when the Gators lose games to the dawgs they probably should win
also...
Getting Ray McCalum or Brandon Knight could provide the depth for florida next year and if Brad Beal and Austin Rivers hold commitments to Florida the next few years could be the return of Florida Basketball to consistency and a LOT more winning!
The Bubble Is Weak This Year
I think y’all will get in, even if you lose to UK on Sunday.
by KingJamesIV on Mar 3, 2010 10:52 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Spoiled fans. If we didnt win the back 2 back titles a few seasons ago most of these fans who say they are DONE probably never would of been fans in the first place.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
*They are typos, get over it*
i dont think were done..but...
First off some of us have Been Gator fans throughout the Donovan era and have seen teams struggle before. But we should AT LEAST expect to make the NCAA tourney and if we lose out there is a HUGE possibility that will not happen. I think fans are extremely frustrated that this has happened for a Third straight year…and again a team that clearly has the ability to MAKE it to the tournament is falling short again…I hope your right and i believe we can win one more…but i have bough into that belief the last 2 years and was let down. So you should expect some Gator fans to believe were done at this point but there is clearly still hope and a chance…
Gators should be in.
20 wins, beat UT & MSU. You’re in.
A couple of wins in the SECT wouldn’t hurt, though.
Might help the committee forget the loss to South AL.
Need AT LEAST one win in the SEC
and that is assuming a loss Sunday at Rupp, which is nearly a 100% chance.
Two wins would be much better. If we only win 1, that is 5 losses in the final 5 games, not a great thing to have on the resume.
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