Florida had four chances to win one game and clinch an NCAA bid, but were 0-4 in those games, finishing with tonight's 75-69 loss to Mississippi State in the SEC Quarterfinals. UF will have to sweat out Selection Sunday while Miss State gets a chance to steal the SEC's fourth and possibly final NCAA invite.
The Gators (21-12) could not defend the 3-point line or score inside early as the Bulldogs (22-10) did everything right in the first half. Miss State led by as much as 19 before UF slowly came back, shrinking the lead to three points with 27 seconds left. However, the moment that will stick out to most UF fans came 20 seconds earlier, when UF was down by four.
Chandler Parsons pulled down one of his seven rebounds to start a fast break for the Gators. Wide open in the right wing corner was Dan Werner. But like a bad wide receiver, Werner ran before he caught the outlet pass, and the ball sailed through his hands and out of bounds. Werner finished with 3 points and 6 rebounds in 19 minutes. As much has he gets the scorn of Florida fans, it was Billy Donovan's mistake to again have Werner in during an important part of the game. Werner has demonstrated he cannot be trusted and can't handle the ball late. Donovan should get as much blame as Werner.
One play does not make a game and if UF does not make the tournament, they can point to the 7 of 22 shooting performance by Florida's forwards. Parsons eventually got to double figures with 10 points, but Miss State destroyed Werner (1-5 shooting), but especially Alex Tyus (5pts, 2-5 shooting) and Vernon Macklin (3pts, 1-3 shooting). Tyus was especially bad, chucking jumpers and getting stripped down low. This was in contrast to Jarvis Varnado (15pts, 4reb, 4blk), Kodi Augustus (10pts) and Romero Osby (8pts). Miss State also shot 10 of 20 from 3-point range, with all three starting guards in double figures.
Kenny Boynton (23pts, 8-16 shooting) and Erving Walker (19pts, 6-12 shooting) worked very hard to get their numbers. Boynton and Walker were also the only players willing to challenge Miss State's inside guys with high risk/high reward drives to the basket.
The most disappointing thing about tonight's game was that once again, Florida got outplayed in a must win game. Losing to a more talented team like Kentucky is one thing, but Miss State is no better or worse than the Gators. The Bulldogs hot start combined with UF's pillow soft inside game dug a hole too deep for Florida to recover from. But there is nothing that can be done now. The Gators have done this to themselves for the third consecutive season. All they can do is hope and pray that the Selection Committee has mercy on a team that has lost 4 of their last 5 games and 6 of their last 10.
0 recs | 23 comments
They are so in baby and you dont even know it
No doubt a win here would of locked us into the tourny. But It still seems like we will get in. Be thankfull we came back and made it close. If we lost by 19, that might of left a bad tatse in the selection members mouth.
When you think about how hot Miss State was, we didnt do too bad. Tyus, Werner, Macklin doing bad is typical. That has been the story of the season. If those guys play well, we can beat anyone. I dont know enough about Basketball, I wish I did though. Because I have no idea why some games Tyus and Macklin look like all stars and then in other they look so terrible. Parsons, Walker, Boynton have thier hot nights, and even thier cold nights but they never fluctuate that much.
Hook85 - March 12, 2010
good games vs. bad games
When our opponent has a big man (i.e Vernado), Macklin and Tyus get owned inside. When our opponent is small (Auburn), those guys have their way. Simple really.
I’m not sure what you mean about Werner because he hasn’t had a good game since 2008.
skigator93 - March 12, 2010
I just mean its typical for those players to do bad.
I didnt mean to group Werner into the rest of the comment. He always sucks. Somtimes worse than others.
Hook85 - March 12, 2010
Werner is horrible
I don’t know why Billy keeps putting this dude in! Dude is just sorry! Everytime I look he is doing something wrong! Scared to shoot the ball, can’t pass worth crap! At least he is a senior and we don’t have to mess with him next year! I have never seen somebody who is so scared when he gets the ball! He looks like a 10 yr old kid out there playing!
I am pretty sure we will be in the tournament! Most likely a second round loss, but maybe next year! LOL
magic22 - March 13, 2010
Agreed on Werner
Terrible. I’ll have to disagree on the tourney though. We lost 4 of our last 5 and if Mississippi State wins again, they’ll likely take the 4th SEC spot and I don’t see 5 teams getting in.
But even if we do get in. I don’t see anything other than a one and done.
skigator93 - March 13, 2010
i agree i think mississipi st is in... esp since they just beat vandy
i would be very surprised if the selection committee sends 5 sec teams.
you have to wonder if donovan should play more of the bench earlier in the season. i hear a lot about they arent ready because of their inconsistent defense…. but what is going to get them ready? sitting on the bench? i think you take a hit on your record earlier in the season but maybe you are getting better at the end by developing more inexperienced players. of course how do you explain losing early in the season to improve players for the stretch run.
gatorchuck - March 13, 2010
Watching this team is like Groundhog Day
Every game is the same….dig a huge hole and then waste all your energy scratching and clawing back into it, only to fall short because Werner blows and our big men are weaklings.
If we don’t make the tourney (and I don’t think we will), we should decline the NIT invite just so that we aren’t subjected to watching Werner play anymore, because Donovan obviouisly hasn’t learned anything about him in 4 years. Shipman is a much better option. He can shoot and play defense at least.
Also, my friend disagree, but I think Murphy is going to become a pretty solid player. He is slow and there isn’t much you can do about that, but he seems to be getting better each game.
skigator93 - March 12, 2010
Murphy’s problem is defense and positioning on rebounds. But he’s a freshman, that is to be expected.
mlmintampa - March 12, 2010
+1
40 focused minutes is just beyond them
even in the win vs. auburn, they just could not sustain their intensity for more than a few minutes at a time
sportsman - March 13, 2010
I'm not so sure it's that simple
Down the stretch this season, it’s been our guards that have been sub-par. Macklin owned Varnado in the last MSU game at the O-dome. Walker and Boynton, it seemed to me, clearly hit the wall late in the year. if those guys can make even a third of their shots against Vandy (including Boynton’s 3 when there was no one within a country mile of him), we’re not talking about the bubble today.
I think this team’s main problem is depth. The fact that Werner has been a featured player for the last 3 seasons bears that out in my mind. Billy hasn’t lost the ability to evaluate players, and I’d be shocked if he wasn’t aware that Werner kinda sucks.
The problem is, he doesn’t have much else to work with.
wangalusa - March 13, 2010
gators are in NCAA already
Some of you guys need to be less pessimistic. Geez
The Bulldogs had more at stake and they played like it. Plus nothing could go wrong for them in the first half with over 50% shooting and 7-3 pointers.
Most sports writers believe the Gators are in already based on good wins: Miss State, Florida State, Tennessee, NC State and strength of schedule.
I believe we will see 5 SEC teams in the NCAA.
tacktick - March 13, 2010
You wrong
We are most likely out. Let’s hope we can get a bid
Sveet - March 13, 2010
No you wrong
Were most likely in.
Hook85 - March 14, 2010
Oh I meant to say Michigan State but yes it is worth nothing that the Gators beat both of the other SEC bubble teams in the regular season. (Miss State and Ole Miss)
tacktick - March 13, 2010
Therapy for Gator Fans
This one bears watching a couple times to bring peace to the Gator fan’s soul:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBs0PfY2Gg4
I really think the Gators have played with alot of heart this season and worked very hard for their wins. Much much better inside play and good defense.
With a deeper roster(Hello Calathes and Kadji) we would be sitting pretty and have won more of those close games.
So I give credit where credit is due to a young team with big hearts.
Lets see how we do in the NCAAs and I’m looking forward to next season.
tacktick - March 13, 2010
I hope you're right
But we do start 3 juniors, so we’re not all that young. Obviously Werner isn’t providing any senior leadership…
skigator93 - March 13, 2010
Yes! But thankfully we will not have Werner next year.
TheTealDeal - March 13, 2010
Donovan should get much more blame then Werner
Any idiot can see that he shouldn’t be in the game in these situations. How Donovan can’t is beyond me
Sveet - March 13, 2010
Alright. Everyone pay attention.
This game fucking sucked. We are in the tournament, but we dont deserve to be. Depending on who we play we will win. But we dont deserve to. This team has played with its thumb up its ass 85% of this season. Just gonna remind you guys We Lost to Fucking South Alabama AT HOME. (i wont complain about Richmond cuz theyre nasty). Say what you want guys but this team is God Awful. The most inconsistant team in the NCAA. We can never finish good (thats what she said) and we always choke in the SEC tourny and lose our spot in the NCAA tourny. I wont be surprised at all if were not in, cuz i dont think we should be, im pretty embarrassed at this team.
gatorempire127 - March 13, 2010
This team is better than the last years
Thats not saying much, but hey we beat some pretty good teams this year. Atleast we got a little respect by beating Mich State, Tenn, FSU, and the entire SEC West. We played Cuse, UK, Vandy, Xavier very close. So were almost there, but just a few players away from being back in the NCAA picture.
Hook85 - March 13, 2010
I agree 100% Hook man but i still dont think we deserve to be in the tourney. We were on our knees blowin everyone at the end of the season it was miserable. Somethings gotta change cuz we blow it at the end every year and thats the most important part of the season.
gatorempire127 - March 14, 2010
For the record
We didn’t play Xavier or Syracuse very close at all. We were manhandled by both and pretty much beat down from the opening tip.
skigator93 - March 15, 2010
For the record i hate saying that.
gatorempire127 - March 13, 2010
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