The O'Connell Center lost some of its lights and a video board midway through the second half of Florida's 79-61 win over UAB on Tuesday night. And the Gators' shooting was typically lights-out. BUT C'MON, COMBINING THE TWO IS HACKY, RIGHT?
The usual suspects did the usual things for Florida: Kenny Boynton had six threes and 20 points, and Erving Walker had seven threes, a new career high, en route to 23 points to lead all scorers. Patric Young had 15 points on 10 shots. Will Yeguete had 11 rebounds. And the good Gators offense showed up, with 21 assists on 31 made field goals to just six turnovers.
But that's what we expect from these Gators: Great shooting (15 for 26 from deep) that makes an over-reliance on the three less troubling, some help from Young inside, and enough from at least two of the guys in the backcourt to prop up the rest of the team — Bradley Beal was two-of-15 on the night, and it essentially didn't matter. They've done that throughout their non-conference slate, and if not for that awful blip against Rutgers, there would be a fairly easy line of best fit to draw for the Gators so far.
Let's hope they keep it up as the SEC schedule begins. On Saturday, the Gators meet Tennessee on the road.
0 recs | 8 comments
Overall good game.
Nothing spectacular. Game seemed to take forever. UAB was doing a bang-up job on the boards.
Ready to watch this team in conference play.
LanceDavis - January 3, 2012
You (and Andy above) freaking said it. The out-of-conference schedule is too damn long (and boring). Just play each conference opponent twice, and that’ll cut into the 15 or so games that speed things up. And of course make conference play that much more important, and that aspect is never a bad thing.
Also, there is a very … very good chance that I’ll be at the Tenn game on Saturday. So yeah … fun!
FlaGators - January 3, 2012
I like when they actually play decent teams
But it does get old after the numerous cup cakes that are nothing but practice for real games.
Hook85 - January 3, 2012
Yup.
FlaGators - January 4, 2012
I'm okay with the schedule
the easy games allow Billy-D to find his rotation and gives the newer players some time to gel with the upperclassmen. So long as we play some stout competition amongst the cupcakes, I think it prepares us for better play in conference.
skigator93 - January 4, 2012
Yeah, but you can limit it a little bit. Play say 2-3 cupcakes, 2-3 tough games … and then start conference play.
FlaGators - January 4, 2012
When we get in conference play
I know this is gonna sound crazy but Beal is going to be the weak link early in conference play. This team doesn’t need him to score 25 points every game to win. But I guess with players like this, you just have to hope for a small learning curve because they don’t know any other way to play. The good thing is he should learn and get better with every game so hopefully by the time March comes hell be ready. Along side Young and Boynton the Gators will be a very hard team to beat if he can mature by then.
So Beal’s young mistakes might cost us early in the SEC but hes really the only hope for this team to make some noise in March.
Hook85 - January 4, 2012
Look out UT
Patric Young & the rest of the Gators are coming for you.
Gatorbuc15 - January 4, 2012
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