I watched UNF play VCU a couple of days ago. These guys were raining in three’s. It’s going to be an interesting game especially if the defensive problems haven’t been worked out some. I wouldn’t be surprised if the game is close deep into the second half.
> On Nov 16, 2017, at 7:47 AM, Shane Ford <[email protected]> wrote: > > Gators seek growth against UNF > By Kevin Brockway (Gainesville SUN) - November 16, 2017022 > > Florida guard Mike Okauru drives the baseline against the defense of > Gardner-Webb guard Nate Johnson during the second half of Monday's game in > the O'Connell Center. Florida won 116-74. (AP Photo/Ron Irby) > Florida’s record-setting scoring performance in its season opener against > Gardner-Webb made defense almost an afterthought. > > But Florida coach Mike White is in search for improvement on both ends of the > floor tonight when the Gators host North Florida. > > In UF’s 116-74 win over Gardner-Webb on Monday, the Gators allowed the > Bulldogs to shoot 42.4 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3-point > range. > > Given the pace of the game, UF still managed to hold Gardner-Webb to .961 > points per possession (the best college defenses generally sit at 0.8 ppp). > But with Florida ahead comfortably and playing a lineup of mostly freshmen > and newcomers, both teams spent the final 10 minutes trading baskets. > > “The last nine, 10 minutes wasn’t very good at all, but also had a bunch of > new guys out there, a bunch of freshmen,” Florida coach Mike White said. “A > couple tough bounces of the ball that ended up in guys’ hands at point-blank > or open 3s. Gave up an open 3 when Mike Okauru hit a wet spot. > > “So it wasn’t quite as a bad, but still have a ways to go, of course. Offense > is way in front of the defense right now. And offensively we have a lot of > stuff to clean up. Certain reads we’re not making. Couple live-ball turnovers > at early points. Fouling on the offensive glass. A bunch of stuff we need to > look at.” > > White said the biggest issue for the Gators defensively at this point is > guarding the ball. > > “For the most part it was a bunch of points off, ‘I’m going by you and > getting a basket.’ ” White said. “Just simply guarding the basketball, we > have to get a lot better at that. And it’s not just the guy guarding the > basketball. We have to be on those gaps, as well. We have to wall off > ballhandlers and be more aggressive with stunting at the basketball and do it > collectively.” > > Offensively, Florida couldn’t ask for a better debut from grad transfer > senior forward Egor Koulechov, who went 11 of 17 from the field, 6 of 9 from > 3-point range and 6 of 6 from the foul line to score 34 points. > > White said he doesn’t expect Koulechov’s big scoring night to affect his > mentality. > > “He’ll be the same guy in practice today,” White said.” If he’s open, he’s > gonna shoot it. How many times he’s open will depend on who gets him the ball > when and where and how he’s defended. But we’ve got an equal opportunity > offense, we’ll see if it leads to some scoring the next night. He knows he’s > got to be great defensively for us, he’s got to be a really good rebounder > for us as well. So his focus is on those things as well.” > > Koulechov said communication will be the key for the Gators to make defensive > strides against a UNF team that’s averaging 72.3 points per game. > > “We’ve got to really trust each other when we’re communicating on screens and > all that kind of stuff,” Koulechov said. “Once we take a little step there, > we can focus on other areas as well.” > > Who: No. 8 Florida Gators (1-0) vs. North Florida Ospreys (0-3) > > When: 7 p.m. today > > Where: O’Connell Center/Exactech Arena, Gainesville > > TV: SEC Network > > Radio: AM-850, 103.7-FM > > FLORIDA PROBABLE STARTERS > > G KeVaughn Allen, 6-2, So. 9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg > > G Jalen Hudson, 6-6, RJr., 16.0 ppg, 3.0 apg > > G Egor Koulechov, 6-5, GSr., 34.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg > > F Keith Stone, 6-8, RSo., 3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg > > C Kevarrius Hayes, 6-9, Jr., 7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg > > NORTH FLORIDA PROBABLE STARTERS > > G J.T. Escobar, 6-2, So., 13.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg > > G Ivan Gandia-Rosa, 6-1, So., 15.0 ppg, 4.3 apg > > G Garrett Sams, 6-6, So., 16.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg > > F Wajid Aminu, 6-7, So., 9.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg > > F Noah Horchler, 6-8, So., 6.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg > > Notes: Florida won its 27th straight season opener Monday night, knocking off > Gardner-Webb 116-74. The 116 points were the most for the Gators in a season > debut. Florida’s 15 3-pointers against Gardner-Webb also was an opening-night > record. … Florida scored more than 100 points for the third time in three > seasons under coach Mike White. … Egor Koulechov’s 34 points tied Tom Baxley > (Dec. 1, 1962) for the most by a Florida player in a debut game. All four of > UF’s scorers who reached double figures made their UF debut (Koulechov 34, > transfer guard Jalen Hudson 16, freshman guard Deaundrae Ballard 14 and > freshman guard Mike Okauru 13). … UNF has suffered losses at No. 2 Michigan > State (98-66), at Michigan (86-66) and at VCU (95-85). The Ospreys no longer > have standout guard Dallas Moore, who scored 31 points as a senior last > season in UNF’s 91-60 loss to the Gators. > > — Kevin Brockway > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sent From Shane's iPhone > Go Gators! & Skål Vikes! > -- > -- > GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! > 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 > National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 > National Football Champions | > Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), > Tim Tebow (2007) > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorNews" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. 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