The Gators dropped two conference games back-to-back last week. And sluggish, flaccid second-half starts were the problem.
“I wish I had an answer,” UF coach Mike White told reporters on Tuesday.
UF’s defense gave up 77 second-half points compared to just 48 in the first half in losses to No. 23 South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
Florida (14-5, 5-2 SEC) has even tried simulating halftimes during practice.
“It hasn’t helped,” White said.
“We’ve tried watching more film at halftime — it hasn’t helped.
“We’ve tried watching less film at halftime — it hasn’t helped.
“We’ve tried getting out there and doing shell defense to start the second half — that hasn’t helped. I don’t get it. I don’t understand.”
Second-half issues have nagged the Gators since the start of the season.
In Florida’s first three losses, No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 17 Duke and No. 6 Florida State each shot above 55 percent from the field in the second period.
The issue has flared up again in UF’s two-game losing streak.
Florida held the Commodores and Gamecocks to just 29.8-percent shooting in first halves but allowed a combined 47.7 percent from the field in second halves.
“I’ve got to keep searching,” White said. “I haven’t found the answer.”
Florida will hope to sort out its defensive second-half issues when the Gators play LSU (9-9, 1-6 SEC) tonight at 9 in Baton Rouge.
But defense won’t be the only challenge in UF’s conference matchup tonight.
Florida’s offense may play without its second-highest scorer, guard Canyon Barry.
White said Barry sprained his ankle in practice on Monday.
“He actually sprained it on a score,” White said. “Got to the basket and made a floater and landed on somebody’s foot.”
White said trainer Dave Werner estimated Barry had a 50-50 chance of playing against LSU.
Despite coming off the bench, Barry averages 12.4 points per game and hasn’t missed a free throw since Jan. 7.
In his possible absence, Florida may lean more on its leading scorer, shooting guard KeVaughn Allen, against the Tigers.
Allen is coming off a season-high 29-point performance in Florida’s 68-66 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday.
But despite carrying Florida’s offense, Allen knows defense is the team’s priority heading into Baton Rouge.
“The past couple of games, I feel like my defense hasn’t been there,” Allen said.
“But I’ve been working on it. As a team, we’ve all been working on it to get back to playing defense.”
Despite a hostile LSU crowd, the Gators have proven they’re comfortable squaring up away from the O’Connell Center. Florida’s produced a 10-4 record away from home after playing its first 11 games away from Gainesville during the O’Connell Center’s $64.5 million renovation.
“The neutral road site games have helped us," Allen said.
"Going on the road, we gotta go in and fight and battle.”
Contact Matt Brannon at mbrannon@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @MattB_727.
UF guard Canyon Barry attempts a layup in Florida's 94-71 win over The University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Dec. 21 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
