Sports | Men's Basketball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida men's basketball coach Mike White isn't satisfied with his team's defense despite it holding South Carolina to a season-low 41 points on Saturday. “I don’t want to act like this is a new season and we’ve got it all all figured out," he said.

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Gators men’s basketball team geared up for matchup with Bulldogs

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 13, 2018

More than three quarters of the way through a season filled with highs and lows, the Florida men’s basketball team faces Georgia tonight at 9 in the O’Connell Center in the teams’ second meeting of the year. The Gators (17-8, 8-4 SEC) fell 72-60 at Georgia (13-11, 4-8 SEC) on Jan. 30, their second of three straight SEC losses, but enter tonight’s matchup riding momentum from convincing wins over LSU and South Carolina. Here are three things to look for in tonight’s rematch, which will air on the SEC Network.

Florida center Kevarrius Hayes recorded five rebounds and two blocks in the Gators' 65-41 win over South Carolina on Saturday.

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Strong defense sets bar for Gators against South Carolina

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 12, 2018

South Carolina guard Frank Booker sprinted toward the basket on a fastbreak opportunity midway through the second half. With no one in his sight, Booker went up for what appeared to be an easy layup, only to have Florida center Kevarrius Hayes come from behind to swat the ball off the backboard and into the hands of guard Jalen Hudson.

Forward Kevarrius Hayes led a resurgent Florida defense against South Carolina Saturday afternoon. The junior provided two blocks and five rebounds in 15 minutes.

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Florida men’s basketball team shuts down South Carolina, cruises to 65-41 victory

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 10, 2018

South Carolina forward Chris Silva attacked the rim, put the ball up and had it swatted back by Florida center Kevarrius Hayes.

Florida guard Egor Koulechov looks forward to matching up against South Carolina forward Chris Silva, who recorded a double-double against UF on Jan. 24. "We'll have a good game plan," Koulechov said. "I'll do whatever I gotta do."

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UF hits road for rematch with South Carolina

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 9, 2018

Florida point guard Chris Chiozza has been posting career numbers all season. He’s scoring, rebounding and assisting at his highest rate since he stepped foot in Gainesville four years ago. The Gators men's basketball team has needed all of it in a topsy-turvy 2018 campaign.

Guard KeVaughn Allen only had seven points but made a crucial bucket with under five minutes to go in a win over LSU.

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Gators bounce back from recent struggles with home win over LSU

By Skyler Lebron | Feb. 7, 2018

With 4:32 left in the game and the shot clock winding down, KeVaughn Allen had a decision to make.

Despite the Florida men's basketball team dropping three of its last four games, guard Chris Chiozza isn't worried. "We went through this before where we bounced back pretty well," he said.

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Florida men’s basketball team looking to end SEC skid Wednesday against LSU Tigers

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 6, 2018

After three straight conference losses, senior guard Chris Chiozza — leader of the reeling Florida men’s basketball team — is ready to see some changes take place during the second half of SEC play.

After Florida scored a season-low 50 points against Alabama on Saturday, forward Keith Stone was not happy with the team's offensive production. "It's pretty frustrating," he said.

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Gators trying to stay afloat in midst of back-to-back losses

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 4, 2018

A common approach to sports is to “control the controllables.” Teams can only focus on their own effort and attention to detail. They have no way of affecting their opponent’s preparation.

Coach Mike White said the lack of identity for his team is frustrating. “We’ve got to find other ways to score other than a catch-and-shoot three,” he said.

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Gators flop in second half against Alabama, get nothing from their bench

By Skyler Lebron | Feb. 3, 2018

When the Florida men’s basketball team isn’t hitting shots, things get ugly.

KeVaughn Allen paced the Gators with 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting, but the Crimson Tide offense wouldn't relent in the second half.

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Florida men’s basketball team collapses against Crimson Tide for second straight SEC loss

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 3, 2018

Alabama forward Braxton Key received a pass inside the three-point line and immediately drove toward the basket. He powered through the Florida’s defense, converting a contested layup with 7:29 left in the second half to cap off an 11-0 run for the Crimson Tide.

Mike White wants to see his team step up its physicality against Alabama on Saturday. "Maybe we can get a guy or two to... (get) us some hard rebounds," he said.

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Florida men’s basketball team hoping to bounce back against Crimson Tide

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 1, 2018

Mike White walked into the media room of Stegeman Coliseum on Tuesday not sure how to answer questions about his team’s shooting woes at the end of a 72-60 loss to Georgia.

UF coach Mike White didn't mince words after the Gators put up 60 points - their second-lowest mark on the season - in a loss to UGA. “They were tougher, more physical, more aggressive… they played with more edge than we did,” White said.

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Florida men’s basketball team’s offensive woes against UGA due to more than just the ‘Dogs defense

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 31, 2018

At its best, the Florida men’s basketball team’s offense is an explosive, high-scoring machine capable of hitting shots from anywhere on the court.

Florida guard KeVaughn Allen scored nine points against Georgia on Tuesday. After leading UF in scoring last season, Allen has fallen into a lesser role behind transfers Jalen Hudson and Egor Koulechov.

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Florida men’s basketball team, KeVaughn Allen continue to struggle with consistency

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 30, 2018

Florida men’s basketball coach Mike White has said all season that one of his team’s shortcomings is its ability to play with consistency. Facing Georgia in Athens on Tuesday, the Gators continued that trend, suffering a loss several days after a big win for the third time this month.

Guard Chris Chiozza was just one of two Gators to reach double figures in scoring against Georgia Tuesday night. He finished with 13 points and six assists.

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No. 23 Florida’s offense withers against Georgia in 72-60 loss

By Skyler Lebron | Jan. 30, 2018

With just under five minutes left in the game, Georgia forward Yante Maten received a pass at the top of the key.

Forward Kevarrius Hayes stepped up on defense the last time the Gators played in Athens against Yante Maten and the Georgia Bulldogs. Maten currently leads the SEC in scoring.

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Gators men’s basketball team takes on Yante Maten, Bulldogs in SEC road game on Tuesday

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 29, 2018

Georgia forward Yante Maten posted up and overpowered then-Florida forward Justin Leon, rising up for a point-blank, uncontested layup.

Chris Chiozza is averaging an SEC-best 6.1 assists per game, but he showed off his scoring ability against Baylor on Saturday. “When he’s scoring on top of his facilitating, then he just goes to another level,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said.

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Chris Chiozza has always been a consistent passer. On Saturday, he showed just how far his shooting can take him

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 28, 2018

Chris Chiozza dribbled to the top of the key and made a deep jump shot over Baylor's Manu Lecomte, opening Florida' scoring against the Bears on Saturday. On the ensuing possession, Chiozza stole the ball from forward Tristan Clark, sprinted down the court and found teammate Egor Koulechov for a three-pointer in transition.

Chris Chiozza shot 7 of 10 from the field, racked up six assists and only turned the ball over once. “I can’t imagine he’s had a better game than that," coach Mike White said.

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Chris Chiozza, Jalen Hudson lead Gators to blowout win over Baylor in Big 12/SEC Challenge

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 27, 2018

Chris Chiozza pulled up to the right side of three-point line seven minutes into the second half and released a shot. As the ball fell through the basket to extend Florida’s lead to 15, a packed O’Connell Center erupted with cheers.

Florida coach Mike White said UF's attention to detail must be better this weekend against Baylor.

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Mike White, Florida men’s basketball team hoping to bounce back against Baylor on Saturday

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 25, 2018

Mike White stood in front of reporters on Thursday morning and was immediately asked about the amount of breakdowns Florida had in its three-point defense against South Carolina on Wednesday.

Coach Mike White said he didn't mind if KeVaughn Allen missed 10 shots in a game. He went 5 of 15 Wednesday against South Carolina. “KeVaughn didn’t shoot a great percentage, but I like him being really aggressive,” White said.

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Notebook: Looking at the positives of the Gators’ home loss to South Carolina on Wednesday

By Skyler Lebron | Jan. 24, 2018

In the No. 20 Florida men’s basketball team’s 77-72 loss to South Carolina on Wednesday, three-point defense and poor shooting down the stretch resulted in a sloppy conference defeat, UF’s second of the season.

“We were really good. We were really locked in,” Florida guard Egor Koulechov said, referring to an 11-0 run to start the second half. “It’s a matter of ‘how many minutes can we go being locked in like that?’”

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Gators men’s basketball team falters down the stretch, falls to South Carolina on Wednesday

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 24, 2018

Florida guard Jalen Hudson reached his hands toward South Carolina guard Frank Booker, committing one last desperation foul with 20 seconds remaining in the game.

Florida big men Kevarrius Hayes and Keith Stone (above) have stepped up in the absence of injured teammates. "Boy, have they gotten better since October," coach Mike White said.

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Florida men’s basketball team looking to avenge Elite Eight loss Wednesday against South Carolina

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 23, 2018

The last time Florida and South Carolina faced off, the Gamecocks earned a Final Four berth over the Gators in Madison Square Garden.