In UF’s first game of the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Erik Murphy propelled No. 13 Florida to a rout of LSU.
Forty-six seconds were all coach Billy Donovan could handle.
Florida snagged several of the Southeastern Conference’s top individual honors on Tuesday.
Although missing shots has hurt the Gators in late-game situations this season, coach Billy Donovan said turnovers played a bigger role in the Gators’ meltdowns against Kentucky on Saturday, Missouri on Feb. 19 and Arizona on Dec. 15.
In the heat of Saturday afternoon’s game against Kentucky, Florida went cold.
After taking a 57-50 lead against Kentucky with 7:36 left, Florida went scoreless for the remainder of the contest.
Despite an inauspicious two-week stretch that saw Florida go just 2-2 and draw the ire of coach Billy Donovan, the Gators took a commanding step closer to their ultimate goal on Wednesday night.
Despite the Southeastern Conference title race implications on the line in Florida’s home matchup against Alabama on Saturday at noon in the O’Connell Center, coach Billy Donovan is taking a cautious approach with forward Will Yeguete (right knee) and guard Michael Frazier II (concussion).
When Tennessee guard Trae Golden dished the ball to Jarnell Stokes on the low block with 8:16 left in the first half, forwards Erik Murphy and DeVon Walker double-teamed the 6-foot-8, 270-pound center.
The Gators’ depth will be tested tonight in Knoxville, Tenn.
Saturday night's contest between Florida and Arkansas was physical, chippy and sloppy in every sense.
Coach Billy Donovan wants his players to take open shots, regardless of whether their attempts are inside or beyond the arc.
Midway through the first half, center Patric Young set a screen on Missouri’s Earnest Ross for freshman Michael Frazier II.
Down by three with 3.1 seconds left, Florida had an opportunity to tie Missouri and send the game into overtime. But guard Mike Rosario’s desperation heave from the left corner couldn’t find the net.
The last time Florida played Missouri, the game got ugly. UF cruised to an 83-52 blowout on Jan. 19.
Before Saturday’s game, Kenny Boynton remembered what happened at Auburn Arena two seasons ago.
Before Tuesday, Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel was dominant in the paint.
During the past four years, Florida was 1-7 against Kentucky. But Tuesday night in the O’Connell Center was a different story for the Gators.
Since becoming Kentucky’s coach in 2009, John Calipari has dominated Florida.
Florida expected a shorthanded frontcourt in Saturday’s game against Mississippi State. On Friday, junior forward Will Yeguete underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips in his right knee, which will sideline him for 4-6 weeks.
Solutions by The State News
