Our basketball team simply can't play at a consistently high level for an entire game. This explains how they can look so darn good for stretches of time but then so bad at times. It explains how we can build big leads but just as easily blow big leads. Seth Emerson has a good breakdown of our big leads and then losses this year-when you look at this, you simply shake your head because you realize we CAN play with just about anybody in the country. We are good enough to build leads but bad enough to never be able to take that next step, putting a team away and coasting to a win. We did that a few times this year, the Ole Miss and Miss State games immediately come to mind, but typically our wins have been a LOT closer than they ever should have been if our play was more consistent.
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I mentioned before just how important Chandler Parsons is for the Gators and I think we all witnessed it during the second half last night. Between he and Macklin, they got 15 rebounds-6 offensive and those rebounds, along with Parsons and Boynton taking and making wide open 3's, it was too much for us to overcome. After shooting 60% in the first half, we had trouble scoring early in the second half and let UF right back in the game and allowed them to grab control of a game that we clearly had taken control of early. I knew they would pressure us and sure enough they did, and we had a lot of turnovers in the second half. It was like Billy D went into the locker room and told the Gators, you guys are getting outhustled on your home floor and this has got to stop-our guys couldn't match their intensity in the second half. To me there is little doubt that Parsons is the glue that holds that team together, his effort/hustle in the early portion of the second half set the tone, then he had a key offensive rebound and put back when we had it down to 4, that pretty much sealed the deal. I was very optimistic of our chances when I thought he wouldn't play but when I read he was coming off the bench, I lost some confidence-he has ALWAYS killed us and did so again last night. For us, Travis and Trey both had solid games but our starting guards combined for 12 pts, meanwhile the UF guards scored 33. There is the difference in the game right there. Now it is time to put that one behind us QUICKLY as we have a MUST win game coming up tomorrow. SCarolina is not a bad team and we can not afford to take them lightly. We need to jump them early and then unlike at Columbia, put them away. But, they played Tuesday night and won a big game, they will ready for us. The Ole Miss win was their first after losing 5 consecutive games. Remember, this SCarolina team started SEC play 3-1 and now sit at 5-8 and so you do the math, since that good start, they are 2-7. That being said, they have beat Vandy and won at UF, both teams that swept us. Our guys better shake that loss off quickly and get ready to play a tough rested opponent that has NOTHING to lose. We have everything to lose. As was the case the first time, there are 3 guys on the SCarolina roster we have to contain-SR Sam Muldrow, JR Nevada transfer Malik Cooke and FR point guard Bruce Ellington-had a horrible game against us the first time but if he is on, he can hurt you shooting the 3. One thing that has been in our favor all year in hoops, lack of what is considered a "bad" loss by selection committee standards. These next two games, Saturday against SCarolina and Wed against LSU are MUST win games or we likely HAVE to win at Bama or win a couple SEC tourney games. Let's hope the hoopsters come ready to play Sat night, I am sure we will have a good crowd, it is about time for the team to get that home court swagger back.
Last note, baseball team hosts Baylor for a three game series this weekend. A sweep would be great, 2 out of 3 would be ok, less than that would NOT be good. Let's hope for at least 2 of 3 and maybe the team can get some confidence going as Perno has set up a very challenging schedule for this team that fights hard to reclaim their place as an elite in college baseball. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
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