GATOR BASKETBALL IN 3 GAME LOSING STREAK!!!

 Many in the Gator Nation believed this year would be the year that the Gator Boyz would be back Dancing i.e. NCAA Tournament. Though optimistic the beggining of the season appeared to be somewhat bleak. Florida had lost their leading assist and point contributor in Nick Calathes. Also, they would heavily depend on 2 new starters in the Billy D system e.g. Macklin, and Boynton. Though talented these 2 players would have a lot of pressure and expectations on their shoulders. In addition, the point guard duties would be thrust upon 5-8 Erving Walker. Last year Walker usually played off the ball in the 2 position with effective results this years' another story.

 The 09'-10' Gator team stormed out of the gates with impressinve wins vs. Florida State, then #2 Michigan State, and Rutgers. Unfortunetly, the Gators have lost 3 straight games i.e. Syracuse, Richmond, and South Alabama. The last 2 by a combined 4 points contributed by poor shooting nights particularly from the perimiter. The last 2 losses can be soley blamed on bad shot selection and execution. Coming from a 3-15 three point shooting performance vs. Richmond which cost them the game improvement was expected. Unfortunetly, the Gators followed that up with an even worse 3-22 (13.6 percen) 3 point shooting night vs. South Alabama.

 Though both Walker and Boynton are doing an adequate job on the defensive end their perimeter shooting is another story. The backcourt of Walker, Boynton, and Shipman need to produce and be effective on both ends in order for the Gators to be productive. Walker and Boynton are better shooters than their numbers would suggest. A combined 38-144 (26.3 percent) Both need to break out of their current slumps in order for the Gator Offense to be more productive.

“We shoot 33 percent from the three-point line and we shoot 40 percent from the field ... that’s all you really need to do,” lamented Florida coach Billy Donovan, who even ordered the Gators to stop shooting three-pointers altogether during a second half timeout.

 Coach Donovan decided to focus on the inside game of 6-10 Macklin and 6-8 Tyus in order to utilize the size advantage vs. South Alabama. The strategy appered to work evident from the 7 straight points from Macklin and Tyus who combined for 29 points and 14 rebounds.

 Chandler Parsons of the bench had a valuable contribution especially from the foul line in the final 5:06, the Gators held a 66-63 lead but a pair of free throws by South Alabama’s Tim Williams with 55.2 seconds showing on the clock narrowed the margin to a single point. On the ensuing possession, the Gators worked the clock down but when no one could get open for a shot, Parsons put the ball on the deck and drove to the basket. He drew contact but there was no foul call and his layup bounced off the rim and off a couple of Gators, giving South Alabama possession with 12.7 seconds left.

 

“Chandler at the end of the game there when we ran the play, he tried to drive down the lane and tried to make the layup,” Donovan said. “Looking at it he probably could have thrown the ball to (Ray) Shipman for a 10-footer. The clock was winding down ... maybe a tough decision.”

 Although the bad shooting night from the perimeter had continued this game was winnable. The gators needed a defensive stop in the wayning minuites of the game. Fundamentals i.e. Blockingout, and size i.e. Walker 5-8 and Boynton 6-2 cost them the game. Though this game should have never been this close had the Gators been able to execute from the 3-point line.Boynton had Williams one-on-one on a high pick and roll. On the switchoff, Macklin took over but Williams got around him and into the lane. Parsons challenged, forced a bad shot and probably should have drawn a charge but there was no call and there was no blockout on Hersey, who got both hands on the ball and stuck it back in with 1.8 seconds left. According to Frank Beard from Gator Country.com both of these games i.e. Richmond, and South Alabama proved that the Gators will go as far as 4 individuals are able to take them e.g. Walker, Boynton, Parsons, and Werner.

I tend to believe that the Gators should develop more of an inside game utilizing Macklin, and Tyus while setting up the 3 point shooting off of that scheme. Success this year has come from Tyus and Macklin developing an inside game while being able to kick out for the 3's. Furthermore, Werner has been able to be more effective in his 3 point shooting in this his Senior Year. 

“We had an opportunity but on our last possession our guards did not block out,” Donovan said. “Vernon did a pretty good job and Chandler made a great step up play to force them to take a shot and our guards needed to get in there and clean it up and we didn’t do it. They allowed them to tip the ball back in.”

 Now the Gators need to look inside themselves and figure out how to stop the bleeding. They had an opportunity to be staring at a 10-1 record instead they are looking at 8-3 and currenlty on a 3 game losing streak. The SEC schedule hasn't even started and daunting tasks vs UK and UT await them. In addition, the injury bug has not helped the Gators. Currently, 6-10 Kadji (Back Spasms), 6-10 Erik Murphy (Shoulder Injury), have limited availability. Furthermore, 6-8 Chandler Parsons (Torn Leg Muscle), and Ray Shipman (Sprained Foot) are playing at less than 100%.