Texas at No. 5 Florida Game Thread

The Texas Longhorns (12-5, 1-3) are in Gainesville, Fla. to take on the No. 5 Florida Gators (15-2, 2-2).

Time: 3 p.m. CST
TV: ESPN2

If what we saw the other night is Pope's coming out party, then Texas will upset their share of teams in the SEC.

We'll see soon enough!

I described Florida on another thread as a team that profiles like an uptempo Tennessee because it is so good at offensive rebounding and forcing misses from deep, and we hung with Tennessee all game and had our best stretch when the game when uptempo.

There are plenty of differences between Florida and Tennessee, of course, like Zeigler being a prolific distributor and Clayton being much more of a scorer having to act as the primary point, but those two similarities are impossible to miss and highly defining of what those teams do.

Kent has to rebound today.  He just has to.  Shedrick needs to rebound on both ends.  He can't be shut out on the defensive end the way he was against Tennessee.  And the guards need to hit the defensive glass as well, and I'm not just talking about Weaver here.  Rebounding isn't supposed to be Mark's primary function in this lineup, but he can't put up a doughnut the way he did against A&M and Tennessee.

 

Edited January 18, 20251 yr by bierce

To have a prayer of making the tournament this team must start building momentum like what a road win today could do.  That’s a big “if”. 

9 minutes ago, bierce said:

I described Florida on another thread as a team that profiles like an uptempo Tennessee because it is so good at offensive rebounding and forcing misses from deep, and we hung with Tennessee all game and had our best stretch when the game when uptempo.

There are plenty of differences between Florida and Tennessee, of course, like Zeigler being a prolific distributor and Clayton being much more of a scorer having to act as the primary point, but those two similarities are impossible to miss and highly defining of what those teams do.

Kent has to rebound today.  He just has to.  Shedrick needs to rebound on both ends.  He can't be shut out on the defensive end the way he was against Tennessee.  And the guards need to hit the defensive glass as well, and I'm not just talking about Weaver here.  Rebounding isn't supposed to be Mark's primary function in this lineup, but he can't put up a doughnut the way he did against A&M and Tennessee.

 

Every little bit helps. If they get to a one and one make the first free throw!

5 minutes ago, TexasMDcoach said:

To have a prayer of making the tournament this team must start building momentum like what a road win today could do.  That’s a big “if”. 

This isn’t a must win game. It would be awesome but others down the road await. 

Bubble teams don't face must wins until late February.  Of course, by that time we can play ourselves off the bubble in either direction. 

Looks like Toppin's ankle isn't bothering him much anymore.  19 points, 16 rebounds in a big win over Arizona. 

First possession by UF, two chances for us to get the defensive board, and we don't. 

Make it three before Kaluma finally gets a wild carom. 

Florida on a pace for 40+ offensive rebounds.

But we're up 4-3.

Have no idea what Shed was thinking. He should have just gone back up. He hesitated. 

Edited January 18, 20251 yr by Jordan91

Just now, Jordan91 said:

Have no idea what Shed was thinking. He should have just going back up. He hesitated. 

???????????????????

Just now, taxsaver said:

???????????????????

He had the rebound and was under the rim. Should have just shot. 

21 minutes ago, Jordan91 said:

This isn’t a must win game. It would be awesome but others down the road await. 

True but we need to win some of these and build some momentum. Close losses and losing conference records  are not going to get it done for a team with a bunch of worthless non conference opponents. 

Great look by Onyema to Mark. 

Onyema!

Onyema is having a great game on the offensive end.  Making good passes, hitting ft, finishing that drive.  

If he could bottle this AND stay out of foul trouble on defense, he could be a big help to a team that needs more in the paint than it has shown so far. 

But maybe it's four minutes on the court that will rarely, if ever, come back. 

I have to think Golden is telling Chinyelu that he needs to foul Onyema as much as Florida coaches need to get with coeds. 

Edited January 18, 20251 yr by bierce

Shouldn’t that be 20 points?

Did they count Popes basket?

Kaluma turned an easy pull up jumper into a hard one. 

Just now, Jordan91 said:

Did they count Popes basket?

Offensive basket interference by Kaluma. 

Rodney terry is allergic to tough coaching

Kent is built like a basketball player.  He moves like a guy with athleticism.

Once again, he is a no-show so far today.

Getting dangerous here.  Really sloppy offense in our last 5 possessions.

Kent basically hands the ball over. Shed thought he was Jordan. 

1 minute ago, Shmatt said:

Rodney terry is allergic to tough coaching

The quick hook of Shed for Onyema was exactly that.