Florida is prepared for an up-tempo challenge in another critical game down the stretch tonight against No. 12 Auburn.
If the SEC-leading Tigers choose to run, as has been the case all season, Florida coach Mike White said he’s willing to have his team run with them. Auburn ranks 21st in the country in adjusted offensive tempo, per Kenpom.com efficiency ratings. Florida, which has played more in the halfcourt of late, ranks 207th.
“We’d like to get in transition offense for 40 minutes a game, if they allow us, of course,” White said.
Florida started the season as more of a fast-paced offensive team, but after issues popped up in transition defense following an 83-66 loss to Florida State, White has gradually slowed the Gators down.
After scoring just 18 points in a stagnant first half in an eventual 62-57 loss to No. 19 Tennessee on Wednesday night, Florida showed signs of life offensively in the second half, scoring 39 points while playing at a faster pace.
“We got into more of a free-flowing, secondary (fast break) type stuff,” White said. “Guys played with more confidence, our guards got more downhill, made good decisions off the bounce and got each other shots. Made more extra passes. Held the ball less.”
It’s a style of play that Florida junior guard Jalen Hudson welcomes.
“That’s part of our best game,” Hudson said. “If the tempo is fast I think we can compete with them. Obviously, they’re really good at it, they do a lot of good things. They have a lot of good shooters, just like us. I feel we match up with them as well.”
To play fast, though, Florida needs to be responsible on both ends of the floor. Auburn is an explosive offensive team that ranks first in the SEC in scoring offense (84.9 ppg) and 3-pointers per game (9.9). After losing starting center Anfernee McLemore to an ankle injury last week against South Carolina, Auburn was still able to win from the perimeter by knocking down 12 3-pointers in a 90-71 home win Wednesday night against Alabama.
“When the shot goes up, and you’re supposed to get back, you’d better get back, or else we’re going to give up layups like we did against Alabama,” White said. “Our floor balance is huge in this game. Our accountability with defensive floor balance, defensive transition, sprinting back with urgency, high level of communication has got to be as good as it’s been all year or these guys can come in and put a hundred on you.”
Guarding the 3-point line will be important as well. Florida has allowed opposing teams to shoot 35.9 percent from 3-point range this season. Auburn, led by sharp-shooter Bryce Brown (39.3 percent from 3-point range), is shooting 37.7 percent from beyond the arc.
“We really have to match (up) with them,” Hudson said. “We have to find them early in transition. We don’t want to give them any easy points.”
On a three-game losing streak, the Gators are in desperate need of wins down the stretch to ensure a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Gators do have six RPI quadrant one wins, tied for the seventh most in the nation. But at 8-7 in the SEC, Florida needs to post a winning record in league play to feel secure about its ability to land an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. That means, winning two of its final three regular-season games. A win over Auburn would certainly be a good start toward that goal.
“If we can get these last three, I think we’ll be in a pretty good situation,” Hudson said. “Auburn’s is gonna be tough, you know they’re number one in our conference right now. But I think we can get them.”
Staying aggressive
White said he had another long talk with junior guard KeVaughn Allen on Thursday about maintaining his aggressiveness. Allen went 0 for 3 from the floor and was scoreless in 29 minutes Wednesday night against Tennessee. It was Allen’s first scoreless game since Jan. 12, 2016 at Texas A&M, midway through his freshman year.
“The longest meeting we’ve had, just trying to encourage him, trying to challenge him,” White said. “His teammates are trying to challenge him. Keith Stone and Kevarrius Hayes met with him yesterday as well. The two guys he’s closest with. They had a long pow wow. I can’t express it any more clearly that we’ve got to have him be aggressive for us.”
Allen has struggled regaining the form that made him an All-SEC preseason projection following his breakout sophomore season. The 6-foot-2 North Little Rock, Ark., native has scored in double figures in just five of UF’s first 15 SEC games and has shot 32.4 percent from 3-point range on the season.
“Every team in this league has guys that have to be aggressive for them, whether they make 10 in a row or miss 10 in a row,” White said. “He’s got to be aggressive offensively, defensively. He’s got to be assertive, he’s got to be confident. I continue to remind him that when he’s playing aggressively, at times he’s as good as most guards in the country. I believe in him and I’m going to keep encouraging him.”
Today
Who: Florida Gators (17-11, 8-7 SEC) vs. No. 12 Auburn Tigers (24-4, 12-3 SEC)
When: 8:30 p.m.
Where: O’Connell Center, Gainesville
TV: ESPN2
Radio: 103.7-FM, AM-850
FLORIDA PROBABLE STARTERS
G KeVaughn Allen;6-2;Jr.;10.8 ppg; 2.1 apg
G Chris Chiozza;6-0; Sr.;11.4 ppg;6.0 apg
G Egor Koulechov;6-5; GSr.;13.9 ppg;6.8 rpg
F Keith Stone;6-8; RSo.;8.7 ppg;4.0 rpg
C Kevarrius Hayes;6-9; Jr.;5.3 ppg;5.3 rpg
AUBURN PROBABLE STARTERS
G Bryce Brown;6-3;Jr.;16.4 ppg;2.1 rpg
G Jared Harper;5-10;So.;13.8 ppg;5.8 apg
G Mustapha Heron;6-5;So.;16.1 ppg;5.4 rpg
F Desean Murray;6-7;Jr.;10.7 ppg;7.0 rpg
F Horace Spencer,6-8;Jr.;4.3 ppg;4.7 rpg
Notes: Florida has won 10 straight and 20 of its last 21 meetings against Auburn. The Gators also have taken their last 11 meetings against Auburn at home. …. Florida is facing a ranked team for the second time this week and is 4-2 against ranked teams this team. This will be UF’s first game against a ranked opponent at home, where the Gators are 10-5 overall. …
Florida leads the SEC in turnover margin (plus-4.0) while ranking second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3-1), third in steals (7.0) and third in 3-pointers made per game (8.9). … The Gators have been outrebounded in 9 of 15 SEC games this season, but are coming off one of their better efforts on the boards, outrebounding Tennessee 38-36 and scoring 16 second-chance points in its 62-57 loss to the Vols. The Gators are averaging 13.5 offensive rebounds over their last two games. … The Florida-Auburn matchup will pit two of the top passing point guards in the SEC — UF’s Chris Chiozza leads the SEC in assists at 6.0 per game, while Auburn’s Jared Harper ranks third in the league at 5.8 apg. With 531 career assists, Chiozza is 16 shy of Erving Walker’s school record (547 assists). … Auburn leads the SEC in steals at 7.6 per game. … The Tigers are 7-2 on the road this season. … White offered no new update on the status of senior center John Egbunu, who is still not cleared for contact practices after suffering a torn ACL on Feb. 14, 2017. “We hadn’t even talked about, period, when will you come back or John do you think you can come back because this team needs you,” White said. “I know he’s trying to get back, period. When Duke Werner tells me, hey, he’s cleared to practice, that’s when I’ll worry about it.” … Florida is one of six teams tied for third in the SEC standings, with Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi State and Alabama.
— Kevin Brockway
So why is it that Chiozza has 4 rebounds per game at maybe 6 feet at the best and Hayes has 5.3 at 6 foot 9? Why does Koulechov lead the team in rebounds at 6.8 per game when there are several players taller than him and weightier? Hudson? Stone? Why is it that most of the Gators don’t have assists to speak of? What has Hayes been doing for the last 2.5 years to learn to play the post? Certainly nothing to learn a hook-shot and not much in the way of backing in against his defender and what has he done to increase the strength in his legs so that he doesn’t get pushed around all of the time. Before we complain about the coach, we might want to ask these questions and others about what the players have been doing to learn their craft.
Don’t worry, George, Michelle will figure it out. Season’s almost over but she’ll do it. She is already looking for a new start next year when the excitement level should be at a fever pitch.
Most of the same players back. Young, dynamic coach back. She will coach the same. The players will play the same way. Game plans will be the same. They will lose games where they are better and favored.
It failed miserably this season.
But doing the same things next season, we’re sure that Coach will make it work this time!
Great times ahead for Gator fans!!
All valid questions. Add to the list: Why were Hayes, Stone and Bassett not in the weight room putting on mussel when we knew we were going to be shorthanded?
They were spending time too much time doing the the crabs and clams.
Hudson’s funny. He says, “If we can get these last three…..” Jalen, my man, your team will be very lucky and fortunate to salvage even ONE of the three and you’d better include prayers!
Do think tonight is their best chance for a win.
They will not win at Alabama. Another blowout probably.
Even in Gainesville, Kentucky has too much moxie for the Gators. Not winning that one.
Michelle’s Gatorettes have the same probability of getting into the NCAA tourney as a man does of having his junk grow an inch overnight.
Let’s not forget that Billy Donovan had a team that was under .500 and ranked 8th in the preseason. It just happens with some teams. There’s no doubt about the talent on this team, it’s just a head case.
There’s only so much a coach can do for the team, and he can’t play the game for the players. Remember that we have basically one guy playing the 4 AND the 5 (Stone is a 3 by trade, Gak is hurt and Bassett is not buff enough). Hayes is an off the bench, 22 minutes a game kind of guy that’s been forced in this situation, and if we had Egbunu (or any offensive threat down low) this team would be much improved.
Don’t forget about the Elite Eight run, also.
We can start complaining about White if he goes under 20 wins again next year, as he SHOULD have Egbuu back (it would be dumb to try for the NBA – what team would take a guy who’s been out for a year and a half), along with Stokes, Johnson, and Bassett. Okauru is showing flashes, as well. Hudson Stone and Allen will also be back, and Stone can finally JUST play a 3. If he doesn’t do well with that team, I’ll validate your comment.
On the subject of this team, they are impossible to predict. You could tell me we go 3-0, I wouldn’t be surprised. 0-3? I wouldn’t be surprised either. I think we only need 1 win, and our early season victories will get us in (kind of like Vanderbilt last year).
What do you think?
So that’s it..”little man” syndrome….aww poor guy…
Just another example of the difference between a REAL coach and a FAKE coach
________________________________________________________________
Record this season when his/her team was FAVORED:
Ben Howland, Miss. St. — 12-0
Michelle White, Florida — 12-9
Did you learn astroturfing during your last Baker Act evaluation?
Just tryin’ to enlighten many thick skulls.
Hate to say it but this is the definition of a must-win game.
I am sure the Gators are ready to run: Run and Hide that is.
Ummm, nope.
Hey Joel…how about Hudson and Allen actually played well? I know, I know…Mike White has to go.
Hey, Sean Miller will be available soon!
Would you like him as a coach?
Just kidding. A tar and feather gig would be nice for that s o b!
Let him recover and then throw him out in the desert with no water.
Won’t see him showing his face around Tucson much longer.
Well I’ll be damned, this is really surprising considering that Mike White is the Gators head coach.
Ben Howland, Mississippi State, this season, has won 100% of the games in which his team was favored. 12 out of 12! Yep, you guessed right — Howland took care of business and won the games he was supposed to — and paid to do.
Mike White, Florida, this season, has won 57% of the games in which his team was favored.
Fifty-seven percent, can that be correct?! Yes it is, he won 12 of 21. Well….. let’s be lenient and say that White under-performed just a smidgen.
White will get it turned around next season though. We Gator fans know that!
Damn straight he will!
Bf can i get a Go Gators!
Be happy–run and gun, play a little 3-pt D, and box out. Do what you can do best. Why does this have to be a “we have to get stronger” and “play tight defense” team given the personnel available? Just run the other team’s big men off the court. Go down shooting the rock. Tark the Shark!
I tuned in to the game in the second half when the Gators were up by 8 and three plays that I saw were emblematic of their season, two on offense and one on defense. Allen drives and the other 4 watch; Chiozza drives and the other four watch. No one but the driver moves. On defense, the Gator center, I am not sure whether it was Hayes, is so busy watching the ball move that he doesn’t see the Auburn player moving to the basket until it is too late. Are these players such amateurs or is it the coach’s fault? Hard to tell when you don’t see practice and hear what White is telling them. Either way, they are not a good team. I suspect that when I wake up tomorrow I will find that they let another game slip away.
George–You…missed it.
Nope…They are a good, not great team…and Auburn is one of the better teams in the nation. AND..we won.