Squaring off in Basketball in Columbus today at 4. I don't think this game is as meaningful as the prior 4 games but it may tell us a lot about both young teams. The Gators have one loss going in and the Buckeye's 3. The Gators lost to the only really physical team that we played, FSU. Frankly I would be very surprised for the Gators to win this one, I'm hopeful but not one bit confident. Gators - Buckeyes Part V
I didn't know Ohio State and Fla were playing, I haven't gotten into College Basketball very much as yet. From that article Bill it looks like the Gators are off to a good start. I did see Ohio State take apart what I thought was a pretty good Syracuse team, but they were in turn taken apart by an even better A&M team. I haven't seen any UF games as yet. I'll put this one on my list!! Good luck to both teams! Terry
The Gators record is a bit deceiving Terry, we've literally played no one good. FSU is not that good but the best we've played, they took us to the woodshed. I am not saying this in a negative way, we have a young team and they are growing into a decent team and will eventually be very good. This game today will tell us a lot about how good they might become.
Strictly no contest so far. Gators can't hit their 3's, their 2,s their FT's. If you are going to shoot three's then you better be able to hit them. We sure aren't doing that today. Still 15 minutes to go though and we're down 36-26. We started with a 7-0 lead or it wouldn't be this close.
What a difference a year makes. No one is recognizable on the Gators or Bucks hardly. Certainly UF looks as fresh faced as I have seen them and it showed at times. Hard to say how good the Buckeyes are because this version of Florida is probably not all that good. UF could be a tournament team....maybe... but they also could be an 8-8 SEC team that doesn't make the tourney. Congrats to Ohio State.
Well that was special! For the Buckeye's of course! Congratulations to the OSU fans, the Gators have a long way to go this year, Ohio State looked pretty good to me. MCG, if we go 8-8 in conference play I think we make the big dance. Less than that and our streak probably ends.
Gator Bill and MCG, Both teams are young, inexperienced and last years players have graduated or are in the NBA. We have had trouble in our three losses of playing consistently in both halves. Today was our first time in putting two good halves together. The Gators were really cold today. You came into Columbus shooting around 51% I do think our defense played a part in that this afternoon. Don
OSU played good D in the paint but maybe that was because UF couldn't hit any of many wide open threes they had....and I mean almost any of them. Easy to sag down in the paint and defend the hoop when there is no threat of a three. We miss Humphrey and Green. :cry:
Don, that 51% shooting for the Gators is a little misleading in that in the two biggest games we shot about like we did today. Then we had another game against Georgia Southern where we won a game where we shot 25% from the field. I think the air ball from the foul line in about the last minute of play or so kind of said it all. This is not an excuse by the way, I believe we shot bad because our team was intimidated by the Buckeyes. But they are extremely young and will grow into their roles. Good luck in Big10 play.
Gator Bill, No question that both the Gators and Buckeyes will have some growing up to do, if to be successful in their respective conferences this season. Sorry to hear about your accident and hope you have a speedy recovery. Don
Bill, you never know what's going to happen when two very young teams square off. It's tough going on the road anytime but to take a young team away, out-of-state for the first time is especially difficult. I think the Buckeyes stepped up the intensity on the defensive end a little bit over our prior efforts and defended the perimeter well. Both teams looked a little shaky at times but that is to be expected with all the youth on both teams. I think at this point I'd be happy to be .500 in the Big 10 and get an invite to the tourney. Best of luck to your Gators....
I am not sure this Gator team can go 8-8 in the SEC and even if they did they would have to win at least one SEC tourney game to make the dance. I think that might get them to 20 wins and without serious non-con wins in the resume it may take 20 for sure in spite of the rep UF has earned. The lack of inside strength will kill us in the tough and physical SEC. Tenn. will go inside for 60 points when we play them.
Well... <t>I know this there are few seven footers that can run the floor and shoot threes like Kukos. Great prospect I'm sure OSU is sweating out being one and done.</t>
Larry, Koufos does have an extraordinary set of skills for a big man. He needs to become a little more aggressive at both ends but I'm sure some of that will come wioth age...the kid is still only 18. He does have lottery pick written all over him so one and done is a real possibility. We do have a small ray of hope however.....this summer he was named the MVP in the world(?) under 18 championships while playing for the Greek national team. He reportedly was offered a contract to play pro ball in Greece for some staggering sum of money that he turned down....one can only hope, but if he is a lottery pick, I've always believed its in the kids best interest to go....
While it's no doubt extremely difficult to ignore the riches afforded a lottery pick in the NBA, and just about all 7 footers with a modecum of talent are at least considered for the lottery. But big men take awhile in a lot of instances to develope. You're guy would be well served to play 3 years of college ball at least before going to the NBA....but I certainly understand the risks he takes in doing that. I'm reminded of a local Houston High School star, Larry probably can remember his name but it escapes me right now. As a High School SR he was told he would be a 1st round NBA pick and he supposedly though very seriously about going. But I think that was when Drexler was at Houston and he signed a LOI with the Cougars and did not opt for the NBA draft. After playing his freshman year at UH it was clear that he was not a 1st or 2nd round NBA pick, and if I remember correctly he eventually left school early and wasn't drafted and went to Europe. So sometimes you have to take the money when you can or risk being exposed as not as good as the scouts though you were. No doubt this is the main reason that the NBA likes the 1 and done rule, gives them a chance to evaluate the kid at the next level before commiting millions to him. Too bad it's not like baseball and football where you have to play 3 years before being eligible for the draft. Both kids and the pros would benefit. Terry
TOK, no doubt the kids game would be well served if allowed to incubate in college for another couple of years, but given the massive sums of guaranteed money that are available and the injury-risk involved is just not rational for them to stay, imho....insurance monies are available but not in the magnitudes that these kids risk. That said, Kosta's parents are both college graduates and his family is not the dire economic situation that face many of these kids so perhaps the lure of the financial riches not as significant. But, if it were my kid, I'd kick him out the door.....
Rick, if you step on a college campus and accept a baseball scholarship, you are inelgible for the MLB draft till after your Jr. year....ie 3 years. I remember one famous current MLB star who took it down to the last possible momemt before signing a MLB contract with the Seattle Mariners rather than enrolling at Da U. I think it worked out OK for him and he's never needed the security of the college education.
I understand, Terry. But in baseball, unlike football and basketball, you can sign right out of high school. There is no requirement that you wait any length of time. So it's not as though you have to play 3 years before being eligible for the draft.
I see your point. Basketball players can go to Europe after HS, that is an option for them though. Football players probably can play arena league, not a very good option...if you can believe there is a minor arena football league. But still not a very good option. My point is that once in college I would like to see them required to play 3 years before leaving for the pros. That includes golfers, tennis players, hockey players, soccer players, wimmens field hockey players...