My Beloved 95 Bloggees:
Florida played a nearly perfect second half on Tuesday to beat a tough, gritty Alabama squad 78 - 51 on Senior Night in Gainesville http://www.gatorzone.com/basketball/men/boxscore.php?gameid=9470 . With 15 minutes left, the Tide cut the lead to 39 - 38. I could feel the tension and see the excitement at Buffalo Wild Wings among the pro-Bama crowd at that point and then the Gators put on a clinic.
Defensively, they limited the Tide to my standard of excellence, less than a point a minute the rest of the game, 13 points from that 15 minute mark. Offensively, after starting out the game empty from the perimeter on their first ten attempts, the Gators converted 8 out of 11, including 6 for 9, again from that 15 minute mark. Florida scored 48 points in the second half shooting 69 % against the best defensive team in the SEC, a tremendous accomplishment.
The Selection Committee should treat this as a "road Senior Night" mulligan for the Tide. They deserve a bid. You could tell in the first half that their quickness especially at the point with freshman Trevor Releford poses big problems, preventing teams from penetrating. Florida could not get in the flow in the first half because of it (and missing open shots). Like any team, if the opposition becomes unconcious shooting threes it is going to stretch out the defense like Florida did to Bama Tuesday night. Otherwise, Alabama has proven to be an outstanding defensive team that would be a force, especially at neutral sites, in March.
For a detailed recap of the game attended by bloggee Kevin, go to http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20110301/ARTICLES/110309944/1136?p=2&tc=pg&tc=ar For Billy's memorable post-game press conference, go to http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=756147&db_oem_id=6500 . As bloggee Chip # 1 says "it is must-see online TV." NEXT
North Carolina continued climbing up the seeding ladder with its Sunday 87 - 76 home win over Maryland to the glee of bloggees Sean, Hank and Fred http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201102270413 . The Heels have won 10 of their last 11 with their only loss in that stretch being at Duke 79 - 73 last month...with a chance for revenge this Saturday at the Dean Dome.
The Tar Heels 7-footer Tyler Zeller had 25 points on an efficient 10 of 16. John Henson at 6 ' 10 grabbed 15 rebounds while Kendall Marshall dished out 10 assists for a well-rounded team effort. Anyone dressed in blue miss Larry Drew II? By the way, Alabama transfer Justin Knox in 12 minutes scored 4 points and had 2 rebounds (averaging 5.3 points and 3.5 rebounds during the year) http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/players/72893 .
Maryland's hopes to do the March cha-cha faded even more after the defeat. However, 6 ' 10 Jordan Williams had an impressive double-double with 19 rebounds and 16 points on 8 for 16 from the field. The Turtles were led in scoring by Terrell Stoglin, the freshman guard who had 28 points on 11 for 20 shooting. NEXT
The Gators keep getting good news with regard to December-victim Kansas State who defeated the # 7 Texas Longhorns 75 - 70 in Austin on Monday night. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201102280585 . You talk about two teams going in opposite directions. Kansas State has won 5 in a row including ranked Kansas, Missouri and Texas. Meanwhile the Longhorns started the Big 12 with an 11 - 0 record. They have now lost 3 of their last 4.
When it comes to filling out the brackets, I like red-hot KSU with senior point guard, Jacob Pullen and their intense head coach, Frank Martin to go a long way. Read the comments below from Manhattan, KS bloggee Charlie:
"Jordan Henrique's-Roberts, the seven footer, he has really blossomed with the added minutes and is a total surprise. Curtis Kelly coming back to the team has been a real lift but probably the biggest change was when Frank Martin completely scrapped
his low post offense (after four BIG XII league games) and switched to the high post triangle wing offense you saw last night. This has relieved Pullen of setting up a play out front on his own and has freed him up to move without the ball....something he does very well. In retrospect the reason for the switch was obvious, his bigs were not producing, but you have to give him credit...not many coaches would maket hat switch in the middle of a league race and coming off the success of his low post offense last year. I was skeptical---it looked like desperation....then again it probably was. Thanks, Charlie. NEXT
his low post offense (after four BIG XII league games) and switched to the high post triangle wing offense you saw last night. This has relieved Pullen of setting up a play out front on his own and has freed him up to move without the ball....something he does very well. In retrospect the reason for the switch was obvious, his bigs were not producing, but you have to give him credit...not many coaches would maket hat switch in the middle of a league race and coming off the success of his low post offense last year. I was skeptical---it looked like desperation....then again it probably was. Thanks, Charlie. NEXT
I just looked up the word "letdown" in the dictionary and one of the definitions was "Virginia Tech losing at home to BC 76 - 61." http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=20110301062 That is exactly what happened on Tuesday night, just three days after its 64 - 60 home upset victory over Duke which seemed to clinch an NCAA bid for the Hokies.
As Lee Corso would say, "not so fast, my friend". If Virginia Tech loses at Clemson on Saturday and then the first round game of the ACC.......they could be O U T. NEXT
Speaking of letdown, I thought Kentucky might suffer one after beating Florida on Saturday. It almost happened in Lexington Tuesday evening, but the Wildcats held off the Vanderbilt Commodores 68 - 66 http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201103010292 . Kentucky led by DeAndre Liggins helped slow down Vandy stud John Jenkins limiting him to 10 shots, who made 5 of them for just 16 points, below his average of 19.5 per game.
Josh Harrellson's pressure caused Vandy's Festus Ezeli to misplay a potential game-tying lob in the waning seconds to give Kentucky the exciting victory. See the highlights. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?categoryId=2459792&id=6173170 Harrellson was the only Kentucky player to be honored on Senior Night, while Ezeli was having a double-double evening with 13 rebounds and 23 points on 8 for 13. NEXT
Gator Transfer Update
Jonathan Mitchell was only 2 for 11 (0 for 3 deep) on Sunday for Rutgers in the 65 - 54 home loss against West Virginia. He now averages 14.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/players/60343
Jai Lucas hit his only shot on Monday, a three-pointer, in Texas's Monday loss described above http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/players/73055 . He is scoring 3 points with 1 assist per game.
Eloy Vargas hit his only shot on Tuesday but had 3 personal fouls in 4 minutes in Kentucky's Tuesday victory described above http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/players/81431 . Vargas is averaging 1.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. THAT'S IT
Enjoy......UAB has a critical game at Southern Miss tonight....the conference tournaments continue.....on SportsSouth 6:00 CST tonight it is Chicago versus Atlanta in the NBA which means Noah against Horford,
Barry
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