Tough loss, guys. Hopefully your players have been taking copious notes on what it takes to compete. I don’t look forward to see you guys in Gainesville next season.

By The Fake Gimel Martinez on 03.13.08 9:14 pm

We’re a football school. Basketball aint our thang.

By Welcome Back Florida on 03.13.08 11:20 pm

Possibly the worst officiated game I have ever watched - on both sides.

By Cat Fan on 03.14.08 12:15 am

I’m not sure the officiating was that bad - they just chose to let them bang around inside without calling fouls. That is fine, as long as they are consistent, which I generally beleive they were. That type of game is not good for these Gators though because Alabama (and most everyone else) is more athletic than we are. The only really bad call I remember is Lucas’ shot which was blocked on the way down -clearly goaltending. Obviously, it didn’t have any effect on the outcome.

Speights must have told Billy-D to F-off in the first half or something, as he was firmly planted at the end of the bench as Hendrix repeatedly tormented Tyus and Werner.

Last night sums up this team (1) when Calathes is off, we are in trouble; and (2) When Speights in on the bench, we have no chance at a rebound.

Speights wasn’t more involved in the offense because we couldn’t get him the ball. We kept making lazy bounce passes into the middle for easy turnovers and dunks.

Speaking of dunks, why can’t anyone on this team, other than Speights, dunk the ball? I’m sick of watching 6′-8″ players miss soft layups or have them swatted. Throw it down - electrify the crowd, get something going.

Hopefully some of these guys improve as they become sophomores. Parsons is the only freshman who seemed to get better as the season went on - he is athletic and just needs some more bulk and strength. I think he will become a fine Gator player that we’ll enjoy watching.

Tyus is weak. He needs to get stronger and learn to grab a rebound instead of tipping it back up into the air like a volleyball plater. Adam Allen is pretty much worthless.

Calathes is already an outstanding player. We need more of a supporting cast to take over the scoring when he is off.

Jury is still out on Lucas. He can shoot and penetrate some, but needs to get a little better as dishing off on the drive.

As far as the sophomores, I have given up on Mitchell, as he seems to have gotten worse since his freshman year when he showed a few flashes. He is pretty much worthless now.

Speights will continue to get better and will be one of the best bigs in the league next season.

Werner is what he is - short on talent, high on heart. He is too slow to be a great defender, but makes up for some of it with easy baskets on hustle. One way he can greatly improve his game is to take about 1/2 the number of shots he curerntly takes. I think his role will be “the enforcer.” He should not be a starter and should be coming off the bench to give us some rebounding help and hard fouls, when necessary.

We really need Kadji and Vargas to come in and help right away next season. We will be better, but a lot rides on their abilities.

By skigator93 on 03.14.08 9:19 am

I have my doubts as to whether Speights will be back next year. Maybe it’s just me, but he didn’t seem to care too much about anything other than his personal stats.

For a guy in a supposed leadership position, that says a lot.

By ESMjr. on 03.14.08 10:08 am

I was about 14 rows up from the floor.

The officiating was that bad
Over and Back call against UF
Several blocks, should have been called charges.
It was really bad. Not sure why it bothers me, it has been that way across the SEC all year.

By Cat Fan on 03.14.08 11:08 am

Speights isn’t going anywhere. What do you think? He’s going to transfer and sit out a year to play 1 more?

Speights cares - it is cliche to say he only cares about his stats.

Plus, he is a sophomore who played very little last season- who was expecting him to be a leader?

Hodge is the one who failed in that department. He is the only upperclassman - like it or not, it was is job.

I watched it on TV and saw every call twice. The officiating was fine. Over and backs shouldn’t be shocking to you - we get one nearly every game these days.

By skigator93 on 03.14.08 8:11 pm

No, smartass, I think there’s a good chance he’ll jump to the NBA, where he’s been projected as a first-round, if not lottery, pick.

I wonder what team you’ve been watching all year if you think that a) Hodge was expected to be any more of a leader than Werner and Mo when they were the only returning players with any PT, and b) that there was any evidence at all that Speights “cared,” especially at the defensive end.

There IS, however, evidence that he was openly interested in his personal stats:

http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20080228/NEWS/778491670/1016/rss

By ESMjr. on 03.15.08 2:12 pm

That’s a fabulous source - a Sun writer’s story lead in?

I watched the Speights that logged 49 blocked shots - every single one of them on the defensive end of the floor.

I only thought Hodge would be the leader because he was the oldest player on the team, had the most experience coming in, and has 4 championship rings on his fingers.

By skigator93 on 03.19.08 3:15 pm