Hoops Hodgepodge 3

Coach Mike White and the Gators were tagged with their first loss of the SEC season Saturday at Ole Miss.

Sunday, January 14, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry

A weekly scattershot look at UF basketball.

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

NEXT-DAY TAKEAWAY
Ole Miss 78, Florida 72
Three leftover thoughts from Saturday's loss at Oxford.

1) Before Wednesday night, Florida's 6-foot-8 forward Keith Stone had never had a run of three consecutive games scoring in double figures. The third-year sophomore went up against Mississippi State and tallied 13 points and equaled his career-best of eight rebounds to help the Gators upend the Bulldogs. That was the growth. That was development. Then Stone went on the road Saturday and put up career highs of 23 points, eight rebounds and 35 minutes. He was aggressive around the basket, got to the free-throw line 18 times (the most by a UF player since Joakim Noah shot 22 against Georgia on Feb. 21, 2007) and knocked down 13. He was Florida's best player in Oxford, no doubt — but he could have been so much better. A couple of his four turnovers were loud ones, including a charge call with 56 seconds left when Stone, his team down by four, bypassed a wide-open 3-pointer in transition (he'd made two of four in the game), and chose to drive the ball. Time after time, in their one-on-one sit-downs with Stone, the UF coaches have instructed him to keep things simple. Make the easy play. The trajectory with which Stone's scoring and confidence has improved the last two weeks is pronounced: 5.8 points a game in the run-up to Southeastern Conference play; 14.0 per game against the league. His next step falls under decision-making with the ball. The easy play is the best play.

UF forward Keith Stone and the Gators had their hands full in the post Saturday against Ole Miss forward Bruce Stevens, who beasted his way to 22 poins and six rebounds. *[Photo by Oxford Eagle]*

2) Assistant coach Jordan Mincy had the pre-game scout for Ole Miss. Among the so-called "absolutes" for the Gators to be successful were transition defense, rebounding, and keeping the UF "bigs," out of foul trouble. UF got one out of three. The Rebels had zero fast-break points, but they slugged the Gators 44-35 on the glass (along with a 32-22 edge in point points), and not only got Kevarrius Hayes in foul trouble, but benefited from backup center Gorjok Gak (a plus-5 in his 11 minutes on the floor) being forced from the game with a concussion late in the first half. Hayes had been the defensive catalyst in Florida's four-game winning streak to start league play, but he's also the type of player that needs to get up and down the floor and get into the flow of a game really to get going. His first foul came at the 16:32 mark, so to the bench he went. Hayes checked back at the 11:30 mark and got his second foul only 59 seconds later. Bye-bye. He played four first-half minutes and never got into a rhythm. His third foul was two and half minutes into the second period. Again, to the bench. Hayes finished with four points, one rebound and one blocked shot in 15 minutes. He came in averaging 7.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in SEC play.

3) No John Egbunu. No Isaiah Stokes. No Chase Johnson. No Deaundrae Ballard. No Gak. Any of the five, when healthy, could be rotational players at most high-major programs. That's 38.5 percent of the team's scholarship roster. Given the flow and tenor of Saturday's game, the team's injury situation was as significant against Ole Miss as at any time this season' even more so than Duke or Florida State, given the SEC ramifications. Florida is home Wednesday night against Arkansas. The Gators may have Ballard, the reserve guard, back for that one. Ballard would have helped Saturday with Jalen Hudson reduced to just 19 minutes due to foul trouble. The notion that Gak can emerge from concussion protocol in four days seems unlikely, so none of the four bigs will back back.

CHARTING THE GATORS
They didn't lose the game because of the 3-point line Saturday. The Gators, though, did give up a pair of consecutive 3s during the Rebels' blitz of eight straight points midway through the second half that quickly evaporated an eight-point UF lead and got the home team and its crowd back in a game that may have been on the cusp of slipping away. Florida ranks dead-last in the SEC in defending the 3-point line, allowing opponents to shoot 37.3 percent from long distance this season. In SEC play, the numbers are actually worse: 40.8 percent over the five games (42 of 103), which rates 13th, ahead of only winless Texas A&M, which is allowing 41.3 from the arc. Here's where league teams rank, best to worse, at defending the arc.

Pct.	Team	3PM	3PA
.298	Kentucky	122	410
.304	Georgia	100	329
.306	Texas A&M	125	409
.320	Mississippi State	125	391
.321	Alabama	108	336
	Missouri	110	343
.324	Vanderbilt	93	287
.335	LSU	123	367
	Arkansas	125	373
.345	Tennessee	108	313
	Auburn	133	385
.349	South Carolina	116	332
.358	Ole Miss	135	377
.373	Florida	121	324

UF ALUM UPDATE

NEWS: We've recalled @drobbb3 from the @Sevens of the @nbagleague

Robinson has averaged 13.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg in 22 games for Delaware

Press Release: https://t.co/YMNfXxjmCJ
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) January 8, 2018

Right around this time last season, Devin Robinson was enjoying a breakthrough. The 6-9 junior forward already had his nice little mid-range game going, but more after-practice reps on his 3-point shot and an awakening of sorts on the defensive end helped transform Robinson into a more consistent impact player. He finished the 2016-17 season at 11.1 points per game on 47.5 from the floor and 39 from 3, plus 6.1 rebounds. He had some great moments in the NCAA Tournament, as well.

Robinson, who would have turned pro the year before had it not been for a stress fracture in his foot, put his name into the 2017 NBA Draft pool, did not get selected, but as a free agent signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards.

After toiling in the G-League for a couple months and averaging 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds— yes, that's D-Rob in a special, promotional "Spongebob" uniform worn recently by the Delaware 87ers (a.k.a. the "Sevens") — Robinson got his first call up to the big-league roster last week and was on the Wizards' bench for the first time Wednesday night when they played the Milwaukee Bucks.

Robinson did not play in his first three NBA games, and as a two-way player can be moved back and forth from the big-league and G-League team as needed by the organization. But he's officially made "The Show" and everyone at UF is happy for him and very proud.

Congrats and good luck, D-Rob!

PERSPECTIVE POLICE BEAT
(i.e. "Twitter Patter")

Coaches are held accountable. Players are held accountable. Even senior writers are held accountable. This space is dedicated to holding the fans (and fan boys) on Twitter accountable. At times, we'll also recognize those who "get it" and acknowledge those who offer entertaining social media fodder, or (God forbid) the proper perspective. [Note: If you're completely unreasonable and wonder why you don't show up here, it's probably because you've been muted or blocked, and thus in "Perspective Prison." I'm the cop, judge, jury and warden of that legal system, by the way.]

Hey Chris, are we healthy today?
— Ray Fager (@rayblue521) January 13, 2018

This figures to be an every-game question now, right?

No excuses on #Gators defense, but whistles can dictate aggressiveness and flow of the game. Ole Miss also made some great shots. https://t.co/TFWyBiQSDR
— Gator Fan (@MrMarques2727) January 13, 2018

How dare you have perspective.

#Gators firmly on the bubble with what's looming. This loss is going to sting bad.
— Matt Sinn (@mattsinn) January 13, 2018

It "stung" so much the Gators tumbled all the way from 33rd in the Ratings Percentage Index to 37th. Calm down, sport. North Carolina lost to Wofford. Miami lost to Georgia Tech. Notre Dame lost to Ball State. Auburn lost to Temple. Florida State lost to Oklahoma State. It was a tough one, sure, but it's a league loss on the road. They happen.

Welp, when Cheeze misses an open lay up badly with under 2 minutes to play, things probably aren't going to end well. #Gators
— Ribs (@g8erlaw68) January 13, 2018

As good a sign as any that things were a little off in Oxford.

All road conference games you better be ready for a bar fight! #Gators
— Morgan ? (@snowdini925) January 13, 2018

Yes.

poor defensive play most of the year and KeVaughn is mentally absent; destiny is NIT if they don't straighten it out quick
— Steven Stuebs, PE (@AVIDSteven) January 13, 2018

Didn't hear from you, Doc, during the four straight wins to start SEC play? Now this after one game? And under those circumstances? White said months before season began that defense would be an issue with this team. Such will be the case even more so with so many front court guys unavailable. As for KeVaughn? He isn't "mentally absent." His point production is.

Hudson didn't come within 6" of stepping on line, tuurrible call!!
— Tom Smith (@gatrtom) January 13, 2018

Replays confirmed as much (with the official right on top of the play, no less). Huge call. Plus, Hudson drove on the play to convert a layup. Gators were up one at the time, but Ole Miss went the other way and Deandre Burnett hit a 3 on the next possession. The Rebels never trailed again.

Just get Allen to shoot the dang ball
— Florida Native (@sshever) January 11, 2018

Sounds so simple, doesn't it?

#Gators beat Ben Howland.

Has that ever happened before? ??
— Jonathan Arnholz (@JArnholz) January 11, 2018

Once or twice of note, that I can think of.

Someone made 3Gor bleed. So he goes all Drago on the Bulldogs. @GatorsMBK #gators @GatorsChris pic.twitter.com/fjdEuMtkLH
— Matthew Boedy (@MatthewBoedy) January 11, 2018

Mississippi State mysteriously clawed his back, drawing blood and drawing out a wicked shooting performance to start Wednesday night's game.

FREE THROWS

Shooting guard and 2017 first-team All-SEC selection KeVaughn Allen, after scoring five points on 2-for-9 shooting, is now averaging 6.6 points in 28.8 minutes in five SEC games. And so it goes. Just a truly befuddling development. ... How about some of those layups the Gators missed Saturday? A couple were in transition and contested to the point where, maybe, just a simple head fake or drop-off to a teammate might have been the best play. ... Coach Mike White brought up one of those layups in his post-game news conference; the one by seldom-used freshman center Dontay Bassett, which was a dead-on, unguarded bunny with 3:05 to go in the first half. White said the missed layup didn't bother him as much as what happened after. Bassett compounded the play by fouling Rebels forward Marcanvis Hymon on the rebound, with zero chance to retreive the ball. It looked like a foul for foul's sake. Hymon went to the other end and made two free throws that gave Ole Miss its first lead since three minutes into the game. If you're wondering why Bassett doesn't play more (even give UF's lack of depth up front), plays like that are the reason. ... ... Grad-transfer forward Egor Koulechov, after getting 12 points and 11 rebounds Saturday, now has three double-doubles on the season. ... Backup guard Mike Okauru's nine points, in just 15 minutes, were his most since a career-high 15 against Stanford on Nov. 23. ... Last week, in the "UF Alum" space, we profiled Brandone Francis-Ramirez, the combo guard who transferred to Texas Tech following a tough 2015-16 season. Anyone see what "B-Fran" did Saturday, as the No. 8 Raiders upset No. 2 West Virginia 72-71? Try a career-high 17 points, 5-for-6 from the floor, including three of four from 3, and two rebounds in a career-best 26 minutes. Francis-Ramirez must love seeing Bob Huggins on the other bench. He had his one shining moment as a Gator against the Mountaineers when he scored nine points on 3-for-3 from deep as UF smashed WVU in the 2016 SEC/Big 12 Challenge at the O'Connell Center. A good story of redemption keeps getting better.