Gators and Seminoles Renew Rivalry on the Hardwood
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 | Men's Basketball
By Chris Harry
Gatorzone Contributing Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Everyone agrees that Florida and Florida State should play an annual basketball game, but can't seem to agree on the best time to play it.
Hint: It's probably not three days before Christmas.
“I don't know if one's right or one's wrong,” UF coach Billy Donovan said.
What he does know is his 11th-ranked Gators (9-2) and the always-tough Seminoles (8-3) will renew their 60-year rivalry Thursday at the O'Connell Center, just before both teams clear out for a couple days of holiday break.
Over the past 20 years, the UF-FSU game has been all over the places. The Seminoles and Gators played in late-November and even late-January; they played five times during the '90s on a neutral court in Orlando; it's been the first game of the year and a February hiccup in the middle of both school's rugged conference seasons; and, of course, it's been the warm-up act on both campuses the night before their annual football bloodbath.
That's where Donovan and the Gators like to play it and where the game -- by far -- draws the largest crowds and greatest enthusiasm. The Seminoles prefer the game stand on its own, separate from football. The schools work together on the scheduling the date, with the Gators accommodating the Seminoles' inclusion in a Thanksgiving tournament last month, hence playing the game so close to Christmas rather than the evening before the football game.
“Whenever they want to play, that's fine,” Donovan said.
As it stands, the UF Rowdy Reptile section will have to do some recruiting with students gone on holiday break. These Dec. 22 games have been wild cards for UF recently, what with Radford hanging around last year, South Alabama shocking the Gators in '09 and Georgia Southern keeping it close in '08.
Then again, this is FSU. The Seminoles will have the home team's attention.
“It's a rivalry I've grown up with since I was a young lad,” said sophomore center Patric Young, who hails from Jacksonville. “I went to Florida football games with my grandparents and now I'm playing Florida basketball. I don't hate them, I just want to win really badly.”
The 6-foot-8, 247-pound Young may hold the key to how the Gators can beat the Seminoles.
FSU will roll out a disciplined, pressure-packed defense that will rival anything Donovan's team will see this season. The Seminoles, armed with impressive length and athleticism, just have a knack, under Coach Leonard Hamilton, of baiting opponents into low-scoring, defensive slugfests. They're allowing just 57.8 points on 34.2 percent shooting for the game.
“I just think they really know what they're doing,” Donovan said. “I think when you look at their defense, we have to be intelligent. We have to make good choices early in the clock, determining what to take and what not to take. I think you get yourself in trouble when you come early in the clock and take some ill-advised quick shots because it allows them with their length and size and speed to get out in transition, which certainly benefits them.”
For UF's offense to be successful, Young will need his touches in the low post, whether to attack the basket or look to feed his array of 3-point shooting teammates. When Young is involved, the Gators naturally just space the floor better and opens more options, especially for point guard Erving Walker and freshman swingman Bradley Beal to drive to the bucket.
The Gators, though they love to shoot from deep, can't trap themselves into relying too much on the long ball. They need the kind of balance they've displayed during a four-game winning streak that started with a 26-point, 10-rebound night from Young against Arizona.
“The guys -- our backcourt guys -- are starting to show signs of really finding Pat when he's open,” Donovan said.
That's good for everybody.
“Mentally and physically, I think we're in kind of a groove, but we can't get complacent,” senior point guard Erving Walker said. “We've got to handle business. They're a very good team. It will be a very heated and intense game. But it'll be a fun game.”
Wonder when they'll play it next year.
GATORS GAMEBOX
Florida State at No. 11 Florida
Tip-off: 7 p.m. (O'Connell Center, Gainesville, Fla.)
Records: Florida State 8-3, Florida 9-2
TV: ESPNU (w/Carter Blackburn and Jimmy Dykes)
Radio: Gator Radio Network (w/Mick Hubert and Mark Wise) -- Click here for affiliates) / Sirius 220/XM 199
Game notes: Florida notes; Florida State notes
Need to know: This will mark the 63rd meeting between the two in-state rivals, a series that dates to 1951. UF leads the series 40-22, including two straight wins. Florida State, however, won three straight from '06-08, including an 70-66 upset of the reigning national champion Gators at Tallahassee on Dec. 3, 2006. ... Florida is 19-6 all-time vs. FSU at home, including 9-6 under Coach Billy Donovan. ... The Gators have won four straight games, a mini-run that began with an overtime defeat of Arizona on Dec. 7 and includes an impressive 22-point victory Saturday over then-No. 22 Texas A&M in the Orange Bowl Classic at Sunrise. ... The Gators have four starters averaging in double figures, led by junior G Kenny Boynton (18.7 ppg), freshman G/F Bradley Beal (15 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and senior PG Erving Walker (14.5 ppg, 5 apg). Sophomore C Patric Young is shooting 57.8 percent from the floor. ... Boynton has hit 22 of his last 40 shots from 3-point range and is averaging 46.6 percent from distance. ... UF has made good (and much-needed) strides from the free-throw line, where it was hitting 59.1 percent through nine games, but made 43 of 54 over the last two games (79.6 percent). ... Florida reserve G Mike Rosario (strained back) is not expected to play which could impact the UF bench minutes, while C/F Cody Larson (strep throat) could see limited action – both missed Monday's night's game vs. Mississippi Valley State ... FSU is one of the best defensive teams in the country, allowing opponents just 57.8 points per game, 34.2 percent shooting from the floor and 25.8 percent from 3-point range. That's a matchup to watch, given the Gators average 18 3-point attempts per game. ... The Seminoles will enjoy a considerable size advantage, including 6-11, 6-10 and 6-8 up front. They're led by PG Michael Snaer (13.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and 240-pound senior F Bernard James (10.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg). ... FSU started the season 5-0, but loss three straight to Harvard, Connecticut and Michigan State, and have since defeated Charleston Southern, UNC Greensboro and Loyola Maryland in succession. ... UF is the second ranked opponent the Seminoles have faced this season.
