Gators Have Discovered Chemistry and Success
Thursday, January 14, 2016 | Women's Basketball
No. 20 Florida hosts Georgia tonight at the O'Connell Center
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Rewind 365 days. The UF women's basketball team is an unimpressive 9-8. The Gators' season isn't going the way they hoped and when the players are on the court, the chemistry just isn't there.
Fast forward to today. The Gators are an unexpected 14-2, ranked for the first time in seven years, and have an opportunity to reach 15-2 for the first time since the 2008-09 season, which would match the best 17-game start in program history.
The 20th-ranked Gators host Georgia (12-4, 0-3 SEC) on Thursday night at the O'Connell Center, their first game at home since impressive road wins last week at Tennessee and Ole Miss.
Florida's record may be unexpected and frankly surprising to the general public, but it certainly isn't to head coach Amanda Butler.
At media day back in October, before the team had even stepped foot on the court for preseason practices, Butler made a claim that most probably scoffed at. She said this year's team could be the best that the University of Florida has ever had.
Yes, you read that right.
"There's just been great chemistry and camaraderie from the very beginning that I saw," Butler said. "This team is different than any other team that I've been a part of."
She clearly saw something early that the rest of us have just begun to see and believe.
Not only does Butler think this year's team is special and much different from last year's, but she is not alone.
If you ask the veteran players, the ones who endured a losing season (13-17) last year and no postseason for only the third time in 23 years for the program, they have their coach's back.
"This year we play for each other, we work hard in practice and we couldn't say that last year," said redshirt senior Carlie Needles, who is averaging 14.3 points per game in SEC play. "We respect each other now and we hold each other accountable."
The unselfishness, passion, and desire to win has proven to be powerful so far for this team.
Players are willing to play less minutes if it means the team continues to win, and when you have teammates who would rather sit the bench if their shots aren't falling, that is truly the recipe for success.
"Our main thing this year is to play for each other," junior guard/forward Ronni Williams said. "I really think we're showing on the court how much we care for each other and want to win."
Playing for each other: a common theme among this Gators team.
And it has proven to work thus far.
In 10 of Florida's 14 wins, the Gators have won by 10 points or more and they rank No. 5 nationally in scoring offense at 85.3 points per game.
Speaking of national rankings, the team is back in the newly released Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since the final poll of the 2008-2009 season, but don't think the Gators will get an ego because of it.
"It means a lot but we can't let it get to our heads," Williams said. "We have to stay hungry, humble, and keep playing for each other."
Added Needles: "Once you taste a little bit of success you want more and we've gotten a little bit of recognition, but that doesn't mean anything to us right now."
The ranking for the Gators comes after a huge statement: a comeback win on the road against a highly touted Tennessee team last week.
At roughly the halfway point of the season -- there are 13 regular-season games left, all against SEC foes -- and with four of those games being against fellow ranked SEC opponents, it's crucial the Gators stay grounded and not forget how they got here.
But how do they make sure to maintain the same level of competitiveness they have on their way to 14 wins in 16 games?
By finding little things to motivate them.
"Coach Butler is always sending us little quotes to keep us going," Needles said. "After every win we come in and practice like we lost and work on things we didn't do great to keep us motivated."
With such a hot start it would be no surprise if people wonder whether the team has hit its glass ceiling. They don't think so.
"We're very excited about the start we've had thus far, but we're also excited to play more games and keep that rolling," senior guard Cassie Peoples said.
Next chance: Thursday night against Georgia.
