1) Because this is a basketball forum, and because the "Next-day Takeaway" is a second-look at what occurred to determine the outcome of the previous game, I usually focus on the actual on-court stuff. But this time, I want to give a shout-out to the environment Saturday inside the Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. Tremendous job by UAA basketball marketing maven Alicia Longworth and her staff for executing the "black-out" theme and, of course, the Rowdy Reptiles and the rest of the passionate UF fans in doing their part in generating such an energized atmosphere and phenomenal in-game experience for everyone in the building. The players, who were very much into their alternative uniforms, fed off of it. To me, it was right there with the sold-out show put on last year against West Virginia as the most rockin' the O'Dome had been since that "Senior Day" swan-song for the 2014 Final Four-bound squad.
Alicia Longworth (right) at her command post at a UF basketball last season.
2) Who in the Southeastern Conference is playing better than KeVaughn Allen right now? OK, so a handful of guys wearing the Big Blue could be in the conversation — Kentucky and its latest crop of lottery picks have won their three league games by an average of 30.3 points — but Allen doesn't have four of five future NBA players taking pressure off him. Over the last seven games, the sophomore guard is averaging 17.4 points and has hit 51.1 percent of his field-goal attempts (43 of 84) and 53.7 percent of his 3-pointers (24 of 45). His confidence is absolutely soaring right now and, bottom line, Allen can't shoot enough, as far as his coaches and teammates are concerned. He scored 16 of UF's 51 points in a second half that represented the most deadly 20 minutes of offensive basketball the Gators have played all season (67 percent from the floor, 7-for-8 from the 3-point line). UF's offensive efficiency rating for the period was an astonishing 1.5 points per possession. Florida's normal average is 1.13, which ranks 35th nationally. To put that 1.5 figure in context, UCLA ranks No. 1 in OER at 1.23.
3) As on-fire as Allen has been, he still ranks second on the team in 3-point percentage. The top line belongs to senior forward Justin Leon, who went 3-for-4 against the Volunteers and has taken his marksmanship to 45.5 for the season (20 of 44). Though he's known as a high-motor guy, it's time Leon got some recognition as an all-around basketball player and key cog in the Gators rebuild under Coach Mike White. Leon, remember,originally signed with White to play at Louisiana Tech, then asked out of his national letter-of-intent to follow White to UF in 2015. Considering he totaled just 29 points over the previous six games — read Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley's game-day take on Leon here — Leon probably wasn't a big focus of the Tennessee scouting report, but he finished with 19 points, six rebounds and went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, where he was just 51 percent for his two seasons coming in. The guy puts in the work every day and doesn't care what numbers he puts in the box score, as long as the Gators win.
OH, CANADA (AND GATORS)!
The Fawcetts and their flag.
Years ago, from nearly 2,800 miles away in Edmonton, Alberta, Eric Fawcett adopted Florida as his college team. When he met Rachel three years ago, the Gators came as a package deal. And when they got married in August, they made a deal to push the honeymoon back to a time they could head to the Sunshine State and watch their squad.
"We knew exactly what we wanted to do," Fawcett said.
The Fawcetts booked their trip several months ago, planning to arrive the night of Jan. 2, so they missed the Outback Bowl by a matter of hours. But they were in the Exactech for the wins over Ole Miss and Tennessee, then came back again Sunday for the women's game against South Carolina. They got to meet some players and coaches, toured the basketball facility and got a greeting from UF athletic director Scott Stricklin before the date with the Vols.
There was also some theme-parking in Orlando, as well as a Magic game.
"It's been great," he said.
It's nice to see loyalty in fans, especially so far away. Thanks for coming, you guys.
CHARTING THE GATORS
Speaking ofKeVaughn Allen, it should come as no surprise, he's pretty good from the free-throw line. Historically good, officially. Last week, Allen reached the minimum 140 free throws required to be ranked in UF's career percentage category. He's now 128-for-151 for his career, good enough to be debut at No. 4 all-time. Through 15 games, he's 28-for-33 this season (84.8 percent), so he's got a chance to work his way up the below Top 10 chart.
Matt Bonner had not played in the NBA this season, with his final game coming last May when his former college coach knocked the San Antonio Spurs out the Western Conference semifinals. Bonner knew he was through with pro basketball then, but it wasn't until this past week that the 12-year NBA veteran made his retirement official in a very Bonner-like way.
Yeah, the guy dubbed the "Red Mamba" by Kobe Bryant made a video, all right. Followers of this column might remember he was in another one two years ago when Bonner won a Spurs charity talent contest.
Bonner, who played at UF from 1999-2003, is the No. 10 scorer in Florida history with 1,570 points. He was a three-time All-SEC selection and two-time winner of the Verizon Academic All-American of the Year Award. When Bonner bolted Florida, his 131 games ranked first in school history. Though drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bulls, his rights were traded to Toronto, but Bonner went to Italy to play for two seasons. He returned to play for the Raptors for the 2004-05 season, then was traded to the Spurs in 2006.
In 10 seasons in San Antonio, Bonner scored 4,632 points (5.8 per game), grabbed 1,749 rebounds (3.0 pg) and won two world championships (2007 and '14). The team announced last week that Bonner was joining its broadcast team.
Good luck in your retirement, Matt.
And please do more videos.
TWITTER PATTER
A collection of some tweets that got my attention this week. (Note: And since we're 15 games in and knee-deep in SEC play, that means @GatorsChris and his 'Perspective Police' are out in force.)
But the players love them. Let them have their fun.
As of Sunday, Florida was No. 3 in the Ratings Percentage Index (behind Villanova and Baylor) and still No. 1 in overall strength of schedule and non-conference strength of schedule. ... Through its first two SEC games, UF shot 54.4 percent from the free-throw line, after hitting at a 74.4 clip in 11 non-league games. Against the Vols, the Gators found some middle ground, going 18-for-26 for 69.2 percent. ... Florida is now 9-10 when wearing the black uniforms, having snapped a three-game losing streak. It was just the third time UF wore black at home, and the first since Jan. 3, 2004 when the Gators defeated Florida State 87-73. … The starting lineup of sophomore center Kevarrius Hayes, junior forward Devin Robinson and Leon in the front court, plus senior point guard Kasey Hilland Allen in the backcourt is now 5-0. … Given UF's foul issues in the post, freshman center Gorjak Gak probably would have gotten some minutes against UT, but he tweaked his Achilles in practice Friday and White wasn't sure how much he could get from his young big man. That's why he went to 6-foot-10 walk-on senior Schuyler Rimmer, who scored three points and grabbed three boards in a career-high 16 minutes and posted a plus-15 scoring differential that was second-best on the team. ... Regarding Gak, he was cleared to practice fully Sunday.
1) Because this is a basketball forum, and because the "Next-day Takeaway" is a second-look at what occurred to determine the outcome of the previous game, I usually focus on the actual on-court stuff. But this time, I want to give a shout-out to the environment Saturday inside the Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. Tremendous job by UAA basketball marketing maven Alicia Longworth and her staff for executing the "black-out" theme and, of course, the Rowdy Reptiles and the rest of the passionate UF fans in doing their part in generating such an energized atmosphere and phenomenal in-game experience for everyone in the building. The players, who were very much into their alternative uniforms, fed off of it. To me, it was right there with the sold-out show put on last year against West Virginia as the most rockin' the O'Dome had been since that "Senior Day" swan-song for the 2014 Final Four-bound squad. 
