Hoops Hodgepodge 6

NEXT-DAY TAKEAWAY
Alabama 68, Florida 50
Three leftover thoughts from Saturday's home loss.

1) No one will argue the performance Saturday was UF's worst of the season. The head coach said so afterward. The Gators shot the ball dreadfully (33.3 percent overall, 20.8 percent from 3) and threw up defense to match (Alabama shot 55.8 percent and scored 46 of its 68 points in the paint). Just as troubling, though, was the overall deflated look of the team as the Crimson Tide opened up their fat late lead. After the game, Coach Mike White praised the Rowdy Reptiles for cheering his team on a blocked shot in the final minute when down by 18, but in the same breath referenced a play a couple possessions before where Alabama sent two guys to the floor after a loose ball and the Gators sent none. "The identity of this team is very frustrating and I'm in charge of it," White said. "We're not very tough. We pride ourselves on shots and points more so than anything else." That's been a constant all season; one that was masked when the Gators were scoring all those points in Portland, Ore. When shots don't fall, the Gators hang their heads and take it out on themselves with lackluster play on the defensive end. The coach says so, the players say so. Against the Tide, the lack of floor-balance rotation and sense of urgency to get back in transition defense spoke loudly on the tape. So much was riding on that game (especially at home, with a sold-out crowd), yet the across-the-board product was an abject disappointment.

2) Chris Chiozza is the best and most valuable player on this team. Not that further proof is required — and certainly not to put any additional pressure on the senior point guard — but these numbers are pretty telling. In UF's 15 wins, Chiozza has averaged 13.9 points a game, shot better than 49 percent from the floor, 43 from the 3-point line and has a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. After scoring just four points, hitting two field goals and no 3s in his matchup against Alabama point guard Collin Sexton, Chiozza's numbers in Florida's eight losses now show 9.3 points per game, 34.6 percent from the floor, 28 percent from 3, and a 2 1/2-to-1 ratio. Star players are going to have some tough games over the course of the year. When that happens, the stars need guys to pick them up. The Gators don't have a bona fide, vocal, take-charge leader. Chiozza is closest thing to that because he's so respected and well liked by everyone in the locker room. If the Gators have a surge in them, it might just be up to their best player to spearhead it internally.

3) White said UF opted to roll out its "small ball" lineup to start against the Tide (all right, all the Gators' lineups are small, but you get my point) because of the struggles to score the previous game at Georgia. Swingman Jalen Hudson, the team's leading scorer, got the nod over junior center Kevarrius Hayes. A case can be made things worked out OK, as the Gators led by six at halftime and, despite giving up 55-percent shooting, forced 14 turnovers. Then came the second half and Hudson, after going 3-for-14 and scoring just nine points at Athens, went on to finish with six points and five turnovers. Hayes, off the bench, did not score. In fact, the UF bench was outscored 29-1. That is unsustainable. Normally, UF's top reserve options (after Hudson or Hayes, lineups pending) are guards DeAundrae Ballard and Mike Okauru, along with center Gorjok Gak. Those three players have combined for eight points over the previous five games, with their liabilities on the defensive end showing up along the wayl. That, too, is unsustainable. Florida has to figure a way to get something/anything — even if it's just a dose of energy — from its reserves.

WARRIORS TO RED PANDA'S RESCUE

"The Red Panda is legendary and absolutely loved and adored by everyone, especially our fans and season tickets holders. With a new, custom made unicycle we are glad that we could do our small part to help this great tradition continue." -Warriors President & COO @RickWelts pic.twitter.com/EjPhHFYGbQ
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) February 2, 2018

If you've gone to a Florida basketball the last few years -- if you've gone to an arena sporting event anywhere the last few years -- you've probably seen the Red Panda, the Chinese acrobat who gained international fame on Season 8 of "America's Got Talent" by teetering on a giant unicycle and flipping dishes from her feet onto her head. Twice this UF basketball season, Red Panda has wowed crowds at halftime of Gator games; at the PK80 in Portland, Ore., and again at Texas A&M.

Anyway, last week, some heel at the San Francisco Airport stole Rong Niu's 7-foot-tall, custom-made unicycle, sending the performer into utter despair. Surveillance cameras actually caught the creep doing the deed on video.

But while the thief apparently has yet to be caught, this story has a happy ending. Red Panda will get a new unicycle courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

They're not world champions for nothing.

CHARTING THE GATORS
The numbers below lay out plainly the nose dive taken by the Florida offense over the previous four SEC games. What's amazing is that the Gators actually won one of them. At Kentucky, no less. As if UF's perimeter-oriented ways and unwillingness to attack the basket when shots aren't big enough issues, the Gators' dip in free-throw attempts the last two games is another sign.

Opponent	Points	FG-FGA (Pct.)	3PT-3PTA (Pct.)	FT-FTA (Pct.)	Comment
@Kentucky	W 66-64	22-66 (.333)	6-30 (.333)	16-25 (.640)	Just the 10th win (somehow) in Lexington in UF history.
South Carolina	L 77-72	24-56 (.429)	6-23 (.261)	18-23 (.783)	Gators stayed in it at the free-throw line.
@Georgia	L 72-60	23-63 (.365)	9-26 (.346)	5-6 (.833)	Unwillingness to attack the basketball when shots aren't falling evident in FT attempts.
Alabama	L 68-50	19-57 (.333)	5-24 (.208)	7-11 (.636)	Just 17 second-half points. And, again, little from FT line.
Totals (avg)	62.0	88-252 (.349)	26-103 (.252)	46-65 (.707)	Florida's once-lethal offense has gone MIA.

UF ALUM UPDATE

New York Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek and reserve center Joakim Noah are not on the best of terms these days.

The Joakim Noah saga is perfect fodder for the New York tabloids.

Noah and the New York Knicks brass are at a steel-wall impasse with regard to his status with the franchise after the 6-foot-11 center reportedly got into an altercation with Coach Jeff Hornacek during the team's west coast road swing last month. The Knicks were in Denver when Noah left the team and Friday the organization announced Noah would not be back with the club "until further notice."

Meanwhile, Thursday's NBA trade deadline inches closer.

The Knicks, apparently, have approached Noah, now 32, about a buyout that would free him up to go elsewhere, but he has zero interest in negotiating out of the balance of the four-year, $72 million contract he signed before the 2016-17 season. Noah has played in just seven games this season, after a disappointing first year with the Knicks that ended with a drug suspension. Noah's unwillingness to budge on the buyout likely will undermine any other team wanting to take on such a huge salary.

Then again, Noah is said to be healthy and wants to play this season. If that's the case -- and perhaps, for speculation's sake, a reunion with Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau, who helped Noah reach NBA Defensive Player of the Year status in 2014, is a possibility -- then the former Gators icon may have to come off that big-salary number.

The NBA Players Association had this to say about the situation last week: "We are closely monitoring the situation to make sure Joakim Noah is treated fairly under the rules of our collective bargaining agreement," the union said in statement provided to The New York Post

We're monitoring it, too.

Good luck, Jo!

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.]

Disclaimer: Toughest week ever for the "Perspective" beat cop. Fans are angry. The legions of the miserable officially have been unleashed. Hysterics reign. But we still have a job to do you.

I sure it was easy, because for the second game in a row the Gators did asbsoluetly nothing in the second half. The loss falls on the shoulder of Coach White, his staff and his players.
— Becky Obarts (@BeccaO) February 4, 2018

Hmmm. Not sure who else qualifies for blame. How 'bout Congress?

White is showing he will be on the hot seat if we miss the tourney this year. No play designs at all in the .5 court. Garbage coaching.
— DL (@GatorTornado) February 3, 2018

This is so over-the-top ridiculous it's barely worth policing, but I felt compelled. Barely 10 months ago these same coaches were playing for a berth in the Final Four. Hot seat? The current team has flaws, no doubt, but the bulk of them can be traced directory to three scholarship front court players who have been sidelined basically the entire season due to injury. I'm guessing the UF athletic director recognizes as much. Pssst. Actually, I know he does.

Hope we figure it out before the NIT.
— Kyle B Magill (@kyleBmagill) February 3, 2018

Our good friend "Kyle B" loves to throw out NIT references after losses. It's his "go-to" tweet. Got it last year after the Gators had back-to-back losses on the way to going 14-4 in the conference.

The Gators looked like a great NIT team last night . What is wrong with this team?
— tommasso (@papalote60) January 31, 2018

Just so Kyle B doesn't feel persecuted. The NIT bandwagon is getting crowded.

For the life of me, I can't understand why White doesn't try screening more on the perimeter with the guards. I get the defense can extend in the interior without bigs, so why not attempt reasonable three pointers rather than jacking up 25 footers?
— Johnny Philistine (@TejasGator) January 31, 2018

That's basically what they try to do all the time.

@GatorsChris hey Chris. Just curious. Why dies it seem, UF can't sign a 6'10 7' Center out of high school? Seems we're always heavy on guard/forward
— Connor Mac (@ConnorMcCown) January 31, 2018

How many 7-foot centers you know of? And how many are other schools signing? They signed a 6-11 one last year. They have another 6-11, 255-pound one out with an injury.

When do we get an inside presence? So we don't have to rely on jump shots and going ice cold?
— Gatorkissman (@thekissman2) January 31, 2018

They're some inside guys here already, they're just spending most of their time inside the training room.

Most. Frustrating. Team. Ever. Sorry Chris but it's true.
— Ryan Tetlow (@BrokeFromKicks) January 31, 2018

Ever? I'll see your "ever" and ask, "Ever met a Kentucky fan?"

Makes me want to watch the State of the Union.
— Gator (@hgators85) January 31, 2018

This one came in the second half of Georgia game. Pay the man, Shirley.

7 losses. Favored in 6 of them. Awful team
— Tim D (@TJD8686) January 31, 2018

Bitter bettor.

NIT bound?
— tommy schroeder (@tschroeder77) January 31, 2018

Move over, Kyle B. Make room for another passionate, frustrated fan eyeballing a trip to New York in late-March.

FREE THROWS

The Jan. 20 win over Kentucky was the last time the Gators smiled after a league game. Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it? Want to relive it? Tune in Monday night to SEC Network, when that game (plus the run-up and aftermath) will get the "SEC Inside" treatment. I've seen some of the footage. Really good stuff. May take the edge off (temporarily). ... UF tumbled another 10 spots, from 37 to 47, in the Ratings Percentage Index numbers that came out Sunday morning. That's eighth among SEC teams. ... ESPN's Joe Lunardi had the Gators as a No. 6 seed in the West Region going into the weekend, but that will change. Perhaps drastically. ... After Wednesday night's home date against LSU, the Gators' next three games will be rematches, starting next Saturday at South Carolina, which has lost three in a row since beating UF at the O'Dome on Jan. 24. ... KeVaughn Allen's 16 points against the Tide moved him past Taurean Green (2004-07) and into 38th place on the Florida all-time scoring list with 1,177 points. ... Chiozza's four assists pushed him over 500 for his career. With 502, he now is two away from passing Ronnie Montgomery (1984-88) and taking over third place in program history.

Gators Calendar

Players Mentioned

KeVaughn Allen

Chris Chiozza

Gorjok Gak

Kevarrius Hayes

Jalen Hudson

Mike Okauru

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