Big Stakes, Big Game, Time for a Big 'Cheez Night'

Wednesday, February 7

Gainesville, FL

6:30 PM

Florida Gators

LSU

The Rowdy Reptiles will pay homage to point guard Chris Chiozza by wearing foam "Cheez" heads and matching T-shirts Wednesday night against LSU.

Big Stakes, Big Game, Time for a Big 'Cheez Night'

Wednesday, February 7, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry

The Gators need to stop a three-game SEC losing skid Wednesday against LSU.

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Chris Chiozza is the most important and best player on the Florida basketball team. No one who follows the Gators (or coaches them, or plays for them) will dispute that.

But with the position of point guard comes the built-in responsibility of being a leader, which sometimes demands taking one's personality out of its comfort zone. Being the so-called "bad cop" in the locker room, when needed, has never really been part of Chiozza's makeup. And no one who follows the Gators (or coaches them, or plays for them) will dispute that, either.

And yet, right here, right now, the circumstances warrant some plain talk and some even plainer action, starting Wednesday night when Florida (15-8, 6-4), reeling with three straight Southeastern Conference losses, takes on Louisiana State (13-9, 4-6) at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center in a game the home team absolutely has to have.

How pivotal is this one?

"It's crunch time," Chiozza said. "The urgency is higher than it's been all year. We've got to figure out a way to get out of the three-game skid. We only have eight [regular-season] games left and we want to put ourselves in a good position for the postseason, the conference tournament and everything. We want some momentum going into that."

Given the performance of the previous two games, a single win — especially the way the SEC ravaging one another in league play -- would represent momentum. In this case, a Florida victory would move the Gators into sole possession of third place in the conference standings.

[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" setup here]

Chiozza understands, especially as a senior, that the spotlight is on him as the key to halt this tailspin. He's the one with the ball in his hands, he's the marquee Gator — has been since Madison Square Garden last March 25 — and Wednesday, through no fault of his own and as timing would have it, Chiozza will be thrusted further to center stage when the Rowdy Reptiles all don orange foam cheese heads and matching T-shirts in honor of "Cheez Night."

The University Athletic Association's marketing department has staged similar promotions in years past, most recently "Beard Night" for Patric Young in 2014, and "Mohawk Night" in 2013 for Will Yeguete. Those were two of the most popular UF players to come through the O'Dome since the "04s."

So, take a bow, "Cheez."

"That's an exclusive club," Chiozza said. "I really appreciate that they would do that for me. I may have to steal some of those cheese heads and send them home."

CHARTING THE GATORS

When Chris Chiozza plays well, the Gators play well. When their senior point guard struggles, so go the Gators. Check out the discrepancy of his numbers depending on results.

Result	FG-FGA (Pct.)	3PT-3PA (Pct.)	Points	Assists/Turnovers
In 15 wins	70-142 (.492)	25-58 (.431)	13.9 pg	99/24 (4 to 1)
In 8 losses	26-75 (.346)	7-25 (.280)	9.3 pg	40/16 (2.5 to 1)

For sure, but the UF coaches would rather he steal a few LSU passes, instead. Or better yet, maybe flash an occasional steely glance at his teammates when they need a kick in the behind. Kasey Hill used to pick his spots to do just that as a senior last season, and was effective. Then again, last year's team — with Devin Robinson's length, Justin Leon's motor, Canyon Barry's IQ — was wired differently than this one, both competitively and defensively.

Especially defensively.

Ask Coach Mike White and he'll say the biggest thing holding the Gators back is their defense. He's been saying that since well before the season started, and not much has changed. UF had an awful stretch of three straight losses during the non-conference schedule, but adjusted some things, adjusted some attitudes, and appeared to be making progress. The team won eight of nine and were alone atop the league standings just two weeks ago until a brutal stretch of cold shooting and stagnant (sometimes bordering on selfish) offense reared itself, which exposed the Florida defense to its most pronounced vulnerability.

Transition.

LSU is a team that can score a lot of points, having beaten Arkansas 94-86 just four days ago behind freshman point guard Tremont Waters' 27 points and 11 assists, both career highs.

Back at it Wednesday … #Gators
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— Chris Harry (@GatorsChris) February 6, 2018

It was just four days ago also that another freshman point guard, Alabama's Collin Sexton, dribbled through and around the Gators on the way to 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists, keying an offense that shot nearly 56 percent from the floor. Time and again, especially after halftime, the Crimson Tide beat the Gators down the floor for easy layups or dunks on their way to a 68-50 blowout win at the O'Dome.

Lack of communication. Lack of floor balance. Lack of hustle. Lack of discipline. White cited it all.

But how do you changed it? In February?

"We've got to be as good as we can be and win this possession, execute what we're supposed to execute, take a good shot, play off of two feet, value the basketball, take what the defense gives us and sprint back and talk and focus on what we're doing defensively," said White, basically listing fundamental basketball components the Gators, two-thirds into the season, still don't do very well. "I think that's what's in the best interest of this team. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how we're approaching it."

What he won't do, however, is talk about how imperative it is to stop the bleeding of this losing streak because of what might be at stake down the line.

Apparently, the players are taking care of that.

As their leader said, "It's crunch time."

To borrow a once-popular snack slogan, time for some "Cheez that goes crunch." From both the senior point guard and his teammates.