UF coach Mike White shouts instructions during Saturday's 61-42 home win against Vanderbilt.
Charting the Gators: Elite Defensive Performances
Monday, January 24, 2022 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
Share:
By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
OXFORD, Miss. — They took over the game from the opening possession of the second half, turning a precarious three-point lead into a more cozy 14-point cushion by scoring the period's first 11 points.
The question was put to Florida guard Brandon McKissic after his team's 61-42 smothering of Vanderbilt. What happened? McKissic's answer was simple and succinct.
"We guarded." he said.
Did they ever. The Gators held the Commodores to 14 second-half points, 3-for-23 shooting from the floor and 0-for-9 from the 3-point line. They harassed Southeastern Conference scoring leader Scotty Pippen Jr. into missing nine of his 10 field goals on his way to a season-low six points, more than a dozen below of his 18.6 average.
"Team effort," UF coach Mike White said after limiting Vandy to the fifth-fewest points by an opponent in his seven seasons. "Nothing schematically special. We've got good defensive guards. Our bigs were really locked in on ball-screen coverage. It's about the collection of five guys out there and now connected they are."
The overall defensive performance — the communication, the connectivity, the movement and selling out — looked an awful lot like how they team played in the first three weeks of the season; when it was playing with a purpose and seemingly as one. For whatever reason, the Gators did not maintain that blue-collar approach and slippage manifested itself with a run of six losses in nine games, including the first three in SEC play, but to a man they say things are headed back in the right direction.
"We know what we're capable of," forward Anthony Duruji said. "We've done it."
Now they get another chance to prove as much, as Florida (12-6, 3-3) tries to win a fourth straight Southeastern Conference game when it faces Mississippi (9-9, 1-4) in a makeup game Monday night at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The Gators and Rebels were supposed to play Dec. 29, but the game was postponed due to COVID issues in the UF program. In order to reschedule, the SEC had to wedge the redo between scheduled games, meaning the Gators will play a second league game in 48 hours (against the Rebels), then another in 48 more when Florida plays at Tennessee Wednesday night.
Three SEC games in five days is a tough ask, but that's what is on the Florida plate. It's up to the Gators to serve up a similar defensive effort — maybe not statistically, but in effort and togetherness — and build on it.
Here's a look at the five best defensive games of the White era, based on points allowed.
UF point guard Kasey Hill (center) moves with UVA's dribbling London Perrantes, as forward Kevarrius Hayes (13) barks instructions in the Gators' blowout beating of the Cavaliers in the 2017 NCAA Tournament's second round at Orlando, arguably the most dominant defensive performance during Coach Mike White's seven seasons.
CHARTING THE GATORS
The defensive performance against Vanderbilt was the fifth-best, in terms of points allowed, by the Gators during Coach Mike White's seven seasons, and the third-best against an opponent from a high-major conference.
Date
Opponent
Outcome
What happened
March 18, 2017
Virginia
Won 65-39
No. 4-seed Gators suffocated 5-seed Cavaliers (armed with future NCAA heroes Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome, Mamadi Diakiti), who shot 31% for game, 1-15 from 3. Devin Robinson/Justin Leon with double-doubles, as UF rolled into NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 with a win at Orlando.
Dec. 6, 2020
Stetson
Won 86-40
Hatters convered just 10 of 51 field goals (19.6 percent) and 4 of 24 from arc (17.4 percent) and scored just 15 points in the first half. Scottie Lewis with 10 points, 10 rebounds. Tyree Appleby with 4 steals.
Feb. 10, 2018
@South Carolina
Won 65-41
Gators led 41-20 at halftime and never let up, limiting Gamecocks to a measly six field goals on 27 attempts) in the second half. UF, led by Chris Chiozza (12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists) only had 3 steals, but out-rebounded USC 46-24
Nov. 13, 2015
@Navy
Won 59-41
A rout of the Midshipmen opened the White era, as Gators played spoilers to host team in the Veteran's Day Classic at Annapolis. Navy hit 29 percent for the game, 21 from 3. Robinson went for 13 points and 10 boards.
Jan. 22, 2022
Vanderbilt
Won 61-42
Commodores just 3-for-23 shooting and 14 points in second half, with SEC scoring leader Scotty Pippen Jr. limited to six points and 1-for-10 shooting. Great team effort by UF, minus standout forward Colin Castleton.
