Tuesday, February 22, 2022 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A week ago, Florida shot a season-worst 28.6 percent in what turned out to be a 56-55 gut-punch loss at Texas A&M. Four days later, the Gators went to halftime of their home game against Auburn having made just seven of 27 field-goal attempts before waking up in the second half and knocking down some huge shots (and 3s) in what turned out to be a feel-good 63-62 upset of the nation's No. 2-ranked team.
But for their last 80 minutes of basketball, UF was a combined 36 of 111 from the floor. That's 32.4 percent. That's bad. And yet, the aggregate score of those two games was a dead-even 118-118.
That's because the Gators defended at such a high level they were able to overcome all their offensive deficiencies and give themselves a chance. Florida fell a point short at A&M, but won by a point against Auburn by hitting 48 percent in the second half, including 7-for-13 from the 3-point line, while never allowing the high-powered Tigers to take the game over with vaunted transition offense or from the 3-point line.
"We've been harping on it the whole year. Our identity is defense," said grad-transfer Phlandrous Fleming Jr., who was in on the game-sealing, perfectly executed defensive stop that denied Auburn a chance to win the game as time expired. "It's not [about] making big shots or making big plays on offense. If we keep that [defense mentality], the offense will come."
Florida (17-10, 7-7), no doubt, has been much better on defense this season, but the Gators don't even rate in the top half of the Southeastern Conference when it comes to defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com advance metrics. Although a respectable 50th nationally, they're actually eighth in the league and a ways behind the 23rd-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks (21-6, 10-4), who will bring the league's fourth-rated defense and 12th-best in the country for Tuesday night's showdown at the O'Dome.
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" setup here]
Arkansas, which is seeking its first win in Gainesville since 1997, will be three days removed from a stifling defensive display in a 58-48 smothering of 16th-ranked Tennessee. In that game, the Hogs limited the Volunteers to just 27-percent shooting, including 4-for-24 from the 3-point line (1-for-14 in the second half), and forced 15 turnovers. But here's the deal: Arkansas shot just 30.5 percent and made only five of 22 shot from deep against a UT defense that rates second in the league and fourth in the country.
So the Gators won't be the only gang that doesn't often shoot straight on the floor. Though the Razorbacks average 77.3 points per game (third in the SEC), they rank seventh in the conference field-goal percentage offense (.440) and 11th in 3-point shooting.
They need defense to make offense, also.
CHARTING THE GATORS — TALE OF THE TAPE
Here's how the Arkansas and Florida defenses compare (with league rank and data) in key statistics in Southeastern Conference play.
Arkansas
Statistic
Florida
1st / 64.8
Scoring defense (points per game)
3rd / 67.0
2nd / .388
Field-goal percentage defense
6th / .425
1st / .286
3-point percentage defense
6th / .307
4th / 4.29
Blocked shots (per game)
T-2nd / 5.21
4th / 8.36
Steals (per game)
9th / 7.29
2nd / 26.9
Defensive rebound percentage
14th / 21.6
UF coach Mike White's team has played some decent defense this season, but Arkansas has guarded on a different level, especially in SEC play.
"They take pride in it," UF coach Mike White said, adding that Arkansas actually ranks first in the SEC in defense in league play, allowing opponents to shoot just 38.8 percent overall and 28.6 from the arc. "They're a defensive program and this particular team is elite."
They're not particularly big, but they boast tremendous length and athleticism on the perimeter. The size the Hogs do have comes in 6-foot-10 sophomore forward Jaylin Williams, the reigning SEC Co-Player of the Week. Williams averaged 13.0 points and 13.5 rebounds in the home victories last week against Missouri and Tennessee. Against the Vols, Williams had 16 rebounds and drew four charges, taking his league-leading total to a staggering 41 on the season.
"We're going from [Auburn's 7-1 center] Walker Kessler, one of the best shot-blockers in the country, to one of the best charge-takers in the country," Fleming said. "We're going to definitely be aggressive still, but we're going to be smart-aggressive."
They also need to be patient, although not a lot of what White calls "A" shots are going to be available against the Hogs. When Tyree Appleby, the Arkansas native who ripped the Tigers for 26 points, is open he needs to fire away. Same with Fleming, Myreon Jones, Kowacie Reeves, etc.
But the Gators also need 6-10 forward Colin Castleton to challenge Williams in the low post the way he worked Kessler for 19 points and eight rebounds. Castleton has been tremendous since returning from a six-game absence due to a shoulder injury. He's averaged 16.4 points on 57-percent shooting and 8.8 rebounds over 33.2 minutes, while also hitting 18 of 23 free throws (.782) the last five games.
When healthy, Castleton has been the most consistent element of a very inconsistent (and, at time, blanks-firing) UF offense this season. And, like his teammates, he's also been very good on the defensive side. The Gators haven't always been perfect, but the work on that end makes up for the deficiencies at the other end.
"The effort has been good, attention to detail has been good," White said. "Our defensive commitment was excellent the other night."
It will need to be Tuesday night, just to keep pace.
