The Gators, such as (in blue, from left) Tyrese Samuel, Micah Handlogten and Will Richard, will be tested by the experience and physicality of Mississippi State in their game Wednesday night.
Veteran, Bullish Bulldogs Next Challenge for Gators
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Heading into Saturday night's game at Missouri, a key part of the Florida low-post plan was for 7-foot-1 sophomore center Micah Handlogten to get into the body of his counterpart, 7-5 fifth-year Connor Vanover, and control space in the paint on both ends of the floor. It turned out to be a very sound plan, as Handlogten had his best game to date – and far away his most physical – in Southeastern Conference play this season.
"He was four inches taller than me, but a little lighter," Handlogten said in reviewing his performance. "I knew I could get through and move him around."
Challenge made. Challenge accepted.
The plan will not be the same when the Gators (12-6, 2-3) trade blows Wednesday night against Mississippi State (13-5, 2-3) at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. It can't be. Not with the makeup, experience, athleticism and toughness of the senior-laden Bulldogs. But the mentality Handlogten and his teammates took on the road last weekend needs to be the same. They need to take the fight to this opponent or much of the good taken from the first road win of the season will have gone to waste.
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" setup here]
At Missouri, Handlogten was active on the block, with his duck-ins and movement in the post freeing up forward Tyrese Samuel for some one-on-one opportunities. Handlogten, the transfer from Marshall, finished with his second double-double of the season, scoring 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting to go with 13 rebounds (four on the offensive end), his most boards since a season-high 14 in a loss to Virginia on Nov. 10.
"When he's rebounding like that, it's just a blessing," said Samuel, who alongside Handlogten has helped make Florida the No. 3 offensive rebounding team in college basketball. "We kill their possessions, we get extra possessions."
But there was more to Handlogten's game than what he did on the glass. It was a moment that definitely caught Coach Todd Golden's eye; as much as any instance during a season when Handlogten has averaged 6.5 points on 65.8-percent shooting and 7.7 rebounds.
UF center Micah Handlogten (3) flushes two of his 10 points Saturday night at Missouri, where he played his best all-around SEC game of the season.
Early in the second half, with UF clinging to a one-point lead, the Gators forced a loose ball in the Tigers' halfcourt. Handlogten dove onto the floor. He gathered the ball with two hands, shoveled a pass to guard Walter Clayton Jr. to kick in a transition opportunity that ended with Will Richard banging a 3-pointer. UF never trailed again.
"A momentum swing play that showed up for his," said Golden, who believes Handlogten, like his team, experienced a growth phase last week that will carry over as UF approaches the halfway point of the SEC slate. "You have to keep in mind, Micah is a sophomore. He hasn't played a lot of minutes for us. He's a guy who's still growing and getting better."
With the exception of Samuel, a grad-transfer from Seton Hall, that is what the Gators are dealing with in 2023-24 in the front court. A lot of youth that is now getting a crash course on how rugged life can be in the SEC.
Just last week, both Handlogten and 6-11 freshman backup Alex Condon were manhandled (like the rest of the Gators) under the basket at Tennessee by one of the most of physical teams in the country. Against 6-11, 240-pound junior center Jonas Aidoo (19 points on 9-for-16 from the floor, plus 9 rebounds), Handlogten took just one shot, grabbed three boards in 11 minutes and was benched to start the second half. Condon was 1-for-9 with six rebounds and three turnovers. Tennessee won by 19. The game really wasn't that close.
"We got punked" was how several UF players described the beating of seven days ago.
"Me especially," Handlogten said.
Now comes Tolu Smith III, the 6-11, 245-pounder who destroyed the Gators with 27 points, 12 rebounds and a game-winning layup with four seconds left in the SEC Tournament last season. Two weeks ago, Tennessee went to Starkville and Smith beasted on the Volunteers for 23 points (7-for-10 shooting, plus 9-for-12 on free throws) in handing UT its lone loss over the last 11 games.
Associate head coach Carlin Hartman had a message for his bigs heading into this one: "Be ready for a war."
"I think it's an opportunity to show my growth as a player," Handlogten said. "I played only – what? – [11] minutes that game because I came out weak. He hit me with the first hit and then I kind of backed off."
Don't think the Mississippi State coaches haven't shown those few moments to Smith. Just like Florida's coaches have shown plenty of Smith to their guys.
"He's probably the most physical player in the league," Handlogten said. "Any chance he gets, he's trying to post you up. He's quick, he's athletic. You've just got to be prepared, can't come up soft. You've got to go bring the fight to him and not let him make the first hit."
Same goes for MSU's 6-7, 230-pound forward Cameron Matthews, board-crashing wing D.J. Jeffries and 6-10, 280-pound backup forward Jimmy Bell. If they sense any "back-off" from the Gators on the home floor that war that Hartman referenced will be over before it begins.
"It's a physical league and he's getting more comfortable with it," Golden said of Handlogten, but he may as well have been talking about his team. "We'll learn a lot [Wednesday] night."
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