For Gators, a Chance to Build More Momentum at Home

Tuesday, February 13

Gainesville, FL

8 PM

Florida Gators

LSU

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Sophomore center Micah Handlogten flushes between two Auburn players Saturday.

For Gators, a Chance to Build More Momentum at Home

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Todd Golden was mere minutes removed from Florida's statement-making wipeout win over 12^th-ranked Auburn Saturday when he was hit with the anticipated inquiry (this is February, afterall) about what such a significant and dominant victory had done to his team's NCAA Tournament ambitions.

"I mean, we're a lock, the biggest lock in the world," Golden gushed. "I think the only thing we might have to decide is if we're wearing white home jerseys in the first road or putting those road unis on."

Exactly no one in the press room took his remarks other than with the sarcasm with which they were delivered.

And in the oft chance someone did, Golden was quick to redirect the moment with the proper perspective.

"In all seriousness, we're in a great spot right now, but we've got to control the controllables and worry about LSU," the UF coach said, turning the subject directly at the next opponent. "Just as quickly as it got good for us it can get bad, if we don't take care of business. Obviously, [we're] being thoughtful of where we are, but by no means are we content. We got eight league games left. We've got a lot of work to do."

The first of those eight, indeed, will pit Florida (16-7, 6-4), winner of five of the previous six and resting in a three-way tie for fifth in the Southeastern Conference standings, against LSU (12-11, 4-6), which has dropped five of six, in a Tuesday night contest at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center.

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

For the second time in less than two weeks, the theme for the Gators will be about navigating the perils of prosperity. They were in a similar situation earlier this month and met it with mixed reviews.

On Jan. 31, UF went to Kentucky and left with an epic 94-91 overtime defeat of the 10^th-ranked Wildcats, easily the biggest road victory of Golden's two seasons. The Gators immediately turned their sights to a road game at Texas A&M three days later. Florida didn't play the next game thinking it had everything figured out, which was encouraging. The Gators competed hard in a difficult environment – and led by a dozen early in the second half – but got outplayed down the stretch in losing 67-66 in a game that was very much there for the taking. That was discouraging. A missed opportunity, for sure.

"We just got a little bit off track and they were able to get a few [offensive rebounds] on us," UF 7-foot-1 sophomore center Micah Handlogten said. "I think just keeping our mindset on the scout, knowing what to do and doing that for all 40 minutes of the game – and not just 20 – would be the main think we look for [this time]."

The Gators also got loose with the basketball in College Station: 14 turnovers leading to 12 A&M points. They also were stalemated on the glass – an area where UF should have had an edge – with Handlogten and 6-10 forward Tyrese Samuel combining for just eight points and nine rebounds. Handlogten took just one shot and grabbed three boards in 15 minutes there.

Which was why the way he performed against Auburn (versus one of the best front lines in the league) was so encouraging.

"He played so hard," Golden said of Handlogten, who finished with just four points, but cleared nine rebounds, blocked a UF career-best five shots and had three steals. "One of the areas I challenged him before the game was with his physicality. I told him, 'These guys are not going to back down. They're going to try to hit you every chance they get.' To his credit, I thought it was by far his most physical game. He set the tone."

**Micah Handlogten** (3), here facing Mississippi State, had not been much of a shot-blocker this season, but swatted five against Auburn.

Handlogten, the transfer from Marshall and 2023 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, has demonstrated he can bang some down low, but the UF coaches want to see it more consistently; and need to see more often, if the Gators are going to be at their best.

"Micah is coming into his own," junior guard Walter Clayton Jr. said. "The thing with him is just being tough. [Against Auburn], he was tough."

Facing 6-10 Johni Broom and 6-8 Jaylin Williams, arguably the most formidable front court duo in the SEC, Handlogten was a long and shadowing presence on both ends of the floor, clearly altering the way the Auburn played around the basket. Despite his size, Handlogten had not excelled as a rim protector this season, but did so last game when he rang up 25 percent of his 20 blocks this season (third-most on the team).

"That's definitely the new standard for me," Handlogten said.

Golden and his staff will try to hold him to it, starting with this next game against a different set of Tigers. The Gators are favored, just like they will be again Saturday when they go to Georgia – which has a mid-week bye – to face another struggling SEC opponent. These are games that, on paper, they'll be expected to win to further boost that NCAA Tournament resume.

If only it was as easy as just showing up, right?

The Gators, it would appear, have found a base and best eight-man rotation, with a trio of play-making guards – including a rejuvenated Riley Kugel, coming off an electric 22-point performance off the bench – and a four-man front court that can rebound with any team in the country. Florida's identity is one of a squad that can beat opponents not necessarily in different ways, but with different players.

LSU, meanwhile, is an athletic bunch that already has a 15-point road win at Texas A&M in the books, something the Gators obviously wish they could have achieved. The Tigers have given up just 63.4 points per game in league play (that's almost 20 less than UF's scoring average), are shooting better from the floor (45.8 percent) and 3-point line (35.0) than the Gators and have a transfer 7-footer in Will Baker, formerly of Nevada, who has the size to try and offset what Florida does with Handlogten.

"I feel we have a lot we can build on over the past couple of weeks, but one of the things that we've talked about before is just handling success and making sure that we come out [Tuesday night] and play with the same energy and enthusiasm that we played with on Saturday," Golden said. "If we do that, we'll give ourselves a really good shot. If we don't, it's going to be a really big challenge."