Comments on: In close games, Billy D doesn’t measure up to contemporaries

By: Greeneville Gator

Greeneville Gator — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:26:25 +0000

67-77 after UK on Saturday, and I find it painful that at Marshall Billy apparently went 9-1 because his record at UF is now 58-76. Maybe Billy’s gotta have JWill to win close games? The only Gator team I can remember winning close games was 2011, and they collapsed in a close game in the tourney.

And please quit with the Billy is the greatest Gator coach nonsense. We went to more NCAA tourneys and won more SEC titles before Billy than we won SEC titles or went to BCS games before Spurrier. And Spurrier did it while carrying the entire athletic department budget on the team’s back. And for about 1/5 of what we currently pay Billy.

By: Kevin Brockway

Kevin Brockway — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:53:52 +0000

Self, Calipari, Donovan and Izzo all have coached in about the same number of tight games (140) and have similar experience.

By: Rserina

Rserina — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:28:58 +0000

Good job. You named seven hall of fame coaches. Why don’t you compare their success in those situations in their first seventeen years to Donovan’s? Probably because you stole the statistics from a source and didn’t give them credit.

By: Kevin Patrick

Kevin Patrick — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:30:11 +0000

Who are you going to set low post screens for, Patric Young??? He has no low post offensive skills, he’s in there to set screens, rebound and play defense, much like Dennis Rodman. Zeller for Indiana is a low post player, as is Plumlee of Duke, the kid from Gonzaga, and the big from Kansas. Louisville, Michigan and a few other teams also have low post players; the Gators rely on using screens to bury 3 pointers, score in transition and offensive rebound put-backs; teams no longer worry about double teaming Young, he is no threat to score inside, unless guarded by a small forward.

By: not enough data

not enough data — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:01:00 +0000

Five points? Why not three points? Or seven? Do the numbers say the same thing then?

By: chuck

chuck — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 01:38:39 +0000

I have been thinking of this is as well.

I like the coach’s defensive philosophy, play hard and show up on each possession. But I think this mindset doesn’t have the same results on offense, in that if something isn’t working, playing harder won’t work.

I think the offense is predictable. Would like to see more set plays for the low post. Screens away from the ball.

By: Edwin Wildner

Edwin Wildner — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:23:34 +0000

(I was on the staff of the University of Florida in the 60′s, and loved it!)
I noticed that the U of Missouri students behind each basket were particularly loud and aggressive. It may have (but shouldn’t!) rattled the Gator foul shooting. Is there any way that Billy could have the team practice FT’s against a “faux” backdrop behind the basket, with similar loudness and distracting motions? (Loudspeakers–students and/or staff yelling, waving , bobbing, audiovisual distractions, etc., etc.?) Just asking.
And things will improve when Will Yeguete returns.

By: SEC M5: 02.21.13 EditionRush The Court | Rush The Court

SEC M5: 02.21.13 EditionRush The Court | Rush The Court — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:31:55 +0000

[...] Donovan is the greatest head coach ever to stand on the sidelines at the University of Florida, his winning percentage in games decided by five points or fewer doesn’t stack up to that of hi… The most recent three-point loss to Missouri gave the accomplished Donovan a mere 57-75 record in [...]

By: Kevin Patrick

Kevin Patrick — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:04:49 +0000

This Gator team is an Anthony Bennett short of being a contender, with no real inside play (let’s face it, Patric Young is no threat on the offensive end) tourney teams will defend the three and force Gator guards to score off the dribble. It ain’t over yet, depends on the seedings and matchups. Florida should get an easy opening game as a 2 or 3 seed, but game two will be a different story. Looking forward to next season when we’ll have big men who score inside and great guard play.

By: John H.

John H. — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:48:34 +0000

This is the most important issue facing Florida basketball, and one that Coach Donovan himself must address. Obviously based on the statistics this is not just a problem with this group. Perhaps he needs to ask Jim Boeheim, or Bill Self for some pointers. As for Mizzou, how many times did we get the ball into Patric Young on offense, if only to keep the defense honest? And where was Frazier in the second half? The issue isn’t so much the last shot selection as the inability to keep the foot on the gas when we have a lead. Last night it was largely carelessness with the ball by the guards, but it shouldn’t have come down to a last shot when we had a 12 point lead and momentum. Makes it challenging for Gator fans to have high hopes going into the tournament. I like this team, but Coach D has to exert more authority in closing out games, IMHO.