March 18th, 2009 06:31pm
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I had a chance recently to catch up with Florida assistant coach Shaka Smart. Smart, who will turn 32 next month, is about to complete his first year as an assistant on the UF basketball staff. He’s had previous assistant coaching stints at Clemson (2006-08), Akron (2003-05) and California, Pa (1999-2001.)
Q — You’ve coached in the Atlantic Coast Conference as an assistant at Clemson and now you’ve had a chance to coach a full season …
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March 17th, 2009 04:37pm
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Like the rest of the Gators, Florida associate coach Larry Shyatt won’t be going back to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.
But that doesn’t mean Shyatt won’t have some rooting interest when the tournament starts Thursday.
Shyatt’s oldest son, Jeremy, is the director of basketball operations on the Virginia Commonwealth University men’s basketball staff, under former Florida assistant and current VCU coach Anthony Grant. VCU opens NCAA Tournament play Thursday against UCLA in …
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March 16th, 2009 03:46pm
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Eating all of those cupcakes finally has caught up to Florida.
Considering that 11 of the 34 at-large berths in the NCAA Tournament had as many or more losses than Gators this season, it’s clear a main reason why the Florida missed the tournament for a second straight season was its soft non-conference schedule.
Yes, Florida posted an impressive early season win against Pac-10 regular-season champion Washington. But what hurt the Gators more were …
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March 13th, 2009 09:12pm
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* When Alabama students chant “Roll Tide” during the game it sounds like John Belushi’s famous “To-ga, To-ga” chant from Animal House.
* Unfortunately, Tide fans haven’t had much to cheer about. Tennessee has dominated throughout the game. It appears the Vols are motivated and out for revenge after losing to Alabama at home last Sunday.
* UT junior Josh Tabb might not work at point guard for the Vols because of his high dribble, but …
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March 13th, 2009 05:03pm
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* A few years ago, former South Carolina coach Dave Odom compared forward Dominique Archie to NBA first-round draft pick Renaldo Balkman because of his defensive intensity, athletic ability and energy. It didn’t materialize right away, but Archie is beginning to show that promise. Archie is a plus defender who has improved finishing around the basket.
* Is there a better on the ball defender in the league than South Carolina junior Devan Downey. He’s such a pest. Credit Mississippi State …
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March 13th, 2009 12:18pm
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When Florida faces Auburn tonight in a must-win game for NCAA Tournament hopes, a key will be keeping Auburn senior Korvotney Barber off the glass.
Barber, tied for second in the SEC in rebounding at 9.3 per game, overcomes his size (6-foot-7) with his tenacity, leaping ability and instincts around the backboards.
Could he have been a Gator? Florida coach Billy Donovan acknowledged there was mild interest from Barber, a Manchester, Ga., native. But it didn’t …
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March 12th, 2009 08:46pm
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* Watching Alabama senior guard Alonzo Gee make all those athletic drives to the basket and backboard-rocking dunks must make Florida fans wonder what could have been. Gee, from Riviera Beach, was recruited by Florida. But the Gators passed on Gee for David Huertas in what amounted to a terrible 2005 UF recruiting class.
* I really like watching Alabama pint-sized point guard Andrew Brock. He gives the Tide similar energy off the bench to that of freshman Erving Walker for …
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March 12th, 2009 04:22pm
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* If Mississippi State can get consistent shooting from Ravern Johnson, it can make a deep run in the tournament. Johnson went 3-for-7 from 3-point range in the first half, a big reason why the Bulldogs are up on Georgia 40-26 at halftime.
* Nothing frustrates me more than a big man playing like a shooting guard. Georgia power forward Trey Thompkins is aptly named. At 6-foot-9, 247 pounds, Thompkins has the body to develop into of more dominant …
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March 10th, 2009 11:17pm
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I’ve been looking forward to the Southeastern Conference Tournament coming to Tampa for a long time. Our media hotel is right next to the St. Pete Times Forum and Channelside Entertainment District, which is a perfect location to let out a little late-night deadline steam.
For those selfish reasons, there’s a part of me that would like to see Florida make a deep run in the SEC Tourney. And I think the bracket and the matchups set up pretty well for …
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March 9th, 2009 07:14pm
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Here’s a look at Florida’s current NCAA Tournament resume:
Record: 22-9 (9-7 Southeastern Conference)RPI: 48Strength of Schedule: 90Last 10 games: 4-6Key wins: Washington, South CarolinaBad losses: at Georgia, at Mississippi State
So where does Florida stand for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid? Different analysts have different opinions. Noted ESPN bracket guru Joe Lunardi currently has Florida as one of his last four teams out. College RPI.com founder Jerry Palm, on the other hand, has Florida in the tournament at a …
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