Can the Gators replicate last week's success on the road at Oklahoma?

Rueben Chinyelu has become a beast on the backboards (Photo by Chris Spears)

There was no secret formula to Florida’s success last week. Combine defense and rebounding with rowdy crowds jamming into the O-Dome and the Gators began looking like the team that might have what it takes to make a deep run in March. Throw in some shooting that has been AWOL much of the year and the Gators played at what Todd Golden says is “close to our highest level.”

In beating two ranked teams – then 18^th-ranked Georgia and then 21^st-ranked Tennessee – the Gators played a smothering version of defense that took the 3-pointer out of the game. Georgia and Tennessee, which rely heavily on the 3-pointer, could only squeeze off 34 threes (made 10). Whether it was a three or a two, whenever they missed the Gators dominated the rebounding to the tune of 96-65. The Gators retrieved 34 of their own missed shots.

Against Tennessee, it seemed as if the Gators (11-5, 2-1 SEC) are on the verge of breaking out of the shooting slump that dogged them throughout the non-conference schedule and the first two SEC games. Boogie Fland, for example, came into the Tennessee game hitting just 12 of 63 from the 3-point line. He went 3-6 against the Vols, part of a 23-point effort that was clearly his best game of the season.

Golden hopes the shooting travels to Norman Tuesday night when the 19^th-ranked Gators face off with Oklahoma (11-5, 1-2 SEC), but even if the shooting is erratic, he knows Florida’s calling card has to be defense and rebounding.

“I think the main thing is defense and rebounding,” Golden said Monday afternoon before the Gators departed for Norman. “… Defense, rebounding, making some shots … I think it's going to take an elite defensive performance. I think we have to dominate the glass to give ourselves that high floor and we have to make more winning plays down the stretch than we did against Missouri.”  

Against Georgia and Tennessee, the Gators got the stops and controlled the game with their rebounding. Florida leads the country in rebounding (46.94 per game), offensive rebounding (17 per game) and rebound margin (+15 per game). Few teams, if any, can match Florida’s 4-man rotation of big guys – 6-11 Alex Condon (14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds); 6-11 Rueben Chinyelu (10.9 points, 10.6 rebounds); 6-9 Tommy Haugh (17.2 points, 6.6 rebounds) and 7-1 Micah Handlogten (4.9 points, 6.6 rebounds). As good as they are, they need the help of some outside shooting.

When Fland, Xaivian Lee and Urban Klavzar are making shots, opponents can’t go zone and dare the Gators to win the game from the outside. Against Tennessee, Lee (10 points, 2-7 on threes) and Klavzar (15 points, 3-9 on threes) were enough of a threat that it kept the Vols from collapsing on the bigs.

Golden knows the Gators can play defense and rebound. Now, if they can only make shots with even 30-35 percent consistency, Florida is very capable of becoming the most dominant team in the SEC.

“I thought Saturday, was a good example of what it can look like when we're clicking on all cylinders,” Golden said. “We didn't play perfect, but we played how we want to play. And I thought we played two complete halves and did a good job in all the important, facets of the game. Hopefully we can build on it, getting on the road this week.”

Anticipated starting lineups

No. 19 FLORIDA (11-5, 2-1 SEC): Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR); Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185, JR); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO)

Oklahoma (11-5, 1-2 SEC): Tae Davis (6-9, 215, SR); Mohamed Wague (6-10, 225, SR); Derrion Reed (6-8, 226, SO); Xzayvier Brown (6-2, 182, JR); Nijel Pack (5-10, 188, RSR)

Associated Press top 25: 1. Arizona 16-0; 2. Iowa State 16-0; 3. UConn 16-1; 4. Michigan 14-1; 5. Purdue 15-1; 6. Duke 15-1; 7. Houston 15-1; 8. Nebraska 16-0; 9. Gonzaga 17-1; 10. Vanderbilt 16-0; 11. BYU 15-1; 12. Michigan State 14-2; 13. Illinois 13-3; 14. North Carolina 14-2; 15. Texas Tech 12-4; 16. Virginia 14-2; 17. Arkansas 12-4; 18. Alabama; 19. FLORIDA 11-5; 20. Louisville 12-4; 21. Georgia 14-2; 22. Clemson 14-3; 23. Utah State 14-1; 24. Tennessee 11-5; 25. Seton Hall 14-2

Coaches top 25: 1. Arizona 16-0; 2. Iowa State 16-0; 3. Michigan 14-1; 4. UConn 16-1; 5. Purdue 15-1; 6. Duke 15-1; 7. Houston 15-1; 8. Vanderbilt; 9. Gonzaga 17-1; 10. Nebraska 16-0; 11. BYU 15-1; 12. Michigan State 14-2; 13. Illinois 13-3; 14. Texas Tech 12-4; 15. North Carolina 14-2; 16. Virginia 14-2; 17. Arkansas 12-4; 18. Alabama 11-5; 19. Louisville 12-4; 20. FLORIDA 11-5; 21. Clemson 14-3; 22. Georgia 14-2; 23. Iowa 12-4; 24. Utah State 14-1; 25. Kansas 11-5

SEC teams in kenpom.com national rankings: 5. Vanderbilt 16-0; 12. FLORIDA 11-5; 14. Alabama 11-5; 20. Tennessee 11-5; 27. Georgia 14-2; 29. Arkansas 12-4; 30. Auburn 10-6; 32. Kentucky 10-6; 40. LSU 12-4; 41. Texas A&M 13-3; 52. Texas 10-6; 54. Oklahoma 12-4; 59. Missouri 12-4; 68. Mississippi State 10-6; 70. Ole Miss 9-7; 72. South Carolina 10-6

SEC BASKETBALL

No. 18 Alabama (11-5, 1-2 SEC): The Crimson Tide doesn’t have a strong inside presence, so on nights when the threes aren’t falling, they’re vulnerable. Alabama’s rebounding margin is 1.31 per game … Latrell Wrightsell will miss Tuesday’s game at Mississippi State.

No. 17 Arkansas (12-4, 2-1 SEC): Karter Knox suffered a hip injury in the loss to Auburn. His return is day-to-day.

Auburn (10-6, 1-2 SEC): The Tigers got Steven Pear’s share the ball message. Against Arkansas the Tigers finished with 20 assists. In five of Auburn’s six losses this season, the Tigers have registered their lowest assist totals.

No. 21 Georgia (14-2, 2-1 SEC): Georgia’s defense shut down South Carolina in the final eight minutes of the game when the Bulldogs turned an 8-point deficit into a 5-point win.

Kentucky (10-6, 1-2 SEC): The Wildcats are dealing with uncertainty regarding the status of point guard Jaland Lowe and power forward Jayden Quaintance. Quaintance is considered day-to-day right now while Lowe may miss several games moving forward.

LSU (12-4, 0-3 SEC): LSU has lost all three games since Dedan Thomas Jr. suffered a lower leg injury. Thomas was averaging 16.2 points and 7.1 assists per game prior to the injury. Thomas might be able to play again Wednesday evening against Kentucky.

Mississippi State (10-6, 2-1 SEC): In getting blown out at Kentucky, Mississippi State hit only 3-20 from the 3-point line while losing the rebounding battle and turning the ball over 15 times.

Missouri (12-4, 2-1 SEC): What a letdown for Mizzou. After beating Kentucky in Lexington for the first time in history, Missouri blew a 10-point first half lead and lost to Ole Miss in Oxford.

Oklahoma (11-5, 1-2 SEC): The Sooners have lost their last two games after shooting a combined 28 percent (14-50) from the 3-point line.

Ole Miss (9-7, 1-2 SEC): Missouri torched Ole Miss for five threes in seven shots during the first five minutes, but the defense tightened. Ole Miss held Mizzou to 2-17 from the 3-point line the rest of the way.

South Carolina (10-6, 1-2 SEC): Most of South Carolina’s woes can be tied to poor rebounding. The Gamecocks average 34.7 rebounds per game, which ranks 327^th nationally.

No. 24 Tennessee (11-5, 1-2 SEC): In losing to Florida, the Vols turned the ball over 18 times and were beaten on the backboards by 21 rebounds. The Gators had a 30-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

Texas (10-6, 1-2 SEC): The Longhorns regained their composure after blowing a 13-point lead in the second half to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Texas A&M (13-3, 3-0 SEC): The Aggies are a surprising 3-0 in SEC play thanks to a high scoring offense that averages 93.7 points per game, which is 5^th nationally. Six Aggies average double figures with Ruben Dominguez scoring a team-leading 13.7 per game.

No. 10 Vanderbilt (16-0, 3-0 SEC): The guard tandem of Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles is combining for 34.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game. Tyler Nickel (15 points per game) is hitting 47.5 percent of his 3-pointers.

Tuesday’s games

No. 19 FLORIDA (11-5, 2-1 SEC) at Oklahoma (11-5, 1-2 SEC)

No. 18 Alabama (11-5, 1-2 SEC) at Mississippi State (10-6, 2-1 SEC)

Texas A&M (13-3, 3-0 SEC) at No. 24 Tennessee (11-5, 1-2 SEC)

Wednesday’s games

No. 10 Vanderbilt (16-0, 3-0 SEC) at Texas (10-6, 1-2 SEC)

South Carolina (10-6, 1-2 SEC) at No. 17 Arkansas (12-4, 2-1 SEC)

Ole Miss (9-7, 1-2 SEC) at No. 21 Georgia (14-2, 2-1 SEC)

Auburn (10-6, 1-2 SEC) at Missouri (12-4, 2-1 SEC)

Kentucky (10-6, 1-2 SEC) at LSU (12-4, 0-3 SEC)