Theme for No. 5 Gators against Texas: Let's get physical
If Todd Golden has his way, the theme for 5th-ranked Florida (15-2, 2-2 SEC) from the opening tip against Texas (12-5, 1-3 SEC) this afternoon at the O-Dome (4 p.m., ESPN2) will be let’s get physical. Looking back on Tuesday night’s loss to Missouri, the one thing that truly disturbed Golden was how the Gators allowed Mizzou to win the physical battle, particularly in the first half.
“You go back and watch on film, and what's made this team special is our consistency in that regard,” Golden said Friday aftenroon. “When the ball goes on the rim, we're flying in there. If we're on the offensive glass, trying to go get her defensively, we're cracking bodies and making sure we own the paint and grab rebounds. We were not the ones delivering the blows on Tuesday night. We were the ones receiving it. We were being reactive instead of proactive -- and just caught up with us. And I thought for the first time all year, really, we did not come out hair on fire with the way we played. And again, hard to do that every night of the season, but we simply can't allow it to happen again where we don't come out playing like the more mentally and physically tougher team. I thought Missouri did that on Tuesday night.”
Texas is a high scoring team that likes to get up and down the floor. What the Gators have to do tonight is dominate the backboards, which requires them to be the more physical team. The Gators lead the nation in rebounding (45.53 per game). They’re second in rebounding margin (12 per game) and fifth in offensive rebounds (15.35).
If there is a real weakness for Texas it is rebounding. The Longhorns are grabbing only 35.33 rebounds per game, which is tied for 206th nationally. Of course, Missouri ranks next to last in the SEC in rebounds, yet the Tigers got 11 offensive rebounds in the second half, which truly irked Golden.
“There's gonna be some games where you don't shoot it great,” Golden said. “There's gonna be some games where you might have a couple extra turnovers, whatever it is, but when you dominate the glass, you're buying yourself 10 to 12 extra possessions to play with. We were outrebounded on Tuesday night. Missouri had a slightly better offensive rebounding rate than we did. We gave ourselves no margin for error and so when Caleb Grill has the first half like he does and he goes nuclear and makes some really tough shots, you don't have that buffer, so to speak, to give yourself a little bit of room to play with. And again, on film to me, it was pretty evident. They were the team that was playing harder and more physical, and I credit them for that.”
The Longhorns feature the SEC’s leading scorer in Tre Johnson (18.73 per game) and in Arthur Kaluma, Texas has a physical inside guy (14.06 points, 7.82 rebounds). Texas shoots 49.7 percent overall from the field, 38.8 percent from the 3-point line which leads the Southeastern Conference. The Gators are holding opponents to 37.4 percent overall from the field and 27.8 percent from the 3-point line, both figures second in the SEC.
For the Gators to come away with a win, they will have to play with defensive intensity that was missing Tuesday night as well as the physical play on the backboards. That is why the Gators are ranked fifth in the country.
Golden said, “If we don't play with that intensity that makes us unique, then we are just another team and so I think our guys understand that going into tomorrow night's game."
Game notes: This is the first time the Gators have played Texas in 27 years ... Walter Clayton Jr., who has made at least one 3-pointer in 40 consecutive games (second in school history), ranks sixth in the SEC in scoring at 17.82 per game ... Here is the SEC in the NCAA NET rankings: 1. Auburn; 4. Tennessee; 6. FLORIDA; 8. Alabama; 10. Kentucky; 16. Ole Miss; 18. Mississippi State; 20. Texas A&M; 26. Missouri; 27. Georgia ; 35. Texas; 42. Vanderbilt; 51. Arkansas; 56. Oklahoma; 68. LSU; 90. South Carolina.
Anticipated starting lineups
No. 5 FLORIDA (15-2, 2-2 SEC): Alex Condon (6-11, 230, SO); Rueben Chinyelu (6-10, 255, SO); Will Richard (6-4, 206, SR); Alijah Martin (6-2, 195, GR); Walter Clayton Jr. (6-2, 195, SR)
Texas (12-5, 1-3 SEC): Arthur Kaluma (6-7, 225, SR); Kadin Shedrick (6-11, 231, SR); Tre Johnson (6-6, 190, FR); Tramon Mack (6-5, 200, SR); Jordan Pope (6-2, 175, JR)
Today’s games
Texas (12-5, 1-3 SEC) at No. 5 FLORIDA (15-2, 2-2 SEC)
No. 1 Auburn (16-1, 4-0 SEC) at No. 23 Georgia (14-3, 2-2 SEC)
No. 4 Alabama (14-3, 3-1 SEC) at No. 8 Kentucky (14-3, 3-1 SEC)
No. 6 Tennessee (16-1, 3-1 SEC) at Vanderbilt (14-3, 2-2 SEC)
LSU (12-5, 1-3 SEC) at No. 11 Texas A&M (13-4, 2-2 SEC)
No. 21 Ole Miss (15-2, 4-0 SEC) at No. 15 Mississippi State (14-3, 2-2 SEC)
Arkansas (11-6, 0-4 SEC) at Missouri (14-3, 3-1 SEC)
South Carolina (10-7, 0-4 SEC) at Oklahoma (13-4, 0-4 SEC)
TODD GOLDEN STATEMENT ON TAUREAN GREEN
Thursday night, a story broke that Florida assistant coach Taurean Green has been accused of sexual assault in a Title IX complaint. When he met with the media Friday, head coach Todd Golden addressed the issue. Here are Golden’s opening statement, questions and his responses:
"I want to start by making a statement about the news that I'm sure everyone has read on Coach Green last night. I simply want to say that I support my staff and I would suggest people do not rush to judgment based off a headline. For me, I am just frustrated and disappointed that a Title IX mechanism that is created to protect both sides during a situation like this -- that confidentiality and privacy continues to be abused. So, as frustrating and as disappointing and as hard as it is to do, I am going to do what I think I need to do and continue to respect the process, as I have. As always, I will continue to respect and appreciate the support for my family and our program at this time.”
The perception it creates though, of your program, how troubling is that?
"Yeah. I don't like it. But perception is perception. It is not reality. I am in this program every day. I see how our staff acts. I see how our players act. I am proud of what we've done since we've got here. And that's all I can do is keep my head up and keep working."
Is there anything you've done in the last three years that you've done or members of your staff have done that you've been ashamed of?
“No.”
On how Florida's players stay focused when some of this stuff comes up. Does it affect them?
“I think our guys do a pretty good job of staying the course and working hard. Obviously, it is not ideal, but at the same time, I think we've done a pretty good job this year of staying the course and keeping winning the main thing with the way we've played and the way we've performed. So, I believe we will continue to do that on a day to day basis.”
Will Taurean remain coaching?
“Yes. Taurean will be with us.”
Would you say this doesn't really affect the culture of your basketball team?
“As I said, you know, we will continue to work, push forward, practice, and play. We will let the process play out and see where it goes.”
At a previous press conference when I asked, you said it was a hard time for you and your family. Would you say it is a hard time for Taurean and his family?
“I'm not going to speak for Taurean.”
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