Woulda, coulda, shoulda: Time for the Gators to make winning plays

Tommy Haugh powers up for two of his 27 against Auburn (Photo by Chris Spears)

Benny Kimble, the late, great high school and junior college basketball coach in Mississippi, used to say, “If a frog had wings, he wouldn’t bump his butt every time he jumps.” Translation: Wishful thinking isn’t going to change reality.

The first time I heard Benny use that old adage was at practice the day after the McComb Tigers had lost a basketball game they should have won. He stole that phrase from somewhere else – it turns out it’s been around a long, long time – but he used it to replace woulda, coulda, shoulda. If perfectly describes Florida’s 76-67 loss to Auburn, another one of those woulda, coulda, shoulda games that seems to be defining the 19^th-ranked Gators (14-6, 5-2 SEC) season.

Here are a couple of facts about that game. As badly as the Gators shot the 3-pointers, they actually hit two more than Auburn – Florida 7-27, Auburn 5-15. Auburn made 19-21 from the foul line. The Gators made 16-27.

So here’s your woulda, coulda, shoulda about that game. Now remember, Auburn got a garbage basket at the buzzer so it was really a 7-point game in which the Gators made just 25.9 percent of their threes and 59.2 percent of their foul shots. One more three, which would have been 29.6 percent and close to the 28.5 percent they’re shooting for the season, and it’s a 4-point game. The Gators came into the game shooting 70.6 percent from the foul line. Three more makes at the foul line would have been 70.3 percent and the deficit is a single point.

All the if onlys don’t change the fact the Gators lost the game. All the if onlys don’t change the fact the Gators have made more threes (40) than opponents (34) in their six losses and more threes (149) than opponents (131) for the entire season. It also doesn’t change the fact the Gators have been outscored by just a single point at the foul line in their six losses – Florida 112-135; opponents 113-154.

The numbers don’t lie. The Gators would have, could have and should have won all six of the losses – No. 1 Arizona, 93-87; TCU, 84-80; No. 4 Duke, 67-66; No. 2 UConn 77-73; Missouri, 76-75; and Auburn, 76-67. One or two made threes. One or two free throws.

How about one or two fewer turnovers? How about one or two more defensive stops? How about one or two more rebounds?

The margin for error is slim and the Gators don’t have those erasers in the backcourt who had a knack for coming up with the right play at the right time, whether it was a shot from the field, a free throw, a steal … whatever the Gators needed.

It’s easy to point fingers at Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee. They are very good basketball players. Are they the equal of Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard and Alijah Martin? You know the answer to that one, but Todd Golden knew Fland and Lee wouldn’t match the production of Clayton, Richard and Martin.

They don’t have to match, just play a little better. The same holds true for the front court. While Tommy Haugh went off for 27 points and 10 rebounds against Auburn, Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon combined to for 11 points and 16 rebounds. Their norm is a combined 25.3 points and 19.1 rebounds.

In his post game remarks, Auburn coach Steven Pearl said the Gators are “a Final Four team.” They can be, for sure, but they can’t keep losing these very winnable games. This is a team that is quite capable of blasting through the rest of the SEC schedule, and against the nation’s No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 teams they have already proven they are every bit as good.

The Gators are seven games into the SEC portion of the schedule. The next 11 games, starting with Wednesday night’s road encounter with South Carolina and Sunday’s nationally televised matchup at the O-Dome with Alabama, will tell us if the Gators can make a run for a second straight title or if it is the season of the frog, always bumping their butts because they don’t have wings.

BEDIAKO WILL PLAY AGAINST THE GATORS

Due to weather issues, there was no hearing regarding the eligibility of Charles Bediako in Tuscaloosa on Monday. The NCAA agreed with Judge James H. Roberts, so Roberts extended his temporary restraining order by 10 days. That means Bediako will play for 23^rd-ranked Alabama (13-6, 3-3 SEC) Tuesday night against Missouri (14-6, 4-3 SEC), on the road Sunday at 19^th-ranked Florida (14-6, 5-2 SEC) and back in Tuscaloosa for Texas A&M (16-4, 6-1 SEC).

In his debut, just a week removed from playing a G-League game, Bediako scored 13 in the Crimson Tide’s loss to Tennessee. In two years at Alabama before declaring for the NBA Draft in 2023, the 7-0 Bediako averaged 6.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Al.com reported that the NCAA has filed a motion asking Judge Roberts to recuse himself. Roberts, it turns out, is a six-figure University of Alabama booster. Judge Roberts wife, attorney Mary Turner Roberts, is the defense attorney for former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles, who is being tried for capital murder.

Associated Press top 25: 1. Arizona 20-0; 2. UConn 19-1; 3. Michigan 18-1; 4. Duke 18-1; 5. Nebraska 20-0; 6. Gonzaga 21-1; 7. Michigan State 18-2; 8. Iowa State 18-2; 9. Illinois 17-3; 10. Houston 17-2; 11. Texas Tech 16-4; 12. Purdue 17-3; 13. BYU 17-2; 14. Kansas 15-5; 15. Arkansas 15-5; 16. North Carolina 16-4; 17. Virginia 16-3; 18. Vanderbilt 17-3; 19. FLORIDA 14-6; 20. Louisville 14-5; 21. Saint Louis 19-1; 22. Clemson 17-4; 23. Alabama 13-6; 24. Miami (OH) 20-0; 25. St. John’s 15-5

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

SEC in latest CBS bracketology

West: 1. Arizona; 2. Purdue; 3. Michigan State; 4. FLORIDA (Other SEC teams: 6. Tennessee; 7. Auburn)

South: 1. Nebraska; 2. Iowa State; 3. Vanderbilt; 4. Arkansas (Other SEC teams: 7. Georgia)

East: 1. Duke; 2. Illinois; 3. Gonzaga; 4. Texas Tech (SEC teams: 6. Alabama)

Midwest: 1. Michigan; 2. UConn; 3. Houston; 4. Virginia (SEC teams: 7. Kentucky)

Tuesday’s games

No. 15 Arkansas (15-5, 5-2 SEC) at Oklahoma (11-9, 1-6 SEC)

Missouri (14-6, 4-3 SEC) at No. 23 Alabama (13-6, 3-3 SEC)

Kentucky (14-6, 5-2 SEC) at No. 18 Vanderbilt (17-3, 4-3 SEC)

Wednesday’s game

No. 19 FLORIDA (14-6, 5-2 SEC) at South Carolina (11-9, 2-5 SEC)

Tennessee (13-6, 3-3 SEC) at Georgia (16-4, 4-3 SEC)

Texas (12-8, 3-4 SEC) at Auburn (13-7, 4-3 SEC)

Mississippi State (10-10, 2-5 SEC) at LSU (13-7, 1-6 SEC)

Saturday’s games

Texas A&M (16-4, 6-1 SEC) at Georgia (16-4, 4-3 SEC)

Texas (12-8, 3-4 SEC) at Oklahoma (11-9, 1-6 SEC)

Mississippi State (10-10, 2-5 SEC) at Missouri (14-6, 4-3 SEC)

LSU (13-7, 1-6 SEC) at South Carolina (11-9, 2-5 SEC)

Kentucky (14-6, 5-2 SEC) at No. 15 Arkansas (15-5, 5-2 SEC)

No. 18 Vanderbilt (17-3, 4-3 SEC) at Ole Miss (11-9, 3-4 SEC)

Tennessee (13-6, 3-3 SEC) at Auburn (13-7, 4-3 SEC)

Sunday’s game

No. 23 Alabama (13-6, 3-3 SEC) at No. 19 FLORIDA (14-6, 5-2 SEC)

WORST TO FIRST IN THE SEC

16. Oklahoma (11-9, 1-6 SEC): Porter Moser is coaching for his job and he won’t have Joe Castiglione around to protect him. Fans want a winner and Moser isn’t winning.

15. Mississippi State (10-10, 2-5 SEC): The Bulldogs are slumping and there is no end in sight, particularly if Josh Hubbard isn’t hitting shots.

14. South Carolina (11-9, 2-5 SEC): The Gamecocks are headed for their third losing season in four years. Lamont Paris is coaching for his job.

13. LSU (13-7, 1-6 SEC): The Tigers have a chance to go 2-0 this week (home Mississippi State, away South Carolina) and that could springboard them to a good second half of the season.

12. Ole Miss (11-9, 3-4 SEC): The Rebels play hard and make it tough for everybody, but they just don’t have the horses to win consistently.

11. Missouri (14-6, 4-3 SEC): You never know which Mizzou team is going to show up: the one that beat Florida and Kentucky or the one that LSU beat without Dedan Thomas?

10. Texas (12-8, 3-4 SEC): We’ll see if the Longhorns have turned the corner Wednesday night at Auburn.

9. Alabama (13-6, 3-3 SEC): Charles Bediako says the Tide can win it all with him in the lineup. Well, he was in the lineup Saturday night when Bama lost at home to Tennessee. Bama still has to have a hot night from the 3-point line to win tough games.

8. Tennessee (13-6, 3-3 SEC): The Vols got a huge win at Tuscaloosa, a game in which Jaylen Causey hyper-extended his knee. The Vols will need his rebounding if they’re going to win on the road this week at Georgia and Auburn.

7. Auburn (13-7, 4-3 SEC): If Steven Pearl can get the Tigers to play every game like they did the first half at Florida, then Auburn is a team to be reckoned with in the second half of the SEC season.

6. Vanderbilt (17-3, 4-3 SEC): The Commodores broke their 3-game losing streak at Mississippi State. They get Kentucky at home Tuesday. That’s a must win game.

5. Arkansas (15-5, 5-2 SEC): The big game of the week is Saturday with Kentucky. It’s in Fayette-Nam, so give a big edge to John Calipari and the Hogs.  

4. Georgia (16-4, 4-3 SEC): It’s a big week for the Bulldogs with homers against Tennessee and the Aggies. The Bulldogs can be formidable at Stegman.

3. Texas A&M (16-4, 6-1 SEC): The Aggies have had it easy so far. Now it’s time to find out how Bucky (McMillan) Ball handles good teams starting with a roadie to Georgia Saturday.

2. Kentucky (14-6, 5-2 SEC): The Wildcats have won five in a row, but they’re down two point guards. How will Denzel Aberdeen fare at the only point on the road at Vandy and Arkansas this week?

1. FLORIDA (14-6, 5-2 SEC): The Gators played their worst game of the season against Auburn and still had a chance to win the game. It’s time for the Gators to play up to their potential. They’re still the best team in the SEC, but right now they’re an enigma.