Bryce Thornton celebrates his game-winning interception against Ole Miss (Gator Bait Photo by Chris Spears) Stay the course. If Billy Napier has said that or words to the same effect over the last three years, he’s said it 100 times. Maybe more.     Win or lose, and there have been more losses (19) than wins (17), Napier has insisted that the Gators are not only progressing toward a resurrection of Florida’s championship past, but doing it the right way. It took until Saturday to convert the Gator Nation from skeptics to believers.   Saturday past sins were, in large part, forgiven by the Florida masses when the Gators (6-5, 4-4 SEC) beat a ranked opponent for the second week in a row, this one 9th-ranked Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3 SEC) which came to Gainesville 13.5-point favorites and left 24-17 losers. Winning tends to cure all ills in football where the most successful coaches tend to surround a few carefully picked Boy Scouts with a roster of borderline psychopaths. The nice guys -- and Billy Napier will never be confused for anything but a nice guy -- have this habit of taking the Leo Durocher route. Durocher, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, once said, “Nice guys finish last.”   While we loved and adored Steve Spurrier during his 12 years as Florida’s head ball coach, to the rest of the Southeastern Conference he was Darth Visor. Urban Meyer had the rest of the SEC convinced that he had made a pact with the devil the way he kept bringing in players who were on a first name basis with the folks that process wrongdoers into the Alachua County Jail.   But, Spurrier and Meyer won championships. Eight SEC and three national championships, to be exact, with a combined record of 187-42-1. Since Meyer retired iafter the 2010 season, there has been a succession of nice guys -- Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain and Dan Mullen prior to Napier. All three were fired prior to the completion of a fourth year and in McElwain’s case, the third.   Napier will get a fourth year, whch pissed off quite a few Gators when Scott Stricklin made the announcement that he’s sticking by his coach. Stricklin explained that Napier had the Gators on the right track for success.   There we go again. Stay the course.   Now, if pressed for more substance, Stricklin might be forced to admit that if he doesn’t stick with his guy, then he’ll lose DJ Lagway, Jadan Baugh and a whole bunch of others to the transfer portal for lucrative NIL deals. That used to be cheating but now it’s legal.   Let’s be honest with ourselves here. We saw the Florida-LSU and Florida-Ole Miss games. Are any of us willing to risk losing this kid to the portal? Ole Miss, probably LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Indiana and Auburn will all be shopping in the portal to fill the quarterback void and all of them are more than willing to pay  through the nose to get their new guy. Twice that or three times that if it’s Lagway.   So let’s not be fooled here. As much as Scott Stricklin was willing to stand by his man, he also knew what would happen with Lagway if Napier were fired. Bringing back Billy meant keeping DJ Lagway a Gator. That was a gamble Stricklin was willing to take.   Another reason why that seemed like a safe gamble was what Stricklin saw on the field starting with the Gators’ response on the field after the Mississippi State win. At that point, consensus was that Napier had one foot out the door and it was simply a matter of which loss in the games ahead would be all she wrote.   Starting with the Wednesday practice after the Mississippi State win, things began to change in a positive direction for Napier and the Gators. At that point in time, the Gators were 2-2 and only the UCF and season ended with Florida State seemed winnable.   Napier admitted that there was at least a tad of self-doubt that day, but what he saw in his team convinced him that he had to find a way to navigate through an upcoming schedule that would include Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, LSU and Ole Miss among others. “I walked off of that field on that Wednesday, and man, it's like abuse out there,” Napier said after the Gators stunned No. 9 Ole Miss. “I can ignore it. I can kind of control my environment and live life, but for these young people, in the digital world they live in, they can't do that. They live a life where they cannot do that.  “So just to see them -- sometimes you get to an open date, and I've been on teams where an open date is a disaster, and you're trying to work, you're trying to come up with plans for improvement. But just to see this group, man, they were like, ‘Coach, what do we do; what do we need to do?’” Players weren’t pointing fingers at each other. They weren’t blaming the head coach or his assistants, either. They blamed themselves for losing and they trusted Napier enough to lead them out of the dark place they were in.   How often does something happen like that in collegiate athletics these days. Nearly every coach in every sport at the big time level will tell you the portal and NIL have changed things into “what’s in it for me.” It’s why Nick Saban retired at Alabama. It’s why Tony Bennett resigned as Virginia’s basketball coach.   This group of Florida players is different. “Yeah, I mean, just passion and energy and the way they worked that week and that Wednesday practice, I'll never forget that,” Napier said. “I walked off that field and said, ‘That's the best practice I've been associated with in 20 years of college football. So at that point, I'm like, we've got to figure this out.’” What an admission, a coach saying he has to make some changes because he thinks his players deserve better. Couple that with players who tell their coach we’re with you all the way and the ingredients are there for good things to happen. Now you know why the Gators had Tennessee on the ropes, knees wobbly and ready to fall face first on the mat until Graham Mertz tore his ACL. The Vols won that game but it took overtime to do it. “I think Tennessee was a turning point,” Napier said. “I think in that locker room after the game, that was when it was like okay, we can do this, and I think obviously Kentucky, another open date, what we experienced in Jacksonville.” Since the Tennessee game, the Gators are 3-2 and obviously not the same team that got its doors blown off by Miami and the Aggies. You can’t turn the clock back, but you can rest assured that neither Canes nor Aggies would be willing to play the Gators right now. Leaving the field after beating Ole Miss, Napier told the ABC reporter that the Gators could play with anyone in the country right now. How right he is. The corner has been turned. By staying the course, with some corrections in the staff (Ron Roberts to the booth, Austin Armstrong to the field for defense) and the way he calls the offense to take advantage of Lagway’s skill set, Napier has finally connected the dots. It’s three years since he was hired, but finally, the head ball coach has a team he knows he can go to war with and win. The Gators are 6-5 with FSU looming next Saturday night at the world’s largest erector set, Doak Campbell Stadium. Win that one, win the bowl game and the Gators finish 8-5 against what every expert said was the toughest schedule in the country. It should be noted that if the Gators get their eight wins it will be with a roster that has had to deal with a rash of injuries the likes of which we haven’t seen since 2013. In 2013, there were so many injuries that Will Muschamp was down to this fourth quarterback at the end of the season. Against Ole Miss Saturday, 16 of 22 starters will be back next year. Another 16 underclassmen played significant roles in the win. The nucleus of a team that should be looked at as a contender next year is in place already and thanks to the portal and solid recruiting by Napier, the Gators should be in a place of real strength for 2025. This journey Napier has been on since taking the Florida job in December of 2021 has been anything but smooth, but credit the coach with believing that championship level teams can be built with high character guys who believe in each other enough to block out the noise. Napier has a roster of guys who go to class and who steer clear of trouble. They aren’t like that rogue bunch in Athens which seems intent on setting arrest records that won’t ever be broken.You don’t seen players opting out to get a head start on the transfer portal and NIL deals. What you see is a team that knows Billy Napier has their backs. Billy knows they have his. Standing at the podium Saturday, Napier said, “I just think hope is powerful, man. Just proud of these guys, man.” Hope is indeed powerful, but so is a coach who loads his roster up with high character guys. We live in weird times in which college athletics are changing on an almost daily basis and for the most part the changes are anything but good. In the face of all this change and so many negatives, we have Billy Napier who seems to have proven that not every nice guy finishes last. Some nice guys simply need a little bit of time to assemble the tools they need to make their plans work.

Florida once again rises to the occasion to take out the Rebels on Senior Day. By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com , Football Analyst The Florida front smothered Jaxson Dart for four sacks (Chris Spears) With a sold out crowd in attendance the Florida Gators honored their seniors with the pageantry and respect befitting any young man that has played for the Orange and Blue. After kickoff the Florida program took yet another step forward in knocking off the Ole Miss Rebels in a thrilling 24-17 win against a team thought to be the best in the country. DJ Lagway was efficient again and the return of Montrell Johnson Jr. allowed the Florida Gators to play complimentary football for the second week in a row and give the program it’s biggest win of the Napier era.   What We Thought: Florida would be challenged once again by an offense that was running at max efficiency and a defense that had dominated it opponents in the trenches all season. Ole Miss featured arguably the nation’s best offense featuring a collection of solid receivers, a dynamic quarterback, and a versatile scheme that has created headaches for opposing defenses. Ole Miss was scoring close to 41 points per game while limiting opponents to just 13 points per contest. The Ole Miss defensive line was leaning on its foes to the tune of 4.5 sacks per game and 10 tackles for loss. The Florida defense was beginning to find itself but Ole Miss was a different animal, particularly with the return of receiver Tre Harris to the lineup. The Gators manhandled an LSU offensive line for seven sacks last week and would need to pressure Jaxson Dart into mistakes and when opportunities presented themselves get him on the ground. Offensively the Gators were undefeated when DJ Lagway starts and finishes the game and despite being limited had shown the poise inside the pocket to make throws when needed. The running game would need to be solid as the Gators would look to control the clock and convert on short yardage downs to continue drives.   What We Got: Florida has found something. A football team that had 6% chance to get to six wins after beginning the season 1-2 has emerged from the basement to put together an eight week run of promising football. Yesterday the Gators stood at the gate of their own backyard and took everything Ole Miss threw at them. The Gators limited the big plays and pushed around a defensive front that was used to having its way. The Florida defense forced three turnovers and sacked Jaxson Dart four times limiting the ability of Ole Miss to get anything going consistently. Ole Miss was surrendering just two sacks per game and the Gators front was able to pressure Dart with a four man rush allowing the Gators to play coverage in the secondary and limit big plays. On offense the Gators continue to play inspired football behind Lagway who completed 10 of 17 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. More impressive was the ability of Florida to run the ball at a high level against a defense that had not been pressed by the running game all season. Florida rushed for 165 yards including 107 from Montrell Johnson Jr. who returned to full game action for the first time since October 12th. The three back attack of Johnson, Jaden Baugh, and Ja’Kobi Jackson ran the ball well all day and were key in protecting Lagway on passing downs. Through the air the Gators would find success against the Ole Miss secondary with receivers Elijah Badger and Chimere Dike showing their experience in big games including a huge catch by Dike for 41 yards to set up the winning touchdown. The Gators used the Ole Miss offensive model against them and the result was a second consecutive win against a ranked opponent for the first time under Napier. Jake Salughter (66), DJ Lagway, and Montrell Johnson Jr. survey the defense (Chris Spears photo)   The Skinny: Billy Napier has used the term “complimentary football” to the point that it nauseated those that root for and evaluate his football team. The truth of the matter is to Napier’s credit, football teams that can master the art of this concept usually find themselves in the winners circle more frequent than others. Napier and staff made a point to change the way the team conducted themselves throughout the week and the results have been noticeably different. The Gators continue to prove that football teams get the opportunity to improve on a weekly basis and if you embrace that opportunity good things can happen. On Saturday the Gators took the lessons learned from the success of the LSU win and applied it to take out a much better football team seven days later. That is what winning football looks like, and while there is always room for improvement, the Gators have ignored the noise and continued to lay the foundation. “You have to earn the right to win”, Napier stated. Which echoes what the Gators have been doing in the bunker of a long college football season. Many projected the Gators to finish with eight wins, a tally that with a win against FSU and a bowl opponent seems reachable. What may have been is obviously worth the discussion but what may be is what has the people excited about the future.     Final Score: Florida 24 Ole Miss 17 (Prediction-Ole Miss 34 Florida 17)

Alijah Martin woofs after a throw-down dunk (UAA Photo) For six-and-a-half minutes, especially, Friday night, Florida’s 21st-ranked Gators (6-0) showed exactly what happens when they put it all together at both ends of the court. The Gators were leading Southern Illinois (2-3), 19-15, when Rueben Chinyelu grabbed an offensive rebound and shuffled it off to Will Richard for a layup with 7:37 left in the first half. Nice pass, for sure, but nothing really earth shattering about the play. About 30 seconds later, Denzel Aberdeen scored on a layup after a Southern Illinos turnover. Again, a nice play for nothing to write home about.   Next, Alijah Martin stole the ball and advanced it to Aberdeen who lobbed it upcourt to Alex Condon who was running ahead of the pack. Six straight points in 51 seconds for a 25-15 lead. The O-Dome crowd announced at 9,533 was starting to get into it. Things were starting to get electric.   Then came the play that had the effect of a pod of orcas starting a feeding frenzy. Chinyelu blocked a shot, Richard retrieved it and a few bounces later lobbed it up above the rim to Martin, who finished with a thundering throw down of a dunk. The crowd went nuts.   The Gators would score another 14 points before Southern Illinois could apply a band-aid to a gaping wound. When Martin drilled a pull-up 3-pointer on the break with 1:08 left in the half after a Thomas Haugh rebound and throw-ahead pass, the Gators completed an astonishing 27-4 run for a 46-19 lead.   Todd Golden called it the best stretch of basketball the Gators have played this season.   “W e just started getting cleaner stops, cleaner rebounds, and got out in transition,” Golden said after the Gators kept their record perfect with a 93-68 blowout of Southern Illinois. “When we do that we're tough to stop .... Denzel threw Condo that alley-oop and then on the next play, we got a steal and run-out, Martin got a dunk, and then we started hitting a bunch of shots. And, you know, as we talked a lot about, if we are able to shoot well, which we did tonight, you know, we're going to be tough to beat.”   When the Gators play at both ends of the floor like they did during that first half run, they can hang with and probably beat any team in the country. The Gators were overpowering. They were ultra-quick. They were intimidating.   And yes, they hit shots. Lots of them including 3-pointers. In the first five games of the season the Gators were brick city from the 3-point line, hitting 28.9 percent which was 274th nationally. With Martin leading the way with eight threes in 13 shots, aided and abetted by Haugh, who hit 3-5, the Gators had easily their best night shooting from the 3-point line -- 16-39 for 41 percent.   Martin finished the game with a collegiate-best 32 points to go with nine rebounds, five assists and two steals. Martin came into the game having hit just 8-30 (26.6 percent) from the 3-point line, but after Friday night he improved to 37.2 percent. Although he’s a 6-3 guard, Martin leads the Gators in rebounding at 6.7 per game.   Haugh scored 19, grabbed seven rebounds and had three assists to go with four blocked shots. Haugh, a notoriously poor free throw shooter as a freshman last year (45.7 percent), made all four of his free throw attempts (80 percent through six games) while knocking down 3-5 from the 3-point line. Haugh is hitting 33.3 percent on his threes this year after a 25.5 percent season a year ago.   Even the 27-4 run in the first half wasn’t perfect basketball, but it was a sure sign that the Gators are getting closer to playing with the kind of intensity and consistency that Golden has been looking for.   “I thought we played pretty well tonight,” Golden said. “Had a good stretch back half of the first half where, you know, we kind of put it all together from the defensive side, clean rebounds, getting out and running in transition, obviously, shooting the ball well, and we're able to stretch that lead out pretty good in the first half. I thought second half, you know, played very well offensively. Again, have not been able to play 40 complete minutes defensively or on the glass. I thought we let ourselves off the hook that way, but again, you know, those are probably hyper-critical thoughts after a 25-point win. Really thought our guys did a good job start to finish tonight.”   Florida’s once 27-point first half lead shrunk to 46-25 at the half and the Salukis narrowed it down to 17 (48-31) within the first three minutes of the second, but the Gators were never in any danger of letting them back into the game. A lot of that had to do with Martin who kept pouring it on after an 18-point effort in the first half.   Martin hit 4-7 from the 3-point line in the first half and followed that up with 14 points including 4-6 from the 3-point line in the second. This was a night when the basket looked as big as Lake Alice for the fifth-year transfer from Florida Atlantic.   “I felt like they were all going in,” Martin said.   From a defensive standpoint, the Gators had that lapse at the end of the first half and beginning of the second, plus they let the Salukis get some cheap points in the second half off deflected rebounds that should have been corralled by UF players. Still, the Gators held Southern Illinois to 34.7 percent shooting overall (25-72) and limited the Salukis to 5-15 shooting from the 3-point line.   Leading up to the game, the Gators put emphasis on defending without lapses in intensity, which forced the Salukis to go deep into the shot clock. That led to rushed shots at the end of the clock that didn’t go down.   “Obviously, we've talked about a lot, the way we've tried to put more of an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball this year, and   a lot of that has to do with being tough and guarding deep into the clock,” Golden said. “And, you know, I think we've done a really good job over the course of the first five games of forcing teams to take tough shots. You know, Southern Illinois has some good players. We held them to 35 percent from the field. Held that 3-point number down, you know. Just from a mass standpoint, we made one more three (16) than they took (15), so we obviously won the three point game pretty comfortably. But yeah, just having good, solid defensive possessions is really important to us, and I thought the first half we did a really good job. Second half, again, we didn't finish it rebounding well enough. But overall, you know, a decent effort that way.”   Game notes: At 6-0 the Gators equaled their best start since the 2021-22 season, in which Mike White was the head coach. If UF can get a win over Wake Forest next Thursday in Orlando, they will have equaled their best start to a season since the 2012-13 season coached by Billy Donovan ... A sign of how good the Gators can be. They scored 93 points and won by 25 in a game in which Walter Clayton Jr. (7) and Will Richard (5) combined for only 12 points ... The Gators had a season-high 25 assists for 35 made shots ... The Gators committed only six turnovers.

(Gator Bait Photo by Chris Spears) “The difference between winning and losing is when pressure hits.” -- Evander Holyfield   There is no pressure on the Florida Gators today. Sure, they want to play well and above all else, they want to beat the 9th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels (8-2, 4-2 SEC) to give their seniors a sendoff to remember, but there is no pressure on the Gators (5-5, 3-4 SEC) at The Swamp (12 noon, ABC). Nobody really gives the Gators anything more than a chance to play well and still lose the game. Essentially, a moral victory. When the bar is set that low, there really isn't any pressure.   If there is a team feeling the pressure today, it will be the Ole Miss Rebels who have to answer the time honored question, how well can they handle prosperity? Ole Miss is riding high about now. The Rebels are well aware that if they close out the regular season with a 10-2 record they're shoo-ins for the College Football Playoff. They haven't played since November 9 when they took an axe handle to then 2nd-ranked Georgia, neutering the Bulldogs in Oxford with the whole wide world looking on. They've had plenty of time to let former critics go on a mini-apology tour, heaping praise their way. Those same talking heads who called Lane Kiffin a buffoon and predicted a cruise control win for Georgia have spent the last two weeks backtracking. Prior to the Georgia game, Paul Finebaum of the SEC Network called Kiffin the “Miley Cyrus of college football coaching.”   Since the Rebels became Kirby Smart’s worst nightmare, Finebaum says Kiffin is one of college football’s elite coaches.   Elite coaches don’t let their teams rest on their laurels. Elite coaches make sure the next time out after a statement win that their team follows it up with a shot across the bow of critics and future opponents alike. Of course, elite coaches constantly challenge their team to play like champions to keep the pressure squarely on the shoulders of whoever is next on their schedule. Has Lane Kiffin kept Ole Miss on an even keel these past two weeks, pushing them hard but not too hard? Has Lane found ways to neutralize the pressure that comes with national championship expectations?   On paper, this game in The Swamp should be a blowout win for Ole Miss in the event the Rebels play with the same ferocity that led them to neuter Georgia. Of course, the Gators do have a say in the outcome of this one. No longer to they look like the team that was going to roll over and die after back-to-back losses to Georgia and Texas. The Gators responded by making a statement of their own a week ago by kneecapping LSU, the same LSU that just five weeks ago beat Ole Miss, 29-26.   Whether it’s the Florida team that beat LSU, 27-16, last week or the one that went belly up against Texas (49-17 loss), the pressure isn’t on the Gators. Florida doesn’t have a championship to play for, and if the Gators lose to Ole Miss today, they still have the worst Florida State team in since the pre-Bobby Bowden days to even their record for bowl eligibility.   Think of it like this. The Florida Gators have three games to win twice for their first winning record since 2020.   One loss -- either to Florida or next week to Mississippi State -- and Ole Miss can say sayonara to making it to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game, not to mention the bigger prize, which is their first national championship since Johnny Vaught and one-platoon football back in 1960. Sixty-four years is a lot of time in between national championships. It’s been 61 since the last Ole Miss SEC title, so yeah, there is pressure on Ole Miss today. A lot of it.   Will the Rebels play tight? Have they been listening to all the critics who dissed them pre-Georgia reverse course and say they look like the nation’s most complete team, one that’s capable of laying waste to anything and anyone in their path?   In addition to three chances to win two games and post a winning record, the Florida Gators know that Billy Napier will be their head coach next year, which is no small matter. And, if Billy is back, DJ Lagway will be back, too, as well as the majority of the young guys who followed the game plan to perfection a week ago when they held a sack-a-thon at The Swamp to bury LSU.   If Billy Napier were still coaching for his Florida football life, the pressure would certainly be amped up to nearly unbearable levels on the Gators. But athletic director Scott Stricklin, obviously with the okay from the people who write the big checks, made it perfectly clear that Billy’s job isn’t in jeopardy.   If Billy were to go, then there would be an exodus from The Heav starting with Lagway. Georgia, Ole Miss, LSU, Oregon, Ohio State, Miami and  Alabama are among the big name programs that will be shopping for a new quarterback for 2025 and there will be no more desired quarterback anywhere in the country than DJ Lagway. You’ve heard the expression back up a Brinks truck? Well, if DJ were to enter the transfer portal he could all but ask for two Brinks trucks to back up to his front door.   Billy’s going nowhere. DJ will be back. So will Jadan Baugh, Ja’Kobi Jackson and a whole host of Gators ready to make 2025 their own personal revenge tour. There will be pressure on the Gators in 2025, but not today. Not for the rest of the 2024 football season.   The Gators can take the field today and play for seniors like Graham Mertz, who can’t be given enough credit for what he’s done to bring along Lagway and hold the team together during some very difficult times earlier in the season. When it comes to high character Gators, put Graham Mertz right up there with the names Wuerffel and Tebow. Danny and Tim won national championships but things were a whole lot different in their day than they have been the past two seasons. They were surrounded by NFL-level talent. Back in those days the Gators reloaded every year. Graham Mertz came along at a time when the Gators needed cement to hold the building blocks together for a rebuild job.   He did his part. Wouldn’t it be the ultimate way to say thank you than for teammates to swarm to Mertz when he’s introduced to the sellout crowd at The Swamp? Wouldn’t that be one more way the Gators deflect all the pressure and send it in volumes to the Ole Miss sideline?   This is a game the Florida Gators are not expected to win, but don’t think for a second they aren’t capable. Now stars and planets may have to be aligned for Florida to pull off such a staggering feat, but it wouldn’t be the first time it has ever happened. Underdogs that play with an absolutely nothing to lose attitude tend to win games they aren’t expected to for a couple of reasons: (1) the other team has spent far too much time so enamored with itself that it believes it is invincible and forgets to work hard; or (2) the other team is in an unaccustomed place that it plays not to lose instead of playing to win.   We don’t know which Ole Miss team is going to show up today, nor do we know if the Gators will play with the same kind of passion and energy that propelled them to such a stunningly dominant win over LSU last week. If Ole Miss shows up loose, having spent the last two weeks keeping everything in perspective, then the Rebels will be a formidable foe.   However, if Ole Miss is uptight and the Gators are playing with reckless abandon this could turn out to be an afternoon well worth remembering. A lot of people think the Gators will be making a bold statement just by keeping it close.   Close, hell. Why not go out there and win the damn football game?

Florida looks for a second consecutive win against a ranked opponent for the first time under Billy Napier. By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com , Football Analyst The Florida defense will face its toughest test on Saturday (Chris Spears photo) Ole Miss Offense   Key Players-#2 QB Jaxson Dart (6-2, 225, Sr.), #0 RB Matt Jones (5-7, 200, Jr.) #24 RB Ulysses Bentley IV (5-10, 200, Sr.) #9 WR Tre Harris (6-3, 210, Sr.), #3 WR Juice Wells (6-0, 205, Sr./South Carolina), #19 WR Kayden Lee (5-11, 175 So.), #11 WR Jordan Watkins (5-11, 200, Sr.) #86 TE Caden Prieskorn (6-6, 255, Sr.), #8 TE Dae’Quan Wright (6-4, 255, Jr./Virginia Tech)   Matchups To Watch: Ole Miss Receivers v. Florida Secondary, Florida Defensive Line v. Ole Miss Offensive Line   Ole Miss is a juggernaut on offense led by quarterback Jaxson Dart and his collection of talented receivers. Ole Miss can attack offenses with a dynamic versatile attack that can stress defenses in both directions and with a multitude of formations that offer dangerous “eye candy” to a defense. From RPO’s, to screens, to read options, and vertical shots this offense has very little holes. Dart leads the nation in passer rating, third in yards per game, and seventh in completion percentage. He is also Ole Miss second leading rusher averaging 30 yards rushing per game.  The SEC’s most complete quarterback, Dart will be a mix between Cam Ward and Quinn Ewers with an edge to it.   Dart's success this season has been aided by the fact that he may have the best group of receivers in the SEC if not the country. Ole Miss has six players with at least 19 catches and all are viable targets when on the field. When healthy, Tre Harris is arguably the best receiver in the country and if not for injuries would be the favorite for the Biletnikoff Award. Despite missing three games Harris still leads Ole Miss in catches and yards and is second in touchdowns. Antwan “Juice” Wells is a talented receiver who has fit in nicely after transferring from South Carolina in the offseason. Wells who began his career at James Madison has prospered in the move up to the SEC grabbing 97 receptions and 12 touchdowns in almost three seasons. Sophomore Kayden Lee has taken on a more prominent role in the absence of Harris. Lee is second on the team in catches and has been key on third downs for Dart. Jordan Watkins has emerged as another big play threat that keeps teams form focusing all their attention on Harris when he is available. Watkins leads the team with seven receiving touchdowns and yards per catch (21.28). Rounding out the weapons at Dart’s disposal are Peach Bowl MVP Caden Prieskorn and Virginia Tech transfer Dae’Quan Wright. Prieskorn had the second most receiving yards by a tight end in school history in the Peach Bowl and averages close to 16 yards per catch this season. Wright was a solid contributor at Virginia tech and has been solid in his first season at Ole Miss with 19 catches for 247 yards and three touchdowns.   The Ole Miss offense will be slightly shorthanded as leading rusher Henry Parrish Jr. is listed as out for Saturday’s game. In his absence Ole Miss will lean on a duo of backs that are talented in their own right. Matt Jones and Ulysses Bentley IV have combined for 455 yards and five touchdowns this season. Jones has been limited this season due to injury while Bentley has been solid sharing time with Parrish this season. Bentley was a focal part of the return game last season but has yet to return a kick in 2024.    The Florida defense is riding high after a game where they were able to ground LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier seven times. This will be another animal altogether as the Gators will face the nation’s second best offense averaging over 500 yards per game and scoring close to 41 points per contest. Florida did a nice job of keeping the LSU receivers in front of them and despite forcing no turnovers the pass rush did its job late. Ole Miss has surrendered 20 sacks in 10 games more than an LSU offensive line that had only given up six prior to playing Florida. Florida will need to be elaborate but disciplined in their pressure and allow for a banged up but improving Florida secondary to keep the explosive plays to a minimum. Containing Dart will be key. If the Gators are able to flush him from the pocket he is a more than capable runner and passer from outside the pocket. Look for Florida to use Shemar James and Myles Graham to possibly spy him on certain passing situations. If Florida is able to create consistent pressure there could be opportunities to stifle the Ole Miss offensive attack. Florida struggled last week to cover LSU’s Mason Taylor at tight end. Look for Preiskorn and Wright to be a major part of the passing game Saturday. If Dart has time, with those receivers it could be a long day for the Gator secondary.    Ole Miss Defense Key Players-# LB Chris Paul Jr. (6-1, 235, Jr/Arkansas.), #6 LB TJ Dottery (6-1, 25, So.), #4 LB Suntarine Perkins (6-1, 210, So.), #1 DE Princley Umanmielen, (6-4, 255, Sr./Florida), #15 DE Jared Ivey (6-6, 285, Sr.) #38 DL JJ Pegues (6-2, 325, Sr.) #2 DL Walter Nolan (6-3, 305, Jr./Texas A&M), #25 S Trey Washington (5-10, 205, Sr.), #9 CB Trey Amos (6-1, 190, Sr./Alabama), #5 S John Saunders Jr. (5-11, 201, Sr.)   Matchups To Watch:  DJ Lagway v. Pete Golding, Florida Offensive Line v. Ole Miss Defensive Front   Ole Miss could be playing as well as any defense in the country at this point in the season. Coming off a bye week Ole Miss is rested and playing with a ton of confidence after stelar performances against Arkansas and Georgia. The linebacker core is stout and the defensive line is talented and deep. Linebacker Chris Paul Jr. leads the team in tackles after transferring from Arkansas. Paul is seventh in the SEC in tackles and has the ability to play downhill as well as in space. TJ Dottery complements Paul with athleticism and his own level of physicality. Linebacker Suntarine Perkins may be the best of the bunch as his 10 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss leads Ole Miss and are in the top five of the SEC. Perkins plays much bigger than his 210 pound frame would suggest and will need to be accounted for on every snap.   Ends Princley Umanmielen and Jared Ivey have provided constant pressure for a unit that leads the nation in sacks. Umanmielen transferred from Florida in the offseason and has enjoyed success in Oxford. He is currently second on the team in sacks with 9.5 and tackles for loss with 12. Ivey is not far behind with seven sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. He also has two forced fumbles and fumble recovery. In the win over Georgia the duo had two sacks each and 12 combined tackles. Inside Ole Miss has two of the more athletic tackles in the SEC. Walter Nolan and JJ Pegues were both highly recruited prep players and have been exceptional this season. Nolan arrived in Oxford after two seasons at Texas A&M, while Pegues returned to Oxford in 2022 after two seasons at Auburn. Nolan has four sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups this season while Pegues has 11.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries. Where Pegues has been most notable is as a ball carrier on short yardage and goal line situations where he has carried the ball 12 times scoring six touchdowns for Ole Miss, second on the team.    The Secondary is a confident group that is aided by the Ole Miss pass rush. The numbers can be skewed just a bit as opposing teams have had a tough time running the ball and also find themselves forced to pass due to early deficits. Ole Miss gives up just under 80 yards rushing per game forcing teams to look to the air for success. Safeties Trey Washington and John Saunders Jr. are in sync on the back end of the defense and tackle well in space. Washington has six pass breakups and can be found near the line of scrimmage making plays in the run game. Saunders, who began his career at Miami (OH) has adjusted well to the SEC and in his second season at Ole Miss has 37 tackles, four pass breakups, and three forced fumbles. Alabama transfer Trey Amos leads the team with 11 pass breakups. He leads the team in interceptions (3) and is fifth on the team in tackles (41).     Defensive coordinator Pete Golding has a unit that is solid if not great at all three levels. The unit is connected and their ability to affect opposing quarterbacks is their most valuable asset. In facing DJ Lagway look for Golding to show Lagway a number of different looks while playing 3-deep and man zone coverages that were a staple of Golding defenses during his time at Alabama. These defenses can be very tough for quarterbacks in the passing game and the ability of Ole Miss to apply pressure without blitzing allows for increased flexibility for Golding. The X factor could be the legs of DJ Lagway. While Lagway continues to nurse a sore hamstring, he will need to be a threat as a runner after no rushing attempts last week. His ability to affect the game with his legs may be able to put the Ole Miss defense on notice enough that coverage breakdowns and missed assignments could occur. If Lagway is as limited as last week the Ole Miss pass rush will be able to pin their ears back on passing downs and get after the quarterback. There are a few Florida lineman eying the NFL one day and this a great opportunity for them to show what they have against some of the nation’s best.   The Skinny: Florida possibly had the most important win of the Napier era last Saturday when the Gators vanquished LSU. The buzz after the game could be felt up and down University Avenue and three high level recruit commitments were certainly a bye product of the win. With that unfortunately comes the reality that this team while playing better is not ready to go blow for blow with what some feel is the SEC’s if not the nation’s best team.  While some may point to the fact that the Gators handily beat the two teams that blemished Ole Miss, I again caution against comparative analysis as no two games are the same. Ole Miss will be playing for an opportunity to solidify a spot in the playoff and stumbling is not an option. Add to that, word is that Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin was not happy about the Gators lack of interest when Napier was hired, so there is that as well. Florida continues to play like a team that is grounded in the philosophy of the head coach and his “organization” and they continue to be a different team at home. Can the belief in what Napier is preaching continue to propel this team to a second consecutive ranked win for the first time under Napier, or does the lack of depth catch up to the home team against the most complete team they have faced all year. Lagway seems to give the Gators a lift and they have yet to lose a game that he has started and finished. Unfortunately Ole Miss is better, and while Florida will play well and force Ole Miss to press.  The return of Tre Harris and the versatility of Dart are too much for the Gators without all their moving parts.   Prediction: Ole Miss 34 Florida 17

Coach Finley's shoe game is tight (Chris Spears photo) By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com Under Coach Kelly Rae Finley the Florida Gators have found success bringing in players from outside the United States. The Gators eye for talent extends far beyond the shores of the US and Finley has been able to lure some of Canada and Europe’s best to her roster.   Last season Canadian Faith Dut was a mainstay in the Gator lineup averaging close to six points and five rebounds per game. Dut, who started every game for the Gators led the team in blocks with 27 last season. She was joined on last years roster by international newcomers Alexia Dizeko from Switzerland, and Kenza Salgues from France by way of the University of Miami. The Gators also added Spaniard Daviane Mindoudi late this summer giving the Gators three players from outside the United States.    While Mindoudi continues to learn the rigors of the SEC Salgues and Dizeko are off to hot starts this season. Salgues is averaging nine points per game and playing close to 30 minutes per contest while Dizeko has helped spark the Gators of the bench averaging 7 points per game and playing a little over 16 minutes per contest.   The success that international players continue to have under Finley certainly influenced the quartet of international signees the Gators landed last week. Emilija “Mills” Dakic, Sarah Deng, Caterina Piatti, and Nyadieng “Nidi” Yiech, bring a diverse set of skills to the basketball court and continue the trend of talented well rounded ball players lured to Gainesville by Finley. Australians Dakic and Deng are talented guards that have the ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor. Dakic has range from outside as well as the ability to drive the ball to the basket, Deng who plays collegiately at Eastern Arizona Community College is a 5’10” guard who brings maturity and athleticism to the Gator backcourt.   Piatti and Yiech will be called upon to add size, scoring, and rebounding to the Gator frontcourt. Piatti, from Italy is one of the top forwards in Europe and will bring the versatility seen from most European players to the Gators. She most recently played for the Italian U18 Women’s Team in the European Championship. Yiech, from Ontario, Canada is a slashing 6’3” forward who was a member of the Canadian U18 Women’s Team that won the silver medal at the AmeriCup this summer. Yiech is the 77th ranked player in the Class of 2026 giving Finley four Top 100 players in the past three seasons.   The signees will join the team for the 2025-2026 season and will add to a roster that will feature three former McDonald’s All-Americans in Laila Reynolds, Me’Arah O’Neal, and Liv McGill as well and highly touted forward Kylee Kitts.

Billy Napier has reason to laugh a little after the Gators bushwhacked LSU (Gator Bait Photo by Chris Spears) A few thoughts to jump start your Monday afternoon: Back in August, before the college football season kicked off, the people who set the odds in Las Vegas put the over-under on the Florida Gators at 4.5. As in 4.5 wins based on a schedule considered the most brutal in the entire country. If you took the over, you should be commended since the Gators are 5-5 with two games remaining in perhanps Florida's toughest schedule ever.   Florida opponents in Associated Press preseason top 25: 1. Georgia; 4. Texas;  6. Ole Miss; 10. Florida State; 13. LSU; 15. Tennessee; 19. Miami; and 20. Texas A&M.   Florida opponents in the AFCA Coaches preseason top 25: 1. Georgia; 4. Texas; 6. Ole Miss; 10. Florida State; 12. LSU; 15. Tennessee; 19. Miami; and 20. Texas A&M.   Florida opponents in Phil Steele preseason top 40: 1. Georgia; 4. Texas; 10. Miami; 13. Florida State; 14. Ole Miss; 19. LSU; 24. Tennessee; 28. Texas A&M and 39. Kentucky.   Florida opponents in Athlon preseason top 25: 1. Georgia; 4. Texas; 5. Ole Miss; 11. LSU; 12. Florida State; 13. Tennessee; 18. Texas A&M; and 20. Miami.   Florida opponents in Lindy’s preseason top 25: 1. Georgia; 3. Texas; 5. Ole Miss; 10. Florida State; 13. LSU; 15. Tennessee; 17. Miami; and 19. Texas A&M.   There is no denying all these people got Florida State wrong and LSU has begun to fade, but take a look at the current rankings with Florida opponents in bold face. All of Florida’s losses are to teams still ranked in the top 25, so it’s obvious they got the strength of schedule right.   With two games to go, one of which is a very bad Florida State team, the Gators should get to six wins and bowl eligibility, which in itself is an accomplishment. The Gators should already have six wins. The Gators lost to Tennessee in overtime, but that’s a game they should have won. That’s not making excuses. That’s reality.   Billy Napier has gotten plenty of criticism this year, some of it deserved. Despite a rash of injuries like anything seen at UF since the 2013 season that doomed Will Muschamp, the Gators have improved. Six regular season wins seem probable, seven with an upset of Ole Miss. A bowl win could ensure Florida’s first winning season since 2020.     Associated Press top 25: 1. Oregon 11-0; 2. Ohio State 9-1; 3. Texas 9-1;  4. Penn State 9-1; 5. Indiana 10-0; 6. Notre Dame 9-1; 7. Alabama 8-2; 8. Georgia 8-2; 9. Ole Miss 8-2; 10. Tennessee 8-2; 11. Miami 9-1;  12. Boise State 9-1; 13. SMU 9-1; 14. BYU 9-1; 15. Texas A&M 8-2;  16. Colorado 8-2; 17. Clemson 8-2; 18. Army 9-0; 19. South Carolina 7-3; 20. Tulane 9-2; 21. Arizona State 8-2; 22. Iowa State 8-2; 23. UNLV 8-2; 24. Illinois 7-3; 25. Washington State 8-2   AFCA Coaches top 25: 1. Oregon 11-0; 2. Ohio State 9-1; 3. Texas 9-1;  4. Penn State 9-1; 5. Indiana 10-0; 6. Notre Dame 9-1; 7. Alabama 8-2; 8. Georgia 8-2; 9. Ole Miss 8-2; 10. Miami 9-1; 11. Tennessee 8-2; 12. SMU 9-1; 13. Boise 9-1; 14. Texas A&M 8-2;  15. BYU 9-1; 16. Clemson 8-2; 17. Army 9-0; 18. Colorado 8-2; 19.  South Carolina 7-3; 20. Tulane 9-2; 21. Iowa State 8-2; 22. Arizona State 8-2; 23. UNLV 8-2; 24. Memphis 9-2; 25. Kansas State   SEC FOOTBALL No. 7 Alabama (8-2, 4-2 SEC): Next: at Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5 SEC) Arkansas (5-5, 3-4 SEC): The Razorbacks should get the win that makes them bowl eligible this week against Louisiana Tech. Next: Louisiana Tech (4-6)   Auburn (4-6, 1-5 SEC): Auburn’s path to bowl eligibility couldn’t be more difficult with the Aggies at home this Saturday and at Alabama the next.  Next: No. 15 Texas A&M (8-2, 5-1 SEC)   No. 8 Georgia (8-2, 6-2 SEC): Georgia has finished its SEC schedule. Both losses are against ranked teams that should make the playoff (Alabama and Ole Miss) and there are two wins over teams that are likely to make the playoff (Texas and Tennessee).  Next: UMass (2-8)   Kentucky (4-6, 1-6 SEC): Starting linebacker D’Eryk Jackson will miss the remainder of the season with an undisclosed injury. Jackson had 38 tackles, one sack and one interception. Next: at No. 3 Texas (9-1, 5-1 SEC)   LSU (6-4, 3-3 SEC): “It’s indescribable what a hot mess LSU is at the moment,” said Paul Finebaum of the SEC Network on the Matt Barrie Show. “You see Kelly yelling at players, them yelling back at him ... Depending on how this season ends, Kelly is going to be facing maybe the coldest winter of any SEC coach.” Next: Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3 SEC)   Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6 SEC): Surprisingly, Mississippi State is just an 8-point underdog for their homer with Missouri on Saturday.  Next: Missouri (7-3, 3-3 SEC)   Missouri (7-3, 3-3 SEC): Missouri’s furious second half rally came up short because the defense couldn’t get a stop in the last minute of the game, officially ending any chance the Tigers have of making the SEC Championship Game. Next: at Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6 SEC)   Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5 SEC): The Sooners need a win in their next two games to make a bowl game. They’ve got Alabama this week and they’re on the road at LSU in the season finale. Next: No. 7 Alabama (8-2, 4-2 SEC)   No. 9 Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2 SEC): The Rebels open as a 9.5-point favorite to beat Florida in Gainesville Saturday ... The Rebels rank No. 2 nationally in total offense, No. 16 in total defense. Next: at FLORIDA (5-5, 3-4 SEC)   South Carolina (7-3, 5-3 SEC): After falling behind 30-27 with 1:10 left in the game, the Gamecocks moved the ball 70 yards in six plays over a 47-second span to beat Missouri, 34-30. Next: Wofford (5-6)   No. 10 Tennessee (8-2, 5-2 SEC): All 13 of ESPN’s college football writers project the Vols won’t make the College Football Playoff after their loss to Georgia.  Next: UTEP (2-8)   No. 3 Texas (9-1, 5-1 SEC): Despite an inconsistent offense in the win over Arkansas, the Texas defense allowed the Razorbacks only 231 yards. Florida is the only team all season to gain more than 300 yards on the Longhorns. Next: Kentucky (4-6, 1-6 SEC)   No. 15 Texas A&M (8-2, 5-1 SEC): As the only team in the SEC with one league loss, the Aggies will win their first Southeastern Conference championship in football if they win their last two games. Next: at Auburn (4-6, 1-5 SEC)   Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3 SEC): The stars and planets seem to be aligning for the Commodores. Saturday opponent LSU has lost three consecutive games. A win and the Commodores are assured of their first winning season since James Franklin’s final year in 2013.  Next: at LSU (6-4, 3-3 SEC)   AROUND THE STATE Florida Atlantic (2-8, 0-6 American): In the Owl Bowl, the Temple Owls beat the FAU Owls in overtime. So which coach got fired? Temple coach Stan Drayton, of course.  Next: Charlotte (3-7, 2-4 American)   Florida International (3-7, 2-4 Conference USA): The Panthers gave up 14 fourth quarter points, blowing a chance to upset league-leader Jacksonville State. Next: at Kennesaw State (1-9, 1-5 Conference USA)   Florida State (1-9, 1-7 ACC): The Seminoles have a legitimate shot to get a win this week against D1AA doormat Charleston Southern.  Next: Charleston Southern (1-10)   Miami (9-1, 5-1 ACC): Miami finds itself sweating its chances to get into the ACC Championship Game. Clemson has already finished its league schedule at 7-1 while SMU is 6-0 with easy games against Virginia and California. The Hurricanes have a home game with Wake Forest and a road trip to dangerous Syracuse. Next: Wake Forest (4-6, 2-4 ACC)   South Florida (5-5, 3-3 American): The Bulls ran for 425 yards in their win over Charlotte Next: Tulsa (3-7, 1-5 American)     UCF (4-6, 2-5 Big 12): The Knights are confident they can become bowl eligible now that Dylan Rizk has taken over at QB. They will need him to play well to win at West Virginia and home against Utah. Next: at West Virginia (5-5, 4-3 Big 12)   SEC BASKETBALL No. 20 FLORIDA (4-0): The Gators are 19th in the kenpom.com analytics.   No. 2 Alabama (3-1): The Crimson Tide will almost certainly move down a few spots after taking a loss to Purdue.   No. 18 Arkansas (2-1): Kentucky transfer Adou Thiero leads the team in scoring (17.0) and rebounding (5.7).     No. 5 Auburn (3-0): The Tigers are No. 1 in the kenpom.com analytics.   Georgia (4-0): 5-star freshman Asa Newell is scoring 16.8 points and grabbing 7.5 rebounds per game.   No. 19 Kentucky (3-0): Kentucky should move into the top ten after scoring a come-from-behind win to beat Duke last week.   LSU (4-0): The Tigers got a big win on the road at Kansas State last week.   Mississippi State (4-0): Former Gator Riley Kugel is averaging 6.3 points per game while coming off the bench.   Missouri (3-1): The Tigers got a school record 72-point win over Mississippi Valley State last week.     Oklahoma (3-0): Wofford transfer Sam Godwin is tied for 6th nationally, grabbing 11.7 rebounds per game.   No. 25 Ole Miss (4-0): The Rebels have yet to allow an opponent 70 points.   South Carolina (2-2): The Gamecocks had their 2-game win streak ended by Indiana, 87-71,   No. 11 Tennessee (4-0): Zakai Ziegler is averaging 7.7 assists per game which is tied for 10th nationally.   Texas (3-1): Tre Johnson is hitting 58.6 percent of his 3-pointers while averaging 23.5 points per game.   No. 23 Texas A&M (3-1): The Aggies got a win over No. 21 Ohio State last week.   Vanderbilt (4-0): Boston College transfer Devin McGlockton is averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds per game.   Sunday’s scores No. 11 Tennessee (4-0) 103, Austin Peay (3-1) 68 Mississippi State (4-0) 78, Utah (3-1) 73     Monday’s games Pacific (3-2) at No. 18 Arkansas (2-1) North Alabama (3-1) at No. 5 Auburn (3-0)   Tuesday’s games Florida A&M at No. 20 FLORIDA (4-0) Lipscomb (2-3) at No. 19 Kentucky (3-0) Alabama A&M (3-1) at Georgia (4-0) Charleston Southern (1-4) at LSU (3-0)   Wednesday’s games Southern (1-3) at No. 23 Texas A&M (3-1) Illinois (3-0) at No. 2 Alabama (3-1)   Thursday’s games Mercer (2-2) at South Carolina (2-2) Syracuse (3-0) vs. Texas (3-1) in Brooklyn Vanderbilt (4-0) vs. Nevada (4-0) in Charleston, SC Oral Roberts (2-2) at No. 25 Ole Miss (4-0) East Texas A&M (1-3) at Oklahoma (3-0) Virginia (3-0) vs. No. 11 Tennessee (4-0) in Nassau, Bahamas   Friday’s games Southern Illinois (1-2) at No. 20 FLORIDA (4-0) Pittsburgh (4-0) at LSU (4-0) Jackson State (0-4) at No. 19 Kentucky (3-0) Pacific (3-1) at Missouri (3-1) Mississippi State (4-0) at SMU (3-1) Little Rock (2-2) at No. 18 Arkansas (2-1)   ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Welcome to chaos. We’re still three weeks away from the selection of the 12 teams that will fill the brackets of the first expanded College Football Playoff. If you thought there were a lot of butt-hurt folks such as last year (see Florida State) when it was four teams, just wait until this year.   Isn’t it wonderful? Conference championship games may decide the four teams that get first round byes in expanded playoff, but picking the other eight teams is going to be problematic, particularly since only one Group of Five team will get in. This is a year in which there are three or four teams that will get snubbed.   So, what’s the solution? One would be to expand to 16 teams, then EVERY Division I conference champ could get in (SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, MAC, Conference USA) and there would still be room for seven at-large teams.   The other choice -- and the one I would prefer -- would be a 12-team playoff for the four power conferences and a separate playoff for the Group of Five. Give them their own playoff and let them crown their own national champ. It would beat having to watch meaningless bowl games that fill time. There is enough dead time on networks to make this work.

Thomas Haugh launches a 3-pointer against Florida A&M (UAA Photo) The outcome was about what you expect when a nationally-ranked team takes on an opponent from way down the foodchain that is willing to take a beating for a paycheck. Florida A&M bused in from Tallahassee and the Rattlers made a good accounting of themselves although they took an 84-60 beating at the hands of 21st-ranked Florida (5-0).   The Rattlers really never had a chance. Their 24-point loss was actually quite respectable considering what it might have been if the Gators had played the second half with the same intensity they displayed in the first 20 minutes. Florida closed out the first half on a 19-2 run that was the Gators’ best stretch of basketball this season for a 46-22 lead at the intermission.   But, rather than bludgeon FAMU into submission in the second half, the aggressive Gators of the first half turned quite passive. The Gators were never threatened, but the second half was a stark contrast to the first.   The first half Gators are capable of playing with anyone. The second half Gators can lose to SEC teams if they play like that.   The Gators closed out the first half with a barrage of 3-pointers that made it seem as if the Gators had broken out of the shooting slump that has plagued them the first four games. The Gators had 20 first half possessions in which they averaged a most impressive 1.484 points per possession. They hit 7-16 from the 3-point line, scored 16 fast break points and played exceptional defense, scoring 15 points off FAMU turnovers.   Contrast that to the second half when the Gators started throwing up SCUDs from the 3-point line. From a 7-16  first half, the Florida shooters took a powder, going 3-18 in the second half. The shots were there, but they wouldn’t fall.   The cooldown on the offensive end led to a visible lapse down at the other end of the floor.   “Obviously, we did not shoot it well,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “[We] missed 15 threes and I thought we allowed that to affect our defense a little bit in the second half, and we fouled way too much on the defensive end, sent them to the line 19 times in the second half. Like I talk about with the guys in the locker room, our expectation is to play two complete halves, play 40 minutes. I thought tonight we played 20 really good minutes in the first half, and then we were just okay in the second.”   Some of the faulty play in the second half might be attributed to playing without two key guys in the rotation. Sam Alexis, a growing presence in the front court rotation, and Denzel Aberdeen, who plays all three positions on the perimeter, both missed the game with what was described as illness. Golden compensated by inserting freshman Isaiah Brown and former Slovenian national team member Urban Klavzar into the rotation. Brown scored nine points in eight minutes, hitting back-to-back threes during Florida’s end of the first half run. Klavzar’s shooting was off, but he had three assists, two of the wow variety.   The Gators led FAMU, 10-7, when Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard heated up by alternating 3-pointers that gave the Gators a 22-9 lead. That mini-stretch was the spark. The fire was yet to rage.   Ahead 29-20, Richard got things going on a 19-2 run when he grabbed an offensive rebound and stuck it back in with 5:06 left in the half. Eight straight Florida points followed and the rout was on. Thomas Haugh connected with a 3-pointer from the right wing and Brown followed with the first points of his Florida career, a high arching 3-ball from the corner. He hit another three from the right wing that closed out the scoring of the first half.   Then came the second half and the Gators let FAMU dictate the tempo, which had a slowdown effect on the Gators offensively. There were shots to be had but the Gators kept missing. Other than threes by Walter Clayton Jr. and Richard that put Florida up by 30 (58-28), Florida’s offense was quite inconsistent. Down at the defensive end, fouls kept FAMU at the line where the Rattlers connected on 16-19 attempts.   Florida’s starting perimeter threesome of Richard, Clayton and Alijah Martin combined for 51 points, 19 rebounds, 11 assists, one blocked shot and four steals. Richard scored 20 to go with seven rebounds, two assists and a steal. Clayton scored 17 with three rebounds, five assists (1 turnover), one blocked shot and two steals. Martin had 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists (0 turnovers) and one steal.   “T hose guys, as you all know, we built this team with those three guys being the main cogs on the perimeter and guys we play off of and lead us,” Golden said. “They're our veteran leadership and they are experienced. All three of those guys have scored 1,000 points in college, all are great shooters, tough, physical defenders and guys that understand how to win.” Thomas Haugh was a stat stuffer in the front court. Haugh produced 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot and three steals. With Sam Alexis out, the front court rotation was shortened but Haugh helped make up for the absence at both ends of the court.   “ He’s the definition of a winning player, right?” Golden said. “He does all the quote-unquote ‘little things’ that impact winning. He’s a guy that can switch defensively, he’s a very good rebounder, a really good ball-mover and facilitator on the offensive end, and hit a couple shots tonight – 12, seven, two assists, three steals. You know, just finds ways to impact  ... and +23 in 28 minutes. But without having Sam tonight, without having Denzel, obviously our bench was shortened and we needed a guy like Tommy to step up and play more minutes, and we knew he would be up to the task. But he’s fantastic, he comes to play and compete every day and generally gives us a better chance to win when he’s on the floor.”   The Gators will return to action Friday night against Southern Illinois at the O-Dome (7 p.m., SEC Network). Next week the Gators will be at the Disney complex for the ESPN Events Invitational for a Thanksgiving Day matchup with Wake Forest.     SEC BASKETBALL Tuesday’s scores No. 21 FLORIDA (5-0) 84, Florida A&M (0-4) 60 No. 9 Kentucky (4-0) 97, Lipscomb (2-4) 68 Georgia (5-0) 93, Alabama A&M (3-2) 45 LSU (4-0) 77, Charleston Southern (1-5) 68   Today’s games Southern (1-3) at No. 23 Texas A&M (3-1) Illinois (3-0) at No. 2 Alabama (3-1)   Thursday’s games Mercer (2-2) at South Carolina (2-2) Syracuse (3-0) vs. Texas (3-1) in Brooklyn Vanderbilt (4-0) vs. Nevada (4-0) in Charleston, SC Oral Roberts (2-3) at No. 25 Ole Miss (4-0) East Texas A&M (1-3) at Oklahoma (3-0) Virginia (3-0) vs. No. 11 Tennessee (4-0) in Nassau, Bahamas   Friday’s games Southern Illinois (2-2) at No. 20 FLORIDA (5-0) Pittsburgh (5-0) at LSU (5-0) Jackson State (0-4) at No. 19 Kentucky (4-0) Pacific (3-2) at Missouri (3-1) Mississippi State (4-0) at SMU (4-1) Little Rock (2-2) at No. 18 Arkansas (2-1)   Saturday’s game No. 15 Marquette (5-0) vs. Georgia (4-0) in Nassau, Bahamas   Sunday’s games No. 22 St. John’s (4-0) vs. Georgia (4-0) in Nassau, Bahamas Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-5) at Missouri (3-1)