Gators and the NCAA tourney

[lawgator1]

Well, they have certainly performed much better than I expected. Right now, the Gaotrs are 17-3 and 4-1 in the conference. Their remaining schedule is

Vandy
@ Arky
@ UT
Georgia
LSU
@ Vandy
S Carolina
@ Georgia
MSU
UT
@ Kentucky

My assumption is that they are going to lose 2, if not all 3, of the last 3 games, meaning that they really need to have 22 wins to make it into the tournament, given their very weak OOC schedule.

That means that of their remaining 11 games, they probably need to win 5 of them. I think that the Georgia games (both of them), the LSU game, and South Carolina at home are pretty favorable. But after that it is tough to find that fifth win. I think at UK is looking tough, and I have to think that UT is going to beat us both games.

In all probability, any one win over Vandy and/or winning both the Arkansas and LSU games, would do the trick.

 

[jakez4ut]

if i've learned anything thus far about this season in the SEC, road wins are going to be tought to get in Gainesville, Oxford, Knoxville and Lexington...slightly less challenging in Nashville and Starkville, but a notch above Athens, Columbia, Auburn, and Baton Rouge. i'm lukewarm on Tuscaloosa and Fayetteville.

i don't think it's a stretch at this point in the season to think FL can't win more than 5 of the reamining 11. the road games that should be the touhgest, TN, ARK and KY are ones i'd keep an eye on. but the home games are all winnable. but i agree, those last three are tough, good thing you get two of them at the O dome.

Comparatively, our last 5:
@Memphis
@ vandy
KY
@FL
SC

3 of the 5 on the road, and all three will be tough.

 

[TennNC]

You're surprised? Who else did you think would beat them at this point?

They need at least a couple of wins against RPI Top 50 teams, and Vandy, Tenn, and Miss St. could be your only opportunities.

Right now their rpi is 55, but SOS is 188. Not good.

 

[lawgator1]

You're surprised? Who else did you think would beat them at this point?

They need at least a couple of wins against RPI Top 50 teams, and Vandy, Tenn, and Miss St. could be your only opportunities.

Right their rpi is 55, but SOS is 188. Not good.

The OOC schedule this year was awful. We played exactly two decent teams in FSU and tOSU, and lost them both, badly.

 

[TennNC]

So law, are they really doing better than you expected? What game have they won that you thought they wouldn't win?

 

[lawgator1]

So law, are they really doing better than you expected? What game have they won that you thought they wouldn't win?

Its not just the record, its the guts to win these close games down the stretch and to keep their cool. Normally you don't see that in such a young team.

In the Kentucky game, UK came back and tied it but Florida ended up winning by 11. More impressive to me was the win at South Carolina (down 10 with about five minutes to go the Gators come back and win it) and the almost-win at Ole Miss (down double digits in the second half but pulled it close and lost by just 2).

 

[TennNC]

I didn't follow the SC game as closely, so I see your point. And the KY win is definitely a good win too. But their record seems to me about where they should be, even losing all the players they did. I mean, Billy brought in some serious talent.

 

[lawgator1]

I didn't follow the SC game as closely, so I see your point. And the KY win is definitely a good win too. But their record seems to me about where they should be, even losing all the players they did. I mean, Billy brought in some serious talent.

It sure does seem like there's enough there to win the games necessary to get in. I don't think they are much of a threat to play past Round II.

They should be good next year and really good the following year. Would like to see us with a better post presence, though. Just hope Billy D is able to find a big guy that either is a JUCO transfer he can work on or a kid with mad skills who isn't going to go pro his second weekend on campus.

 

[Jaytrain5]

Who's the fraulein in your avatar Law?

Two thumbs up.

 

[Chemvol]

Who's the fraulein in your avatar Law?

Two thumbs up.

That's Shana Hiatt, per LG in another thread.

Thumbs up from me, too. She's pretty hot.

 

[hmanvolfan]

A defending national title holder would have to totally implode in order to not make the 64 team field in March.

 

[ukvols]

I don't think 9-7 in the SEC would cut it with the Selection Committee given the Gators' putrid OOC resume. They need to win more than 5/11. Closing out 5-6 with that RPI = NIT. Can they win 6 or 7: sure, possibly.

 

[ukvols]

The Gators are looking pretty good to get in now. 5-1 in the SEC with 10 to go. 5-6 out of the 10 should be enough.