Florida proved this week that, even with a high-powered offense, it can grind out games in the SEC.
The Gators completed a Magnolia State sweep this week, following a 64-60 win Thursday night at Ole Miss with a 69-57 home victory against Mississippi State.
The victories game Florida (17-4, 5-1 SEC) five straight in the SEC and 17 straight overall at that point. The Gators will continue their three-game homestand with games at the O'Connell Center against South Carolina (Feb. 2) and Vanderbilt (Feb. 4).
"Being in SEC play, every night is going to be a tough game," Florida sophomore center Patric Young said.
Florida is winning with balance. The Gators had three scorers reach double figures against Mississippi State and four more players reach double figures against Ole Miss. All five of UF's starters are averaging in double figures in scoring, led by junior Kenny Boynton's 17.3 points per game.
"We know what everyone on our team is capable of doing," Young said. "Whatever you take away, hopefully another guy can key off of that."
Defensively, Florida has done it with pressure. The Gators sprinkled in the press throughout both games and scored a combined 31 points off turnovers in wins over Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
NOTES, QUOTES
-Florida has played well on Thursday-Saturday turnarounds the last three years under UF coach Billy Donovan. The Gators improved to 11-1 in Thursday-Saturday matchups following wins over Ole Miss and Mississippi State this week. "The coaches just prepare us well," Florida senior point guard Erving Walker said. "We're young kids. We shouldn't be worn down with a day of rest. We had a day of rest and we were ready to go. We like to play."
-Florida led the SEC in scoring (80.7 ppg), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5-1), 3-point field-goal percentage (40.8 percent) and 3-pointers made (10.6 per game), through the weekend.
-Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury said he felt the key to Florida's season this year has been the play of Erik Murphy. Stansbury said Murphy's ability to shoot from 3-point range at the power forward spot (48.5 percent from 3-point range, 33-68) extends defenses against UF and gives guards open lanes to drive to the basket. "He's a guy who has changed their team in every way," Stansbury said. "He's playing with a lot of confidence, too."
THIS WEEK'S GAMES
South Carolina, Feb. 2
Florida senior PG Erving Walker will face a challenge with the size and quickness of South Carolina sophomore PG Bruce Ellington. Look for Florida junior G Kenny Boynton to help guard Ellington for some stretches. Inside, sophomore C Patric Young will deal with South Carolina sophomore F Damontre Harris. Harris is fifth in the SEC in blocked shots at 2.1 pg.
Vanderbilt, Feb. 4
Florida junior G Kenny Boynton (17.2 ppg) will need to be at his best on both ends of the floor in matching up with Vanderbilt junior G John Jenkins, who leads the SEC in scoring at 20 ppg. Another matchup to watch is inside, where 6-foot-9 247-pound UF center Patric Young will body up with Vanderbilt 6-11, 255-pound center Festus Ezeli.
FUTURES MARKET
Florida freshman G Bradley Beal is proving he can play at a high level in Southeastern Conference games. Beal had a key steal late in UF's 64-60 win over Ole Miss and followed it up with a team-high 19 point scoring performance against Mississippi State. Beal had an efficient scoring day against Mississippi State, going 6 of 9 from the floor and 3 of 4 from 3-point range, "I'm just trying to stay confident in myself, and my teammates stayed confident in me," Beal said.
PLAYER NOTES
Senior PG Erving Walker was leading the SEC in assists at 5.0 per game, entering the week. Walker had 9 assists against Ole Miss, one shy of his career-high of 10, against Georgia (Jan. 27, 2010). Overall, Walker had dished 23 assists over his last four games, at that point.
Sophomore C Patric Young is growing accustomed to his role off the bench. Florida began the season 4-0 with Young coming off the bench and sophomore F Will Yeguete starting. With Young dealing with lingering ankle tendinitis, the bench role has allowed for 6-foot-9, 247-pound big man to be more fresh in the second half. Young scored 11 of his team-high 15 points in the second half against Ole Miss and 10 of his 12 points in the second half against Mississippi State.
Junior G Mike Rosario averaged 6.5 ppg and 1 steal per game in wins over Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I told Kenny after the game I was really proud of him. A couple of years ago, he'd be upset. I'm trying to get our guys to understand that every game presents a different set of challenges," Florida coach Billy Donovan, on leading scorer Kenny Boynton finishing with just 2 points against Mississippi State. Boynton also had 5 assists against the Bulldogs.
