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Gators stomp Bulldogs, 70-48

Posted by admin on January 11th, 2012 No Comment

No. 19 Florida Gators (13-4, 1-1 SEC) defeated the Georgia Bulldogs (9-7, 0-2 SEC) in Gainesville. This was the Gators second SEC matchup of the season and it turned out to be one of the best defensive performances that the Gators put out this season. They held the Bulldogs to 36 percent from the field and forced Georgia to miss eight of their first nine shots. This defensive performance was not a fluke. After the Gators lost to the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday 67-56, head coach Billy Donovan had seen enough and did what all great coaches do, forced his players to get back to their roots and focus. It just so happens that defense is what wins championships and that is exactly what Donovan conveyed to them. He made the Gators go through two hard practices on Sunday which revolved around boxing out, rebounding and defense. He was so set on getting back to the basics that he placed two plastic covers over each rim so that no one could attempt a shot. It apparently worked. The Gators D was so stifling that the announcers on ESPN kept comparing it to Alabama’s fresh romp over LSU (BCS is such a joke).

Nonetheless, you still have to win by scoring, and the Gators had some help from freshmen Bradley Beal who scored 17 points, had a double double and went 4-6 from behind the arc. Beal finally broke out is four game slump (shot 30 percent and was 2-16 from 3 point range) where he was often benched at times due to poor performance. The Gators Kenny Boynton finished with 17 points. This is the 15^th consecutive home win for the Gators.

The Gators next matchup will be against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday, January 14.

No 14. Florida beats UAB 79 – 61

Posted by admin on January 4th, 2012 No Comment

Florida Gators defeated UAB on a night were the opponent dared the Gators to shoot the ball from behind the arc. All night Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker were connecting on three after three. The Gators shot a season high, 15 3 pointers. This pretty much put the game out of reach. Boynton went 6 – 10 from beyond the arc and Walker was 7 – 9. This was the final game for the Gators before they start the main part of their schedule, which is a 15 game run through the Southeastern Conference. the Gators next game is against the Tennessee Volunteers, on Saturday, January 7th at 11:00am.

Gators lose in Double OT to Unranked Rutgers

Posted by admin on December 30th, 2011 No Comment

Gators reserve and Former Rutgers star, Mike Rosario was returning home for a matchup that really wasn’t on anyones radar. It was supposed to be an easy win for the Gators. Not so fast. The No.10 Florida Gators were upset Thursday night by the Scarlet Knights in double OT. Rutgers was led by freshman Eli Carter, who had a career night scoring 31 points. Carter hit the tying three pointer with 18 seconds left in the first overtime to force a second overtime. The Gators freshman sensation, Bradley Beal finally had an off night. He scored 15 points and had 7 turnovers which is uncharacteristic of him. Kenny Boynton led the Gators with 26 points.

No. 11 Florida defeats Florida State 82 – 64

Posted by admin on December 22nd, 2011 No Comment

The Gators opened up the game by exploding with a 14 – 0 run. Unfortunately for the Gator Nation, Florida State answered with an 11-0 run of their own. And so it began. Back and forth, back and forth. All night the Gators would go on a run and then let the Seminoles back in the game. Go on a run, and let them back in. It was kind of frustrating for the first 25 minutes of the game. Then Patric Young electrified the crowd. His block at the 14:55 mark was just ridiculous and demoralizing. Don’t worry, you will be able to see it again, just watch Sportscenter’s Top Ten tomorrow. From that very moment the game was over. The Seminoles had turnover after turnover and the Gators capitalized on almost every one. Florida pulled away and never looked back. Freshman Bradley Beal led the Gators with 21 points and 6 rebounds. Beal was 7 – 15 from the field and 4 – 8 behind the arc. The Gators are on a five game winning streak. Florida faces Rutgers next on December 29.

Gators beat Texas AM by 20

Posted by admin on December 17th, 2011 No Comment

Sunrise: In the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic , the second game featured the No. 13 Florida Gators vs the No. 22 Texas A&M Aggies. The Gators got off to a strong start and led 18-4 in the first quarter, then 50-25 at halftime. They did manage to have a slower second half only managing 34 points while allowing the Aggies to score 39. Nonetheless, the Gators still won by 20, 84-64. Bradley Beal looked very poised and athletic. Beal had 16 points and four rebounds for UF. Kenny Boynton led the Gators in scoring with 22 points including six 3-pointers. Boynton was named the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic Most Valuable Player for the second straight year in a row. “It’s always great to come back home and have a great performance,” said Boynton

More coming soon…

Florida dominates Rider 90-69

Posted by admin on December 10th, 2011 No Comment

Gainesville- Patric Young, coming off a career games against Arizona, was dominate & authoritative in the post. Kenny Boynton contributed 26 points and 5 rebounds, while Bradley Beal added 18 points.

Florida is 2nd in division 1 with 11 3′s per game. On Friday night, they had 14 3-pointers.

#12 Florida finished the game 90-69, with a 7-2 overall record.

Gator Men Beat Arizona in OT

Posted by admin on December 8th, 2011 No Comment

Patric Young led the Gators with 25 points & 10 rebounds. Walker & Boynton also came up big down the stretch scoring 11 of the Gators final 13 points in regulation. In an unbelieveable side note, the Gators started the game 2 for 14 from the free throw line. About 1/3 what Shaq shot at his worst. Ultimately, the Gators walk away with a tough win against a very athletic Arizona team.

Bradley Beal – “The New Guard”

Posted by barnett on December 6th, 2011 No Comment

Gator freshman guard, Bradley Beal, has already begun to fire up the Rowdy Reptile section at the Stephen O’Connell Center. Beal was signed by the University of Florida November of last year, the #7 recruit nationally according to Rivals.com. While playing for Chaminade Prep in St. Louis, Missouri, Beal led his team to a State Championship when he was only a sophomore. Additional accolades during Beal’s high school hoops days include being named the 2011 Gatorade National Player of the Year, and a senior season average of 33 points, 6 rebounds, 2.7 steals per game. The young Gator guard also represented the United States playing for the International Basketball Federation, earning the title of 2010 MVP of the FIBA U17 World Championship. Besides a professed love for Kool-Aide and admiration for athletes Lebron James and Usain Bolt, Beal also has a deep religious faith and volunteers his time to the community on a regular basis.

Beal’s presence on the Gator squad has thus far lived up to the hype. Currently, Beal is averaging 17 points per game, 6.5 rebounds, and 2 assists overall. Bleacherreport.com went as far as to call Beal the “Piece that Billy Donavan has been missing.” Donning the #23, Beal scored 14 points in his first game and was named SEC freshman of the week on November 28^th. Moreover, Mr. Beal has already been named as a potential contender for the Naismith Award.

Bradley Beal joins the Gator’s already talented backcourt, playing alongside Mike Rosario, Kenny Boynton, and Erving Walker. Beal is the 14^th McDonalds High School All-American player to be recruited by Coach Billy Donavan. His talent certainly brings a ubiquitous degree of talent to the team, and perhaps the Gator Nation is in the midst of seeing another championship team unfold in the coming years.

Bradley Beal