GAINESVILLE — A long film session had ended, but the real work was ahead for the reeling Florida Gators.
Ending a two-game losing streak was going to take more than fine-tuning some Xs and Os.
The Gators’ problems lay deeper and would require soul searching, straight talk and the willingness to listen.
“We’re not going to leave this room until we get some stuff figured out,” coach Mike White recalled telling his players.
Teams meetings have become cliché in sports. But the Gators’ heart-to-heart following a Jan. 21 home loss to Vanderbilt has been the crux of the team’s turnaround and current four-game win streak.
“They just recommitted to each other,” coach Mike White said.
The details of the meeting still remain in the room. Suffice it to say the right words by the right people, were spoken and taken to heart.
"Some of the stuff can’t be [repeated,]” said junior forward Devin Robinson, one of several veteran leaders who spoke. “Basically, we were all focused on the wrong things. We weren’t playing for each other like we did at the beginning of the season. For us to be successful, we’ve got to play for one another.”
Since then, the Gators have focused less on individual goals and more on the little things that benefit the team.
During the past four games, UF has had four different leading scorers and at least four players finish in double figures. Meanwhile, the Gators held Oklahoma and Missouri to fewer than 55 points each and limited Kentucky to a season-low point total during Saturday’s 88-66 rout in the O’Connell Center.
Most impressive, the Gators (18-5, 8-2 SEC) have refused to be denied on the backboard. UF holds a plus-68 rebounding margin during the winning streak and out-rebounded SEC rebounding leader Kentucky 54-29, including a 17-to-six edge on the offensive glass.
“With these guys embracing playing for each other, if so-and-so gets the rebound and you don’t, we got the rebound,” White said. “We did our jobs. You blocked out. We’ve become more unselfish, not just offensively but defensively.
“We’re focused on the right things.”
GAINESVILLE – UF point guard Kasey HIll finally has some company, while coach Mike White has a long-awaited signature win.
Hill was a freshman and the only player on the current roster when the Gators last beat Kentucky, back in 2014 when UF would go on to reach the Final Four.
After five straight…
GAINESVILLE – UF point guard Kasey HIll finally has some company, while coach Mike White has a long-awaited signature win.
Hill was a freshman and the only player on the current roster when the Gators last beat Kentucky, back in 2014 when UF would go on to reach the Final Four.
After five straight…
The Gators’ recommitment to the right things has moved them to No. 17 in the national rankings and positioned them to snatch a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament to lock up an opening round spot in Orlando March 16-18.
Yet White knows if his players lose their focus, everything could come unraveled, beginning Tuesday night at Georgia.
UF needed overtime and two career-best performances off the bench Jan. 14 at home to slip by the Bulldogs 80-76 in overtime. Sixth man Canyon Barry’s game-high 27 points featured two four-point plays, while reserved forward Keith Stone had a career-high 17 points.
Stone has missed two games due to illness, but returned to practice Monday.
“They almost beat us,” senior point guard Kasey Hill said. “We just have to keep in mind that they almost beat us here at home and we have to go to their place.”
The Bulldogs (13-10, 4-6) are a middle-of-the-pack SEC team. Georgia also is one of the league’s more physical squads and out-rebounded UF 41-32 last month.
UF is coming off it biggest win under White. But the Gators are just five-point favorites Tuesday and playing their third game in six days.
“It’s an opportunity and it’s a test,” White said. “It’s a challenge to see who we respond.”
The SEC named back-up point guard Chris Chiozza the player of the week. Chiozza posted a triple double (12 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) against Missouri and had nine assists and nine rebounds against Kentucky.
“I was happy, but I don’t think about it very long,” Chiozza said. “Without my teammates boxing out and making shots I wouldn’t have got the stats I got in the game. It’s really how the team has been playing that’s made me play better.”
egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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