Florida Gators vs. BYU: Five keys to victory

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- The Gators haven't lost a game in the NCAA Tournament in five seasons. That's pretty good. Of course, UF hasn't played a NCAA Tournament game in three seasons. That's not good.

So, what needs to happen for UF to defeat BYU in the first round on Thursday? Here's a list. We'll try to get to five but then add some filler if needed.

1. Defend the three!

This first one's a biggie. BYU can bomb from beyond the arc. The Cougars are shooting 41.9 percent from three-point range. That's pretty darn good. In fact, that's tied for the second best three-point field goal percentage in the nation. Cornell, the Ivy League champ, enters the NCAA Tournament with a 43.4 field goal percentage from three-point range.

BYU has three main threats from the perimeter: Jimmer Fredette (21.7 ppg), Emery Jackson (12.6 ppg) and Jonathan Tavernari (10.3 ppg). Fredette leads the team in three-point shooting percentage, connecting on three-pointers 44.8 percent of the time. He's a slasher but has also made 73 three-pointers this season. By comparison Florida's Kenny Boynton Jr. leads the Gators with 67 three-point field goals, but at a much success rate (28.5 percent).

Jackson leads BYU with 80 three pointers (43 shooting percentage). All told, BYU has FOUR perimeter shooters with better three-pointer field goal shooting percentages than UF's most consistent three-pointer shooter, forward Chandler Parsons (36.7 percent from three).

Meanwhile, Florida (21-12) heads to Oklahoma City, Okla., ranked 75th nationally in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents a three-point bucket 32.1 percent of the time. Boynton, Walker and likely Ray Shipman will combine to defend Fredette and Jackson. Limiting these players is key to a UF victory. BYU is shot 33 percent from three-point range in its five losses.

Here are the three-point field-goal percentages in BYU's five losses this season: Utah State 71, BYU 61 (33.3 percent); New Mexico 76, BYU 72 (42.1 percent); UNLV 88, BYU 74 (25.9 percent); New Mexico 83, BYU 81 (43.5 percent); UNLV 70, BYU 66 (37.5 percent). Fredette

2. Own the boards!

Here's another area where Florida can ulimately limit the Cougars number of three-point shots. BYU's leading rebounder, 6-8 forward Noah Hartsock, is averaging 5.1 rebounds per game. Florida's Alex Tyus, Chandler Parsons and Vernon Macklin are averaging more rebounds per game than Hartsock. BYU doesn't miss as many shots as Florida, but when they do on Thursday, Florida must get to the ball first.

3. Don't be satisfied!

Florida coach Billy Donovan spoke passionately about this topic on Monday. His message to the team this week is to not be satisfied with simply making the NCAA Tournament. That's not the goal. The goal is to win games.

4. Turnovers!

Florida is forcing an average of 15.3 turnovers during wins and 11 turnovers during losses. For a team like UF, every turnover makes a difference.

5. Use the bench, Billy!

In Florida's 21 wins, Ray Shipman and Erik Murphy have averaged more minutes off the bench than in UF's 12 losses.

-jo-

Comments

[There is a storm brewing and it's a giant swirling mass of suck]

What seed do the Hurricanes have in the tourney?

Huh? okay..what seed in the NIT?

Huh?

[Da []_ _[] is Back!]

DAMN Spikes 5.0 40 way to go man.

Maybe u shouldn't have stayed in college til 27.

Honestly, how badly does it affect u gators that your players dwindle in the NFL?

Time to look in the mirror.

[Sergeant Schultz....I know nothing!]

Yeah all you gators are only relevant in college when you are playing for your SEC and NC championships. Your college players should focus on the NFL more.

[Huntley]

Posted by: Sergeant Schultz....I know nothing! | March 17, 2010 at 02:23

That and staying out of jail!

[Carlos was on to something]

Did the gators even show up for the SEC championship game? Carlos Dunlap got drunk before the game and gator nation got drunk after.

[MAJOR FAIL]

Really Da []_ _[] is Back? Your on the gator blog commenting on Spike's 40 time. Do you have no life, son? Do you think any UF fans will be chiming in on all your potential third rounders at the UM pro day? The Gators are all up in yo head, homie. I betcha you will be the lonely clown at Boomers wearing the fresh new BYU gear tomorrow...GEEK

[There is a storm brewing and it's a giant swirling mass of suck]

EPIC FAIL

pro day at um 2010

tumbleweeds.............

(((((((((((crickets))))))))))))))

[Gator34]

Its all about college ball baby....U can't say that so they have to rely upon what their guys do when they are NOT playing for the U. Beautiful

[Da []_ _[] is Back!]

You are right our pro day this year is pretty wack. But considering we got 11 pro bowlers, and mad prospects for next draft, we can afford to take some years off. Our draft class isn't where we want it to be, but u should keep your nose out of NFL talk bc you simply have no ground to stand on.... Just like we can't talk about basketball quite honestly.

And for my boy EPIC FAIL, the only reason I raid your blog is bc mine was censored bc of u self concious gator fans who couldn't resist to yell from the mountain top on our blog. It's called payback. But u guys are back down now....

Btw I'll bet Jimmy graham has a better pro career that hernandez. Any takers?

[There is a storm brewing and it's a giant swirling mass of suck]

Da []__[] is back alright

back to sukkkkkkking

[MAJOR FAIL]

Yes I will take that bet Hernandez vs Graham.

You can pay me when next year after Hernandez solidifies himself as a bona fide star but in the meantime should we shake on it at Boomers tomorrow - you'll be wearing the shiny BYU stuff right?

[According to UF Meyer runs A 4.3]

Gators getting blasted on talk radio about their inflated forty times. No wonder they go bust in the NFL.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Haden-Mays-remind-us-again-to-beware-the-cult-o?urn=ncaaf,225322

[MAJOR FAIL]

Wow the gators 40 times are getting blasted on a Miami market's radio station. You would think they would be talking about da U in the NCAA tourney tomorrow. Oh wait....NIT tourney..no? Well you gots 11 pro bowlers and "mad prospects for next draft".

[ReptilesRule]

Harvin went from a 4.28 to A 4.4 @ the combine last year. Now Haden goes from A 4.33 to 4.5. I wonder what the gators had for Spikes, probably in the 4.5 range and the dude runs A 5.0. Mr two bits could beat that.

[ReptilesRule]

Posted by: MAJOR FAIL | March 17, 2010 at 04:29 PM

ESPN 770 out of Fort Myers

[MAJOR FAIL]

Well then why in the hell is someone who is a canes fan living in fort meyers on a gator blog? oh yeah...envy.

[EPIC FAIL]

Orange bowl
ACC
recruiting
21-17
chumps bowl
depth chart
deepest recruiting talent in fla in long time
fans
titles

[Da []_ _[] is Back!]

"You can pay me when next year after Hernandez solidifies himself as a bona fide star "

under what precendent? Admit it, you guys do not breed NFL talent. Seriously I'm not even trying to be a jerk. U just don't.

[ReptilesRule]

Posted by: MAJOR FAIL | March 17, 2010 at 04:39 PM

Who said I was a cane fan. I just think its funny how gator coaches fudge forty times and I dont mean just a little. It does not suprise me though. They also hired A QB coach to help tebow with his throwing motion. We all know how that worked out. EPIC FAIL.

[Barney Fife ran him down]

According to the gator board Wondy runs A 4.31 forty. Thats gettin away from the cops speed. Never mind, forget I said that.

[Our Board Says So]

Half of the gator football team has olympic track speed and Timmy is A first round draft pick!

[Slower than A 370lb Nose Tackle]

This just in. Terrance Cody ran A faster forty than Brandon Spikes and it was not because Brandon took A time out to poke the watch man in the eye.

[GatorNation]

wow i thought this was a basketball blog bitter old pathetic canes never fails..well people only hate when you are good

[1-4 this decade againts The U Less Rings, Records,Pros thats Ufelons]

All that track speed has turned out so well clearly with the abundance of NFL second teamers. Forgive me Ufelons like to post times that u would like to run, the pros is were the weak get seperated from the herd, Hadden 4.5 look out Usain Bolt, Brandon Spikes 5.0 USA track team beware lmao More Urban Hitler propaganda. LOL now those times arent that bad just nowhere near Ufelons tell everyone.

[1-4 this decade againts The U Less Rings, Records,Pros thats Ufelons]

1-17 last 18 games against Miami lmao 1-4 this decade lol. Less pros this decade, Less probowlers this decades, only one more title game played in this decade, the U has played in at least 2 title game in each of the last three decades that relevance. New York times best selling Books and Documentaries are made on the U so please ENOUGH IGNORANCE FOOLS. yes miami has been down the last 5 years but 5 years out of the last 25 is relevance morons Ufeleons have just joined the fraternity of elite teams dominate for over twenty years than see us still no undefeated season for Ufeleons either with all the gayboys success in recent memory only u still havent touched what The U already has done BEEN THERE done THAT Already lmao

[1-4 this decade againts The U Less Rings, Records,Pros thats Ufelons]

1-17 last 18 games against Miami lmao 1-4 this decade lol. Less pros this decade, Less probowlers this decades, only one more title game played in this decade, the U has played in at least 2 title game in each of the last three decades that relevance. New York times best selling Books and Documentaries are made on the U so please ENOUGH IGNORANCE FOOLS. Yes miami has been down the last 5 years but 5 years out of the last 25 is relevance morons. Ufeleons have just joined the fraternity of elite teams, dominate for over twenty years than see us. Still no undefeated season for Ufeleons either. With all the gayboys success in recent memory only, u STILL havent touched what The U already has done. BEEN THERE done THAT Already lmao

[RicoPallazzo!]

Jo:

Great job breaking down an opponent very few on the East coast even know about. Impressive research on the admittedly formidable ability of the milk drinking virgins to effectively snipe from beyond le arc.

i agree with everything you've said the orange and blue need to do in order to accomplish the upset (pains me to say that, where have you gone, Donnell Harvey?), but they also have to avoid a huge early deficit at all costs. They simply do not recover from them with sufficient frequency to make anyone comfortable. i think they need to come out sniping from beyond the arc in hopes that they can make enough that BYU fear an up and down game against a team that has superior athletes.

let's see how they shoot from back there against Ship, Boynton, ... and WERNER!!! beeatch!

[RicoPallazzo!]

And with UM's most recent catastrophic football season, coupled with the pathetic failure to make ANY post-season hoops tourney, in addition to their recent series loss at Mark Light to the UF baseball team, it's pretty clear that it's NOT all about Da U.

"Excuse me, homes (kicking awake a dirty, smelly bum on the street, who looks up in a daze, with slober running down his unkempt mug) ... didn't you used to be THE University of Miami?"

HOLLA!!!

[OSU n Pitt Soon Enough ... then U get young again right ?]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, Cane Fans in all their insignificant glory.

not much going on down in the Gables through the Summer huh ?

[Sometimes he falls asleep in public places]

Excuse me, homes (kicking awake a dirty, smelly bum on the street, who looks up in a daze, with slober running down his unkempt mug) ... didn't you used to be THE University of Miami?"

HOLLA!!!

Posted by: RicoPallazzo! | March 17, 2010 at 11:17 PM

Rico, Why you dissin Dunlap like that? He was just out havin A little fun before floridas pro day like he did before the SEC title game. Quit being A hater!

[MAJOR FAIL]

Da []__[]

So you aren't going to take the bet with Hernandez vs Graham?

[Dan]

Posted by: Sometimes he falls asleep in public places | March 18, 2010 at 08:34 AM

LMFAO, That was funny!

[The ducks were flying on this rainy day]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/One-man-s-opinion-Tebow-struggled-more-as-he-we?urn=nfl,228615

If he did not wear A orange helment he would be A sixth or seventh round draft pick.

[Da []_ _[] is Back!]

Obviously it was a hypothetical bet u idiot. What do u want to meet up and put some $ in an escrow account?

I was just trying to prove a point.

[Da []_ _[] is Back!]

But I do stand by my comment Graham will have a superior career.

[MAJOR FAIL]

I am still not getting what point you were trying to make.

Ok I will try - I bet Tim Tebow will have a better NFL career than Jacory Harris, any takers?

I just proved my point.

[Da []_ _[] is Back!]

No I meant that im confident enough to make a bet. But do u think I was LITERALLY going to make a bet with some punk on a blog?

Stop being a smart guy. U know what I meant

[MAJOR FAIL]

I bet the earth is flat, any takers?