Saturday, January 23
Athens, Ga.
2:00 PM
University of Georgia
9-5,2-5SEC
84
vs
92
Florida
8-4,5-3SEC
1
2
F
Florida
42
50
92
Georgia
39
45
84
Georgia Falls to Florida, 92-84
January 23, 2021 | Men's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. – After a scoring drought in the second half, the University of Georgia men's basketball team fell to Florida, 92-84, before 1,638 fans at Stegeman Coliseum on Saturday Afternoon.
From the field the Bulldogs shot 32-59, 54.2 percent, and recorded 22 assists, their highest mark this season.
Graduate Andrew Garcia led the Bulldogs with 17 points, his second highest scoring performance as a Bulldog. Garcia's season high came against Florida A&M earlier this season, scoring 22. He was followed by freshman K.D. Johnson who had 16 and fellow graduate, Justin Kier who finished his afternoon with 14.
Sahvir Wheeler notched his fifth double- double this season with 10 assists and 10 points, thanks to his ability to score in transition. This is the fifth time this season the sophomore has recorded 10 or more assists in a game.
"That aggressiveness that we had against Ole Miss and Kentucky and the last couple of days wasn't there at all, and the fact is that we only had four deflections at half, we were getting beat off the dribble, and we just weren't physical enough," Head Coach Tom Crean said."
The Bulldogs got off to a hot start with Tye Fagan opening the game scoring 20 seconds into the first half. Going back and forth with the Gators, Justin Kier would hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Georgia ahead at the under-12 media. Florida would then retake the lead for a solid seven minutes, until Jonathan Ned and Toumani Camara contributed a 5-0 run to tie the game 26-26 with eight minutes remaining. A defensive rebound from Fagan and pass to Wheeler would cause a foul down the court for Wheeler to shoot two. He would put Georgia ahead 28-26 to chomp the Gators' lead. Florida's Noah Locke would go on to hit a 3-pointer in response. The Gators wouldn't let Georgia take the lead for the rest of the half, but the Bulldogs' offense responded with a 10-point run to cut the score 40-39. With just seconds remaining, Omar Payne of Florida would notch the final layup of the half. The Gators would head into the locker room leading 42-39.
Coach Crean
Florida would begin the second half having the offensive hot hand, continuing their lead by scoring seven points without a returning one from Georgia until the 18:25 mark with a free throw from Camara. In response the Gators would go on to score another six points to run it up 58-44, only allowing Georgia to snag four points. At the 14-minute mark, a layup from Wheeler would spark the offense for the Bulldogs. Within three minutes, Georgia would score nine points and only allowed four from Florida. The rest of the half, the scoreboard was in favor of the Gators, but the Bulldogs would close the wide deficit. Points from Garcia, Johnson and Kier would close it down to eight points between the two opponents by the end of the game with Florida securing the 92-84 road win.
Georgia will now turn its focus to South Carolina as they hit the road for Wednesday, Jan. 27 in Columbia. The tilt is set for 7 p.m., and will be broadcasted on ESPN2.
Georgia Basketball Postgame Quotes
Georgia vs. Florida
Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021
Georgia head coach Tom Crean
On team's energy during the game…
"I didn't see it coming, but we did. Our last two days were really good. They were short. They were concise. They were aggressive. We've even backed them off the last couple of days because they've been so aggressive in practice. That aggressiveness that we had against Ole Miss and Kentucky and the last couple of days wasn't there at all, and the fact is that we only had four deflections at half, we were getting beat off the dribble, and we just weren't physical enough. I think a lot of it was the lack of physicality, which made it look like we were getting outhustled, the lack of being down and being aggressive. So, to answer your question, yes, but it's also because we did not come with the physicality and fight that you have to have to compete against anybody let alone a team that has the talent up front that Florida has."
On what is needed to beat a team like Florida…
"I don't think so at all. We shot 54 percent for the game, 64 percent in the second half. I don't think you have to play perfect. I think you have to play physical. You have to be active. Even with a one-point game at half, I didn't think we were active enough at all. We only had four deflection at half. This is the most bewildering one to me of the year because of the way that we practiced the last couple of days. We haven't had any back-to-back days, and, again, they didn't leave it in the practice though. We cut the practices short because they were so aggressive and locked in, but it just didn't transfer to today. I think the biggest thing we have to learn is if we're leaning on one or two people to lead us and be the emotional, verbal leaders of our team, we learned a very important lesson about that today. There's a self-determination that you have to make as an individual every time that you're going to play, that you're going to bring your best and be willing to play through it and not rely on someone else. This was another one of those games when, even when we were down, I didn't look back and really believe we were going to get this. We don't beat Ole Miss without that. We don't beat Kentucky without that. If it's lack of maturity, lack of spirit, whatever it is, we didn't have that much today, but I don't think you have to play perfect basketball by any stretch. You just have to be very aggressive. You have to be very active, and you have to be willing to hit and fight and hit first on the glass."
On team's spirit heading into the next game…
"I don't know. We just have to get back to practice. We just did it a couple of days ago. I think it's just that we have to look at the lineups. It was a little out of character for the lack of physicality for guys that I think if you look at Toumani [Camara], P.J. [Horne], and Andrew [Garcia], and you look at the lack of rebounding, it starts right there. Again, a couple of nights ago, we were extremely physical and aggressive on the glass, so I think it's just lack of consistency more than it is anything else."
On losing a valuable player [Anthony Edwards] and expectations with restructuring a new team…
"I don't know, you know I don't have a good answer to that. I mean we did a really good job the last few days in these games. Then today we didn't, so it's different. We don't have a guy obviously like Anthony [Edwards] that can get those kind of baskets, we really don't have a guy like Rayshuan Hammonds that can get those kinds of baskets. So, it has to be collective. It has to be collective for us. It has to be collective of the defensive end too, and I think with eight new players, certainly having K.D. [Johnson] adds to it. I never think in terms of expectations, I think in terms of how we are going to improve. We have been improving, we've been improving the last few days and then we didn't show it today in the game."
On being down by three coming out of the half and what happened after…
"I think I covered it, we didn't come out with the same level of fight. We started to get beat off the dribble, we had a couple of turnovers with Tye Fagan, we get beat off the dribble. I have to change this line up, you know at some point and get some guys that are really going to bear down and say, 'Okay this starts with how we come down and get connected.' One of our big goals when you get three stops in a row is start at half and to come out with that kind of mindset. We didn't have that today, so that's what happened. Nobody took the bull by the horns and said, 'Okay I am going to lead the way and get us out of this,' not necessarily with scoring. I think average players think they're going to lead their way out, well I am going to go get a basket, most of the time it doesn't work that way. They have to lead with impact, they have to lead with defense, rebounding and be that emotional leader that you need, and we didn't really have that. They did. I didn't like how we got our head down in this, I mean we are trying to get guys that have not played together other than this year, since the end of the summer to understand how much they can affect one another. I also think we have to learn that we can't wait for someone to affect us. We have to be able to put ourselves in position to be that one that impacts teammates."
On K.D. Johnson's slow shooting day and if we will see more of Jonathan Ned…
"I think we are going to have to go with Jonathan Ned, he's a spacer, he took open shots. He just hasn't been as physical as we needed him to be, and we knew that and it's just been a little bit shorter. It's taken a little bit too long but he can space the floor, he knows how to play the game and I think we are going to have to because Christian Brown practiced just a little bit yesterday, I don't think he was comfortable to be in the game as much. K.D. [Johnson] got distracted early too, K.D. played like a freshman that has only played a couple of games today, and I know he did some things late but that's where you need leadership to kind of help guide him through. Today he was out there like he was stranded in the water by himself with no life raft. There wasn't anybody really pulling it together to help. Uncharacteristic, no doubt about it, something we have got to get changed quickly."
On free throws…
"Yeah, that's embarrassing. It is embarrassing for the guys missing the free throws, it really is. Because, they are way better shooters than that. We went 17-19 I think, the other day, or 15-17, whatever it was against Ole Miss. We only shot nine the other night, we were 7-9. We just have to step up to the line and make free throws. This is college basketball, it is the SEC. You just have to step up and knock them down. I don't have a lot of sympathy for that because, again, it would be different if they were poor shooters. They are not poor shooters. It's just get your breath, bear down, stay with it, reach up, get the self-talk right, and go up and knock it down, and that is—I would hope no one would think that we don't work on free throws. I hope that would go without saying, but I know it does not look like it at times. But, that is an embarrassment when we shoot that way, not with the time we spent on it, not with the quality of the guys that are shooting the shots."
On what looked promising…
"They were locked in, everybody was locked in. It was—you never know if you are going to win the game, but to play with the lack of spirit and to play with the lack of aggressiveness, in a game like this today, that didn't make sense. That really didn't make sense. They [Florida] have a really great program, Mike [White] has built that program up. He has done a really great job with his recruiting, they are deep, he has had the chance to build it and get guys that can really play the style that he wants to play, and they have been there a little bit with it now. But that is no excuse, we have got to bear down and go. As much as we worked on things, we never took away what we wanted to take away. Whether it was individuals, off the dribble, whether it was the rebounding, we just weren't aggressive enough. If you don't come to fight in this league, the other team usually does, and you are going to be behind it. Again, we still had numerous chances, but we just did not put any consistency together today aggressiveness wise."
#4 Andrew Garcia | Graduate
On what was the most frustrating aspect of today's game…
"We always harp on that—we have to make our free throws. Those always hurt. But, we obviously got out-rebounded in this game, and they exposed us on the second chance points. So, it was really frustrating. We were trying to just figure it out throughout the game."
On if he was surprised by the outcome of the game…
"It is something we definitely don't want to back track on, that is something we have talked about as a team. But, we know collectively what we have to do, and we fell short. We kept making the wrong play on the defensive end and giving up those boards. It is frustrating coming off a game where we played as hard as we did. But everybody knows what we have to do. So, we just have to stick together and figure it out."
On rebounding and the size of Florida…
"I feel like on the defensive end, everybody has the fight and the energy to play. The pace we play at offensively and defensively allows you to get down the court. But, we are a small team, but I think that games like this were we verse opponents who are bigger than us you need a collective effort to come crash down if me, and whoever are tracking down the bigs and someone comes soaring in. Fundamentally we just have to remember, 'Alright let's get the ball and then we push.' Because we all want to use our speed and athleticism, but we also have to remember to get those boards and the second chance points."
On the 16-3 run in the game…
"We have to work on out coverages on the pick-and-rolls. We probably freeze a little bit. It's a little too much. Then, it's probably me shifting to help out the guards off the picks. I think understanding the weak side and the strong side. Just helping and bumping. It's those little things we have to get back to, and we didn't execute today on that end. I think we just need to stick to the game plan and stick together, and understand that everybody has each other and to keep talking. Everyone plays with heart and energy, but the other team is going to do stuff to take that away. We just have to stick to the game plan and each other."
On starting SEC play with rough games and how to start winning…
"I think it is a quick fix. We have been there and done that. We had little lapses in the game today. But, I feel like we did bring some fight, there was some positives. So, we have to come together individually, as players, and bring back some of the stuff we talk about, and bring back that dog mentality we showed the last two games. Because we have already proved we can play at that level. We need to continue to have that consistency going forward."
On what falls on the veterans moving forward…
"It's big for us to keep having a voice, but it's everybody. Everybody has to have that voice. If it's not going for them or even if it is going for them. Because we have to collectively help each other, and we have to bring our own energy 100 percent. We shouldn't have anybody telling us, 'Alright let's play hard.' Mistakes are going to happen, even myself. If I don't box out if I'm not being more active. We have to continue to have that will—continue to have that voice and that talk so we can open it up for everybody to have that energy."
#2 Sahvir Wheeler | Sophomore
On what the most frustrating part of the game was tonight…
"I think everything was equally frustrating, but you can't just decide if the ball goes in. You don't miss free throws on purpose, you always go up there trying to make them and if it doesn't fall, then it doesn't fall. On the rebounding, everyone can get better, every person on our roster, that's just an effort thing. That's just going down there and attacking the ball and that's something that we didn't really do today as a team. I think that will be a little more frustrating and we've got a couple of days to correct it."
On the difference between his solid first half and poor second half…
"I'm not sure. I'm a part of the same game that you're watching, and I'm just trusting Coach [Crean]. He felt like he had something good going there, and he went with it. We trust Coach and his game plan, and we are trying to win games, so I want to do whatever is best for the team whether I am out there or not."
On team inconsistency from game to game...
"I think now looking back in hindsight as a group collectively, we know what it takes for us to win games and we know some of the common factors when we don't win games. We're still in the growing process. We've had some pretty good wins and losses that we wish we could have taken back some plays here and there to come back. But obviously, it's frustrating to lose games, no one wants to lose. But, we have found some bright spots in today's game whether that is Mikal [Starks] and his defensive pressure, K.D. [Johnson] getting to the basket, and even Johnathan Ned coming in for 10 minutes and getting two threes and a couple of rebounds. So obviously, we lost but there are some bright spots, and we're going to get back to the drawing board and keep getting better."
On those common factors when things are not going well…
"I think some of it has to do with our performance at the free-throw line and our lack of defensive tenacity. It's a whole new game, as Coach [Crean] says, 'There's one game where you're playing the possession and guarding the possession, and then when a shot goes up, that's a whole new ballgame as far as the athleticism and the physicality required when it's time to rebound the ball.' That's something we have to get back to. In games we've won and games we've played well, we've been fairly close--either winning or losing or tying the battle. We can't be outrebounded how we were today if we want to win games."
On the health of his shoulder…
"I'm good."
On what happened during Florida's big run to start the second half…
"Basketball is a game of runs. We've made runs in prior games where we've sustained the lead and in other games, we've had the runs be on us. Today was one of those games where we took a hit and we didn't respond, we didn't counterpunch. We have to find ways to battle through adversity and know that these are high-major teams, these are SEC teams, everyone has a pro on their team. So, we have to know that that is going to come, and we have to fight back."
On what didn't translate from practice to today's game…
"I think that's a little bit of the mystery for the self-reflection that we have to do as a team. Because, when you practice the way we practice—I don't think we've had a bad practice all year, maybe one or two on the year—we practice hard and guys are competing; we're dialed in. It is frustrating when we practice so well and come in and play like this. So, I'm not really sure what actually happens, but I know that it can't go on for much longer if we want to win games."
Florida Head Coach Mike White
On whether this is the offensive identity he wants from the team…
"All these opponents are so different, game to game it's just going to be different in terms of how we play and who we play. We are definitely more comfortable offensively than when we first came back from Christmas break for sure. We have to value the ball better if we want to be a consistently good team in this league. We have to value it and make better decisions. Outside of that, offensively, I thought we were really good. We missed some touches where we wanted to go on that possession, on time and on target post touches were just not there sometimes, specially second half with some calls. There is some stuff we can clean up but yeah, you shoot the percentage we shot on the road, get to the foul line, 16 offensive rebounds. I thought our guys did a lot of really good stuff offensively."
On Omar Payne's performance…
"Omar [Payne] would be the first to tell you, it's reality, he's getting more opportunity. Sometimes you earn it, sometimes you beat guys out, sometimes a guy rolls an ankle, sometimes a guy gets a cold. You always have to be ready, you have to continue to develop. When the opportunity comes, you take advantage, if you are ready, if you handle it with maturity. Omar is a starter with the way we were playing. We haven't gone extra big if you will but maybe we will moving forward at some point I don't know, but to me, it's the epitome of character. He knows who he is, he's continued to work, he has a good attitude and while he's not getting everything out of it that he wanted individually, you celebrate wins, you love your teammates and you get better. Opportunity calls, you take advantage."
On whether he did anything defensively to slow down Sahvir Wheeler…
"I want to say he was 8-1 in the first half, he challenged our guys. The urgency, a lot of the stuff was off of ball screens or post bounce pick-ups where we just have to be more active. That said, when you beg guys for 72 hours to understand how quick and fast this guy is and how much pressure he puts on your defense, I thought at times we just have him a little too much space, because he's equally as good a passer. Obviously, Coach Crean put us in some situations where he can dice you up and they spaced the floor. Sometimes they can play some interchangeable, unorthodox lineups that are really hard to guard with front court guys that can stretch you and drive you and they cut off the ball, best cutting team we'll play all year. [Sahvir] Wheeler is a hard, hard matchup for most guys in this league. Definitely for everyone with a Gator jersey, he's very difficult to guard."
On whether there was anything significant he told the guys at halftime…
"No, same thing. We watch defensive possessions, consistently. Fouls and points scored against. We watched those at halftime. It's what we do. Really nothing different. I don't think I said anything unique or our guys said anything unique from any other halftime. Our guys understood that these possessions, we were pretty sharp, these possessions we weren't. We just talked about a few of those with how we defended [Sahvir] Wheeler. Transition defense, we struggled with all night. These guys, their initial push off of makes and misses has got to be as fast as anyone in college basketball. You can sell it as much as you want and you can try and sell it through film but until you feel it and until you're gasping for breath in a defensive transition, and you're looking around and the ball has been passed by you, or your guy has run by you, it's really hard for it to sink in."
On maintaining the lead...
"I thought we did a good job getting the foul line than playing with the lead. Not turning balls over. We need more poise. We need to execute and press the offense a little bit better. For the most part, I think we converted at the foul line. I am not sure what our numbers are of late. We took advantage, thank goodness we had the lead because down the stretch we could not find stops late in the game."
On Osayi Osifio...
"Very sharp defensively. Very vocal. He is quick, he is fast. He has a very high defensive ceiling—a way to go off course in this level. But, he is developing. Offensively, he is playing within himself. He is playing around the basket a bit more. He works, he has worked just as much as anyone that we have. He deserved some success because he has earned it. He has played really well for us."
On the adjustments he made for the second half...
"Yeah, I think we threw three or four half-court defenses at them, a couple of different presses at them, and I cannot sit here and tell you that anything was really effective. First five minutes of the second half our man-to-man base defense was more locked in with the ball screen part of it. I thought we were more sound, more handsy, we got hands-on basketballs and created turnovers which got us up on transition. To me, those few minutes of the game were the difference. Again, if we had not gotten that lead, I am not sure we would have been successful late because we really struggled to guard them. They shot, what percent? Twenty-two assists, 13 turnovers. I mean they were terrific offensively. Thank goodness we were good offensively as well."
On Noah Locke as his go-to takeover player...
"He has been challenged a bunch to be a leader. With all these guys, Noah is no different than Colin [Castleton], Tre [Mann], than Tyree [Appleby], but if we are going to lead let's lead all the time. Let's lead in practice, let's in film, let's lead after we have missed three shots. It is easy to lead when you go up there and dunk it. No, you are not you just dunked the ball. But, let's lead all the time. Let's lead if you are the ninth-best player, not the first best player. But yeah, he is challenged every day and he is developing in that area. But, you really hope that all of your guys are developing as leaders. In terms of a go-to guy offensively I think we have got a few. I do not want any of these guys to think that if it is close it means it is their time to step up and take—no, the defense will dictate that. It is Noah's time, Tre's time, it is Colin's time, it all of these guys, Omar [Payne], [Anthony] Duruji, Tyree Appleby, I could go and on. It's their time to step up and lead with a big shot when it is a big shot when the ball is moved, and it is the right shot with the time and score and it is your type of shot. I think Noah played within himself today. I think he made some good decisions; he was an ironman with the number of minutes he played. For the most part you know what you are getting defensively with him. He is strong, he is tough, and he is solid."
#1 Tre Mann | Sophomore | Guard
On Omar Payne's good game…
"He's been playing huge for us. We need it. We need that from everybody on our roster. Everybody on our roster is good at something, and once they do what they are good at every time, then we will be the best team that we can be. Having someone like that is definitely a lot of help.
On going on the road and beating a rival…
"It feels great. Any win in the SEC feels great, but to beat a rival, it just shows that we came in ready to play, and we prepared well for it."
On the strong start to the second half…
"We just wanted to come out and compete. We knew we did not play that well in the first half, and we knew that we do not have another half to make up for it, so we knew that we had to come out in those first five minutes and finish the game in 20 minutes."
On finding an offensive identity…
"Yes, we switched up our offense a little bit over the past couple of days. It is seeming to work for us."
#10 Noah Locke | Junior | Guard
On Florida's up-tempo offense…
"You can consider that our [identity]. We changed the whole dynamic since I have been here. This year, we started playing much faster. With the personnel that we have, I feel like that is the best look for us. I feel like we have been playing well with it. We switched a few things with our offense, but the whole "playing fast" aspect of it, I feel like we play our best that way."
On his shooting confidence…
"You know, just giving credit to my teammates after a few games, being able to talk to them, them knowing exactly where I am in certain positions. Like I said, we switched the offense up a little bit. Being able to find my spots, knowing exactly where I am going to get my shots, it has been working for me. I have always been confident in my shot, but that is just pretty much how it is. The offense has changed a little bit, and I am getting to know where my shots are coming from."
On the team's rebounding…
"We talk about that all the time. Coach Pink [Al Pinkins] is always talking about having a motor. We have an offense now where the bigs are down in the paint a lot more, so it gives us better chances to get those offensive rebounds. That has always been an emphasis. Coach Pink, credit to him, he has been telling us a whole lot about the offensive rebound and just rebounding in general, so that definitely has been an emphasis."
From the field the Bulldogs shot 32-59, 54.2 percent, and recorded 22 assists, their highest mark this season.
Graduate Andrew Garcia led the Bulldogs with 17 points, his second highest scoring performance as a Bulldog. Garcia's season high came against Florida A&M earlier this season, scoring 22. He was followed by freshman K.D. Johnson who had 16 and fellow graduate, Justin Kier who finished his afternoon with 14.
Sahvir Wheeler notched his fifth double- double this season with 10 assists and 10 points, thanks to his ability to score in transition. This is the fifth time this season the sophomore has recorded 10 or more assists in a game.
"That aggressiveness that we had against Ole Miss and Kentucky and the last couple of days wasn't there at all, and the fact is that we only had four deflections at half, we were getting beat off the dribble, and we just weren't physical enough," Head Coach Tom Crean said."
The Bulldogs got off to a hot start with Tye Fagan opening the game scoring 20 seconds into the first half. Going back and forth with the Gators, Justin Kier would hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Georgia ahead at the under-12 media. Florida would then retake the lead for a solid seven minutes, until Jonathan Ned and Toumani Camara contributed a 5-0 run to tie the game 26-26 with eight minutes remaining. A defensive rebound from Fagan and pass to Wheeler would cause a foul down the court for Wheeler to shoot two. He would put Georgia ahead 28-26 to chomp the Gators' lead. Florida's Noah Locke would go on to hit a 3-pointer in response. The Gators wouldn't let Georgia take the lead for the rest of the half, but the Bulldogs' offense responded with a 10-point run to cut the score 40-39. With just seconds remaining, Omar Payne of Florida would notch the final layup of the half. The Gators would head into the locker room leading 42-39.
POSTGAME VIDEOS
Coach Crean
Florida would begin the second half having the offensive hot hand, continuing their lead by scoring seven points without a returning one from Georgia until the 18:25 mark with a free throw from Camara. In response the Gators would go on to score another six points to run it up 58-44, only allowing Georgia to snag four points. At the 14-minute mark, a layup from Wheeler would spark the offense for the Bulldogs. Within three minutes, Georgia would score nine points and only allowed four from Florida. The rest of the half, the scoreboard was in favor of the Gators, but the Bulldogs would close the wide deficit. Points from Garcia, Johnson and Kier would close it down to eight points between the two opponents by the end of the game with Florida securing the 92-84 road win.
Georgia will now turn its focus to South Carolina as they hit the road for Wednesday, Jan. 27 in Columbia. The tilt is set for 7 p.m., and will be broadcasted on ESPN2.
Georgia Basketball Postgame Quotes
Georgia vs. Florida
Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021
Georgia head coach Tom Crean
On team's energy during the game…
"I didn't see it coming, but we did. Our last two days were really good. They were short. They were concise. They were aggressive. We've even backed them off the last couple of days because they've been so aggressive in practice. That aggressiveness that we had against Ole Miss and Kentucky and the last couple of days wasn't there at all, and the fact is that we only had four deflections at half, we were getting beat off the dribble, and we just weren't physical enough. I think a lot of it was the lack of physicality, which made it look like we were getting outhustled, the lack of being down and being aggressive. So, to answer your question, yes, but it's also because we did not come with the physicality and fight that you have to have to compete against anybody let alone a team that has the talent up front that Florida has."
On what is needed to beat a team like Florida…
"I don't think so at all. We shot 54 percent for the game, 64 percent in the second half. I don't think you have to play perfect. I think you have to play physical. You have to be active. Even with a one-point game at half, I didn't think we were active enough at all. We only had four deflection at half. This is the most bewildering one to me of the year because of the way that we practiced the last couple of days. We haven't had any back-to-back days, and, again, they didn't leave it in the practice though. We cut the practices short because they were so aggressive and locked in, but it just didn't transfer to today. I think the biggest thing we have to learn is if we're leaning on one or two people to lead us and be the emotional, verbal leaders of our team, we learned a very important lesson about that today. There's a self-determination that you have to make as an individual every time that you're going to play, that you're going to bring your best and be willing to play through it and not rely on someone else. This was another one of those games when, even when we were down, I didn't look back and really believe we were going to get this. We don't beat Ole Miss without that. We don't beat Kentucky without that. If it's lack of maturity, lack of spirit, whatever it is, we didn't have that much today, but I don't think you have to play perfect basketball by any stretch. You just have to be very aggressive. You have to be very active, and you have to be willing to hit and fight and hit first on the glass."
On team's spirit heading into the next game…
"I don't know. We just have to get back to practice. We just did it a couple of days ago. I think it's just that we have to look at the lineups. It was a little out of character for the lack of physicality for guys that I think if you look at Toumani [Camara], P.J. [Horne], and Andrew [Garcia], and you look at the lack of rebounding, it starts right there. Again, a couple of nights ago, we were extremely physical and aggressive on the glass, so I think it's just lack of consistency more than it is anything else."
On losing a valuable player [Anthony Edwards] and expectations with restructuring a new team…
"I don't know, you know I don't have a good answer to that. I mean we did a really good job the last few days in these games. Then today we didn't, so it's different. We don't have a guy obviously like Anthony [Edwards] that can get those kind of baskets, we really don't have a guy like Rayshuan Hammonds that can get those kinds of baskets. So, it has to be collective. It has to be collective for us. It has to be collective of the defensive end too, and I think with eight new players, certainly having K.D. [Johnson] adds to it. I never think in terms of expectations, I think in terms of how we are going to improve. We have been improving, we've been improving the last few days and then we didn't show it today in the game."
On being down by three coming out of the half and what happened after…
"I think I covered it, we didn't come out with the same level of fight. We started to get beat off the dribble, we had a couple of turnovers with Tye Fagan, we get beat off the dribble. I have to change this line up, you know at some point and get some guys that are really going to bear down and say, 'Okay this starts with how we come down and get connected.' One of our big goals when you get three stops in a row is start at half and to come out with that kind of mindset. We didn't have that today, so that's what happened. Nobody took the bull by the horns and said, 'Okay I am going to lead the way and get us out of this,' not necessarily with scoring. I think average players think they're going to lead their way out, well I am going to go get a basket, most of the time it doesn't work that way. They have to lead with impact, they have to lead with defense, rebounding and be that emotional leader that you need, and we didn't really have that. They did. I didn't like how we got our head down in this, I mean we are trying to get guys that have not played together other than this year, since the end of the summer to understand how much they can affect one another. I also think we have to learn that we can't wait for someone to affect us. We have to be able to put ourselves in position to be that one that impacts teammates."
On K.D. Johnson's slow shooting day and if we will see more of Jonathan Ned…
"I think we are going to have to go with Jonathan Ned, he's a spacer, he took open shots. He just hasn't been as physical as we needed him to be, and we knew that and it's just been a little bit shorter. It's taken a little bit too long but he can space the floor, he knows how to play the game and I think we are going to have to because Christian Brown practiced just a little bit yesterday, I don't think he was comfortable to be in the game as much. K.D. [Johnson] got distracted early too, K.D. played like a freshman that has only played a couple of games today, and I know he did some things late but that's where you need leadership to kind of help guide him through. Today he was out there like he was stranded in the water by himself with no life raft. There wasn't anybody really pulling it together to help. Uncharacteristic, no doubt about it, something we have got to get changed quickly."
On free throws…
"Yeah, that's embarrassing. It is embarrassing for the guys missing the free throws, it really is. Because, they are way better shooters than that. We went 17-19 I think, the other day, or 15-17, whatever it was against Ole Miss. We only shot nine the other night, we were 7-9. We just have to step up to the line and make free throws. This is college basketball, it is the SEC. You just have to step up and knock them down. I don't have a lot of sympathy for that because, again, it would be different if they were poor shooters. They are not poor shooters. It's just get your breath, bear down, stay with it, reach up, get the self-talk right, and go up and knock it down, and that is—I would hope no one would think that we don't work on free throws. I hope that would go without saying, but I know it does not look like it at times. But, that is an embarrassment when we shoot that way, not with the time we spent on it, not with the quality of the guys that are shooting the shots."
On what looked promising…
"They were locked in, everybody was locked in. It was—you never know if you are going to win the game, but to play with the lack of spirit and to play with the lack of aggressiveness, in a game like this today, that didn't make sense. That really didn't make sense. They [Florida] have a really great program, Mike [White] has built that program up. He has done a really great job with his recruiting, they are deep, he has had the chance to build it and get guys that can really play the style that he wants to play, and they have been there a little bit with it now. But that is no excuse, we have got to bear down and go. As much as we worked on things, we never took away what we wanted to take away. Whether it was individuals, off the dribble, whether it was the rebounding, we just weren't aggressive enough. If you don't come to fight in this league, the other team usually does, and you are going to be behind it. Again, we still had numerous chances, but we just did not put any consistency together today aggressiveness wise."
#4 Andrew Garcia | Graduate
On what was the most frustrating aspect of today's game…
"We always harp on that—we have to make our free throws. Those always hurt. But, we obviously got out-rebounded in this game, and they exposed us on the second chance points. So, it was really frustrating. We were trying to just figure it out throughout the game."
On if he was surprised by the outcome of the game…
"It is something we definitely don't want to back track on, that is something we have talked about as a team. But, we know collectively what we have to do, and we fell short. We kept making the wrong play on the defensive end and giving up those boards. It is frustrating coming off a game where we played as hard as we did. But everybody knows what we have to do. So, we just have to stick together and figure it out."
On rebounding and the size of Florida…
"I feel like on the defensive end, everybody has the fight and the energy to play. The pace we play at offensively and defensively allows you to get down the court. But, we are a small team, but I think that games like this were we verse opponents who are bigger than us you need a collective effort to come crash down if me, and whoever are tracking down the bigs and someone comes soaring in. Fundamentally we just have to remember, 'Alright let's get the ball and then we push.' Because we all want to use our speed and athleticism, but we also have to remember to get those boards and the second chance points."
On the 16-3 run in the game…
"We have to work on out coverages on the pick-and-rolls. We probably freeze a little bit. It's a little too much. Then, it's probably me shifting to help out the guards off the picks. I think understanding the weak side and the strong side. Just helping and bumping. It's those little things we have to get back to, and we didn't execute today on that end. I think we just need to stick to the game plan and stick together, and understand that everybody has each other and to keep talking. Everyone plays with heart and energy, but the other team is going to do stuff to take that away. We just have to stick to the game plan and each other."
On starting SEC play with rough games and how to start winning…
"I think it is a quick fix. We have been there and done that. We had little lapses in the game today. But, I feel like we did bring some fight, there was some positives. So, we have to come together individually, as players, and bring back some of the stuff we talk about, and bring back that dog mentality we showed the last two games. Because we have already proved we can play at that level. We need to continue to have that consistency going forward."
On what falls on the veterans moving forward…
"It's big for us to keep having a voice, but it's everybody. Everybody has to have that voice. If it's not going for them or even if it is going for them. Because we have to collectively help each other, and we have to bring our own energy 100 percent. We shouldn't have anybody telling us, 'Alright let's play hard.' Mistakes are going to happen, even myself. If I don't box out if I'm not being more active. We have to continue to have that will—continue to have that voice and that talk so we can open it up for everybody to have that energy."
#2 Sahvir Wheeler | Sophomore
On what the most frustrating part of the game was tonight…
"I think everything was equally frustrating, but you can't just decide if the ball goes in. You don't miss free throws on purpose, you always go up there trying to make them and if it doesn't fall, then it doesn't fall. On the rebounding, everyone can get better, every person on our roster, that's just an effort thing. That's just going down there and attacking the ball and that's something that we didn't really do today as a team. I think that will be a little more frustrating and we've got a couple of days to correct it."
On the difference between his solid first half and poor second half…
"I'm not sure. I'm a part of the same game that you're watching, and I'm just trusting Coach [Crean]. He felt like he had something good going there, and he went with it. We trust Coach and his game plan, and we are trying to win games, so I want to do whatever is best for the team whether I am out there or not."
On team inconsistency from game to game...
"I think now looking back in hindsight as a group collectively, we know what it takes for us to win games and we know some of the common factors when we don't win games. We're still in the growing process. We've had some pretty good wins and losses that we wish we could have taken back some plays here and there to come back. But obviously, it's frustrating to lose games, no one wants to lose. But, we have found some bright spots in today's game whether that is Mikal [Starks] and his defensive pressure, K.D. [Johnson] getting to the basket, and even Johnathan Ned coming in for 10 minutes and getting two threes and a couple of rebounds. So obviously, we lost but there are some bright spots, and we're going to get back to the drawing board and keep getting better."
On those common factors when things are not going well…
"I think some of it has to do with our performance at the free-throw line and our lack of defensive tenacity. It's a whole new game, as Coach [Crean] says, 'There's one game where you're playing the possession and guarding the possession, and then when a shot goes up, that's a whole new ballgame as far as the athleticism and the physicality required when it's time to rebound the ball.' That's something we have to get back to. In games we've won and games we've played well, we've been fairly close--either winning or losing or tying the battle. We can't be outrebounded how we were today if we want to win games."
On the health of his shoulder…
"I'm good."
On what happened during Florida's big run to start the second half…
"Basketball is a game of runs. We've made runs in prior games where we've sustained the lead and in other games, we've had the runs be on us. Today was one of those games where we took a hit and we didn't respond, we didn't counterpunch. We have to find ways to battle through adversity and know that these are high-major teams, these are SEC teams, everyone has a pro on their team. So, we have to know that that is going to come, and we have to fight back."
On what didn't translate from practice to today's game…
"I think that's a little bit of the mystery for the self-reflection that we have to do as a team. Because, when you practice the way we practice—I don't think we've had a bad practice all year, maybe one or two on the year—we practice hard and guys are competing; we're dialed in. It is frustrating when we practice so well and come in and play like this. So, I'm not really sure what actually happens, but I know that it can't go on for much longer if we want to win games."
Florida Head Coach Mike White
On whether this is the offensive identity he wants from the team…
"All these opponents are so different, game to game it's just going to be different in terms of how we play and who we play. We are definitely more comfortable offensively than when we first came back from Christmas break for sure. We have to value the ball better if we want to be a consistently good team in this league. We have to value it and make better decisions. Outside of that, offensively, I thought we were really good. We missed some touches where we wanted to go on that possession, on time and on target post touches were just not there sometimes, specially second half with some calls. There is some stuff we can clean up but yeah, you shoot the percentage we shot on the road, get to the foul line, 16 offensive rebounds. I thought our guys did a lot of really good stuff offensively."
On Omar Payne's performance…
"Omar [Payne] would be the first to tell you, it's reality, he's getting more opportunity. Sometimes you earn it, sometimes you beat guys out, sometimes a guy rolls an ankle, sometimes a guy gets a cold. You always have to be ready, you have to continue to develop. When the opportunity comes, you take advantage, if you are ready, if you handle it with maturity. Omar is a starter with the way we were playing. We haven't gone extra big if you will but maybe we will moving forward at some point I don't know, but to me, it's the epitome of character. He knows who he is, he's continued to work, he has a good attitude and while he's not getting everything out of it that he wanted individually, you celebrate wins, you love your teammates and you get better. Opportunity calls, you take advantage."
On whether he did anything defensively to slow down Sahvir Wheeler…
"I want to say he was 8-1 in the first half, he challenged our guys. The urgency, a lot of the stuff was off of ball screens or post bounce pick-ups where we just have to be more active. That said, when you beg guys for 72 hours to understand how quick and fast this guy is and how much pressure he puts on your defense, I thought at times we just have him a little too much space, because he's equally as good a passer. Obviously, Coach Crean put us in some situations where he can dice you up and they spaced the floor. Sometimes they can play some interchangeable, unorthodox lineups that are really hard to guard with front court guys that can stretch you and drive you and they cut off the ball, best cutting team we'll play all year. [Sahvir] Wheeler is a hard, hard matchup for most guys in this league. Definitely for everyone with a Gator jersey, he's very difficult to guard."
On whether there was anything significant he told the guys at halftime…
"No, same thing. We watch defensive possessions, consistently. Fouls and points scored against. We watched those at halftime. It's what we do. Really nothing different. I don't think I said anything unique or our guys said anything unique from any other halftime. Our guys understood that these possessions, we were pretty sharp, these possessions we weren't. We just talked about a few of those with how we defended [Sahvir] Wheeler. Transition defense, we struggled with all night. These guys, their initial push off of makes and misses has got to be as fast as anyone in college basketball. You can sell it as much as you want and you can try and sell it through film but until you feel it and until you're gasping for breath in a defensive transition, and you're looking around and the ball has been passed by you, or your guy has run by you, it's really hard for it to sink in."
On maintaining the lead...
"I thought we did a good job getting the foul line than playing with the lead. Not turning balls over. We need more poise. We need to execute and press the offense a little bit better. For the most part, I think we converted at the foul line. I am not sure what our numbers are of late. We took advantage, thank goodness we had the lead because down the stretch we could not find stops late in the game."
On Osayi Osifio...
"Very sharp defensively. Very vocal. He is quick, he is fast. He has a very high defensive ceiling—a way to go off course in this level. But, he is developing. Offensively, he is playing within himself. He is playing around the basket a bit more. He works, he has worked just as much as anyone that we have. He deserved some success because he has earned it. He has played really well for us."
On the adjustments he made for the second half...
"Yeah, I think we threw three or four half-court defenses at them, a couple of different presses at them, and I cannot sit here and tell you that anything was really effective. First five minutes of the second half our man-to-man base defense was more locked in with the ball screen part of it. I thought we were more sound, more handsy, we got hands-on basketballs and created turnovers which got us up on transition. To me, those few minutes of the game were the difference. Again, if we had not gotten that lead, I am not sure we would have been successful late because we really struggled to guard them. They shot, what percent? Twenty-two assists, 13 turnovers. I mean they were terrific offensively. Thank goodness we were good offensively as well."
On Noah Locke as his go-to takeover player...
"He has been challenged a bunch to be a leader. With all these guys, Noah is no different than Colin [Castleton], Tre [Mann], than Tyree [Appleby], but if we are going to lead let's lead all the time. Let's lead in practice, let's in film, let's lead after we have missed three shots. It is easy to lead when you go up there and dunk it. No, you are not you just dunked the ball. But, let's lead all the time. Let's lead if you are the ninth-best player, not the first best player. But yeah, he is challenged every day and he is developing in that area. But, you really hope that all of your guys are developing as leaders. In terms of a go-to guy offensively I think we have got a few. I do not want any of these guys to think that if it is close it means it is their time to step up and take—no, the defense will dictate that. It is Noah's time, Tre's time, it is Colin's time, it all of these guys, Omar [Payne], [Anthony] Duruji, Tyree Appleby, I could go and on. It's their time to step up and lead with a big shot when it is a big shot when the ball is moved, and it is the right shot with the time and score and it is your type of shot. I think Noah played within himself today. I think he made some good decisions; he was an ironman with the number of minutes he played. For the most part you know what you are getting defensively with him. He is strong, he is tough, and he is solid."
#1 Tre Mann | Sophomore | Guard
On Omar Payne's good game…
"He's been playing huge for us. We need it. We need that from everybody on our roster. Everybody on our roster is good at something, and once they do what they are good at every time, then we will be the best team that we can be. Having someone like that is definitely a lot of help.
On going on the road and beating a rival…
"It feels great. Any win in the SEC feels great, but to beat a rival, it just shows that we came in ready to play, and we prepared well for it."
On the strong start to the second half…
"We just wanted to come out and compete. We knew we did not play that well in the first half, and we knew that we do not have another half to make up for it, so we knew that we had to come out in those first five minutes and finish the game in 20 minutes."
On finding an offensive identity…
"Yes, we switched up our offense a little bit over the past couple of days. It is seeming to work for us."
#10 Noah Locke | Junior | Guard
On Florida's up-tempo offense…
"You can consider that our [identity]. We changed the whole dynamic since I have been here. This year, we started playing much faster. With the personnel that we have, I feel like that is the best look for us. I feel like we have been playing well with it. We switched a few things with our offense, but the whole "playing fast" aspect of it, I feel like we play our best that way."
On his shooting confidence…
"You know, just giving credit to my teammates after a few games, being able to talk to them, them knowing exactly where I am in certain positions. Like I said, we switched the offense up a little bit. Being able to find my spots, knowing exactly where I am going to get my shots, it has been working for me. I have always been confident in my shot, but that is just pretty much how it is. The offense has changed a little bit, and I am getting to know where my shots are coming from."
On the team's rebounding…
"We talk about that all the time. Coach Pink [Al Pinkins] is always talking about having a motor. We have an offense now where the bigs are down in the paint a lot more, so it gives us better chances to get those offensive rebounds. That has always been an emphasis. Coach Pink, credit to him, he has been telling us a whole lot about the offensive rebound and just rebounding in general, so that definitely has been an emphasis."
Team Stats
UF
UGa
FG%
.569
.542
3FG%
.389
.304
FT%
.647
.542
RB
41
27
TO
14
13
STL
10
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
Georgia Men's Basketball Media Availability - Marcus "Smurf" Millender
Monday, September 22
Georgia Men's Basketball Media Availability - Jeremiah Wilkinson
Monday, September 22
Georgia Basketball - Coach Mike White - Media Availability
Monday, September 15
Georgia Basketball - Dylan James - Media Availability
Monday, September 15
