The University of Florida has three SEC Tournament titles, all coming during a three-year run from 2005-07. They haven’t been as fortunate in the last two year where they were first round exits in 2008 and second round exists in 2009. Depending on what other teams around the NCAA do this week, the Gators may only need one win in the SEC Tournament or they might need two. The Gators have a few key signature wins this year, including victories over Michigan State, Florida State and Tennessee. Those should help give them an edge even if their RPI is in the 50s.

The Gators may have lost three SEC games in a row to close out the regular season, but there were actually some positives in those games. Several players showed key improvements on offense. Vernon Macklin has shown tremendous offensive improvement in recent weeks and has been in double figures in five of the last seven games, including a career-high 22 points at Ole Miss on Feb. 20. Chandler Parsons has been in double figures in seven of the last nine games including a career-high 29 against Georgia on Feb. 27… Parsons had 17 points, six rebounds and four assists in the first meeting with Auburn.

Also, despite losing against the SEC’s top two teams in their last two outings, UF has out-rebounded both, including 19.5 offensive rebounds per game in those two outings. The Gators are a lot bigger than Auburn and should be able to dominate in the low post and on the rebounds. The Tigers only have one starter over 6′8″, while the Gators have three – Tyus, Macklin and Parsons.

In a must-win situation these Gators haven’t always come away with the win in the past few years, but I really have to believe Billy will have them ready to play tonight and they will defeat Auburn. If the Gators win, they will play Mississippi State tomorrow night.

The Gators got down big in the first half – trailing by as much as 18 points. But they were able to bring the deficit down to 10 points at halftime and made a great comeback in the second half. With about 4-5 minutes left in the game, the Gators were down only 2 points… but they were never able to take the lead. By the closing minutes the Gators got desperate and Kentucky pulled away.

Alex Tyus led the team in scoring with 12 points, followed by Kenny Boynton who had 11. Can you believe our leading rebounder was not someone by the name of Macklin, Tyus or Chandler? But by someone who is like 5′8″ – Erving Walker, who had 8 boards.

The Gators are slated to take on Auburn at 7:30 p.m. (ET) in the first round of the SEC Tournament and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network. We have a lot of work to do if the Gators want to advance in the SEC Tournament. It won’t come easy – even against Auburn.

Last week, the Tebow show moved it’s cameras to Indy and the NFL scouting combine. Tebow did fairly well at the combine, despite not throwing because of his throwing motion and mechanics being under reconstruction. Tebow posted a 4.72 40-yard dash(4th among quarterbacks, and beating Colt McCoy’s 4.79), a vertical jump of 38.5 inches(tying the record for quarterbacks set by Josh McCown, and beating Michael Vick’s score by ½ an inch), a broad jump of 9ft. 7in., and a 3-cone drill of 6.66 seconds. And even though Tim did well by combine standards for a quarterback, the criticism of him all together never stopped to breathe. His athletic ability even raised thoughts of playing another position in the NFL such as tight end or fullback. It seems to me that the NFL analysts, reporters, and writers are never going to give any kind of chance to Tim because he is not the prototypical NFL quarterback(immobile and a pure passer). Timmy is still set to premier his new throwing motion and footwork at the Gator’s Pro Day on Saint Patrick’s Day in Gainesville. Which will be open to the public.

Other former Gators showing off their skills at the combine did not overly impress. Joe Haden posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.57. We all know he is faster than that. But that’s not stopping the media from claiming that Florida’s 40 board is absolutely bogus. He will have a chance to redeem himself at the pro day, hopefully posting a 4.4 or better. Haden threw down a 10ft. 5in. broad jump, a 35 inch vertical leap, and bench pressed 18 reps of 225lbs. Riley Cooper also ran at the combine, showing a 4.52 40. He, however, did not participate in other drills. Former Gator safety Major Wright ran the fastest of Gator 40’s at this year’s combine, posting a 4.48. Third among participating safeties. Brandon Spikes, and Carlos Dunlap participated as well, Dunlap being most impressive out of the two. Dunlap posted a vertical leap of 31.5inches, two and ½ inches better than Spikes. And a broad jump of 9ft. 3in., 1 inch better than Spikes. Dunlap also ran a 40 time of 4.71, and threw up 225lbs 21 times. Spikes did not participate in those drills. After all of this, I expect the pro day to be a media circus. With Joe Haden trying to improve his 40 time, Tim Tebow 2.0 premiering, and other Gators trying to improve on things they were unhappy with at the combine. I personally will be attending the pro day. And I will tell you all how I think things went for our beloved Gators.

Now, to basketball. With the back to back losses to Georgia in Athens, and Vanderbilt at home, Billy Donavon’s Gators are in trouble of not making the tournament. The game against Vanderbilt marked the first time this year that the Gators have lost after leading at the 5 minute mark. Which was on senior day for Dan Werner, who contributed 8 points on 3-6 shooting. In my opinion, with the win over Tennessee, the Gators clinched a spot in the dance. But with the recent heartbreakers, they will have to be impressive this Sunday against Kentucky, and get at least a win in the SEC tournament to be considered in the NCAA tourney. This unpredictable team could very well go into Rupp Arena and upset the Wildcats. But they will have to bring their A+ game, and have some luck as well. I would look for a close loss this Sunday. The Gators should be playing a mid to low-tier team in the first round of the SEC tournament. A team like Alabama, or Auburn. Should the Gators lose in the first round to one of those type teams, they do not deserve a spot in the tourney, in my opinion. But we have seen that they can get inspired when truly needed, and I think that the Gators will earn a spot in the big dance. Should they not, they will have missed the tournament for 3 years straight. A first under Billy Donavon. The game against Kentucky will air on Sunday, March 7th at noon on CBS.

Until next time, be well Gator Nation.

p.s. I know its a little late, but I just ordered my UF Football Vault and I am so excited. Any of you have it? and if so, what do you think??

Hard to believe the Winter Olympics are already over; aside from the pre-opening ceremonies tragedy involving the luger from Georgia (Nodar Kumaritashvili) being killed on a training run, Vancouver deserves to be highly commended on a job well done. Based on the fact that the United States and Canada brought in the lion’s share of the total medals as well as staged impressive championship hockey games, albeit with Team USA settling for silver medals in both the men’s and women’s finals, they could very well be called “North America’s Games”.  Though Canada was on a mission to “own the podium” and came away with the most gold medals (14 total) the USA prevailed in the overall total medal count with a record and best-ever 37. We won’t see another Winter Games take place until 2014 when they’ll be in Sochi, Russia; I hope that the immature behavior of Russian athletes Evgeni Plushenko and Alex Ovechkin at these games aren’t a sign of things to come. If anything, the Russians should aim for a “coming-out party” on the same scale China did when they successfully hosted the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. All said, congrats to Team USA for a performance well beyond expectations – and a special congrats and Gator Chomp to former UF decathlete Steve Mesler for being part of the USA1 “Night Train” crew piloted by Steve Holcomb that won gold in the 4-man bobsled competition and ended an American drought in the event that went all the way back to 1948!!

Sounds like Tim Tebow’s making quite the impression at the NFL Scouting Combine going on right now up in Indianapolis; maybe now the critics will finally give credit where credit is due as far as his potential to succeed in the pros goes as well as get off Urban Meyer’s back about his supposedly “not having prepared him for the next level” (which IMO is an absurd statement as it is; Coach Meyer’s primary responsibility as Florida’s head coach is to have his team  as a whole -  not individual players – prepared for gameday, to win games and ultimately win championships.) Based on what I’ve read today, Joe Haden is attracting interest from the Cleveland Browns as well. Compared to recent years, Florida’s NFL draft class should be much stronger this year and we’ll likely see one or maybe two of our Gator alums off the boards in the first round.
(On a side note, it’s good to hear that Urban and Shelley Meyer were all right after being evacuated from where they were staying in Hawai’i during their recent vacation; it was a precaution taken due to fears of a possible tsunami hitting the islands following the recent earthquake in Chile. Can’t wait to see Urban back on the sidelines for the start of spring football coming up in two weeks!)

It’s been like a roller-coaster for Billy Ball lately; we achieved a “signature” win, for lack of a better word, over Bruce Pearl’s Tennessee Vol team but blew it in Athens against Georgia; the aftermath of which some Gator fans were calling for Dan Werner’s head due to a costly last-minute error he made. At first I didn’t think they had a chance of being invited to the Big Dance, but if they can beat Vandy and do well in the SEC tourney they still have a chance. If anything, Billy Donovan’s squad is composed of late-bloomers, especially with the likes of Vernon Macklin proving it was worth his transferring to UF from Georgetown, and they seem to be saving their best performances for when it really counts. An invite to the NCAA tourney this year instead of another consecutive NIT appearance will be an accomplishment in itself for this team.

Now that the Olympics have come and gone until the 2012 Summer Games in London, I can get back to just focusing on Gator sports….and how is YOUR week going so far?

Despite the loss, there were still some positives to come out of the game. The Gators did score a lot of points – junior Chandler Parsons and freshman Kenny Boynton scored 29 and 22 points, respectively. Macklin also added 10 points.

Missing from the box sheet is Alex Tyus, usually one of the Gators top scorers. He was ineffective against the Bulldogs, which resulted in Dan Werner getting more playing time than usual. Werner is probably the least liked Gator player in the history of Gator basketball. This guy rarely ever does anything right – and Saturday we saw another example. With Florida down by two, Werner passed up an open 16-footer and attempted to get the ball to a wide-open Vernon Macklin by the basket, but Georgia forward Albert Jackson deflected it out of bounds with 0.1 seconds to go.

Even his own teammates weren’t happy. “You tell [Werner] to keep his head up, but he should’ve shot that one,” freshman guard Kenny Boynton said. “At least we could’ve got a shot up to get a chance. But we didn’t even get a shot up.” But of course, Billy was there to defend him. “If Dan Werner makes the pass, and it gets through, and Vernon Macklin dunks the ball, you’re talking about how smart Dan Werner is today,” UF coach Billy Donovan said. “If Dan could have the play back, knowing what the result was, he would’ve shot the ball because it would’ve given us a chance.”

If the Gators would have won that game they’d be a lock for the NCAA Tourney. Now they have to finish the regular season against Vandy and Kentucky – which could give them 3 straight losses to end the season. If that happens, they’ll have to make a run in the SEC Tourney.

We had a tie game at 37-37 going into halftime, but the Gators had all the momentum. The Gators used a 27-6 run – highlighted by four 3-pointers and plenty of points in the paint – to turn a close game into a lopsided affair. The victory snapped Tennessee’s six-game winning streak in the series. The team was led by Chandler Parsons and Erving Walker who each scored 19 points. Also in double digit scoring were Vernon Macklin with 13 points and Kenny Boynton with 12.

I was really impressed with the way the Gators dominated the boards last night. For one of the first times all season they really used their height as an advantage. Florida out rebounded Tennessee 38-29. Macklin led the team with 18 boards, while Tyus and Parsons each had 8.

I’ll add a highlight video to this post once I find one on Youtube.

The Gators return to action on Saturday as they travel to Athens, Ga. to face the Georgia Bulldogs at 4 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on CBS.

Tennessee barely beat Florida earlier this season by a score of 61-60 and they come into this game with a six game win streak over the Gators. Florida is shooting for its 12th consecutive 20-win season, the longest active streak in the SEC – but it won’t mean anything if they can’t make the tourney… a place they haven’t been in the last two years.

The Gators are riding a two game win streak in the SEC and have finally started shooting well from the free throw line – a place that has haunted them all season. They have gone 57-of-67 the last two games (85.1 percent) and Erving Walker himself is 20-of-22 the last two games. If we were shooting that well all season we’d have at least 3 more wins.

We definitely have a size advantage over the Vols starting five and need to use that size to dominate the boards. I don’t like seeing Erving Walker out rebound Kenny Boynton, but if the big guys like Tyus and Macklin can clean the glass then we’ll be in good shape to win this game.

The O’Dome is going to be rocking for sure! Tickets are still available and everyone is encouraged to wear Gator blue! Drown out that orange!

The Gators have won 10 straight regular season meetings between the two dating back to 1999 – though Auburn did defeat the Gators last year in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. Florida clearly has more talent and better coaching, we just never know which team is going to show up. Florida is 4-0 against the SEC West this year.

The Gators need big games from guys like Chandler Parsons and Alex Tyus. Parsons nearly went for his third straight double-double on Saturday, leading UF with 15 points and eight rebounds against Xavier… Over his last three games he has two double-doubles and is averaging 15.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. If he shows up big, I really like the Gators chances.

The Gators have a big size advantage over Auburn. The Tigers play a 3-2 and don’t have a starter over 6′8″. The Gators on the other hand have two guys over 6′8″ in Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin. If we get out-rebounded I will be pissed.

What are your thoughts on tonight’s game? Can we pull out a victory at home?

Dan Werner. I think we are all in agreement that Dan Werner is a liability on the court at any given time. Now I’m not one that concentrates too much on basketball. I try to catch every Gator basketball game I can, but I certainly have less knowledge of the game than some. But every time I have seen Werner check in this season, I get nervous. He is shooting a career-low .336 from the field, and .279 from bonus range, as well as averaging 2 turnovers a game. He was previously shooting .433 as a starter from the field, and .333 from behind the arc. And the guy simply has no confidence. I’m not bashing the man, The guy is the nicest person you can meet, I’m sure of it. But I know you are asking yourself, as am I, why does he get an average of 24 minutes a game since January 16th? As Adam Silverstein of OnlyGators.com has explained, Billy Donavon’s hands are tied with this situation. With Kenny Kadji out for the season, Chandler Parsons doing well in Werner’s old starting position, and freshman Erik Murphy getting 9 minutes a game, there are no more big guys on the roster to use. Parson’s is recovering from a knee injury, so you don’t want to give him extra time, and risk having him injured again. Maybe Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin should get more playing time? Just thoughts. But in my opinion, if something drastic doesn’t happen in the next few games, like maybe hitting more than 8 free throws a game, then we are a no go for the big dance in March. Most think that last loss to Xavier put the season in serious jeopardy. I wish they were wrong.

Now, to something I know a little more about(hehe). Football. I’ve listed in previous blogs who I think are going to be BIG impacts as newcomers this spring and into the season. My favorite pick to breakout is Andre Debose. Of course, his rehab is still progressing, but it has been said that he might not participate in full contact drills this spring. I’ve read on his Twitter that his hamstring is feeling much better, and that his work outs are going great. I’ve also heard that he is now able to sprint full speed on a treadmill. I know it’s unfair to compare Andre to Percy Harvin, especially since we haven’t even seen Andre on the field as a Gator, and since his injury. But I am REALLY excited to see him as a multi-position player. And I think that when the season rolls around, he will be full speed ahead. Another impact player I have mentioned is Matt Elam. Another multi-position athlete. I think we will see him start as a safety along with Ahmad Black. Going over his highlight film, It’s very easy to see that Elam will fit in on the field, no matter the spot. He should do well filling the spot of Major Wright as that hard-hitting safety.

There are multiple receivers to sort through to figure out who will be the biggest impact in the fall. And I don’t think they can go wrong with any of them. They are all very capable of being a go-to guy. The freshman that stands out the most to me is Chris Dunkley. At 5’11”, he could use a little more height, but he has very long arms to make up for it. He may need to put on a little more weight to compete in the SEC, but he certainly has the structure for it, and I don’t think it will be a problem. I also think that Dunkley will emerge as a leader, and captain of this football team for the next few years. Gerald Christian, the tight end from Dwyer High School, and a teammate of Matt Elam, I think will emerge as a go-to guy for Brantley. Much like Hernandez had been for Tebow. He has great athletic ability for his size. Ronald Powell, the monster from the left coast, Is going to be a force to be reckoned with over the next few seasons. I don’t think there is a doubt around, that this guy will make an immediate impact at defensive end. I’m looking for Powell to be a leader on this defense just as Brandon Spikes has been. Powell, along with Sharrif Floyd, and Lynden Trail I think will breakout as headaches for opposing offenses.

Looking at this class, I want to say that everyone of these young athletes will make noise in Gainesville over the next few years. Though it is very unlikely that all of them will. I think most are going to get some playing time their first two seasons. Whether it be on special teams, or their natural positions rotating in.

Many of us have questions concerning the hiring of the defensive backs coach, Teryl Austin, from the Arizona Cardinals as our new co-defensive coordinator. He has never been a defensive coordinator at any level before. Though he has been coaching in collegiate and professional football since 1991. He has been an assistant under the likes of Joe Paterno, Dick MacPherson, Lloyd Carr, and Mike Holmgren after playing college ball at Pittsburgh from 1984-87. He has no known connections to Urban Meyer, but Austin has worked with Steve Addazio during his tenure at Syracuse and with QB coach Scott Loeffler at Michigan. He has had two positions in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams reached the Super Bowl while he was coaching the teams’ secondary. One thing is for sure, Austin must have made a major impact on Urban Meyer. Teryl Austin is a big family man, and we all know that is a trait that Meyer has high on his list. Austin comes highly recommended from Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Bill Davis, a close friend of Meyer’s. While we don’t know how this move will work out until spring practice or the season begins, I rest assured that Meyer and Addazio have made a great hire. Chuck Heater being co-defensive coordinator along with Austin should make the transition of the defense a lot smoother than it would be. And with all the talent that Austin and Heater have to work with, I think the defense will be as strong as ever.

The projected 2010 Florida Gator coaching staff goes as follows…

Head Coach: Urban Meyer

Interim Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line: Steve Addazio
Quarterbacks: Scot Loeffler
Wide Receivers: Zach Azzanni
Running Backs: Stan Drayton
Tight Ends: Brian White

Defensive Coordinator: Teryl Austin
Co-Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backs: Chuck Heater
Associate Head Coach, Defense/Defensive Line: Dan McCarney
Linebackers: D.J. Durkin

Special Teams: D.J. Durkin, Urban Meyer?
Recruiting Coordinator: Stan Drayton
Director of Player and Community Relations: Terry Jackson

Only 54 more days until 2010 Orange & Blue Debut!!!

As always, Be Well Gator Nation

p.s. The Nationally ranked number 7 Gator Baseball team will play its first game of 2010 on February 19th against the South Florida Bulls, at home in Gainesville at 6:30pm. The team will have games against LSU, Alabama, and Georgia featured on ESPN affiliated channels on May 1st, 2nd, 8th and 14th.

The Gators were trailing big in the first half, but managed to fight their way back into the game and tied it up with 13 minutes left in the second half. The final score of the game was 64-76, but it was a lot closer than that at the end… the Gators were within 3 points with just about 3 minutes left in the game. Xavier the Gators tough on defense. They out-rebounded us, had more blocks and forced more turnovers.

Vermon Macklin played well – notching his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Gators were led in scoring by Chandler Parsons with 15, followed by Kenny Boynton with 12 and Erving Walker with 11. Walker didn’t play as well as he had been the past few games. He was only 3-10 from the field and 1-5 from beyond the arc; he did have 8 assists though.

Like I said above, time is running out for this squad. They’ll have to beat Tennessee and Kentucky if they want a shot at the Tourney come March. Florida will resume conference play Thurs., Feb. 18, when it plays host to Auburn University in the O’Connell Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be nationally broadcast on ESPN.