Beyond the arc: 3 takeaways from UF’s 87-83 win over Arkansas

Some observations following Florida’s 87-83 win over Arkansas.

– Florida point guard Chris Chiozza said the key to Florida’s improved free-throw shooting of late is that the Gators have been “taking something off” their free throws. “In the game, you have more adrenaline,” Chiozza said. “We always miss long. So we just had to take a little something off our free throws, just continue to do our routine and not get rushed.” Florida made 20 of its first 21 free-throw attempts against Arkansas and finished 83.3 percent (30-36) from the free-throw line. Over its last four games, Florida is 80 of 101 (79.9 percent) from the charity stripe.

– Chiozza came up with one of the prettiest plays of the game when he split two defenders with his dribble and found Devin Robinson with a wide open alley-oop dunk with the shot clock winding down in the closing minutes. It turned out to be a big bucket, one that put Florida up 80-72 with 1:01 left. “I saw him cut back door when I drove the lane,” Chiozza said. “I knew he was going to catch it if I threw it up there because the defender stepped up. (Robinson’s) 6-9, super-athletic, I knew he was going to dunk it so I threw it up there.”

– Junior forward Justin Leon returned from a head injury to finish with 7 points and 5 rebounds with 12 minutes off the bench. But Leon also had a pair of turnovers, including one in the first half against the Arkansas press that led to the Razorbacks scoring 2 of their 22 points off turnovers. It was interesting that White turned to Robinson over Leon late in the game, in part perhaps because Robinson is a better free-throw shooter, but also because Robinson is showing some growth defensively.

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