FloridaGatorforLife
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — To former Florida player Corey Brewer, one of the two costly mistakes in the final two minutes of the Gators' 61-58 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday wasn't a mistake at all.
Brewer, who helped Florida win the past two national titles, sat behind the Gators' bench at Vanderbilt's Memorial Gym, giving him the perfect view of a miscue that helped the Commodores get past Florida.
After Gators guard Nick Calathes hit a layup - which tied the game at 53 - and was fouled, teammate Walter Hodge bumped Vanderbilt center A.J. Ogilvy beneath the basket.
A technical foul was called on Hodge. So, instead of UF having a one-point lead, it trailed by one after Vandy's Shan Foster made both technical free throws.
What may have appeared to be a loss of composure from Hodge, Florida's most experienced player, wasn't that to Brewer. Indeed, even Ogilvy was surprised officials called the technical.
"It wasn't that he lost his cool," said Brewer, who was the seventh overall pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves in last June's NBA draft. "He was just bringing some energy. That's what we need. That's what we need out of these young guys.
"I watched some games and we didn't have energy like that. Last year, all five of us would have been doing that."
Trouble is, this isn't the same Florida team that won back-to-back titles.
The six leading scorers are gone from last season, and Saturday's loss puts even more distance between UF and a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Florida's RPI going into the game was 60th, thanks to an extremely weak non-conference schedule. The Gators (19-7 overall, 6-5 in the SEC) are in danger of becoming the first defending champ not to make the field since Kansas in 1989.
Florida has lost four of its past five. The 1-4 swoon is the worst five-game stretch for Florida since 2003-04.
A win over Vanderbilt (22-4, 7-4) would have given the Gators a road victory over a legitimate opponent. Instead, Florida is mired in a slump that leaves coach Billy Donovan and his young team searching for answers as the season enters its final month.
"This game certainly hurts our guys," Donovan said. "It could also be a game that can get our guys really understanding how to be hardened and tough and calloused. This is what you've got to go through to get to where you want to be as a team."
It also shows UF's freshmen still are making rookie mistakes.
With the Gators trailing 59-58 with 24 seconds left, Florida freshman guard Jai Lucas dribbled upcourt for what could have been a go-ahead possession.
But as Lucas passed to Calathes near midcourt, Calathes' momentum carried him into the backcourt and led to a turnover on the over-and-back call.
Vanderbilt guard Alex Gordon then sealed the win by making two free throws after Florida was forced to foul following the turnover.
"Someone asked me, 'What happened with the backcourt violation?' " Gordon said. "I was just like, 'Freshmen.'
"It got loud and there was just a miscommunication."
Donovan was less charitable for his freshman duo, who each have started every game this season. "Seniors or not seniors, if you've played basketball your whole entire life, I'd hope we would know where halfcourt is," Donovan said.
Hodge's technical and the backcourt violation sabotaged a game in which Florida fixed its recent defensive problems. Going into the matchup, the Gators had allowed three of their past four opponents to score at least 80 points, including an 85-point performance by offensively challenged LSU in Gainesville on Wednesday in a stunning loss.
Saturday, Florida held Vanderbilt to 25 fewer points than the Commodores had averaged at Memorial Gym. The Commodores shot only 37.9 percent from the field and didn't make a field goal over the final 7:17 of the game.
The Gators showed some resiliency by going on a 10-0 run late to cut Vanderbilt's lead to 52-50.
But as the Gators' defense surged, their offense disappeared. Florida was 23-of-59 from the field, including a woeful 1-for-15 from 3-point range.
"Coming in here and shooting those percentages would usually lead to a complete blowout," Donovan said.
Florida must regroup quickly. The Gators face South Carolina at home Wednesday, followed by a road trip to Georgia. Then comes a make-or-break stretch in the final three regular-season contests - home games against Mississippi State and Tennessee and a visit to Kentucky.
Those three are a combined 25-6 in the SEC.
If there's anything to be gleaned from the difficult loss, Brewer says the Gators' growing pains should turn into a learning experience.
"I want them to hurt," said Brewer, who grew up in nearby Portland, Tenn., and went home during the NBA All-Star break. "It will help them on the court if they're hurting."
http://florida.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=775415
Brewer, who helped Florida win the past two national titles, sat behind the Gators' bench at Vanderbilt's Memorial Gym, giving him the perfect view of a miscue that helped the Commodores get past Florida.
After Gators guard Nick Calathes hit a layup - which tied the game at 53 - and was fouled, teammate Walter Hodge bumped Vanderbilt center A.J. Ogilvy beneath the basket.
A technical foul was called on Hodge. So, instead of UF having a one-point lead, it trailed by one after Vandy's Shan Foster made both technical free throws.
What may have appeared to be a loss of composure from Hodge, Florida's most experienced player, wasn't that to Brewer. Indeed, even Ogilvy was surprised officials called the technical.
"It wasn't that he lost his cool," said Brewer, who was the seventh overall pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves in last June's NBA draft. "He was just bringing some energy. That's what we need. That's what we need out of these young guys.
"I watched some games and we didn't have energy like that. Last year, all five of us would have been doing that."
Trouble is, this isn't the same Florida team that won back-to-back titles.
The six leading scorers are gone from last season, and Saturday's loss puts even more distance between UF and a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Florida's RPI going into the game was 60th, thanks to an extremely weak non-conference schedule. The Gators (19-7 overall, 6-5 in the SEC) are in danger of becoming the first defending champ not to make the field since Kansas in 1989.
Florida has lost four of its past five. The 1-4 swoon is the worst five-game stretch for Florida since 2003-04.
A win over Vanderbilt (22-4, 7-4) would have given the Gators a road victory over a legitimate opponent. Instead, Florida is mired in a slump that leaves coach Billy Donovan and his young team searching for answers as the season enters its final month.
"This game certainly hurts our guys," Donovan said. "It could also be a game that can get our guys really understanding how to be hardened and tough and calloused. This is what you've got to go through to get to where you want to be as a team."
It also shows UF's freshmen still are making rookie mistakes.
With the Gators trailing 59-58 with 24 seconds left, Florida freshman guard Jai Lucas dribbled upcourt for what could have been a go-ahead possession.
But as Lucas passed to Calathes near midcourt, Calathes' momentum carried him into the backcourt and led to a turnover on the over-and-back call.
Vanderbilt guard Alex Gordon then sealed the win by making two free throws after Florida was forced to foul following the turnover.
"Someone asked me, 'What happened with the backcourt violation?' " Gordon said. "I was just like, 'Freshmen.'
"It got loud and there was just a miscommunication."
Donovan was less charitable for his freshman duo, who each have started every game this season. "Seniors or not seniors, if you've played basketball your whole entire life, I'd hope we would know where halfcourt is," Donovan said.
Hodge's technical and the backcourt violation sabotaged a game in which Florida fixed its recent defensive problems. Going into the matchup, the Gators had allowed three of their past four opponents to score at least 80 points, including an 85-point performance by offensively challenged LSU in Gainesville on Wednesday in a stunning loss.
Saturday, Florida held Vanderbilt to 25 fewer points than the Commodores had averaged at Memorial Gym. The Commodores shot only 37.9 percent from the field and didn't make a field goal over the final 7:17 of the game.
The Gators showed some resiliency by going on a 10-0 run late to cut Vanderbilt's lead to 52-50.
But as the Gators' defense surged, their offense disappeared. Florida was 23-of-59 from the field, including a woeful 1-for-15 from 3-point range.
"Coming in here and shooting those percentages would usually lead to a complete blowout," Donovan said.
Florida must regroup quickly. The Gators face South Carolina at home Wednesday, followed by a road trip to Georgia. Then comes a make-or-break stretch in the final three regular-season contests - home games against Mississippi State and Tennessee and a visit to Kentucky.
Those three are a combined 25-6 in the SEC.
If there's anything to be gleaned from the difficult loss, Brewer says the Gators' growing pains should turn into a learning experience.
"I want them to hurt," said Brewer, who grew up in nearby Portland, Tenn., and went home during the NBA All-Star break. "It will help them on the court if they're hurting."
http://florida.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=775415
