The Florida Gators are entering March Madness with a lingering question: Can they overcome their three-point shooting struggles when facing teams that dominate the paint? All season, the Gators have been challenged by their long-range shooting, ranking 342nd nationally. However, their recent performance against Ole Miss offers a glimpse of their potential when everything clicks.
In a convincing 94-75 victory over Ole Miss, Florida shot an impressive 50% from beyond the arc, going 11-for-22. This shooting display was crucial, especially considering the Gators committed 19 turnovers. Despite these miscues, Florida jumped to a ten-point lead within the first 11 minutes and maintained control throughout, never letting Ole Miss get closer than eight points.
Key to this success was the hot shooting from players like Urban Klavzar, who went 4-for-5, and Boogie Fland, who hit 3-of-6. Even Alex Condon got in on the action with a three-pointer.
Head coach Todd Golden reflected on the shooting performance, highlighting the team's potential:
"I think it shows our ceiling. We try to play a certain style that gives us a high floor and allows us to play well through spans of not shooting the ball well.
When we do make shots like that, we have the ability to run away from teams. And I thought today was an example of that because we sacrificed a lot of possessions offensively."
Golden noted the importance of efficiency, with the game featuring 77 possessions and 19 turnovers, leaving 58 chances to score. The Gators capitalized on these opportunities, using their three-point shooting to extend and maintain their lead despite ball control issues.
As the NCAA Tournament approaches, Florida knows they can't rely on turnovers as part of their game plan. However, if they can replicate Saturday's shooting prowess, their chances of making a deep run and potentially cutting down the nets in April look promising.