As the Florida Gators gear up for their showdown against Texas, they're sitting comfortably atop the Southeastern Conference standings. But with four games left in the regular season, there's still plenty to work on, especially when it comes to taking care of the basketball.
The Gators have been a bit careless with the ball lately, averaging 14.7 turnovers over their last three games. Their recent 94-75 win over Ole Miss was no exception, as they racked up 19 turnovers.
It's a trend that's been haunting them, with double-digit turnovers in their last five games. Against the Rebels, they nearly hit that mark in just the first half, coughing it up nine times.
As they prepare to face the Longhorns, the focus is on tightening up those loose ends. Head coach Todd Golden emphasized the importance of valuing each possession, noting that while scoring 94 points is great, relying on hot shooting isn't a sustainable strategy.
"We turned it over 24 percent of the time, which is a terrible formula for winning," Golden pointed out. The plan is clear: keep Texas off the free-throw line and protect the ball better.
On a brighter note, there were some standout performances against Ole Miss. Junior forward Alex Condon, who has faced his share of scrutiny, finally broke a cold streak from beyond the arc.
For the first time since mid-January, Condon hit a three-pointer, his seventh of the season. Despite his struggles, he’s been putting in the work during practice, and it’s starting to pay off.
Condon isn't alone in his shooting woes. Sophomore guard Boogie Fland had been in a slump too, going 2-for-26 from three-point range over ten games.
But he found his rhythm against the Rebels, sinking three from downtown. Golden noted that seeing those shots fall was a relief for Fland, and likely for Condon as well.
Condon expressed his excitement about breaking his drought, saying, "I just shot it with confidence like how I shoot it in practice every day." He's focused on taking smart shots and playing within the flow of the game, rather than forcing attempts.
As the Gators take on Texas, they'll need Condon and the rest of the squad to continue finding confidence and making smart decisions on the court. The Longhorns, fresh off a tough loss to Georgia, will be a formidable opponent. But with a focus on making the best plays and taking the best shots, Florida is looking to extend their winning streak to eight games.
Condon summed it up well: "Just look for the best shot possible every possession and do the overall best thing for the team to win in the end." It's this mindset that could make all the difference as the Gators push toward the postseason.