The Florida Gators have been on a tear lately, winning 12 of their last 13 games and improving to a 21-6 record as they aim to defend last year's national championship. Their recent 94-75 victory over Ole Miss showcased not just their ability to win, but how they did it.
Head coach Todd Golden's team has struggled with three-point shooting this season, but they flipped the script against Ole Miss by hitting 11 of 22 from beyond the arc. Urban Klavzar and Boogie Fland led the charge, with Klavzar sinking four triples and Fland going 3-of-6 from deep.
Golden reflected on overcoming this hurdle, saying, "I think it shows our ceiling. We try to play a style that gives us a high floor and allows us to play well even when our shots aren't falling. When we do hit those shots, we can really pull away from teams."
Indeed, perimeter shooting has been the Gators' Achilles' heel, with a season average of just 30.1 percent from three-point range, ranking them 341st out of 365 Division-I teams. That's not ideal for a team with championship aspirations.
However, as March approaches, Florida seems to be heating up at the right time. Golden noted, "We were efficient when we took care of the basketball, and that three-point shooting helped us maintain and grow our lead, even when our ball control wasn't perfect."
There's no doubt that if the Gators can consistently hit their threes, they'll be formidable contenders in the NCAA Tournament. But shooting just 30 percent from deep could lead to an early exit or even a first-round upset.
If Florida finds their rhythm from beyond the arc, they'll be a daunting opponent when the stakes are at their highest.