Instantaneous reactions to Florida’s blowout loss at Kansas State Wildcats
Florida had gained 5 of its final six video games coming into the SEC/Large 12 Problem and it was one other likelihood to get an essential win.
As a substitute, the Gators discovered once more what a extremely good staff with eyes on a attainable Ultimate 4 seems to be like.
Kansas State humbled the high-rising Gators (now 12-9), 64-50, and led by double figures for a lot of the recreation.
This wasn’t about Keyontae Johnson as soon as the sport began. It was extra a few Kansas State staff (18-3) that may be a full staff in comparison with a Florida staff that inflated its report towards some mediocre SEC groups.
Is that too harsh? Effectively, then, you didn’t watch the sport.
What occurred
William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports activities
It actually wasn’t a lot of a battle because the fifth-ranked Wildcats rolled from the beginning. Johnson completed the sport with 13 factors and 11 rebounds, but it surely was a few staff that dominated in each means besides in blocked pictures (6-0).
Florida has one other depressing begin to the sport after we thought that was out of the Gators’ system. The primary half was a catastrophe with the Gators making solely 6-for-29 capturing whereas being outrebounded by 13 and trailing 37-16 on the halftime horn.
And that was with Johnson, the previous Gator who leads the Wildcats in scoring, solely scoring 4 factors within the half. The Gators went the ultimate 5:30 of the primary half with out scoring a single level.
The Gators, as is their behavior, got here out and performed significantly better at the beginning of the second half happening a 10-0 run to chop the result in 37-26.
However a handful of unhealthy possessions allowed the Wildcats, who scored solely 11 factors within the first 11 minutes of the second half, to tug away.
Florida made 4-for-27 from three-point vary and made just one three within the second half. Guard Kyle Lofton was 1-for-7 capturing and is now 7 for his final 41 from three-point vary.
It was ugly from the beginning and actually didn’t get significantly better. Kansas State was in a position to benefit from the issues of this Florida staff to by no means really feel threatened.
What it means
William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports activities
No person was overly optimistic going into this recreation due to Kansas State‘s rating. However Florida didn’t appear to be a staff that needed to be there and it was another instance of why this staff might be headed for the NIT. One other likelihood to get a giant win, one other missed alternative. Florida in all probability gained’t drop within the NET, however the Gators nonetheless must beat any person.
Participant of the Recreation: Kansas State
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whereas the story of the sport might need been Johnson and there have been indicators making enjoyable of Florida for him ending up in Manhattan, Kansas, the man who actually damage Florida was guard Markquis Nowell who had 13 factors, eight assists and 9 rebounds.
Participant of the Recreation: Florida
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports activities
[autotag]Will Richard[/autotag] had one other good recreation and is turning into certainly one of Florida’s higher gamers. He completed the sport with 11 factors and 6 rebounds and had the most effective plus-minus of the starters (not that it was saying a lot).
He mentioned it
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports activities
“Disappointing the way in which we got here out. We constructed up a number of confidence the previous few video games, but it surely didn’t carry over. I used to be happy with the way in which we got here out to start out the second half however you may’t dig your self that form of gap. We simply weren’t aggressive sufficient.” – [autotag]Todd Golden[/autotag]
Subsequent up
Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports activities
The run of 4 straight tough video games continues when the Gators play host to Tennessee, a staff ranked second within the nation within the NET rankings. The Vols at the moment are 18-3 after an 82-71 win towards Texas Saturday night time. It is usually one more likelihood for Florida to get a Quad 1 win, and finally, the Gators are going to expire of them.
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