College Hoops

UF Seeks Something in Reserve at No. 3 Bama

UF Seeks Something in Reserve at No. 3 Bama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Back in the preseason, Florida coach Todd Golden was steadfast when discussing his philosophy about playing rotations. Golden, with three seasons as a head coach at University of San Francisco as a baseline, spoke of preferring a 10-man rotation the first couple months of the season and eventually weeding it down to nine, maybe even eight, once the conference season begins. 

A popular question among media at the time focused on how Golden could possibly whittle this Florida roster to eight guys?

Well, here the Gators are, a week into February, and they’re playing what amounts to a rotation of eight or nine. A case can be made it’s really closer seven, given recent developments.

Take Saturday night’s road game at Kentucky. The Gators put nine different players on the floor, but the starting five accounted for 165 of a possible 200 minutes (or 82.5 percent). Four different starters logged at least 30 minutes and two were at 37, as UF fought from 14 down in the second half and drew within a game-tying 3-point attempt with 15 seconds left before losing 72-67. 

“We’ve definitely drilled down on our rotations, our line-ups,” Golden said Tuesday. “I feel like we’re in a really good spot that way.”

And that’s how the Gators (13-10, 6-4) will approach Wednesday night’s showdown at third-ranked and Southeastern Conference-unbeaten Alabama (20-3, 10-0) at Coleman Coliseum. Golden will go with the guys who are producing and, right now, those are the members of his reconfigured four-guard starting unit. 

[Read senior writer Chris Harry’s “Pregame Stuff” setup here]

The quintet of fifth-year forward Colin Castleton, who is at the top of his game, alongside guards Will Richard (playing an undersized “4” spot), freshman Riley Kugel floating on the wing and the veteran backcourt of fifth-years Kyle Lofton and Myreon Jones accounted for nearly 93 percent of UF’s scoring against the Wildcats. 

Florida’s four reserves combined for five points over their 35-plus minutes. Two of those backups played just over three minutes. 

Gators coach Todd Golden confers with backup guard/forward Kowacie Reeves during Saturday’s game at Lexington.

Now line up those numbers against the vaunted Crimson Tide, not only the run-away best team in the SEC, but looking like a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament next month. ‘Bama plays what amounts to a solid, consistent nine-man rotation, with none of the nine averaging less than 16 minutes. In Saturday’s 79-69…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Florida Gators…