After earning their first SEC win on Saturday, the Gators prepare to play a tough Arkansas team on Thursday night.
Despite an 8-9 record, Arkansas is a quality team with significant scoring at all positions. Guard Rotnei Clarke averages 18.4 points per game and shoots just shy of 49% from behind the arc. Courtney Fortson averages 17 points per game and dishes out 7.3 assists per game, while Michael Washington and Marshawn Powell hang tough down low, averaging 13.7 and 15.9 points per game, respectively.
After losing to Texas by 11 and Mississippi State by two, Arkansas bested Alabama by 12 on Saturday. The aforementioned starters, scored 64 of Arkansas’s 71 points.
For the Gators, consistency will be a big key in this game. When the Gators play well at both ends of the court, they are a tough team to beat. However, during most of their losses and even some of their wins, the Gators have been hit or miss on offense and defense. If the offense has been hot, the defense has been lacking and vice versa. Rarely has Florida been able to play a complete game.
With that said, this should be a very entertaining game, with the possibility of the outcome not being decided until the final minute or two. Be sure to tune into ESPN at 9PM.
Notes:
Dan Werner has really started to fall out of the good graces of many fans, and Billy Donovan has taken notice. He discussed Dan’s play during his January 18th press conference.
On Dan Werner and what he means to the team:
“Sometimes I don’t think people understand Dan and what he brings to the team. He’s never been a stat-sheet guy for our team. That’s not who he is. He’s an incredible help defender, he’s very, very smart, you can put him in any position on the floor and he knows what’s going on. You know what you’re getting. He’s so smart and conscientious and we need him. People tend to focus on his shooting, but there are so many things that he can do. He is a little limited athletically. When we were recruiting Dan we had Joakim Noah, we had Corey Brewer and Marreese Speights. We had a lot of size and with those guys leaving, we thought he would be a great compliment. He’s had to endure a lot through our team to get to this level. I always appreciate, respect and admire his attitude, the way he works and the way he tries.”
On fans’ and outsiders’ unrealistic expectations of Dan Werner:
“As a young kid, everyone wants to hear good things about themselves. When you’re in a team setting, or in a situation where people aren’t privy to what you contribute, people are only looking at results. I’m sure Dan wishes he shot the ball better sometimes, but it’s not like he’s going out there saying he’s going to shoot to miss. Dan’s offense helps our team. I try to get him to understand that shooting the basketball is only part of something he does. He does a lot for our team other than that. There are times when Dan doesn’t shoot the ball well, not by fault to him, but by the amount of effort he puts out on the other end of the floor. Kenny Boynton is a similar situation because they both put on the pressure. When Dan is wrestling down low with guys that are significantly bigger, taller, stronger, there is some residual effect that’s going to carry over to the other end of the floor. For our team, I’d rather him put his focus on the defensive end of the floor. As of late, however, Kenny and Dan have both shot the ball better and hopefully that will continue.”