Florida Post Game Thread

[DRBackup]

Silas was touted as maybe the best portal get in the country,

LOL!!! No

 

[Husky Alien]

Great to see them again, rooting for our team. Love Meks hoodie, let's see if I can find that.

 

[DRBackup]

I remember clearly. You seem to forget its two different players. When TN was here we simply didnt have a better option so he was thrown to the wolves and had to take his lumps. Dan Hurley has the option of taking some of the pressure off and let him come off the bench and work things out and get himself back into the starting spot.

I'd like to see Hurley's response to this assertion

 

[Spaceman213J]

Looking at the box score again, the starters were pretty much a wash. It was the bench the clearly provided the difference.

Stewart had 11 less points, but also had 4 less turnovers (4-0) and had 2 more rebounds than his counterpart.

The bench had 7 more FGs than Florida's bench including a Reibe's 3 and no 3's for their bench.

Florida's rebounding and the FT disparity is what kept them in the game.

 

[RJScootin]

You’re kidding me right? Ross is awful with the ball, terrible even worse with pressure. Stewart would’ve been better no doubt. Reibe? Yeah throw it in the air why not? Just not Ross you saw what happened immediate panic.

A lot of this board sees Ross with very rose-colored glasses. He's ok on defense, a liability on offense. Would have much rather seen Stewart get more time in 2nd half.

 

[BGesus4]

All teams do that to us. Does the coach talk to refs before the game about issues ?

There was one play where Mullins went to the hoop and could see his jersey being held clear as day that even an nfl ref would have called holding.

I don’t question the fouls that get called on us as much as I do those that don’t get called committed against us.

This would be a fitting next issue for the BY complainers to take up—that Dan Hurley doesn’t get on the refs enough

 

[JustbrewitMan]

On the 68 pod I think TO said he carries it all the time but never gets called

Where's Billy Packer when you need him?

 

[DRBackup]

Yeah I keep seeing people saying “5 dumb fouls” but I still have no idea what his 2nd and 3rd fouls were for, after rewinding several times. For being in the general vicinity of a Florida player? In a game this physical?

His 4th was entirely Reed’s fault and even so Mullins looked pretty straight up and down to me.

For the record, Fland seemed to get some ticky tack fouls too.

One of them - I think his second - he crashed right into a Florida player at half court. Zero chance that isn't called, ever.

 

[Deepster]

I apologize for not going through all 13 pages, but anyone who was there, did they show Coach Candle on the screen? He was supposed to be there.

 

[upstater]

Sometimes I wonder if people here actually watch the game.

4. Speaking of Mullins, dude can't guard a chair. Gators were blowing by him like he wasn't even off the bus. That needs to improve a lot by March or other good teams are going to target him. Though 3 of 4 games coming at the Boston Garden, Allen Fieldhouse and MSG vs top 10 teams, the kid is fearless and isn't bothered by the big stage. Can't teach that.

I think of him as a really good defender.

But he was on Fland and Lee when he was getting burned.

If you watch him against SFs and SGs, he's very good. One of our best defenders.

He's not going to stay with super fast smaller guys like Lee and Fland.

 

[DRBackup]

Good win against a very good, very big Florida team. It was ugly, but sometimes that’s the way it goes.

Demary with 2 assists. That won’t cut it. He has to be more decisive and others have to move and create passing lanes. Smith had 9 assists, showing how to do it. Our offense is built off of assists, not one on one play.

Reed looked good early then faded a bit. Florida’s 2-3 bigs took away a lot in the paint and I thought we wasted a lot of possessions challenging them. UConn wasn’t going to win this without knocking down jump shots. Don’t know if the game plan was bad or the decision making was bad, but we need to adjust better.

Of course, guys were missing shots early in the game. You don't get assists on the passes to guys missing shots. When they started hitting, Malachi was in the game. Would obviously prefer to see more assists, but he only had 1 turnover, so he's not forcing it, either.

 

[GampelGladiator]

Looking at the box score again, the starters were pretty much a wash. It was the bench the clearly provided the difference.

Stewart had 11 less points, but also had 4 less turnovers (4-0) and had 2 more rebounds than his counterpart.

The bench had 7 more FGs than Florida's bench including a Reibe's 3 and no 3's for their bench.

Florida's rebounding and the FT disparity is what kept them in the game.

Post in thread 'Florida Post Game Thread'

Dec 9, 2025

UCONN BENCH

60 minutes
20 points
8 rebounds
11 assists
1 eurostep

FLORIDA BENCH

41 minutes
6 points
7 rebounds
3 assists

• GampelGladiator

• 
• 

 

[3rdbass]

A lot of this board sees Ross with very rose-colored glasses. He's ok on defense, a liability on offense. Would have much rather seen Stewart get more time in 2nd half.

Stewart obviously has the better offensive skillset and with his improved D should play more. He also made a couple nice passes to feed Reed in the first half. Problem with Stew is that sometimes just sits at the 3 point line after setting screens and does not make cuts or go to the basket. We need more aggressiveness from him. Ross seems to handle the ball more and is more active when he is in. Problem is Ross is not a good offensive player but he tries. Though I will say Ross's outside 3 when wide open is better this year than last. Stew should of gotten more minutes as he played great D on Hough in the first half and played good on offense even though he needs to be more agressive.

 

[DRBackup]

How tall is Chinyelu(sp?) My god he is a beast! Someone commented in the chat about Reibe, "he'll learn" There ain't no learning, those guys were all beastly and athletic upfront. Reibe is going to have to be a man to physically deal with that group. Often it was 1 on 3 with the Fla front line. He was tough, did a great job, but boy was that a tall(no pun) order.

6'10, though he shrank an inch from his freshman year, apparently.

 

[UCONNFAN179]

9 assists and no turnovers. He should be starting. Ive seen enough of Demery at this point. Let him figure things out from the bench. Mal has figured things out pretty quickly.

Agree... player of the game. Thought he had a turnover or 2 though... I could swear he made a pass directly to a Florida player around the 11 min mark in the 1st half though.

 

[DRBackup]

Anyone have a screen grab of the idiot Gator fan in the ridiculous oversized hat ? You seriously went out in public wearing that intentionally ? Maybe he lost a bet.

 

[ctfjr]

Just my 2 cents. . . It was a really fun game to watch. Reminded me of some of the physical Garden games vs Georgetown & St Johns in the distant past. Even when we were up 11 (?) with just over a minute to go I felt the game wasn't over.
Lee is the real deal. good on him.
Very disappointed that Mullins picked up so many fouls in such a short amount of time. He needs some help on defense. He is going to be great.
Just when I was hoping Alex would step up, he did
Games like this keep me young!

 

[Excalibur]

A gritty, slugfest. Not pretty, but these are the games you have to be able to win. We were overmatched inside, and once again lost the battle of the boards, but what's encouraging is the team had great resolve and was determined to get the win. I love how unselfish this team is and how everyone stepped up in moments when they needed to. Defense was tenacious. With Hurley's culture, every minute a player plays counts- and I love that.

A side note- I find Todd Golden really grating and annoying. I thought he should have been whistled for a T after his tirade when Solo was clearly fouled by being grabbled around the waist. On the other hand, we have to be impressed at how Hurley has really practiced restraint for the most part thus far.

Hurley would have been T'd up there. Don't know why the whiny b$&# Golden gets the benefit of the doubt . . .

 

[Tyler2Rings]

A side note- I find Todd Golden really grating and annoying. I thought he should have been whistled for a T after his tirade when Solo was clearly fouled by being grabbled around the waist

It was wonderful watching his reaction to the 5 second call

 

[UCan3]

To be fair, Mullins backed way off after that immediate third foul and I wouldn’t judge that as his capacity to play defense. He’s shown that he’s a solid defender.

Well not sure he backed off - that reach in was unnecessary that got him off the court.

I don’t want him to change anything other than when he come into the game maybe play solid D but don’t look to make that spectacular defensive play in first 60 sec. Get in flow of game, play solid D but we need him on the court, we really do. Then tune it up on D for sure! Again not change D intensity just get in flow of game first.

 

[Excalibur]

Of course, guys were missing shots early in the game. You don't get assists on the passes to guys missing shots. When they started hitting, Malachi was in the game. Would obviously prefer to see more assists, but he only had 1 turnover, so he's not forcing it, either.

Smith hit guys on the perimeter off of penetration, so they were stepping into the shot. It makes a difference.

 

[temery]

Hurley deserves a lot of credit for not blowing his top during that game. He was about as even tempered as I have ever seen him.

 

[uconnfan68]

I apologize for not going through all 13 pages, but anyone who was there, did they show Coach Candle on the screen? He was supposed to be there.

Why would ESPN do that for UConn?

 

[Shine21]

Possible Mullins starts, but it won't be at Silas' expense.

Of course not. It'd a be at Stew expense.

I mention Silas because he seem to be struggling to find his play in this offense, and adding another shooter/scorer, would provide him more spacing to excel.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Mullins last foul was a good one. Prevented an easy dunk and resulted in two missed foul shots. It was a learning experience for the youngster.

learning experience yes. Good foul? only if you are a scrub. When you have 4 fouls and you are an important asset, on a close game, you do not disqualify yourself with under 5 minutes to go.