Florida basketball: Gators take on former coach in rivalry game
By Will Thomas
![Florida Gators guard Riley Kugel (24) talks with Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden. The Florida Gators menÕs basketball team hosted the Florida Atlantic Owls at Billy Donovan Court at Exactech Arena in Gainesville, FL on Monday, November 14, 2022. The score was tied 35-35 at the half. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]Gai Ufbasketballfau](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F1f04c9393146b31338cee4c6472e2931a74564e145ff669453fbfcc83e8000c1.jpg "Florida Gators guard Riley Kugel (24) talks with Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden. The Florida Gators menÕs basketball team hosted the Florida Atlantic Owls at Billy Donovan Court at Exactech Arena in Gainesville, FL on Monday, November 14, 2022. The score was tied 35-35 at the half. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]Gai Ufbasketballfau")
Florida basketball has had a rough couple of weeks. They’ve lost four of their last five, and the offense is struggling to find any real rhythm.
Maybe they just haven’t had the right motivation yet. And if motivation is the issue, we may see those problems go away this afternoon.
Today, the Gators host former coach Mike White and the Georgia Bulldogs for their first of two matchups this season.
It’s one thing for a coach to move on from his current situation, especially when both sides seem ready for a change. It’s another to announce you’re going to your school’s biggest rival before any other announcement of leaving.
This isn’t to say that any of the players resent coach White or his decision to go to Athens. But there will definitely be an extra ounce of energy in the building today.
If the Gators do want to win their first SEC game of the year, they’ll have to figure out a way to get the offense going. The Bulldogs are only allowing 64 points per game, and get 7.1 steals a game. For a team that has been turning the ball over as much as Florida has, discipline is a must for this matchup if they want to keep things competitive.
Florida will have their hands full with UGA’s two guards, Terry Roberts and Kario Oquendo. Roberts, a senior, is putting up 15 points per game and 4.2 assists, while Oquendo is scoring 14.5 points per game and grabbing 3.9 rebounds.
Today would be a great time for Trey Bonham and Kyle Lofton to both have great games and unlock the full potential of the Gator backcourt.
Bonham had an exceptional game against Texas A&M with 21 points, while Lofton had a modest nine points and two assists.
This could also be the day that Colin Castleton reminds us all of who he is. In the paint, he’ll be guarded by Braelen Bridges, a 6’11” center who puts up less than half a block per game. He hasn’t been able to use his height to be a true disrupter, and Castleton should be able to take advantage of it.
This win will be sweet for the team and the fans alike, and could help turn the tides on what has been a slow start to the season.
Keep up with Florida basketball at Hail Florida Hail.