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Florida Basketball: Three stats that are a problem for the Gators

By Benjamin Henderson

Dec 20, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Florida Gators forward Colin Castleton (12) at the line during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Jumpman Invitational at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Florida Gators forward Colin Castleton (12) at the line during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Jumpman Invitational at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /
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It has been an up-and-down year for Florida basketball under first-year coach Todd Golden. The Gators have been competitive in almost every game, but have struggled to consistently get over the hump against evenly matched opponents.

As it stands now according to ESPN’s Bracketology, Florida basketball is destined to another appearance in the NIT.

The Gators are gearing up for its home stretch against a difficult slate of opponents and there are three key stats that need to improve if Florida wants to make an appearance in the Big Dance in March.

Florida Basketball: Draw more fouls

The Gators are drawing a foul from their opponents on 23.4% of Gator possessions. This ranks 240th in the country. It hasn’t stopped Florida from shooting free throws, as they are 81st in the country in free throws attempted per possession.

The problem is that while most of the fouls they are drawing are shooting fouls, they aren’t putting pressure on opponents to clutch and grab to draw the off-the-ball fouls.

And, sitting at 197th in the country in opponent fouls per game, Florida basketball isn’t putting pressure on opposing star players to foul out.

More ball movement

We have mused this throughout the year, but the ball movement for Florida just isn’t good enough. While statistically speaking it is better than what we saw under Mike White, the Gators are 212th in the country in assists per possession, averaging an assist on just 17.6% of possessions.

Likewise, of made baskets the Gators are getting an assist just 50.3% of the time. That’s 197th in the country.

Part of the problem is the lack of a pure shooter to reward ball movement, but part of the problem is stagnant play. Florida can’t even blame ball security for this problem. While they did have 14 turnovers vs Kansas State, the Gators are 77th in turnovers per game for the season.

From downtown

Speaking of shooting, the single biggest downfall of Florida’s season to this point has been the inability to hit anything from downtown. The calling card of Todd Golden while at San Francisco has turned into a liability in Gainesville.

The Florida Gators are 264th in the country in three-point shooting, with a conversion rate of just 32.3%. As a result, Florida makes 6.8 three-pointers a game, 240th in the country.

With teams not scared of Florida’s ability to shoot from deep, Colin Castleton either has to turn into Superman down low or the offense for Florida goes nowhere. Will Richard has averaged double figures this season and coincidently has been the only player for the Gators shooting over 40% from three.

Kowaice Reeves and Kyle Lofton are both averaging below 30% from three and could really help spark the squad if they could somehow get that closer to 35%.

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