In their previous two losses this season, one could flip a possession or two for Florida Basketball, and the results would have been different. But yesterday afternoon, against Tennessee, nothing went right for the Gators as they lost 64-44 and shot just 24% from the field.
As the 2025 campaign winds on, here are two truths and a lie for the Gators as they look to regroup.
Truth: The book is out on how to disrupt Florida
The Gators love to rotate the ball around the arc, and pick their moment to drive to the basket while a big man down low seals off the lane. But opponents have figured out that if you press Florida higher up and jam the ball screens, Florida doesn't have great counter-answer.
While the headline yesterday was that Florida only shot 24%, the Gators also had 13 turnovers and were rejected seven times.
Truth: Florida wasted a chance to be a one-seed
There is still a long way to go until Selection Sunday, but the Gator blew a chance to be a one-seed in Bracketology. Todd Golden had even said before the game that if Florida won, they should be considered one-seed.
Iowa State got blown out. Michigan State and Houston lost too. So, if one is looking for a positive from Saturday, the Gators should still be embedded along the two seed lines, which, in the end, would still give the Gators a viable pathway to the Final Four and beyond.
Lie: Bye weeks are bad
There is a theory one could float after shooting 24% that the bye week the Gators had disrupted their rhythm.
But last year the Gators lost to Texas A&M 67-66, went on their bye week, and then came back and blew out Auburn 81-65.
As noted above, Saturday's blowout wasn't just a byproduct of bad shooting. It was the inability to handle pressure in a hostile environment that had little to do with taking a week off.