How Florida Became the Last Team Standing in the SEC
Remember in the preseason when Kentucky was the bees knees in the SEC. We were all talking about how great UK was going to be this season. A loss to their Blue Grass State brethren in Louisville early in the season followed by a handful of other losses and the Wildcats are no where to be found in the top 25 or on the list of any bettors plan to put money down on them to win the NCAA Championship.
Florida is the only team in the SEC could be considered a safe bat on any game that they play in. Not to mention, with an impressive 21-3 overall record, they have a good shot at winning the NCAA Championship. The official updated Bovada NCAA Championship odds are not released until tomorrow, but I imagine they are going to be in a good position. They will definitely have better odds than any other team in the SEC.
Florida is 11-1 in the SEC. No other SEC team even comes close to Florida, and there are a number of reasons why Florida is the best SEC team around.
Key Players in Multiple Positions
When we talk about important players on SEC teams each team may have one or two players that could be considered true stand outs. In Florida they have three players that come to mind immediately. Patric Young down low opens up the game on both the defensive and offensive ball like no other big man in the SEC. In his last game against Kentucky, Young put up 12 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. He averages about two steals a game. His defensive pressure by being able to block shots and force turnovers in the post and grab rebounds, a rarity on this team, he allows the Florida guards to defend against the long shot.
Young is an offensive threat as well. Not only can he grab offensive rebounds, but it is not rare for him to put up double digit points. This allows guys like Scottie Wilbekin and Kenny Boynton. Boynton may not have the best shot percentage from behind the arc (below 40 percent). However, having Young down low gives Boynton the opportunity to shot threes with confidence regardless.
They Know How to Move the Ball and Score
When three or four players are putting up double digit points it is hard to defend against those players. The Gators know how to spread the ball around. They average 16.3 assists per game. That’s good enough for the 13th most assists in the nation. They do not only pass the ball around, but they also put up points. Florida averages over 74 points a game putting them at 36th in the nation.
Ranked fifth in the nation Florida is a true force in not just the SEC, but also the entire NCAA.
