University of Florida Athletics recently issued the following announcement.
The college basketball season is in just its second week, which means teams around the country are learning about themselves in real-time and looking for clues to find exactly who they are.
But not here.
"I think we know who we are," Florida fifth-year senior point guard Tyree Appleby said after the Gators' latest wipeout win. "We're that gritty team. Nothing is given to us. We have to go take it. I think we've found our identity."
Florida State learned about UF in resounding fashion four days ago. It was visiting Milwaukee's turn Thursday night, as Florida's unleashed its defensive wrath in an 81-45 pounding at Exactech Arena, most of it coming during a dominant second half at both ends of the floor.
Senior forward Colin Castleton, who was spectacular in Sunday's 71-55 beating of the Seminoles, tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds, with Appleby, clear of the flu bug that dogged him last time out, scoring 14 points, including four 3-pointers, to go with six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Fifth-year senior forward Anthony Duruji had 12 points and seven rebounds, while guard Phlandrous Fleming Jr. was good for 12 points off the bench.
The lopsided outcome probably disappointed the 33 NBA scouts (from 22 teams) who came to the O'Dome to watch UMW's lottery-projected prospect Patrick Baldwin Jr. The 6-foot-9 guard/forward came in averaging 20.0 points and 10.5 rebounds, but struggled for just 13 points on 6-for-15 shooting and grabbed only three rebounds over 34 minutes.
"I thought, collectively, we were pretty good trying to limit his touches," UF coach Mike White said of the kid who a year ago was rated the No. 1 prep player in the country and eventually opted (over Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina) to play for his father at UMW. "He's a really talented young man."
But Baldwin was no match for a bunch of Gators that — yes, it's early in the 2021-22 campaign — look awfully connected and committed to doing what they do.
Florida (3-0), which never trailed, built an 11-point lead at halftime, despite a light-shooting 20 minutes of 44.1 percent, including just two of 11 from deep. The defense, though, carried the period, as UF harassed the Panthers, out of the Horizon League, into just 9-for-29 shooting (31.0 percent) and allowed just one 3-pointer in seven attempts.
The second half, though, was a boat race.
"We came out firing on all cylinders," Castleton said.
Appleby nailed a 3-ball to open the period, then Baldwin posted for a bucket. Florida led by 12. Just over 11 minutes later — and just after the Panthers (1-2) scored their second field of the second half, only have to canceled out by another Appleby 3 — the Florida lead was 39 with just over seven minutes to go. Milwaukee was just 1-for-15 from the floor through the half's first nearly 12 minutes.
"It was a black and blue game, and we took all the hits," said UMW coach Pat Baldwin.
The Gators shot 47 percent for the game, but 50 in the second half, including 9-for-17 from the 3-point line, while keeping the Panthers at 31 percent. Through three games, UF has allowed opponents to shoot a combined 35.8 percent, including just 29.8 from the arc, and held them to an average of 53.7 points.
When they left the O'Dome, the Gators were ranked 16th in the country in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com metrics.
For now, that's who they are.
"In previous years, we'd have a big win or a good win, then we'd come back sloppy or play to the level of our competition. So we knew what we had to do," Appleby said. "We set a standard from Day 1 and we have to stick to that standard and keep pushing."
Original source can be found here.
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