Column: Gators' Poor Defensive Effort Catalyzes Ugly Road Loss to Rebels

A lackluster defensive showing proves detrimental for the Gators in their first SEC road contest of the season.

Florida (10-5, 0-2 SEC) inarguably suffered its worst loss of the 2023-24 campaign on Wednesday, falling 103-85 at the hands of the Ole Miss Rebels (14-1, 1-1 SEC) on the road in Oxford (Miss.).

Several facets of the Gators' game faltered in the defeat, including ball security, free throw shooting and missed opportunities at the rim.

But a common theme of Florida's season, previously flying under the radar as the Gators won in spite of it, stands out as a factor one could reasonably point to when trying to characterize the disastrous outing: Defense.

"Obviously, our defensive effort tonight was atrocious, specifically in the second half," UF head coach Todd Golden said. "Again, this was a team that was coming off a really tough loss, and they responded really well. This was our first road game in the SEC, and we didn't handle it very well."

The loss comes on the heels of an encouraging performance against the Kentucky Wildcats — a team widely regarded as a top contender for the SEC crown this season. 

It throws the remainder of the Gators' campaign into question as concerns regarding their legitimacy for a return to the NCAA Tournament emerge.

Golden's first season in Gainesville was contrarily led by Florida's ability to produce admirably on the opposite end. For the bulk of the season, former star center Colin Castleton anchored the effort, allowing it to hold a top 10-to-15 rating on Kenpom for adjusted defensive efficiency.

However, lapses on the offensive end proved to be detrimental to the Gators' success. As a result, as Golden turned the page from year one to year two, reeling in capable scorers was atop his transfer portal shopping list.

He found the likes of Zyon Pullin, Walter Clayton Jr., Tyrese Samuel and Micah Handlogten — who have all served in high-volume roles throughout the campaign. They've proven fruitful in increasing the offensive output, contributing to Florida's 86.1 points per game and No. 34 standing in adjusted offensive efficiency.

But, while taking steps forward offensively this year, the Gators have regressed considerably on the defensive end.

The 18-point loss to Ole Miss portrayed the troubling reality on a larger scale than before. The Gators allowed an opponent to eclipse the century mark in regulation for the first time since Feb. 5, 2008, against No. 7 Tennessee. 

It was a fast-paced affair to open, signaling a potentially high-scoring affair. The style seemingly favored the Gators, who entered the matchup ranked No. 11 in adjusted tempo per Kenpom.

Through seven minutes, the inference reigned true. Florida held a 17-12 lead over Ole Miss on the back of a 7-for-9 shooting start from the field.

However, the tide quickly turned in the Rebels' favor while the Gators went cold.

Florida's extended scoreless spell, resulting in a 17-3 run in which a five-point lead turned into a nine-point deficit, was propelled by Ole Miss' impressive height and rim protection. The Rebels' 16 blocks, led by Jamarion Sharp's whopping nine swats, presented the defensive fortitude needed to kickstart their own offensive effort.

Florida had no answer, particularly in the second half.

Shooting 75% (21-for-28) from the floor to post 59 points in the final 20 minutes, 59% on the day, the Rebels took advantage of Florida's nonexistent presence at the rim. They slammed home six dunks en route to the blowout victory. The Rebels finished 18-for-26 (69%)at the rim on the night, proving much more efficient than the Gators in the area (20-for-44, 45%).

Simply put, the Gators were soft down low. And while it wasn't solely on the shoulders of the forwards, their dismal performance bumping with the Ole Miss bigs early set the tone for the remainder of the contest.

The physicality the unit had once shown with Castleton at the forefront of the frontcourt is gone. It was evident in their play on Wednesday.

True freshman forward Alex Condon — who tallied 11 points and 15 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards to serve as the team's most productive big man — shared a simple fix to the team's success-hindering issue: "Have some pride."

"We're not sticking to our defensive principles," Condon said postgame on Wednesday. "There are too many times when guys just go off and do their own thing. We have to establish ourselves by being strong on the defensive end. Have some pride and not be happy taking the ball out of the net every possession."

Florida slides from No. 52 to No. 82 in adjusted defensive efficiency following the performance, another incriminating statistical illustration of the lackluster showing.

Sustainable production in the area is necessary, but ultimately, more effort is required, according to Condon's assertion.

The Gators will have to rebound quickly from the deflating defeat on the road as they return home to host an underperforming yet dangerous Arkansas team on Saturday. A date with No. 5 Tennessee in Knoxville on Tuesday then awaits UF.

Doing so would entail a rapid improvement in halting opposing scorers.

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