Free Throws: Pat Dooley’s response to UF’s worst SEC start in four decades

Pat Dooley gives his quick reactions to Florida’s third-straight SEC loss.

This one was a lot like the Auburn game as Florida got off to a bad start and trailed by 14 in the first half. Facing a nine-point deficit at halftime, the Gators rallied but never led.

Down three with 4:06 to play, Myreon Jones missed two of three free throws and Florida could never get back to even.

LSU, now 15-1 and 3-1 in the SEC, was playing without its starting point and lost leading scorer Tori Eason to fouls after only seven minutes of playing time.

But the Tigers defense, which leads the nation in field goal percentage defense, held the Gators to 36% shooting and 23% from three-point land.

The Gators fell in love with the three again, taking 31 shots from beyond the arc (making seven) to 24 shots inside the arc.

LSU, on the other hand, took only nine 3-point shot attempts and outscored the Gators in the paint 42-26.

Let’s face it — this team plays hard, although it is defensively inconsistent. But the big problem is that it is not a skilled offensive team and going against future NBA players makes it pretty obvious.