Tag: Recap

Three takeaways from Florida basketball’s rout of Grambling State

Dominance on the boards and second-chance points neutralized a poor shooting effort from Florida on Monday, leading to a 24-point win over Grambling State and the first 3-0 start of the Todd Golden era.

Florida trailed Grambling State for all of 30 seconds and then the rout was on.

The Gators defeated the Tigers, 86-62, on Monday night, securing a 3-0 start to the 2024-25 college basketball season. On paper, the matchup looked like a sure thing for Florida, which went 14-1 against Quadrant 3 and 4 opponents a season ago. Still, a 24-point blowout is typically a sign that all gears are working properly within the machine.

For a second-straight game, Florida proved that it didn’t need nearly 60 combined points from its two star guards, Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard. Instead, the Gators distributed the ball well, finishing the night with five players in double figures and three more within a field goal from double-digit points.

Center Rueben Chinyelu led Florida in scoring with 14, followed closely by Sam Alexis, Clayton, and Richard with 12 apiece. Alexis’ 12 is more impressive than the rest, considering he only played 20 minutes off the bench.

Good win, bad shooting

Despite crossing the 80-point threshold for a third-straight game, Florida’s shooting wasn’t the best Monday night. Removing layups (14-25) and dunks (3-6) from the picture, the Gators shot 12 of 33 (36.4%) from the field.

Richard was off for most of the night (4 of 11) and made just one of five attempts from deep. Alijah Martin, who is looking to score more consistently, shot just 33% over 29 minutes, and Denzel Aberdeen tried a little too hard to score when he was on the court. A late step-back three saved Aberdeen from an abysmal night from the field, but going 2 of 8 isn’t the best look for a key bench piece.

Fortunately, those points in the paint count as much as the rest, and the big men were on tonight. Chinyelu went 7 of 8 from down low, Alex Condon worked his way to the free throw line often, hitting 6 of 8 shots, and Thomas Haugh snuck in nine points off the bench; not to mention the 5 of 9 night provided by Alexis.

Florida has played these past two games differently than the season opener against USF. Clayton is making a concerted effort to distribute and take smart shots, and Richard is working on his defense and transition offense. Both are hoping to prove they belong in the NBA.

Gators dominate the boards

Florida nearly doubled Grambling State’s rebound total, and a lot of those came on the offensive side of the ball. In total, the Gators finished with 45 boards to the Tigers’ 24, with a 17-5 differential on the offensive glass.

Size matters in basketball and more rebounds means more points in this game. Florida’s 18 second-chance points dwarf Grambling State’s two, and the 16-point differential in that category makes up the bulk of the Gators’ margin of victory.

Condon led the way with eight rebounds (four on offense and four on defense), while Haugh and Alexis had seven and six, respectively.

The surprise rebounder of the night was guard Alijah Martin, who grabbed as many as Haugh (7), including a pair of offensive boards. Even Richard had five, which means the ‘3’ position is doing its job on the glass.

How special is this Gators team?

It’s hard to gauge just how good this 20th-ranked Florida team is through just three games. It’s the first 3-0 start of the Todd Golden era, but the Gators haven’t faced an equal match yet.

The upcoming matchup with Florida State could be a true test for this squad. Although the Seminoles finished last season one game over .500, a rivalry game on the road could be a trap for the Gators.

Head coach Leonard Hamilton has the ‘Noles 2-0 to start the season — against Northern Kentucky and Rice, with a matchup against Tarleton State on Monday night — and draft hopeful Jamir Watkins just earned a Co-ACC Player of the Week nod while averaging 23.5 points and 5.5 assists per game with zero turnovers.

Florida State also has size on its roster, which could challenge Florida’s frontcourt. The kind of rebound differential seen on Monday won’t easily be duplicated against a Power Four opponent with five players taller than 6-foot-10.

If Florida can beat FSU handily on Friday, there’s a real shot at closing out November with a perfect record. Florida A&M and Southern Illinois are next up on the schedule, followed by Wake Forest on Thanksgiving as part of the ESPN Events Invitational.

Next up for Florida basketball

The Gators travel north to take on the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee on Friday, Nov. 15. The rivalry matchup tips off at 6 p.m. ET and can be watched on the ACC Network.

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Wisconsin future opponent inexplicably ends Rutgers four-game losing streak

Brutal loss for PJ Fleck on Saturday

There’s a reason that college football is among the toughest things to accurately predict, let alone just in sports.

A primary example is seen in Minnesota’s 26-19 loss to Rutgers on Saturday.

Related: Bye Week Report Card: Grading Wisconsin’s offense and Grading Wisconsin’s defense

Every trend line pointed toward a Golden Gopher victory. The team had won four straight games after starting the season 2-3, including a narrow triumph over USC, a blowout over Maryland and a big road win over Illinois. The team appeared to have elevated itself into the top third of the Big Ten power rankings.

Rutgers, meanwhile, entered Saturday losers of four straight. The team entered a nosedive after a 4-0 start. The Minnesota game was thought to eventually be yet another blemish on a poor final record.

But the Scarlet Knights won.

QB Athan Kaliakmanis led the way with 240 passing yards and three touchdowns in a rematch against his former program. Rutgers held Minnesota to only 35 total yards on 1.8 yards per carry. In all, the Scarlet Knights out-gained the Gophers 354-297. It was a somewhat decisive victory for Rutgers standards.

The result is notable for the Wisconsin Badgers as it halts Minnesota’s momentum entering the final weeks of the season. The Gophers fall to 6-4 (4-3 Big Ten) with the loss, dropping from their previous position of long shot Big Ten contention. The team now enters a bye week before hosting No. 6 Penn State. Now, there’s a real chance the team is riding a two-game losing streak when it travels to Madison to close the regular season.

Wisconsin and Minnesota will meet in that annual battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe on Black Friday. Depending on the next few weeks, the contest could be pivotal for Wisconsin’s bowl hopes.

Any Minnesota loss is somewhat notable for Wisconsin fans. This one, however, could have significant impact on the rest-of-season outlook.

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Three instant takeaways from Florida’s shellacking at Texas in Week 11

It was not a pretty performance for the Orange and Blue on Saturday. Here are three instant takeaways from the running of the Longhorns over the Gators.

The Florida Gators and Texas Longhorns faced off for the first time on the college football field in 80s years in Week 11. On a sunny Saturday in Austin, the Burnt Orange scorched the Orange and Blue, 49-17, as [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s team had no answer for the home squad on either side of the ball.

The Gators struggled to contain the ‘Horns starting from the opening kickoff but miraculously held them to a missed field goal to keep things tied. Florida would punt on the next possession; Texas converted a fouth-and-one on its own 24-yard-line following that punt, leading to the game’s first score

Then things started to get out of hand.

Florida fumbled the ball at the end of the first quarter while Steve Sarkisian’s crew stepped on the gas; they would score on the next two possessions while UF missed a field goal from UT’s 12-yard line. After that, the rout was on.

Looking back at the spanking the Gators received from the Longhorns, there is a trio of particular points to note in the immediate aftermath.

Florida never had a chance

From the very first play, Texas controlled the tempo on offense and shrugged off the Gators out in the open field. That hiccup in the red zone turned out to be an outlier as the Longhorns did not leave many points off the board afterward.

The best chance Florida had to get back into this game came in Texas’ first two possessions of the second quarter which resulted in punts. After that, the Longhorns scored four straight TDs extending into the opening of the second half.

Florida, on the other hand, did not score until 7:03 in the third quarter; that field 23-yard-filed goal extended UF’s nation-leading streak of games without being shut out. So at least there is that.

Jaden Baugh is an absolute baller

On a roster that is missing dynamic playmakers like DJ Lagway and Eugene Wilson III, running back Jaden Baugh has emerged as a player with that dog in him. The true freshman was a bruiser on the ground even when things were looking dire — even taking a couple of snaps in the wildcat formation.

Additionally, he seemingly got stronger as the game went on leading up to his third-quarter touchdown in which he dragged several defenders over the goal line, giving the Gators something to feel good about.

Florida certainly misses Montrell Johnson’s work-horse reps, but Baugh’s multifaceted talents in the backfield and beyond cannot be understated. Heck, he also serves as the primary kick returner. What a guy.

Baugh’s day was over a play into the fourth quarter, but he still ran for 19 yards for 88 yards and a touchdown — good for a 4.6 yards-per-carry average. He also caught a pass for a seven-yard gain on one targeted throw.

Special mention to fellow running back [autotag]Ja’Kobi Jackson[/autotag], who amassed even bigger numbers than Baugh but was responsible for the early fumble that led to Texas’ second score. He finished with as many attempts as his backfield companion but managed to earn 116 yards (6.1 per) and a touchdown while also catching a pass for 13 yards.

Aidan Warner ain’t it at quarterback

With all due respect for the young redshirt freshman, Aidan Warner just does not have the chops to compete in the SEC. Of course, only in a disaster would one start a third-string walk-on quarterback and few people foresaw the voracious injury bug that has plagued the Swamp.

Well, Florida is in the midst of a roster disaster and there is seemingly little the coaching staff can do about it. One has to trust Napier and Co.’s judgment when evaluating him and transfer Clay Millen, but either way, when you include the attrition sustained at other skill positions, the Gators are in dire straits.

Napier did try the wildcat as mentioned above but it is going to take more than high school gimmick plays to earn two more wins this fall. Rushing Lagway back onto the field is a terrible idea, but something has to be figured out under center.

Next up for Florida

The Gators return to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to host the LSU Tigers in college football’s Week 12. The Southeastern Conference matchup will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC.

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Wisconsin’s loss to Iowa looks even worse after Hawkeyes crushed by UCLA

Wisconsin’s loss to Iowa looks even worse after the Hawkeyes’ loss at UCLA

Wisconsin’s 42-10 blowout loss at Iowa last weekend was as bad as the final score indicates.

The 32-point margin is the Badgers’ biggest loss to the rival Hawkeyes since 1968, Iowa’s 42 points are the most Wisconsin has allowed in the rivalry since 1975 and Iowa’s 329 total rushing yards are the most the Wisconsin program has allowed in a single game in nearly 12 years.

Related: Bye Week Report Card: Grading Wisconsin’s offense and Grading Wisconsin’s defense

Those numbers should paint the proper picture. The startling result was the low point of the Luke Fickell era to date — one that has had several of them.

That’s all reaction from last Sunday afternoon directly after the game. Somehow, now seven days later, the loss looks even worse.

That is because Iowa lost 20-17 to a 3-5 UCLA team on Friday night.

UCLA out-gained Iowa 415-265 and dominated the flow of the game. The margin would have been greater if it weren’t for two red-zone turnovers by Bruins QB Ethan Garbers.

The most striking stat, especially when compared to Iowa’s output against Wisconsin: UCLA out-rushed Iowa 211 (5.4 yards per carry) to 80 (2.6). The Bruins dominated the Hawkeyes in the trenches.

Normally, using the transitive property for results between teams isn’t a fair measure. Football is a week-to-week sport, with each game having its own identity and flow. That said, UCLA out-rushing Iowa by 131 yards one week after the Hawkeyes out-rushed the Badgers by 205 continues to shine a poor light on Wisconsin’s performance.

That perspective unavoidable, as is the context surrounding Wisconsin’s three-game win streak, for example. Purdue is 0-3 (1-7 overall) since losing to the Badgers, Rutgers is 0-2 (4-4 overall) and Northwestern is 1-1 (4-5 overall). There is a general trend surrounding Wisconsin’s schedule: its wins look less impressive and its losses continue to look worse — USC is now 2-5 in Big Ten play, as a further example.

These added pieces of context do not change Wisconsin’s 5-4 record and likely bowl fate. But they must be considered when discussing the quality of the Badgers’ wins, as well as the uncompetitive nature of some of the losses.

Wisconsin is back on the field in Week 12 at home against No. 1 Oregon. It then closes at Nebraska and vs. Minnesota. Positive on-field results are needed badly as Luke Fickell works to build momentum entering 2025.

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Former Wisconsin transfer helps No. 1 Kansas notch a top-10 win

How AJ Storr performed against North Carolina

Former Wisconsin Badgers transfer A.J. Storr was at the center of No. 1 Kansas’ 92-89 win over No. 9 North Carolina on Friday night.

The former Badger scored 13 points in 27 minutes off the bench, also adding three assists, two rebounds and a steal.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s win over Montana State

He is now up to 18 total points, four rebounds, five assists and one steal on 44% shooting and 40% from three-point range thus far through two games. His role and shot volume increased significantly from Kansas’ first to second game of the season — 15 minutes to 27 and five field-goal attempts to 13.

Storr transferred to the Jayhawks this offseason after one year with the Badgers. He averaged 28.8 minutes, 16.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.6 steals through that campaign, operating as the team’s primary offensive engine from the start of the season to its conclusion.

His above-the-rim highlight plays have translated to his new program, seen clearly in the first half of Friday’s game:

Aside from Storr, Kansas was led by a player Wisconsin fans are likely familiar with: former Michigan center Hunter Dickinson. The longtime Wisconsin rival finished the last-minute victory with 20 points, 10 rebounds and three assists — that tally including the game’s final three points after the score was tied 89-89 with less than 1:30 remaining.

Kansas Jayhawks guard AJ Storr (2) passes to Kansas Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson (1) in the first half of the game against North Carolina Tar Heels inside Allen Fieldhouse Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Storr, Dickinson and the Jayhawks will remain No. 1 in the AP Poll moving forward. Their next contest is Nov. 12 against a strong Michigan State team.

Wisconsin fans should get used to Storr playing a key role on one of the best teams in college basketball in 2024-25.

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Where Wisconsin basketball stands in KenPom and ESPN BPI after win over Montana State

Wisconsin basketball place in KenPom and ESPN BPI after win over Montana State

Wisconsin basketball improved to 2-0 on the young season with a victory over Montana State on Thursday.

The win was highlighted by the efficiency of Greg Gard’s team, as it shot 45% from the field, 50% from three-point range and 95% from the free-throw line. Those shooting rates helped the team avoid the same slow start it experienced in its opening victory over Holy Cross.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s win over Montana State

Montana State entered Thursday ranked No. 175 in ESPN BPI and No. 194 in KenPom. While the team is far from the quality of Wisconsin’s upcoming Big Ten opponents, it does boast three consecutive Big Sky tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. The Bobcats have become the class of the conference and a dangerous mid-major foe.

Despite that, Wisconsin’s decisive victory did not do much to improve its place in either ESPN’s Basketball Power Index or KenPom. The Badgers sit at No. 39 nationally in BPI and No. 49 in KenPom after the 2-0 start. Neither of those rankings changed after the latest victory.

BPI specifically ranks the Badgers as the No. 8 team in the Big Ten while KenPom has the group down at No. 12 in the conference.

It is still extremely early in the college basketball season — more than a month remains before the real start of the conference schedule. These ranking updates are a valuable look at were the Badgers project long-term. As is always the case, continued winning in the non-conference schedule will only help that standing.

The Badgers are next on the court on Sunday, Nov. 10 at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT against the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Wisconsin will look for another big step forward en route to a 3-0 start.

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WATCH: Full highlights from Wisconsin basketball’s 79-67 win over Montana State

Highlights from Wisconsin basketball’s 79-67 win over Montana State

Wisconsin basketball added a tally to the win column on Thursday night with a 79-67 triumph over Montana State.

The Badgers’ performance was far more complete than the one from their opening victory over Holy Cross. The team shot well from every level, highlighted by a 50% (11-of-22) mark from three-point range and 95% (20-of-21) from the free-throw line. Unlike in the opener, the Badgers mostly controlled the game throughout.

Related: What Wisconsin basketball coach Greg Gard and players said after win over Montana State

Senior guard Max Klesmit led the effort with a career-high 26 points on 7-of-15 shooting and 6-of-11 from three. Starting guards John Blackwell and John Tonje each added 13 points of their own, while sixth-man Kamari McGee had another big performance with 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal in 27 minutes off the bench.

The Badgers improve to 2-0 with the victory over the Bobcats. The performance and result are important as the team gels, and as Greg Gard works to find an effective rotation with the program’s cast of new faces.

Wisconsin is back on the court on Sunday, Nov. 10 against Appalachian State. Before moving forward to that matchup, here are the full highlights from the Badgers latest win:

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Greg Gard praises Wisconsin guard after big performance vs. Montana State

Greg Gard praises Wisconsin guard after big performance vs. Montana State

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard highlighted the development and performance of senior guard Kamari McGee when meeting with the media after the Badgers’ 79-67 win over Montana State.

McGee played 27 minutes off the bench in the winning effort, totaling 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Yet again, he served as a crucial spark plug for the Badgers. His status as the team’s sixth man does not preclude his minutes from being highly productive.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s win over Montana State

The former UW-Green Bay transfer has developed significantly since transferring to Wisconsin ahead of the 2022-23 season. Gard highlighted that improvement:

“Just his poise and maturity,” Gard began. “I think he’s operating at a very functional speed right now. Two years ago, I think he tried to play everything at a thousand miles an hour. Now, he understands the importance of pace and patience. When to pick your spots, when to step on the gas, when not to. So I think you’re seeing the evolution and the maturity of a player that’s done a really good job for us.”

McGee’s elevated role speaks to that development. Through two games this season he’s averaging 27.5 minutes, 9.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game, all while shooting 54% from the floor and 40% from three-point range.

Here’s more from Gard on what McGee means to the team:

“He’s been a steadying influence. He changes the game with his defense, he changes the game with the pace he comes up with the ball. But I just think the decisions, and the conscious effort to read and feel of the game, when you can go fast and when you can’t. He didn’t understand that two years ago, and it’s taken time for him to learn that and get a good feel. He’s obviously figured out a lot of good things.”

Much of Gard’s focus was on McGee’s contributions on offense. McGee’s comments postgame, meanwhile, centered around the defensive side of the court

“I know that defense is going to win us a lot of games,” the senior guard said. “I’ve always had the defensive mindset ever since I started playing basketball. That’s winning basketball, is getting defensive stop. We have enough scorers, we have enough guys doing great things at the other end. I make sure I try to lead by example and get my guys engaged as well. Because when it’s crunch time like that and it’s time to close a game out, you’re going to need stops more than scores.”

Gard, McGee and the Badgers are back on the court on Sunday, Nov. 10 at home against Appalachian State. It’s reasonable to predict another high-impact game from the senior guard in his established sixth-man role.

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Greg Gard defends Wisconsin senior forward after strong play vs. Montana State

Greg Gard defends Wisconsin senior forward after strong play vs. Montana State

This story was updated to add new information.

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard came to the defense of Badgers senior forward Carter Gilmore after the team’s 79-67 win over Montana State on Thursday.

Gilmore, who played 19 minutes off the bench in the Badgers’ victory, again played a big role on both sides of the court. He finished with four points on 2-of-3 shooting, two assists, two rebounds and one highlight block.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s win over Montana State

Gard highlighted his performance, especially on the defensive side, when speaking postgame.

“[Gilmore] just gives us such a steadying [presence],” Gard began. “And I know he’s taken a lot of s*** over his career here. And it’s, quite frankly, unwarranted. Because if you have you have any idea what you’re looking at, you can see that he really anchors us defensively, he covers up a lot of stuff, he’s really good in the ball screens…He’s just a ballplayer.”

The senior forward has nine total points on 4-of-5 shooting through two games, in addition to four rebounds, two assists and a block. Those totals are all on an early pace to surpass his 2022-23 totals when he averaged 18.8 minutes per game off the bench.

Gard highlighted Gilmore’s versatility in the lineup, pointing to more minutes and more opportunities down the road.

“We can play him at various positions, played him at the three a lot during the preseason,” Gard continued. “He’s covers up mistakes defensively of other guys, Tyler Wahl did that. They’re different. But he has such a good feel for the game and talks the game the right way. The things he’s talking about and asking about — he’s seeing it and talking like a coach…He’s been able to play within his strengths and not get outside of his strengths. He’s very valuable. He’s smart, he’s tough, he covers up mistakes, he knows what we’re doing. He really is a good leader…He’s an unsung important piece to this group.”

Gilmore currently slots into the lineup as a primary backup forward behind starters Nolan Winter and Steven Crowl. He should continue to be a key force off the bench as the team continues to grow throughout the season.

Gard, Gilmore and the Badgers are back on the court on Nov. 10 at home against Appalachian State.

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Auburn dismantles Vermont for resounding opening night victory

Auburn let loose with a 94-43 victory in front of a packed Neville Arena

The 2024-2025 Auburn Tigers are an extremely well-rounded basketball team.

After an exhibition season which saw Bruce Pearl’s team win two games in extremely lopsided fashion, Auburn let loose in front of a packed Neville Arena to open up the regular season, taking down Vermont 94-43 in ridiculously efficient fashion. Auburn outscored the Catamounts 46-21 in an up-and-down first half before showing off on the defensive end to open up the second stanza, dispelling any hopes of a Vermont comeback with a 16-0 run to open the frame.

Five of the nine Tigers that saw double-digit minutes on Wednesday night finished with at least 10 points. Georgia Tech transfer [autotag]Miles Kelly[/autotag] led the way, welcoming himself onto the Plains in heroic fashion to the tune of 21 points on 7 3-point field goals. [autotag]Johni Broome[/autotag] may have been overshadowed by Kelly and Denver Jones’s 16 points, but the All-SEC forward was his usual, dominant self in a 12-point, 7-rebound, 2-block effort.

Newcomer [autotag]JP Pegues[/autotag] filled point guard the role previously held by Aden Holloway and Tre Donaldson phenomenally. The Furman transfer showed immediately he could handle Bruce Pearl’s extensively complicated offense with a perfect 3/3 shooting night to go along with 4 rebounds, an assist, and two steals. Second year Tiger Chad Baker-Mazara was also his normal, stat-stuffing self in an 11-point, 3-rebound, 2-assist effort. Surprisingly, the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native did not swipe away a steal or block.

While Auburn wasn’t quite able to reach triple-digit scoring numbers in the opener. the Tigers offense played about as well it has since Bruce Pearl took over as the head coach. While free throw shooting was sub-par (6/10), Miles Kelly, Denver Jones, and the Tigers shot 56% from the field in the win, including an impressive 16/35 mark from beyond the arc.

Auburn will need to continue shooting the ball efficiently well over the course of a non-conference schedule that may be the hardest the Tigers have ever encountered. The waters get much more wavy as soon as Saturday, when Auburn takes on No. 4 ranked Houston at the Toyota Center in Houston. Head coach Kelvin Sampon’s Cougars, who are historically known for their defense, held Jackson State to just 40 points in an equally as impressive 97-40 opening night victory.

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