By Jimmy Hyams
Florida coach Mike White has been frustrated by his team’s inconsistency.
The Gators, picked to contend for the SEC Championship, are 17-10 overall, 8-6 in the SEC and coming off a loss at Vanderbilt.
White isn’t sure what he’s getting from his team from game to game, half to half, timeout to timeout.
What has led to Florida’s Jekyll and Hyde season?
“I wish I had the answer,’’ White said earlier this week as his team prepares to play at Tennessee tonight (9 pm, ESPN2). If I knew, we wouldn’t be so inconsistent.’’
White said the inconsistency is in shooting, rebounding and defense. At times, Florida is “terrific on defense,’’ then can’t guard anyone. At times, Florida has been “on fire’’ shooting, then “can’t throw it in the ocean.’’
White said when his team has a good practice, that’s an “outlier.’’
Then he fired this salvo: “I’m not sure how competitive we are. … It doesn’t hurt enough when we lose.’’
Florida isn’t the only inconsistent team in the SEC. In fact, every team in the league has hard its share of ups and downs, except for Auburn (23-4, 11-3 in SEC).
Tennessee’s Rick Barnes has lamented his team’s inconsistencies. At one point, which asked which players are inconsistent, he mentioned all four guards – Jordan Bone, Jordan Bowden, Lamonte Turner and Chris Darrington.
Of late, Grant Williams, Tennessee’s best player, has been inconsistent. He played perhaps his worst game in a UT uniform at Georgia on Saturday with 5 points on 1 of 8 shooting and 4 rebounds.
Barnes said Williams needs to talk less and produce more. Barnes was referring to Williams engaging in conversation with officials.
Barnes also said Williams has to focus more, play harder and get chip back on his shoulder.
“He’s always been an underdog,’’ Barnes said. “He obviously wasn’t a highly recruited player. But that’s always been his motivation, to go out and prove people wrong. He just can’t get away from that.’’
Regarding Williams against Georgia, Barnes added : “Did he play as hard as I’ve seen him play? Absolutely not.’’
Barnes has also been bothered by his point guard play. It, too, has been inconsistent.
“You’ve got to have a guard that really wants to push the ball,’’ Barnes said. “That’s his No. 1 objective. Jordan Bone has shown he can do it. But he reverts back, `Well, maybe I should shoot the all more.’ Lamonte Turner, same thing (James (Daniel) same thing.’’
On other topics:
- Is the SEC’s inconsistency due to parity or lack of an elite team? Barnes said it’s probably some of both, but he did suggest college basketball this season doesn’t have an elite team.
- Barnes said there are three variables that determine whether a team is playing well or not: 1. Shooting. 2. Rebounding. 3 Unforced errors. UT fell short in all three categories against Georgia.
- Barnes said several Vols aren’t playing as hard as they can. Barnes said “playing hard is not a given, it’s a talent. Most guys don’t play hard.’’ He said if a player isn’t tired or their body isn’t hurting at this time of year, “you’re not playing hard.’’
- Barnes had high praise for the SEC: “This league is as good a league as I’ve ever been in. Ever.’’ He said this is “probably the best year the league has ever had.’’ He said he wouldn’t politic to say the SEC is the best league in the country, but “it’s as good as any.’’
- Barnes said February is a “long month because of what’s at stake.’’ He also said it’s when “stars shine brighter and brighter.’’ He added: “If teams are tired,’’ then officials must be too because they call six or seven games a week.
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