(AP photo/John Bazemore)
Just a third of the way through the SEC basketball season, there is no doubt that Florida is holding the steering wheel. At least in the SEC East.
Florida’s chest-pounding 104-91 double-overtime triumph over Georgia last night in sold-out Athens was not just one of the better college basketball games of the season, but established Billy Donovan’s club as the SEC favorites.
Consider that Florida now has road wins at both Tennessee and Georgia, and that both of those wins came in overtime. The Gators blew a seven-point lead with seven minutes to go in Knoxville, yet rallied to win the game 81-75 in overtime. Last night, Florida lost an eight-point lead with 3:12 to play, fell behind by three in overtime before Irving Walker’s dramatic three-pointer forced a second overtime, then ran away from the Bulldogs in the second extra period.
Kentucky has already lost at Georgia, and the Cats have yet to play Tennessee. Or Florida. John Calipari’s club plays host to the Bulldogs in the return match on Saturday.
The reason for Florida’s close road wins? Surely experience is a factor. Remember, Florida returned every player from the team that made the NCAA Tournament last year.
Chandler Parsons, a senior, has grabbed 27 rebounds in the last two games. Vernon Macklin, a fifth-year senior, scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds on Tuesday. After scoring just two points in a blowout win over Arkansas on Saturday, Irving Walker scored 24 in Athens. And fellow guard Kenny Boynton made 12-of-12 free throws in the win over the Bulldogs, and has scored 44 points in his last two games.
Consider just how close the final stats were Tuesday night: Florida shot 46.1 percent; Georgia 45.3. Florida made eight of 20 threes. Georgia made seven of 17. Florida had 18 offensive rebounds. Georgia had 17. Yet Florida got to the foul line. The Gators were 26-of-36 from the stripe. Georgia was 16-of-24.
