Some observations following UF’s 83-69 loss at Tennessee:
– Tennessee assistant coach Rob Lanier told me after the game that senior guard Kevin Punter, “has taken advantage of his opportunity and run with it.” Still, the Gators made it too easy for Punter all night, beginning with the early miscommunication on a defensive switch that allowed Punter to score his first basket en route to a 26-point night. “He had an open look for two early, and it gets him going,” Florida coach Mike White said. “We didn’t set the tone tonight early, that it was going to be a long night for him. He set the tone for us, that it was going to be a long night trying to guard him.”
– It may be time for White to consider to condense his player rotation. Florida redshirt freshman guard Brandone Francis-Ramirez played 10 minutes, too many for an SEC game considering he was 0-for-5 from the floor and 0 for 1 from 3-point range. Francis-Ramirez is just 5 for his last 37 from the floor and has missed his last 17 3-point attempts.
– Florida failed to take advantage of size inside against the Vols. Sophomore center John Egbunu needs to a better job of recognizing double and triple teams. Egbunu, junior point guard Kasey Hill (0 of 7 from the floor) and senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith missed too many point blank shots close to the basket.
