Mike White was disappointed after Florida’s route of Auburn on Tuesday night.
Despite 114 points, 11 three-pointers and 37 made free throws, the Gators’ second-year head coach shook his head.
“Outside of early in the second half, we could never find a defensive rhythm,” White said in a release. “They’re just difficult to defend. Good thing for us it was one of those nights where we made a bunch of shots.”
Florida couldn’t deal with the Tigers’ up-tempo offense, and the 95 points it surrendered to Auburn was the most the Gators have given up all season.
But UF has the chance to get back to its defensive ways on Saturday at 2 p.m. when the No. 15 Gators (21-5, 11-2 SEC) travel to Starkville, Mississippi, to take on the Bulldogs (14-11, 5-8 SEC) in Humphrey Coliseum.
Outside of sophomore guard Quinndary Weatherspoon, a top-five scorer in the SEC (16.7 points per game), the Bulldogs have a mediocre offense.
At 74.4 points per game, Mississippi State ranks eighth in the conference in scoring.
The Bulldogs also struggle from the free-throw line, where they shoot 68.9 percent and often fail to get on the boards, where they average 35 rebounds per game — next to last in the SEC.
The stars are aligned for a bounce-back game on the defensive end of the floor for Florida.
One thing it will have to look out for, however: the three-point shot.
In the first half against Auburn, UF struggled with defensive communication, leading to several wide-open triples that gave the Tigers an early lead.
And despite all of its offensive shortcomings, Mississippi State remains one of the best three-point shooting teams in the conference.
The Bulldogs have five active players who shoot over 34 percent from beyond the arc. And as a team, Mississippi State shoots 36.9 percent and converts 8.2 three-pointers per game — both third in the SEC.
Meanwhile, the Gators are in the midst of a seven-game win streak and haven’t lost to the Bulldogs since 2009.
But Florida will have to play without starting center John Egbunu, the team’s leading rebounder and primary interior presence, who is out for the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee against the Tigers.
“He’s been playing really well of late, so it’s a tough blow to him and our team,” White said of Egbunu. “He’s a great young man, and unfortunately injuries are a part of basketball. He’ll be back even stronger.”
But the Gators, who are now in a two-way tie with No. 13 Kentucky atop the conference standings, can’t slow down.
Florida has to get back to its identity on Saturday afternoon — defense.
Contact Ray Boone at rboone@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @rboone1994.
UF coach Mike White looks on in Florida's 68-66 loss to Vanderbilt on Jan. 21, 2017, at the O'Connell Center.
