Even as the Gators led the Bulldogs by 21 points early in Saturday’s game, they weren’t letting up on defense.
Midway through the first half, Mississippi State’s Craig Sword inbounded the ball to Trivante Bloodman.
Junior Scottie Wilbekin kept Bloodman contained outside the arc, and redshirt senior Mike Rosario came over to add extra pressure.
In a panic, Bloodman jumped up and attempted a long pass to Tyson Cunningham.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, forward Will Yeguete was waiting nearby.
Yeguete grabbed the pass, took it back across the court and fed it to Wilbekin, who made a layup to put Florida up 31-8 with 8:31 left in the first half.
While the Gators rank fifth in the Southeastern Conference with 73.7 points per game, their defense is their identity.
“At the end of last year, trying to go into this season and looking at the areas where we needed to improve and get better at and show them visually, statistically, individually and collectively as a group where they needed to get better,” coach Billy Donovan said.
“What has happened is, because we have improved defensively, because we have gotten better from a year ago defensively, they are more eager to do it. They are personally taking pride in it.”
The No. 4 Gators’ 82-47 win against the Bulldogs in Starkville, Miss., was the 10th time this season that Florida has held an opponent to less than 50 points.
Saturday’s win also moved Florida to 6-0 in SEC play. Since starting conference play on Jan. 9, the Gators have won by a margin of 27 points per contest.
“There are things we’re doing defensively that I’m giving those guys an enormous responsibility to call out coverages on the defensive end of the floor,” Donovan said. “When you allow a team to do that, the coverages are going to be mixed, which is a positive thing … I’ve tried to give them the responsibility to put the onus on them to be accountable for them communicating, talking and doing those things.”
Currently, Florida is first in the nation with an adjusted defense efficiency of 81, according to KenPom.com.
Helping the Gators lead the nation defensively is Wilbekin, who was named SEC Player of the Week on Monday. Wilbekin is averaging 1.8 steals per game this season, which ranks 10th in the SEC.
Collectively, Florida is averaging 8.8 steals and 3.2 blocks per game in conference play. The Gators also have a 55.7 rebounding percentage, which ranks first in the SEC and seventh in the nation.
Wilbekin is leading the Gators on defense, and center Patric Young said the junior’s defensive intensity translates to his teammates’ performances.
“Every position is really important because you can’t leave a guy out there on an island,” Young said.
“Everyone needs to know how important help defense is, and us being able to play really good help defense helps everyone else out.”
Senior Kenny Boynton added: “We know the significance of what it can do for the team if we don’t play defense one possession. It can change the game.”
Contact Katie Agostin at kagostin@alligator.org.
Guards Mike Rosario (left) and Kenny Boynton (1) force a turnover from Missouri’s Keion Bell (5) during Florida’s 83-52 win on Jan. 19 in the O’Connell Center. Florida is averaging 8.8 steals per game in conference play.
