ATLANTA — After scoring a team-high 13 points in the first half of Florida’s semifinal matchup with Tennessee, Scottie Wilbekin was almost nonexistent in the second half in terms of point production.
The senior point guard was held scoreless from the field in the final 20 minutes, scoring his lone second-half point on a free throw with 14 seconds left in regulation.
“I thought Scottie, in his own way, his competitiveness probably flowered in a way that wasn't good for our team,” coach Billy Donovan said. “He tried to take too much on. Turned it over. Tried to force some things that weren't there.”
Although Wilbekin may not have made a scoring impact during the second half, his presence on the Georgia Dome floor was noticed down the stretch.
In a contest with 34 total personal fouls and two players fouling out, Wilbekin was vocal with his teammates on the court, hoping to keep them concentrated on the game.
“I was just trying to keep everybody together, keep everybody focused on the goal,” the senior said. “Don't worry about maybe some of the calls that the refs are making or if a ball doesn't bounce our way. Just kind of stay focused on the next play. Coach can't talk to us all the time so we try to huddle ourselves and say the right things among ourselves.”
With the Gators trailing by seven at halftime, Wilbekin rallied his team in the locker room.
“I just was kind of telling the guys at halftime that we have been in this situation before, being down at halftime, and we know what it takes to win in the second half,” the 6-foot-2 point guard said. “As long as we come out and play like we know we can, then we'll be fine.”
UF responded when it came back to the court. Through the first 5:11 of the second half, the Gators went on a 10-2 run on 5-of-8 shooting.
Even though Wilbekin was limited to one point after the break, the Gainesville native was a force on defense.
Wilbekin held Tennessee guard Jordan McRae to five points in the second half while the Gators held the Volunteers to 1-of-11 shooting from the field in the final 12:15 of regulation.
“I thought our press was really effective in the second half,” Donovan said. “I thought we got some turnovers. I thought we were disruptive. I thought we got some steals from behind.”
Added Wilbekin: “We just tried to play harder. We were doing the same things. We didn't really switch up anything. We just tried to go into an extra gear and turn it up a little bit.”
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Scottie Wilbekin guards Tennesse guard Jordan McRae during the Gators' 56-49 win against the Volunteers on Saturday in the Georgia Dome.
