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Lets talk about UF MBB Coach Mike White
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:02 pm
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:02 pm
There is a "significant" portion of my fellow UF fanbase that want him gone as coach.
There argument being last season, UF underachieved after such a fast start, losing 14 games, and also losing 14 games this year given the "talent" on the roster.
Here is what Mike White had to deal with this season:
1) One of the toughest non-conference schedules in America - Michigan State, @ FSU, West Virginia, Butler 2x, Oklahoma, @ TCU
2) Had to play the top 3 SEC teams (LSU, Tennessee, and Kentucky) TWICE during the regular season
3) Jalen Hudson going MIA for 3 months to start the year
4) Chase Johnson (highly touted big man recruit) with yet another concussion, choosing to transfer
5) Backup Big Man Gorjok Gak (yet another touted big man) gone for the year with knee surgery
6) Keith Stone (starting F - another big man, see a pattern?) going down early January with an ACL injury
7) Starting 3 freshman (Nembhard, Johnson, Locke) since early-mid January
8) Noah Locke has been playing with a leg injury for the past month, hence a lot of his struggles from 3 after being one of the leading SEC 3 point shooters early in SEC play
9) Isaiah Stokes recovering from ACL surgery last year, and providing nothing until mid-February
Each of the last 2 years, White has been at a significant disadvantage with injuries in the front court. The Elite 8 team arguably could've made it further had starting C John Egbunu not torn his ACL against Auburn in 2017.
The 3 best players on this team are all freshman, all contributing in big ways. They will all be back next year (with Johnson and possibly Nembhard having all-SEC potential) with a absolutely loaded recruiting class coming in.
My honest assessment is that he is a young coach still growing with his biggest area of improvement needed on the offensive end. He is definitely good at drawing up BLOB plays, calling sets, and getting his guys motivated to compete on the boards despite a significant size disadvantage against almost every team.
He can coach his arse off on defense, and the players play hard for him.
What does tRant think about Mike White?
There argument being last season, UF underachieved after such a fast start, losing 14 games, and also losing 14 games this year given the "talent" on the roster.
Here is what Mike White had to deal with this season:
1) One of the toughest non-conference schedules in America - Michigan State, @ FSU, West Virginia, Butler 2x, Oklahoma, @ TCU
2) Had to play the top 3 SEC teams (LSU, Tennessee, and Kentucky) TWICE during the regular season
3) Jalen Hudson going MIA for 3 months to start the year
4) Chase Johnson (highly touted big man recruit) with yet another concussion, choosing to transfer
5) Backup Big Man Gorjok Gak (yet another touted big man) gone for the year with knee surgery
6) Keith Stone (starting F - another big man, see a pattern?) going down early January with an ACL injury
7) Starting 3 freshman (Nembhard, Johnson, Locke) since early-mid January
8) Noah Locke has been playing with a leg injury for the past month, hence a lot of his struggles from 3 after being one of the leading SEC 3 point shooters early in SEC play
9) Isaiah Stokes recovering from ACL surgery last year, and providing nothing until mid-February
Each of the last 2 years, White has been at a significant disadvantage with injuries in the front court. The Elite 8 team arguably could've made it further had starting C John Egbunu not torn his ACL against Auburn in 2017.
The 3 best players on this team are all freshman, all contributing in big ways. They will all be back next year (with Johnson and possibly Nembhard having all-SEC potential) with a absolutely loaded recruiting class coming in.
My honest assessment is that he is a young coach still growing with his biggest area of improvement needed on the offensive end. He is definitely good at drawing up BLOB plays, calling sets, and getting his guys motivated to compete on the boards despite a significant size disadvantage against almost every team.
He can coach his arse off on defense, and the players play hard for him.
What does tRant think about Mike White?
19
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:03 pm to boXerrumble
Not reading all that shite. Good coach, not great like the guy that got fired by Texas.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:04 pm to boXerrumble
Thought 2008 wanted his arse fired last month? 
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:05 pm to boXerrumble
Holy wall of text your team was bailed out by some shitty refs so STTDB 
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:06 pm to boXerrumble
No other team has been able to complete take us out of our game the way Florida has in all 3 games. The baseline inbounds plays are just incredible. I haven't watched a whole lot outside of the LSU games, but he seems solid. It has to be difficult coaching what I can only assume is Donavan's shadow.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:06 pm to WildcatMike
quote:
Thought 2008 wanted his arse fired last month?
That dude has issues.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:07 pm to boXerrumble
You left out having to play Miss State.....which you lost.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:07 pm to Ellssu
quote:
Holy wall of text your team was bailed out by some shitty refs
Or, LSU lack of preventing Florida to crush LSU driving to the basket.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:09 pm to Ellssu
quote:
Holy wall of text your team was bailed out by some shitty refs so STTDB
UF played more aggressively than LSU did in the 2nd half, and UF got LSU's guards uncomfortable yet again. They forced LSU's guards into contested, low percentage shots, multiple turnovers, and took the flow out of the LSU offense.
UF drove to the basket much more than LSU did in the 2nd half too.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:14 pm to boXerrumble
Next year defines him.
With those three freshman guards, and that incoming class, hes got to have that team pushing for a top 4 seed come March
With those three freshman guards, and that incoming class, hes got to have that team pushing for a top 4 seed come March
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:16 pm to sand mountainDvalues
White does his magic during tourney time...he does have some studs coming in next year.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:18 pm to sand mountainDvalues
quote:
Next year defines him.
With those three freshman guards, and that incoming class, hes got to have that team pushing for a top 4 seed come March
Still significant holes in the front court with the injuries.
Hayes graduating leaves a HUGE hole in the defense.
I have no doubt that next year's team will have any problem scoring though.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:21 pm to boXerrumble
quote:
UF played more aggressively than LSU did in the 2nd half
I've been going back and forth with my fellow fans about this all day. I said that UF was the aggressor and people are spouting points in the paint as a rebuttal as if you can settle for a bad shot in the paint. LSU got beat, we didn't lose, the refs didn't give UF the game. We got beat. Period.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:22 pm to boXerrumble
Payne is a guy that can contribute some right away. Stokes has looked serviceable if he can just get in shape.
Y’all could really use a grad transfer big
Y’all could really use a grad transfer big
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:23 pm to TigerLunatik
UF not playing aggressively enough last year cost them in many games. Too much settling for jump shots without attacking the rim, especially in the tournament loss vs. Texas Tech.
This year, while the offense has been a challenge, at least White has got them attacking the rim more, especially as the year has gone on.
This year, while the offense has been a challenge, at least White has got them attacking the rim more, especially as the year has gone on.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:26 pm to sand mountainDvalues
Payne won't be able to start as a 5 IMO. I think hes more of a 4 (think Keyontae Johnson). Stokes had his growth significantly slowed by his ACL injury. If Stokes can shed off some more weight, he will be a very good paint presence.
Absolutely agree on a grad transfer big. Need a ton of depth, because Stone probably won't be back until January 2020 at the earliest, and Gak simply cannot be counted on due to his injury history.
Absolutely agree on a grad transfer big. Need a ton of depth, because Stone probably won't be back until January 2020 at the earliest, and Gak simply cannot be counted on due to his injury history.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:26 pm to boXerrumble
I was impressed in the second half with the ball movement. It put LSU's defense in a bind and we are out of position several times and it allowed UF to get a good shot in the flow of the offense.
Conversely, LSU isn't best in half court as it is, but the guys down low kept a body on our bigs and everything was contested. Shot selection was just awful and it was because we were frustrated IMO.
Conversely, LSU isn't best in half court as it is, but the guys down low kept a body on our bigs and everything was contested. Shot selection was just awful and it was because we were frustrated IMO.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:27 pm to boXerrumble
I really like White and think he has the potential to be great. But his inability to develop or bring in big men that are ready to contribute offensively may be his achilles heal. I just don't see the quality of bigs on the roster and the upcoming recruiting class that is needed to compete for championships.
We currently have a 6'5" guard playing power forward.
We currently have a 6'5" guard playing power forward.
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:29 pm to boXerrumble
quote:
Keith Stone
Posted on 3/15/19 at 11:29 pm to xenythx
quote:
But his inability to develop or bring in big men that are ready to contribute offensively may be his achilles heal.
Its something that he MUST fix for the long term. Hes had terrible luck with front court health.
Recruiting big men is one thing, but having the injuries in the front court like UF has had over the last 2+ years is unheard of.
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