I have a prediction for the Florida game

theBlues

All-Conference
Oct 18, 2025
1,357
3,035
113
My prediction is that Denzel Aberdeen will GO OFF on Florida. Remember how Otega did against Oklahoma last year? I mean like that.

Think about it...Golden didn't think DA was starting material and now DA will be starting against Fland, the guy Golden wanted DA to back up.
DA is going to have a chip on his shoulder and he's going to want to show Golden he made a mistake and since DA is better than Fland, imo, it will likely happen.

I smell an upset with Aberdeen being the star of the game.
 

GMRick

Redshirt
Feb 11, 2026
7
21
0
My prediction is that Denzel Aberdeen will GO OFF on Florida. Remember how Otega did against Oklahoma last year? I mean like that.

Think about it...Golden didn't think DA was starting material and now DA will be starting against Fland, the guy Golden wanted DA to back up.
DA is going to have a chip on his shoulder and he's going to want to show Golden he made a mistake and since DA is better than Fland, imo, it will likely happen.

I smell an upset with Aberdeen being the star of the game.
Golden knows he messed up already. Didn’t you see him crying at the beginning of the season mad like his girl cheated on him. I hope you’re right about him showing up with a chip on his shoulder. He’s been balling lately.
 

FLBBNFAN

All-Conference
Mar 25, 2025
689
1,333
93
My prediction is that Denzel Aberdeen will GO OFF on Florida. Remember how Otega did against Oklahoma last year? I mean like that.

Think about it...Golden didn't think DA was starting material and now DA will be starting against Fland, the guy Golden wanted DA to back up.
DA is going to have a chip on his shoulder and he's going to want to show Golden he made a mistake and since DA is better than Fland, imo, it will likely happen.

I smell an upset with Aberdeen being the star of the game.
That would be a great win!
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
50,470
70,654
113
This team is playing better, because they are sharing the ball and hitting open shots.
Last thing we need, is a guy trying to show everyone how awesome he is. That hasn't worked out too well for us this year.
In the first Tennessee game, Aberdeen scored at will and it was great, but he didn't force anything, he let the game come to him.
In the uNC and Missouri games, he forced it and it backfired both times.
Everyone needs to stay the course and play their role. If a guy is seeing a big rim, let him cook, but if a guy is playing his own game and it’s causing us to get behind, that player needs to go back to what works.
 

gbl97

All-American
Mar 12, 2002
3,525
5,181
113
This team is playing better, because they are sharing the ball and hitting open shots.
Last thing we need, is a guy trying to show everyone how awesome he is. That hasn't worked out too well for us this year.
In the first Tennessee game, Aberdeen scored at will and it was great, but he didn't force anything, he let the game come to him.
In the uNC and Missouri games, he forced it and it backfired both times.
Everyone needs to stay the course and play their role. If a guy is seeing a big rim, let him cook, but if a guy is playing his own game and it’s causing us to get behind, that player needs to go back to what works.
Aberdeen will take the majority of our shots, open or not. He wants to put on a show. Just have to hope they go in.
 
  • Like
Reactions: theBlues

theBlues

All-Conference
Oct 18, 2025
1,357
3,035
113
This team is playing better, because they are sharing the ball and hitting open shots.
Last thing we need, is a guy trying to show everyone how awesome he is. That hasn't worked out too well for us this year.
In the first Tennessee game, Aberdeen scored at will and it was great, but he didn't force anything, he let the game come to him.
In the uNC and Missouri games, he forced it and it backfired both times.
Everyone needs to stay the course and play their role. If a guy is seeing a big rim, let him cook, but if a guy is playing his own game and it’s causing us to get behind, that player needs to go back to what works.
I see your point and nobody wants him being selfish and taking bad shots. On the other hand, all the same things applied to Otega last year against Oklahoma and we saw how that turned out. Players taking it out on teams that they think disrespected them seems to be a recurring sports theme. I don't think it can be stopped. The good thing is I don't think either Fland or Lee can guard DA one on one. If one of them can guard DA, can the other guard Otega? I think Kentucky is a bad matchup for Florida.
 

Catsfan3382

Junior
Jul 4, 2025
93
237
33
I see your point and nobody wants him being selfish and taking bad shots. On the other hand, all the same things applied to Otega last year against Oklahoma and we saw how that turned out. Players taking it out on teams that they think disrespected them seems to be a recurring sports theme. I don't think it can be stopped. The good thing is I don't think either Fland or Lee can guard DA one on one. If one of them can guard DA, can the other guard Otega? I think Kentucky is a bad matchup for Florida.
I’d agree we have the advantage in the backcourt, but that’s likely not going to be what the difference in this game is. It’ll be our other three position players against their bigs.
If we play them anywhere near even in the paint, we’ll win.
 
Feb 7, 2026
261
383
63
Animated GIF
 
  • Haha
Reactions: theBlues

Dward13

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2008
10,170
1,505
72
They’re smacking Georgia on the road. I hope Pope comes with a great game plan. We have a week to prepare and they don’t. No excuse to come out unprepared.
 
Jul 30, 2024
5,747
10,875
113
Sometimes matchups matter. We have no way to match their rebounding at the 3, 4, or 5. We are going to have to give up serious size versus either Chinyelu (putting up Tshiebwe rebound per minute numbers), Condon or Haugh. I love Pope’s gameplanning but you can’t teach some of the things Florida has/does. It’s weird that I spent weeks feeling like I was almost on an island for still seeing potential in this team, but now many fans have swung so far in the opposite direction and forget how flawed this team is. I’m hoping we don’t get massacred in this game — I think we have a very tiny chance to win. It’s not because Florida is elite — they just happen to be elite in just the right ways to run us off the floor. Talked about this with my brother in law today and he was upset that I was seeing it this way, but we are an above average team with serious flaws that Pope has masked pretty well but this could be a rough one. I hope people remember this post after the game because we may get absolutely destroyed— that may not be due to the X’s and O’s on this one.
 

Possum

All-American
Apr 28, 2024
1,771
5,516
113
Sometimes matchups matter. We have no way to match their rebounding at the 3, 4, or 5. We are going to have to give up serious size versus either Chinyelu (putting up Tshiebwe rebound per minute numbers), Condon or Haugh. I love Pope’s gameplanning but you can’t teach some of the things Florida has/does. It’s weird that I spent weeks feeling like I was almost on an island for still seeing potential in this team, but now many fans have swung so far in the opposite direction and forget how flawed this team is. I’m hoping we don’t get massacred in this game — I think we have a very tiny chance to win. It’s not because Florida is elite — they just happen to be elite in just the right ways to run us off the floor. Talked about this with my brother in law today and he was upset that I was seeing it this way, but we are an above average team with serious flaws that Pope has masked pretty well but this could be a rough one. I hope people remember this post after the game because we may get absolutely destroyed— that may not be due to the X’s and O’s on this one.
You sound scared. If ya scared, say ya scared.
 
Jul 30, 2024
5,747
10,875
113
You sound scared. If ya scared, say ya scared.
You think that was a secret message? Yes, I’m scared of Florida. Did you see us having to double team Ament on every play in the second half due to a size mismatch? Haugh is even craftier and Florida’s bigs don’t miss around the basket. If you aren’t looking at this game with blue-tinted glasses, this is a scary matchup for us.
 

Possum

All-American
Apr 28, 2024
1,771
5,516
113
You think that was a secret message? Yes, I’m scared of Florida. Did you see us having to double team Ament on every play in the second half due to a size mismatch? Haugh is even craftier and Florida’s bigs don’t miss around the basket. If you aren’t looking at this game with blue-tinted glasses, this is a scary matchup for us.
That’s why they throw the ball up.
 
Jan 25, 2011
127,841
15,964
86
Aberdeen was slated to start alongside Lee, and he and his pops blindsided the staff with his asking number given the fact that he had only been a role player to date. They upped the offer and tried to keep him, but couldn’t work it out given the amount of NIL slotted at the time, with 3 front court players coming back.

Boogie became available after he left, and given the time frame remaining, donors ponied up.

His pops made some comments to the press, and Golden was a bit snappy with a reporter who asked about it. Most of the fans would still prefer if he had stayed.

Should be a good game regardless of this side story, and don’t see a sweep for either team.
 
Last edited:

miloappis

Freshman
May 24, 2007
76
71
18
This year Florida is really missing Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richards and Elijah Martin. They're not missing Denzel Aberdeen so much. They are just fine without him.
 

Dward13

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2008
10,170
1,505
72
If you really want to feel hopeless in this one…

8 of Floridas 9 sec wins are by 15+ and i think 4 of them are by 20+.

Beat bama by 23. Tennessee by 24.

They’re average mov in sec play is 16. In their last 4 games it’s 27.

It’s hard to imagine without looking that anyone in the country is playing better right now.
 

Dward13

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2008
10,170
1,505
72
so i did look. Zona mov in conference play 16.5

Michigan 16.3 (but currently down 11 to Northwestern with 12 to go)

Florida 16

Duke 14.3

Houston 15.3

Uconn 12.7

Gonzaga 17

So by the end of tonight Florida would have the second highest conference play margin of victory likely behind only Arizona of teams whose conference schedule can be taken seriously.
 
  • Like
Reactions: deputy assistant

peterpiper09

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2006
1,023
2,053
112
If you really want to feel hopeless in this one…

8 of Floridas 9 sec wins are by 15+ and i think 4 of them are by 20+.

Beat bama by 23. Tennessee by 24.

They’re average mov in sec play is 16. In their last 4 games it’s 27.

It’s hard to imagine without looking that anyone in the country is playing better right now.
But did they beat Missouri or Auburn?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dward13

Dward13

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2008
10,170
1,505
72
But did they beat Missouri or Auburn?

Right. if you’re looking for hope. They’re certainly not unbeatable. But the missouri game was the first game of conference play. Auburn was only a few weeks ago. And at home no less
 

peterpiper09

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2006
1,023
2,053
112
Right. if you’re looking for hope. They’re certainly not unbeatable. But the missouri game was the first game of conference play. Auburn was only a few weeks ago. And at home no less
Not looking for hope. Just pointing out they’re vulnerable just like everybody else. When they roll, they roll. When they get tested, they may or may not be victorious. They seem to be a little turnover happy at times, and UK thrives off turnovers. UK is better across the backcourt and is battle tested. On paper, it seems Florida has an advantage up front, but let’s not forget UK has 7-0, 6-11, 6-11, and 6-9 Dioubate who may be the toughest guy on the floor. Please don’t say Florida has a 7-9 guy.
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,700
19,828
103
I for one hope this doesn’t turn into the show em what they lost show by Aberdeen. That has a greater chance of failure than success. He has been playing very well of late and can here too if he plays his game. If he comes out trying to prove something he will likely not be as effective as he will be forcing things instead of letting the game come to him. That will dig the cats a hole. I’d rather not have to try to mount a comeback against Florida as I don’t think that’s likely to happen. Gotta keep it somewhat close throughout whether slightly ahead or behind.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Anon1768290537

theBlues

All-Conference
Oct 18, 2025
1,357
3,035
113
Aberdeen was slated to start alongside Lee, and he and his pops blindsided the staff with his asking number given the fact that he had only been a role player to date. They upped the offer and tried to keep him, but couldn’t work it out given the amount of NIL slotted at the time, with 3 front court players coming back.

Boogie became available after he left, and given the time frame remaining, donors ponied up.

His pops made some comments to the press, and Golden was a bit snappy with a reporter who asked about it. Most of the fans would still prefer if he had stayed.

Should be a good game regardless of this side story, and don’t see a sweep for either team.
That's pretty much how I heard it. DA considered himself a starter and UF wanted to pay him like lesser so he left feeling disrespected.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
50,470
70,654
113
I see your point and nobody wants him being selfish and taking bad shots. On the other hand, all the same things applied to Otega last year against Oklahoma and we saw how that turned out. Players taking it out on teams that they think disrespected them seems to be a recurring sports theme. I don't think it can be stopped. The good thing is I don't think either Fland or Lee can guard DA one on one. If one of them can guard DA, can the other guard Otega? I think Kentucky is a bad matchup for Florida.
Actually, in our first game against Oklahoma, Otega was terrible in the first half, it wasn't until late in the second half, IIRC, when he took over the game.
But like I said earlier, if a guy is seeing a big basket, let him cook.
 
  • Like
Reactions: theBlues

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
50,470
70,654
113
They’re smacking Georgia on the road. I hope Pope comes with a great game plan. We have a week to prepare and they don’t. No excuse to come out unprepared.
Yeah, Florida showed last night just how hot they are. UGA is pretty good, especially at home and Florida put it on em pretty good.
 

KYFOSSIL

Heisman
Jan 13, 2005
7,721
10,280
62
You think that was a secret message? Yes, I’m scared of Florida. Did you see us having to double team Ament on every play in the second half due to a size mismatch? Haugh is even craftier and Florida’s bigs don’t miss around the basket. If you aren’t looking at this game with blue-tinted glasses, this is a scary matchup for us.
None of there are three bags are like ament and also it's because he can stroke the three which she was doing very well. Apples and oranges.
 

Wildcat_in_DC

Senior
Nov 25, 2025
653
888
93
i think this will go similar to the gonzaga game. we wont be a complete mess but we wont be able to stop Chinyelu or Haugh. those dudes will score at will against us.
 
Jul 30, 2024
5,747
10,875
113
None of there are three bags are like ament and also it's because he can stroke the three which she was doing very well. Apples and oranges.
Haugh is a better three point shooter than Ament.

Ament - 32.7% on 4.1 attempts per game
Haugh - 34.4% on 5.5 attempts per game
 
Jan 27, 2024
304
545
62
We have one area that is heavily in our favor. We are 5th in the conference in opponent 3FG percentage, and Florida is the worst 3 pt shooting team in the conference. That being said, I expect them to have their best shooting day of the year.
Of this there can be no doubt. Season best 3pt % for the Gators....
 
  • Like
Reactions: gbl97

peterpiper09

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2006
1,023
2,053
112
Before last nights game, Florida was 355th out of 361 in 3pt%. They may have climbed just a smidge after last night. Point is, metrics say don’t focus on three point defense, focus on the interior as best we can. If they hit 3s at a much better clip than usual then there’s probably no way we come out of Gainesville with a win, especially considering we will have Shows, Adams, and Oglesby calling the game. Anderson will be the sub ref.
 
  • Like
Reactions: theBlues
Mar 4, 2025
380
848
93
If you have Chandler on Haugh, which is likely as Moreno and Jelavich/Mo have to take Chenyelu and Condon, I like our chances with Chandler guarding Haugh on the perimeter as opposed to in the post 10 times out of 10. Fland and Lee are both terrible three point shooters. Our best shot defensively is to pack the paint and force those two to take threes and contested mid range shots. Deny the post, accept Haugh hitting the occassional three from him, and force Lee and Fland to beat us.

Auburn beat them by taking the air out of the ball on offense, and packing the paint and sending everyone after rebounds on the defensive end. They kept Lee and Fland out of the paint, denied post entry to Condon (1 pt) and Chenyelu (10 pts) and forced Florida to play around the perimeter and eat clock. They drove into the wall of bigs on the offensive end to force fouls and create kick outs. We need a similar game plan. I think we can win a game in the low to mid 60's. If we try to run with them and get into a shootout it might get ugly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KyCPA2000