#23 Florida 80, California 60
Box Score<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_documents_2021_11_22_2021-5F11-5F22-5FUF-5Fvs-5FCal.pdf&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_8cPrGUqZyZpeHi5yRewMs3PJr4PIgv5xqFZqLW_eAuQGROzXIg8c25u671oAPtI&s=LsC_ZTPtriA5LaovRH1k0pyObcwbnhBAKdsmnM2dsBQ&e= > | Season Stats<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_documents_2021_11_9_2021-5F22-5FUFStats.pdf&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_8cPrGUqZyZpeHi5yRewMs3PJr4PIgv5xqFZqLW_eAuQGROzXIg8c25u671oAPtI&s=RI2RVuL4W4sNnYbScXaNLbet7VAu_XgMkNighheQK3Y&e= >
Notable
* Florida improves to 4-0 on the season, the third season with a 4-0 start under Mike White and the first since 2017-18.
* The Gators have won 12 of their last 13 games vs. Pac-12 opponents, dating back to 2003, including a 3-0 mark under White.
* Tonight marked UF’s first win vs. California in three tries all-time, with both prior meetings coming in the 1980s.
* The Gators broke a 17-17 tie with a 13-4 run to open the game up, and outscored Cal 29-10 over the final 8:10 of the first half.
* Colin Castleton led four Gators in double figures with 16 points and eight rebounds.
* The 20-point win marked Florida’s 17th win vs. a power-conference opponent by 20+ points under Mike White, including the ninth against a non-SEC team. The Gators have an average margin of victory of 21.3 in three games vs. Pac-12 opponents under White.
* 20-Point Wins vs. Power Conference Non-SEC Teams (9):
* January 28, 2017, at Oklahoma, +32, 84-52
* March 18, 2017, vs. Virginia, +26, 65-39
* Nov. 23, 2017, vs. Stanford, +21, 108-87
* Jan. 27, 2018, Baylor, +21, 81-60
* Nov. 22, 2018, vs. Stanford, +23, 72-49
* Dec. 29, 2018, Butler, +34, 77-43
* Dec. 17, 2019, vs. Providence, +32, 83-51
* Dec. 3, 2020, vs. Boston College, +20, 90-70
* Nov. 22, 2021, vs. California, +20, 80-60
Head Coach Mike White
On Phlandrous Fleming’s performance…
“Phlan is one of our best players. He’s a starter who is coming off the bench… Somebody has to come off the bench. I don’t know if he’ll come off the bench the next game or moving forward, but he’s a good offensive player and a good defensive player who is competitive and versatile.”
On the offense putting up 80 points in back-to-back games…
“We had pretty good ball movement. Obviously, it wasn’t perfect and there was a lot of stuff to clean up with setting and using screens, and a couple of decisions here and there that we need to sharpen. But, the overall level of unselfishness we continue to talk about is good for offenses to have and we shared it. Colin led us in some of those plays… In fact, some of those he made and created for himself. So, outside of him, being prolific on the block tonight, I do think we did share it and moved pretty well. Our assists number is not as high as you would like to see it, but to score 80 against a Mark Fox-coached team, you must have done some good things offensively. They’re always so solid and disciplined defensively. We did also get some extra possessions by creating those turnovers.”
On Castleton’s steal and assist to Duruji’s dunk…
“It was a nice play and a good decision by Colin. It was the right pass and an accurate pass. He’s earned the right to bust out. As long as he is making the right decisions, a guy with his size and length who can do that and compliment his game, just shows you how talented he is. He’s developing his game. It’s something he takes pride in – developing his skill level throughout all of these off seasons that he has had.”
Colin Castleton
#12 Colin Castleton, Senior Forward
On Phlandrous Fleming’s performance…
“He looked good for sure. That’s what Phlan brings every day. He’s a confident player and he has a really unique skillset for his position and size. He just knows how to play basketball really well. It was good to see him get going because he had some issues lingering with an injury and a little bit of an issue we had with the flu bug. But, I’m glad to see him get his confidence back.”
On shooting 85 percent from the free throw line…
“I feel like free throws are something we should be really well at shooting. They’re free points. We just have to keep putting the work in. I feel like I’m not shooting the ball well from the free throw line, but I’m going to get better at them and get my confidence back up. But, I think us as a team shooting the ball very well from the free throw line is important to win games.”
On the defensive intensity…
“I feel like we’re getting more and more connected. We’re getting better. People don’t realize we are all still meshing, and we came together very quickly. But, we’ve set a standard at a certain level and we’re trying to play above that every night… Not just hit that goal, but we’re trying to play above our standard every single night. If we keep getting better, we’re going to be a very good defensive team. I feel like we’re good with where we’re at, but we have to keep working and just being hungry.”
On his pass to Anthony…
“It felt good being able to push the ball up the court. I felt like I was six foot for a second, and I was able to push it up the court. I saw Rooj – he runs like a track star. I only had to take about two or three dribbles and I saw him sprinting toward the ball. I knew he was going to dunk it as soon as I passed it and I was like, ‘Alright, I got me an assist right away.’ It felt good… I felt like a guard for a couple of seconds. But, I had to get back into my center mindset.”
