#24 Florida 81, Milwaukee 45
Box Score<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_documents_2021_11_18_Gamebook.pdf&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=46s9-DOdXJTslFa4crbSu251Bypy0BQ5L3B0XTu1CHE8bU3kubDY1p6k3sq5LHce&s=Vc8WmoSBetHmlyQkM8ozko48n7-p5bQTmXuzXHNrhok&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=46s9-DOdXJTslFa4crbSu251Bypy0BQ5L3B0XTu1CHE8bU3kubDY1p6k3sq5LHce&s=u6euzT3gxfjZmG20ztRAjaUa8_OBhiQ2c54BS1no99g&e= >
Notable
* The Gators used a 9-0 first-half run in building a 33-22 halftime lead, then opened the second half with an extended 32-4 run during which the Florida defense forced an 11-minute field goal drought.
* Florida scored 24 of its 33 first-half points in the paint.
* The 45 points allowed are the Gators’ sixth-fewest under Mike White and the 11th time UF limited its opponent to fewer than 50 points.
* Fewest points allowed under White:
* 39, 3/18/17 vs. Virginia (NCAA Tournament)
* 40, 12/6/20, vs. Stetson
* 41, 11/13/15 at Navy; 2/10/18 at South Carolina
* 43, 12/29/18 vs. Butler
* 45, 11/18/21 vs. Milwaukee
* The Gators have now held an opponent to 47 points or fewer in all seven seasons under White.
* Colin Castleton earned his fifth career double-double and second in a row with 19 points and 10 rebounds. He’s the first Gator with back-to-back double-doubles since Keyontae Johnson did so on Feb. 8 and 12, 2020.
* Tyree Appleby scored 14 points, including 4-for-7 from 3-point range.
* Phlandrous Fleming Jr. had his first double-figure scoring game as a Gator, chipping in 12 points off the bench.
Head Coach Mike White
On the team’s identity and being gritty…
“I think it’s impressive when our actions follow those words. I’m proud of Tyree for growing as a leader and he’s obviously growing as a player as well. We have a few guys who say the right things. I do feel like we played to a pretty strong identity today. If we just play how we practice, good things will happen.”
On Colin Castleton’s performance and the team’s overall shooting…
“He established himself early on the interior. I liked his energy level from the jump – he played with some physicality and he played with some poise. He makes pretty good decisions. Fortunately for us, he got going on the interior because we really struggled from three. But, I liked our looks – that was something we talked about at halftime. I was a little disappointed in our reluctancy to let it fly with our confidence level. I thought we did a better job of that early in the second half of just letting it fly. If it’s a good shot, let’s take it. I don’t care if you miss your last three or made your last three, we know on this team who can shoot it and what type of shots we are looking for from each individual. If it’s our shot, let’s just shoot with confidence and let’s attack the offensive glass.”
On 32-4 run and energy in the locker room…
“Same routine. Defensive clips. It’s a mature group to where it’s more conversation with this group. It’s very player involved, a lot of ownership. I know I beat that word up, but this group has taken a lot of ownership. And we’re three games in, we’ve got so far to go. Hopefully that continues because it gives you a chance… I felt like offensively we’d play with a little bit more confidence. I was hoping our turnovers would decrease. I thought we got a little sped up there a little bit. And some of that is passing up pretty good ones to try to make something happen that wasn’t quite there… You had a good one. You’re playing against a good defense and Milwaukee is a good defensive team. They’re really good with their positioning. They’ve got a good strong lineup and they’ve got size on the interior. Sometimes when you pass up good ones against good defenses, bad things happen. We’ve just got to shoot it and you’ve got to have confidence. You’ve got to think the next one’s going in.”
On Milwaukee’s Patrick Baldwin Jr…
“I thought collectively we were pretty good – trying to limit some of his touches. He’s a really talented young man. He’s got two guard skill and feel at 6-9ish. Got a big strong frame with length. He’s got a really high basketball IQ, soft hands. He’s good at a lot. He’s a heck of a talent and I think Milwaukee is a good team, I do. I think that they’ve got good guards, I just think we defended at a really high level. I think they are going to win their share of games and I think they’ll have a great year.”
On Castleton’s reliability…
“It gives you a chance on most nights. He’s a talent himself. He’s playing with high level of activity on the offensive glass. He’s really settled in these last couple games, playing with confidence. He’s developed as a passer and as a playmaker. He’ll continue to, versus certain teams, display his ability to make shots from the perimeter because he can do that. He’s playing with confidence, and to complement all that, he’s made a huge jump defensively. He was a good defender for us last year. As of late, he’s really defending ball screens and protecting the rim at a high level.”
#12 Colin Castleton, Senior Forward
On NBA scouts attending the game…
“I didn’t even know that anyone was here to be honest with you. I didn’t really pay attention to that. I know we played against a really highly-touted freshman who’s really good. We just tried to make his night and their night as difficult as possible, but I didn’t really pay any mind to that. I just focused on our team and what we’re going to do.”
On Florida’s second half…
“It was good. We came out a little flat shooting the ball, but we always preach that the shots are going to start going down. We all have confidence in ourselves and each other. Everybody has confidence. We just keep playing with that confidence and keep shooting the ball when we’re open, and don’t hesitate, we’ll be fine. Everybody goes through a spurt of hitting shots and missing shots, it’s just basketball. It’s not going to go in every time. I feel like we did a good job moving the ball. We could have had more assists, but we amped it up and made more shots.”
#22 Tyree Appleby, Senior Guard
On gaining momentum from the Florida State game…
“It was big. Coach preached that throughout the entire week. In previous years, we’d have a big win or a good win, and we’d come back sloppy or play to the level of our competition. We knew what we had to do: play at the same level and intensity. As Colin said, ‘We set a standard from day one.’ We have to stick to that standard and just keep pushing. I like how our team is defensive minded. Everybody doesn’t just force shots. We move the ball around and find a great shot.”
On how much better the team can be…
“I think we know who we are – that gritty team. Nothing is given to us. We have to go take it. I think we definitely found our identity.”
On having a teammate like Colin…
“Great. We got a big inside that controls the ball. Scoring-wise and defensive-wise, he’s a problem. That just lets the presence of our other players go play and make other plays for everybody.”
