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Offensive execution is what will carry, or bury, Florida

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Florida canceled The Jimmer Show on Thursday night, using an 11-4 surge at the start of overtime to take control of the control and send the Cougars back to Provo with an 83-74 loss.

And they did it despite turning the ball over 15 times, shooting 34 threes, and making just 10-22 from the free throw line.

Therein lies the issue with this Florida team.

For all the talent they have on their roster, they don’t seem like they understand how to play basketball.

There were stretches in tonight’s game where Florida looked down right unbeatable. They have three players on the perimeter that are capable of beating their man off the dribble and getting into the paint. All three of those players can knock down open threes with time and space. Vernon Macklin has become a solid post-up option, especially when he is allowed to go one-on-one against a defender. Alex Tyus is active and rangy, capable of getting rebounds, blocking shots, and scoring around the rim.

For the first five minutes, this is exactly what Florida did.

They were getting the ball inside, whether it was via penetration or a post touch, and kicking the ball out to the open shooters when the defense collapsed. They did the same this at the start of the overtime period, getting huge three form Kenny Boynton and Chandler Parsons off of kick outs that pushed Florida’s lead to 79-72 with just two minutes left.

But for the other 35 minutes of basketball the Gators played, they settled for far too many contested threes and ill-advised shots around the rim. Their big men took too long to pass the ball out of the post and got lazy on box outs. They spent much of the final 15 minutes of the first half throwing the ball around like a bunch of jacked-up middle schoolers getting ready for their first baseball game of the spring.

And as a result, BYU was able to hang around despite getting a mediocre performance out of Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery.

The issue isn’t talent with the Gators.

They have plenty of it.

If they don’t make it to the Final Four this season, it will be a direct result of their decision making and execution.