Florida Basketball Hour

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) break down Florida's heartbreaking 69-68 overtime loss to Mississippi State at the SEC Tournament. What went wrong on the final Miss State possession, Florida's final shot, and why the Gators stagnant offense and bad free throw shooting nearly doomed the team before a stirring set of comebacks. Plus, is it time to reevaluate A...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) break down Florida's Senior Night win over LSU. How Todd Golden's switch to the press changed the game, along with the bench contributions of Kowacie Reeves and Niels Lane. Plus, the continued star turn of Riley Kugel-- breaking down his prospects for next season. The guys also pay tribute to Kyle Lofton and break down a spect...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) break down Florida's road win at Georgia. How Myreon Jones, Will Richard, and Riley Kugel paced an 8th straight win over UGA. Plus, signs of life from the Gators defense, and the merits of playing smaller as the season heads down the final stretch.  The guys also preview Senior Night against LSU, and break down the challe...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) break down Kentucky's 82-74 win over the Gators on Wednesday night. How a brave effort from the Gators fell just short, and why Riley Kugel and Niels Lane gave Florida fans something to be excited about in defeat.  Plus, a preview of the rematch with Liam Robbins and Vanderbilt, as the Commodores go for their first season...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) break down Florida's loss at Arkansas. How an excellent first half turned into a disappointing second half and a brutal day defensively for the Gators. The guys also discuss Riley Kugel's tremendous growth and ceiling.  Plus, Gator big man Jason Jitoboh joined the show to talk about his comeback from an eye-injury and why...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) are joined by Florida guard Alex Klatsky to discuss the Gatorverse, a Florida Basketball Hour partner and an an exclusive community dedicated to connecting University of Florida fans and student-athletes. Members receive access to exclusive autographed collectibles, real life experiences, giveaways, VIP events and rewards whil...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) discuss Alabama's rout of the Gators in Tuscaloosa. Will Florida squander a banner year from Colin Castleton and head to another NIT? What are Florida's NCAA Tournament hopes? Should we be concerned about Florida's backcourt after 2 tough games in succession? At minute 31, the guys discuss Florida's NIL situation as it relates...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) is joined this week by Jacob Rudner and Graham Hall of 247 Sports to break down Florida's 72-67 loss at Rupp Arena to rival Kentucky. The trio also discuss Florida's final game in an epic 4 game gauntlet, which will see Florida play the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. The Tide are seeking to become just the third team in SEC history to finish a regular season...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) break down Florida's huge win over No. 2 Tennessee. How Florida flexed defensively and snuffed out Tennessee's flex offense, the continued brilliance of Kyle Lofton and Myreon Jones, and what this win means for the Gators moving forward. Plus, was this Colin Castleton's signature game? Why has Florida's small lineup been so su...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) break down Florida's 64-50 loss at No. 5 Kansas State. Keyontae Johnson, playing against his alma mater, poured in a double-double for the Wildcats. The guys discuss Florida's woeful offense, which has now produced 4 of the worst 10 outings in the KenPom era in 2022-23. What can be done to fix it, why it's more than just "miss...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) break down Florida's rout of South Carolina earlier this week. Discussion topics include Florida's great guard play, Colin Castleton playing the best defense of his career, a Niels Lane cameo, and Kowacie Reeves emerging from his shooting slump.  At minute 31, the guys dive into No. 5 Kansas State, who will be Florida's o...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) break down Florida's 61-59 win at Miss State on Saturday night. Graham Hall of 247 Sports joins to talk about the victory. Topics include: the progress of Alex Fudge, a great scout of Tolu Smith by the Gators, Wacie sees the ball go in, and the continued impressive play of Florida's guards. Plus, Will Richard's development.&nb...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) break down Florida's win over No. 20 Missouri and another heartbreaking loss to Texas A&M. What went right against the Tigers and wrong against the Aggies. How Florida can avoid a repeat of a 12-point half, and more importantly, score enough to take advantage of a sensational defense. How Buzz Williams stole a game with 2...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) break down Florida's home win over Georgia and road win at LSU. How suffocating defense has become Florida's identity, and why the Gators should lean into that moving forward. Plus, Eric on attacking the 1-3-1, Neil on Myreon Jones' leap, and the guys break down the difference maker that is Riley Kugel.  Finally, a previe...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) are joined by one of college basketball's most interesting humans- Rocco Miller, a bracketology expert, scheduling consultant, and hoops junkie to talk Florida and Texas A&M and the return of Mike White to Gainesville with the Georgia Bulldogs this weekend. Rocco was in Gainesville for Florida's heartbreaking loss to the A...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) team up to discuss Florida basketball. On this episode, the boys break down Florida's losses to Oklahoma at the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte and at Auburn to close 2022. Why the Gators offense has gone cold, and what Florida can do to turn things around in 2023. Plus, positive signs defensively, and how this team has flip...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) break down Florida's 75-54 loss at home to UConn. How the Huskies manhandled Florida, and what positives, if any, to take away from the loss. The guys have a lengthy chat about Florida's offense-- what they have liked through 10 games and what needs work. Plus, rotation questions, Myreon Jones' continued role, and the case for...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) discuss Florida's 2-0 week and the team's wins over Florida A&M and Stetson. What was so encouraging about these games, despite the level of competition, and why Florida's improved transition defense matters most. Plus, the guys continue the rotations debate, and wonder what the future holds when Kyle Lofton gets healthy....

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) is joined by Malik Grady (The Close-Up Magic Podcast) to break down Florida's lopsided loss to West Virginia in the 5th place game at the PK 80. Why did the Mountaineers dominate Florida? Why are the Gators so bad defensively? What's with Kowacie Reeves' absence? And what to make of the Gators 0-3 record in games against potential NCAA Tournament teams? This and much m...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) break down Florida's opening round loss to Xavier at the PK 85 Phil Knight Legacy event. In a game when the Gators continuity ball screen offense generated plenty of buckets-- why couldn't Florida get stops? Breaking down the Gators struggles on the defensive side of the basketball, from transition defense to guarding Xavier's...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) preview the PK 85: Phil Knight Legacy tournament, which begins on Thanksgiving Day in Portland. Florida opens with a terrific résumé opportunity against a very good Xavier team, with the winner likely to play Duke. Eric and Neil break down the Gators and Musketeers, an epic frontcourt matchup between Jack Nunge, Zach Freemantl...

The Gators erased a 19 point FSU lead and a game where the Noles had a 96.6% win probability Friday night to capture their first W in Tallahassee in a decade. FBH breaks the whole thing down.  Bur first, Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) is joined by Jacob Rudner, 247 Sports, to talk Florida basketball and break down what Jacob has seen early in the season. Rudner shares insider stories...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) discuss Florida's bookend weekend buy games against Kennesaw State (a win) and Florida Atlantic (a loss). What went right against the first set of Owls and wrong against the second set? What is worrying long-term about the FAU loss? Plus, breaking down the rotations: what to make of Niels Lane lack of playing time? What to mak...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) talk Florida's opening night rout of the Stony Brook Seawolves Monday in Exactech Arena. All the reactions and analysis you need from the opening win of the Todd Golden era at Florida. Plus, what surprised the guys and why they loved the starting 5, and what Alex Fudge offers off the bench. Plus, a breakdown of Atlantic Sun fo...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Malik Grady (Close Up Magic Podcast) combine forces to take a deep dive into Florida's 2022-23 schedule. Among the topics discussed: the PK 85 Phil Knight Legacy event and a huge game with Xavier, another date with Oklahoma, why the FSU game will always matter, and where Florida's potential trap games and pitfalls are in both the conference and non-confer...