Florida Basketball Hour

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) discuss the departure of longtime assistant and star Darris Nichols, who left to become the Head Coach of Radford University in his hometown this week. What Nichols meant to the staff, why he'll do well at Radford, and the challenge of losing two top assistants in one offseason for Mike White.  The guys also break down th...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) on Florida's latest transfer portal additions: combo guard Myreon Jones of Penn State and Charleston Southern wing Phlandrous Fleming. Why these additions improve Florida's scoring balance, and how they'll fit with the new look roster is discussed. Plus, listener questions, including a projected starting 5, a recruiting update...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) are joined by Graham Hall (Gainesville Sun) for a discussion about Florida's transfer portal additions Brandon McKissic of UMKC and CJ Felder of Boston College.  The trio also discuss the national championship game, what Florida can learn from Baylor, the season that was, and "Keyontae" revisionist history.  Plus: -...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) dive bravely into a transfer portal filled with over 1,000 souls. What the world looks like in there-- and why this is college basketball's "new normal." The guys also take a long look at each of the players in the portal the Gators have targeted to date. The guys also bring in special guest Malik Grady, who will add his insig...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) with the first of their three part "season in review" series. The guys break down the best moments- and the worst moments- of the 2020-21 season. Plus, a team MVP is named and a way too early breakout star for 2021-22 is selected. Eric also revists the FBH preseason predictions-- and finds that FBH held its own. In the show's...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) on Florida's heartbreaking 81-78 loss to Oral Roberts in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.  What went wrong down the stretch for Florida, including: - the decision by Mike White to slow the game down - Florida's aggressive switches leading to open driving lanes - Florida's turnover issues plague them again - Offici...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) break down Florida's thrilling 75-70 overtime win over Virginia Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon.  How Florida's defensive game plan keyed the victory-- and how Mike White's curious decisions late put the game at risk. Plus, Tre Mann and Colin Castleton proving stars matter in March.  F...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) bring you a comprehensive preview of Florida's first round NCAA Tournament South Regional matchup with 10 seed Virginia Tech. Included: - Why Mike Young and the Hokies run such great offense - Why Florida's different zones may be a better move than packline or clogging passing lanes - Why it's critical for Florida to crash the...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) break down Florida's two and barbeque trip to the SEC Tournament last week in Nashville. Why Florida struggled offensively and what the Gators need to do to be less one dimensional on offense. Plus. why the defense was encouraging and why Niels Lane is commanding more minutes. The guys also discuss what's ailing Colin Castleto...

Neil W. Blackmon (SDS) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) discuss Florida's regular season ending loss at Tennessee.  Florida stormed to a 14-point lead without star guard Tre Mann, but the Gators were ultimately pounded inside by an inspiredd Tennessee team in the second half. Why this loss was about more than just "Effort" and "Hustle." Plus, why Florida's offense was good in the opening half...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) break down Florida's heartbreaking loss at the buzzer to Missouri. Why Florida lost focus, and why it was questionable offense that doomed the Gators in a rough first half. Plus, why Florida's defensive plan was good, but execution was not. Finally, the guys discuss the continued star turn of Tre Mann and whether it is time to...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) break down Florida's big win at Rupp Arena. How a switch to a 3-2 Zone by Mike White helped Florida capture just the 11th win in program history in Lexington. Why Anthony Duruji playing within himself is huge for this Gators team-- and why Colin Castleton's fundamentals were so huge to the Gators Saturday. Plus, the continued...

Neil W. Blackmon (SDS) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) discuss Florida's big win over Auburn at Auburn Arena. It's tough to win without your best player-- as Florida can tell you and as Auburn found out without Sharife Cooper Tuesday night.  Plus, how Florida's defense played its best basketball of the season on the Plains. The guys also dive into the red-hot play of Tre Mann, how Florida has adj...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) on Florida's 70-63 win over Georgia at home Saturday. How Florida built a huge lead-- and why yet again, they struggled to close a game. The guys will also talk Florida's terrific transition defense, Ques Glover's best game, and the post-COVID pause struggles of Noah Locke and Tyree Appleby. Plus, why Scottie Lewis had some re...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) break down a frustrating Florida loss at Vanderbilt. How Arkansas frustrated Florida offensively- and why it wasn't just about rust. Plus, why Florida's matchup zone offered mixed results, and why Florida's toughness almost won the day despite a tough night offensively. Eric also does his "coaches corner" segment on how Florid...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon preview Florida's return from a third pause as the Gators head to Arkansas Tuesday night. Why the Hogs have had such a nice season, and how Eric Musselman's roster flip worked. The guys will also break down how to attack Arkansas' switching defense and new wrinkle- a steady 2-3 zone. Finally, why an unselfish basketball team full of guys who can cr...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) discuss Florida's third COVID pause of the season, which equals the national high for a program that has not "shut down." How will the pause impact the Gators? Why we think missing the A & M game hurts when Florida resumes play. And what to expect from the Gators down the stretch of the season. Plus, we answer all your lis...

Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) break down Florida's disappointing home loss to South Carolina. Why Florida's defense couldn't get stops-- and how South Carolina's pick and roll coverages stifled the Gators usually dominant pick and roll offense. We'll also break down Mike White's puzzling rotations, and talk about whether this was a loss about culture or a...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday down South) on Florida's big win at West Virginia.  Why this might be the toughest basketball team Mike White's ever coached.  Plus, Castleton, Mann and Locke shine in win-- how Florida reinvented itself offensively. The guys will also discuss how Scottie Lewis changed the game on defense, and why Florida can be better when they double in...

Neil W. Blackmon and Eric Fawcett review Florida's win over Vanderbilt.  Is Florida just sloppy on defense-- or is it schematic? What to make of Florida's rotations-- and why the move to two bigs paid off, even if Payne and Castleton didn't score a bunch. Plus, an argument fans should be encouraged by Florida grinding out wins when they don't play well.  Plus, at minute 40-- a lenghty preview of F...

Neil Blackmon (Saturday Down South) and Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) break down Florida's win at Georgia this past weekend. How Florida's guards are becoming so special, and why Florida mauled Georgia in the paint as a result of special guard play. Also, praise for the staff and the decision to play two bigs, which is making a significant difference for Florida offensively and on the glass. In the...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) break down Florida's big win over No. 6 Tennessee. How did Florida pull of the upset? Why did Florida rebound so well? What impact did Florida's decision to play bigger have? Why Florida's offense was able to carve up one of the best defenses in college basketball. This and more... Plus, a preview of Florida's trip to Georgia,...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) break down Florida's loss at Mississippi State: why Florida continues to get bulldozed inside and why that led to a frustrating defeat. Plus, a coach's corner that argues Florida should continue to try to push despite depth issues-- why Florida's early shot clock offense, both in and out of sets, has been better than full half...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday Down South) break down Florida's thrilling 72-63 comeback win over the Ole Miss Rebels in Gainesville Tuesday night. Why Florida's defense led the way, and why Florida did a nice job of running offense to suit Colin Castleton. Plus, more on the sophomore big man and the continued encouraging play of Tre Mann. We'll also talk about the lea...

Eric Fawcett (Gator Country) and Neil W. Blackmon (Saturday down South) break down Florida's 76-58 loss to Kentucky. Why it was so bad, why it was mostly about scheme, and what can Florida do to right the ship, especially defensively.  Plus, why Florida's rotations are curious, why isolation basketball isn't working consistently, and why if pushing the ball is in Mike White's DNA it is still diffi...