Gators center Rueben Chinyelu had another stellar performance as the Florida basketball team (14-5, 5-1) defeated the LSU Tigers 79-61 on Tuesday night.
Chinyere had 15 points and 20 rebounds to keep Florida’s double-digit lead throughout the second half. The game started off a little slow, which explained the lower score total on the night, but as the first half came to a close, Florida never looked back.
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Urban Klavzar led all scorers with 18 points in 24 minutes off the bench. He made 5 of 9 three-pointers, helping Florida finish the night at a 33.3% shooting rate. Alex Condon and Boogie Fland also scored 10 points each. Thomas Haugh’s performance was a bit off, but he still posted a game-high plus-minus of 18 points.
Florida looks like the team to beat during its five-game winning streak in the SEC and could go even further with a favorable schedule the rest of the month.
Sloppy start, strong end to first half
Much of the first half was ugly to watch. Neither team was able to hit a field goal, and Florida couldn’t score easily at the free throw line. Thomas Howe didn’t make a field goal until a minute left in the half, and two of Florida’s four 3-pointers came within two minutes.
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There was even one point where Handloten was shooting at the basket for less than a minute, missed three consecutive shots, and eventually dropped the ball. Remember, Handloten won’t leave the paint unless it’s time to run back to the defense.
However, by about 4 minutes, things were going smoothly. Friend was fouled and made two free throws, Kalfzar hit a wide-open 3-pointer, and LSU committed three turnovers in five possessions. The result was a 15-8 spurt that gave the Gators a double-digit lead at halftime.
This is in stark contrast to Florida’s performance all season long. Typically, the Gators would take the lead and then fall into a tie in the top ten.
Rueben Chinyelu is Florida’s best player
Thomas Haugh was Florida’s spark in the first half of the season, but Rueben Chinyelu’s dominance can no longer be denied. Not only does he play like the best player on the team, he plays like the best player on the team. He’s playing like the best big man in the SEC and the country.
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Chinyele’s fourth consecutive double-double gave him 11 double-doubles on the year, during which he averaged 17.8 points and 14.5 rebounds per game. His 20 rebounds tonight put him well ahead, becoming the first Gator since Bob Smyth in 1975-76 to average 12.7 points in 26 games. Keep in mind that Condon and Haugh averaged 8.3 and 6.7 rebounds per game, respectively. Not to mention Handloten, who came off the bench, averaged 6.3 points per game.
When the season started, no one was talking about Chinyere as a future NBA player. Now, it’s hard to imagine his name not coming up in the draft. Guys, give him your roses while he’s still in Gainesville.
National Championship Game Back on the Table
Yes, it’s too early to think about March Madness this year, but the past two weeks have reestablished Florida as the team to beat in the SEC, with only Vanderbilt looking close. Alabama and Kentucky will get their chances in February, but Todd Golden’s team seems to be improving with every game.
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The guards have improved a lot, starting to hit shots at critical moments, turnovers have decreased, and the rebounding is as strong as ever. Everything is coming together for the Gators, but this can’t be the pinnacle of the year. The frontcourt experienced this a year ago and finished with great results in the SEC and national championships.
If Chinyere, Condon and Howe can continue to set the tone emotionally, a repeat performance is possible. It took a bit of luck to get there, but this is a completely different team than it was in mid-November.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Key takeaways from Florida basketball’s home win over LSU Tigers
