GAINESVILLE — UF senior forward Justin Leon’s alarm sounded at 8:50 a.m. Saturday, a rude awakening for most 21-year-olds in college.
Mike White actually had let his players sleep in. The Florida coach hoped a schedule change would energize the team for another dreaded noon tipoff at the O’Connell Center.
It still took the Gators awhile to completely wake up. This time, they did before it was too late during Saturday’s 71-62 win against Texas A&M.
“We’re very fortunate,” White said. “I don’t think the final score is indicative of how close the game was.”
Noon SEC starts had been the Gators’ bugaboo this season. UF needed overtime to slip by Georgia Jan. 14 and lost a week later to a Vanderbilt squad with a losing record.
“I don’t really got an explanation,” Leon said. “I don’t know … it’s just so early.”
Whatever the reason, the sluggish Gators did not resemble a squad riding a five-game winning streak and pegged as No. 3 seed in a preview bracket provided Saturday by the NCAA Tournament selection committee.
Instead, UF (20-5, 10-2 SEC) trailed 40-36 when a media timeout was called with 11:33 remaining against Texas A&M (13-11, 5-7).
Florida had missed 11 of 12 its previous shots and the Aggies had grabbed their first lead on a 10-2 run. In the Gators’ huddle, White told his players to focus on defense — and the rest would fall into place.
UF's five-game winning streak was in jeopardy. But following a timeout the Gators came alive against Texas A&M and rode the play of some of the team's veteran players to a 71-62 victory.
UF's five-game winning streak was in jeopardy. But following a timeout the Gators came alive against Texas A&M and rode the play of some of the team's veteran players to a 71-62 victory.
UF's five-game winning streak was in jeopardy. But following a timeout the Gators came alive against Texas A&M and rode the play of some of the team's veteran players to a 71-62 victory.
UF's five-game winning streak was in jeopardy. But following a timeout the Gators came alive against Texas A&M and rode the play of some of the team's veteran players to a 71-62 victory.
UF graduate transfer Canyon Barry has adjusted quickly and become a leader and go-to scorer for the Gators.
UF graduate transfer Canyon Barry has adjusted quickly and become a leader and go-to scorer for the Gators.
The Florida Gators are riding a four-game winning streak and coming off a historic win against Kentucky - 88-66 on Saturday night in Gainesville. But Tuesday's visit to Georgia concerns coach Mike White. The Gators needed overtime Jan. 14 at home to slip by the Bulldogs.
The Florida Gators are riding a four-game winning streak and coming off a historic win against Kentucky - 88-66 on Saturday night in Gainesville. But Tuesday's visit to Georgia concerns coach Mike White. The Gators needed overtime Jan. 14 at home to slip by the Bulldogs.
UF picked up the biggest win of the Mike White Era, an 88-66 rout of Kentucky. But White said he and the Gators cannot spend too much time celebrating.
UF picked up the biggest win of the Mike White Era, an 88-66 rout of Kentucky. But White said he and the Gators cannot spend too much time celebrating.
UF reserve guard Chris Chiozza recorded a triple-double during the Gators' 93-54 win against Missouri. Coach Mike White discusses the feat.
UF reserve guard Chris Chiozza recorded a triple-double during the Gators' 93-54 win against Missouri. Coach Mike White discusses the feat.
“That kind of woke us up,” Leon said. “After that, it was, I guess you’d say, regular Florida basketball. He just told us how we weren’t playing how we normally do. He was right, obviously.
“The few older guys, we had to lead. That’s what we did.”
Behind Leon, redshirt junior center John Egbunu and senior sixth man Canyon Barry, UF answered White’s request and turned away Aggies.
Following the timeout, five different Gators combined to make six consecutive shots and ignite a 20-5 run.
Barry led the way during the pivotal run, scoring seven points. This included a pair foul shots to extend Barry’s streak of made free throws to a school-record 39.
A year after his team defeated the Gators, A&M coach Billy Kennedy said he sees two differences in White’s second UF team.
“They’re older, and having Barry coming off the bench with his poise and making free throws,” Kennedy said. “He’s a difference-maker.”
No Florida player transformed his game more Saturday than Egbunu.
Offseason thumb surgery and a hamstring injury early in the season had left the 6-foot-11, 255-pound Egbunu a shell of the player from last season.
On Saturday, he played with energy and efficiency to record his first double-double of the season and earn the game ball. Egbunu finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, shot 4-of-5 from the floor and did not have a turnover despite entering the game with 40, second-most on the team.
“John was the best player on the floor for us,” White said.
Leon was not far behind. His 18 points were one shy of his career high and led four double-figure scorers for Florida.
The Gators needed every one of them on a day when UF stalwarts Kasey Hill (three points, five turnovers) and Devin Robinson (four points, three rebounds) were no-shows.
“Our depth has always seemed to step up when need be,” White said. “We’ve had pretty good timing.”
egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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