Position by Position Breakdown of Gator Teams

Were the 05-07 Championship Teams Better than this One?

For the first time since winning it all, the Florida Gators are the top team in college basketball.

This year’s senior-laden Gators have been in a spotlight since the season started but the big, bright ‘1’ in front of the school’s name has turned up the heat considerably. And those who follow the Gators rightly compare every team to the 05-07 Florida teams that went back-to-back as Kings of College Basketball.

Stacking up any current team against any historical team is tricky. But it’s also inevitable. And for fans looking to handicap the Gators’ chances of adding another national championship banner to the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, this position by position comparison may temper expectations. Or enflame them.

Let’s have a look.

1: Point Guard. Scottie Wilbekin vs Taurean Green

Wilbekin.

Although it isn’t a run-away. This year, Wilbekin is posting a healthy 13.8 points a game and while fans likely don’t remember Green as a scorer, he averaged 13.3 points a game for each of the Gators’ two championship runs. And even though he played only three seasons, Green was a 1,000 point scorer in Gainesville — a mark Wilbekin has yet to reach — he’s a senior with 809 total points.

Both Wilbekin and Green were accurate three-point shooters — averaging right around 39% beyond the bonus line. And both were/are capable ball handlers and play callers. Green was though, statistically at least, the better passer — notching more assists than Wilbekin for teams which scored more.

Wilbekin gets the nod because of defense and leadership.

For opponents, Wilkebin is a nightmare. His tenacity in man-to-man, on-ball defense is unmatched in the SEC and maybe the nation. He already has 20 more steals than Green and while Green was a great defender, it’s Wilbekin’s calling card. Defense is his strength on a team built to win with defense.

Moreover, when the game was on the line in the 05-07 seasons, Green wasn’t taking the shot. This year, more often than not, Wilbekin is. That’s what a senior point guard is supposed to do and it’s what sets him apart from Green.

2: Shooting Guard. Michael Frazier II vs Lee Humphrey

Frazier.

Both Humphrey and Frazier are 3-point snipers. Humphrey’s career accuracy is slightly better than Frazier’s (44.4% to 43.9%). But Frazier is a sophomore and his accuracy in his first two seasons is better than Humphrey’s was — Humphrey hit 37% as a sophomore and Frazier is hitting 42% this year.

Both have shown the knack for being a human dagger — ending opposition rallies with a statement three. But the similarities end there.

Frazier is more versatile. Frazier plays inside when Humphrey never did.

The result is that Frazier has made 67 free throws so far over two seasons when Humphrey attempted just 73 his entire four year career (he made 46). Playing inside, Frazier already has more rebounds than Humphrey — 205 in not quite two seasons compared to 184 over four. And, again, in two seasons, Frazier has eight blocks. Over a very impressive career, Humphrey had zero.

3: Small Forward. Casey Prather vs Corey Brewer.

Brewer.

Just as the Green/Wilbekin pick was closer than expected, this is too. Prather is scoring more per game (15.4) than Brewer did in either of his championship seasons (12.7 and 13.2). And Prather is rebounding more — more than a half rebound per game on average. And Prather is this team’s leading scorer and he’s making 61% of his two-point shots.

But Brewer was a plus shooter too — hitting better than 50% his entire career including 54% in his final season. And both Brewer and Prather are excellent drivers and athletic surgeons around the rim.

Where Brewer stands out is behind the foul stripe and the three-point line.

At the charity stripe, Brewer was strong. He it 77% and 72% of his foul shots in the ring seasons. This year, Prather is hitting 67%. That’s solid but for players whose bread and butter is driving to the basket, 5-10% better accuracy at the foul long is worth noting.

From three, there’s no comparison. Brewer was no marksman but he was accurate enough and shot the long-ball often enough to add dimension to his game and stretch defenses. He hit 42 and then 40 three pointers in 05-06 and 06-07. Prather has attempted just five three point shots this season — it’s not his game.

As a tie-breaker, Brewer was an aggressive defender who averaged nearly two steals a game in his final season. Prather is no slouch on defense — snagging .7 rebounds per contest — but still, Brewer had three times as many.

Foul shooting, three point shooting and defense — Brewer was stronger.

4. Power forward. Will Yeguete vs Al Horford

Horford.

Although, this isn’t fair. Yeguete is the closest thing to a defensive specialist on any court so comparing him to a first round NBA draft pick with legitimate offensive skills is, well, unfair.

Yeguete is one of the best big-man defenders in the SEC and maybe the nation. Nobody gets lower or wider and is as comfortable down low or guarding a jump shooter. And he’s as valuable to this Gators team as any player.

In his two championship seasons, Horford posted 11 and 13 points per game — most often from the post. Yeguete is averaging 5.4 per game.

With Horford, no team in the country could match-up with a 6’10” power forward. Not many teams have a Center who’s that big. And Horford wasn’t just tall, he was big. It was almost unfair and the mismatches he caused were the reason Horford’s teammates were so open so often.

This year’s Gators area a defensive team and if they go deep in March, Yeguete deserves two rings. But Horford may be among the best Gators to ever lace up in orange and blue.

5. Center. Patric Young vs. Joakim Noah

Noah.

Like the Yeguette and Horford comparison, this isn’t fair either.

Noah has turned himself into an all-NBA All-Star who was more than a consistent scorer (14 points per game in his sophomore season and 12 per game as a junior). He was the emotional leader on court. And the most athletic 6’11” Center many of us have ever seen.

Even so, by the numbers, it’s closer than you may think.

While Noah averaged 12 points in his last season, Young’s average is 10 points a game. For three straight years. That’s consistency. And there isn’t any coach anywhere that wouldn’t want Young on the team — he’s a performer on the court and in the classroom.

While Young has improved his free throw shooting and is an above average defender, Noah was better in both categories. For comparison, Young had a phenomenal 58 blocks last season. In his sophomore season, Noah had 95 blocks. Ninety-five.

It will be a long, long time before the Gators see a better big man than Noah. While Young will go down as an all-time great, when it comes to the championship teams, it may be only Noah’s bust of the five on the Mt. Rushmore of Florida basketball.

When you add it all up, this Florida team’s back court is better than the national title winning teams. Their front court doesn’t measure up. But with all three of those front court players going in the first round of the NBA draft, what team could?

That does not mean this team isn’t as good as the 05-07 teams.

For example, this year’s team is much deeper. In 05-07, the player with the most minutes off the bench was Chris Richard. Adding insult to every other team’s injury, Richard was another front court big man. He chipped in about six points a game in the title seasons and was a real asset.

But this year’s sixth man is Dorian Finney-Smith who is clocking nine points a game with an inside and outside game. He’s hit more than 25 three point shots and leads the team in rebounding. That’s a weapon. And that doesn’t even count the two McDonald’s All-Americans the Gators have riding the pine on this squad in Kasey Hill and Chris Walker.

It’s impossible to predict if this defensive focused Gator team will hang another national title banner. But this team is no better or worse than the 05-07 teams — just very different.