Gators react to Bama blowout: ‘Definitely big to get a win like this’
Florida posted its highest-scoring SEC Tournament game in program history with Friday’s 102-88 win over Alabama. The Gators are 9-2 this season when five players score in double figures.
The 102 points scored marked UF’s second 100-point performance in regulation against a top-25 team in Florida history. The first was the Gators’ 105-point outing against Alabama last week.
Zyon Pullin (17 points) and Will Richard (10) were among the five Gators in double figures. Here’s everything Pullin and Richard had to say after the victory over the Crimson Tide.
Zyon Pullin
On his mindset Friday after fouling out of Thursday’s game:
Pullin: “I think it was just letting it come to me. I think just fixing those correctible things, limit the bad fouls. Even got one today. I think it was just let the game come to me. Don’t try to force anything. Not playing as much the other game. That’s it.”
On the message after the 8-0 hole:
Pullin: “The 8-0 run, it was just staying together. I think we got some looks we liked. Trying to get stops.”
On how UF went on a 21-2 run:
Pullin: “Limiting them to one shot, then run them off the three-point line. Get clean rebounds, push the pace.”
On the importance of this win:
Pullin: “Definitely big to get a win like this in this fashion. I think it’s just staying together and do what we’re supposed to do.”
On the lift from Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh:
Pullin: “Yeah, those guys played huge. I think they’ve been playing huge all season when the minutes come. Made a lot of big plays. Second chance and all that stuff. Some big finishes down the stretch.”
Will Richard
On the message after the 8-0 hole:
Richard: “The 8-0 run, our message was stay tough, stay together. Alabama is a good team; they’re going to make their runs. We’re a good team, as well. We’re going to make ours. For us, it’s just staying together.”
On how UF went on a 21-2 run:
Richard: “For us it was just defending, getting clean rebounding, getting out in transition. We got comfortable once we defended their first shot. Once we got clean rebounds, we were out running. That’s what we like to do.”
On the importance of this win:
Richard: “Yeah, tonight was very important. Just getting back to what we know we can do for everybody. Playing our role, playing hard, playing together, having fun out there, trying to win.”
On the lift from Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh:
Richard: “Yeah, those guys have been huge for us. They’re very talented. They play so hard. We’re not surprised at all to see them come in there and have that kind of impact on the game.”
