Riley Kugel finding his groove as he adjusts to new role with Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gators are off to a 2-0 start in December and have a goal of going undefeated to close out 2023. However, it hasn’t been a great month so far for Florida guard Riley Kugel.

For the third time in nine games this year, he scored a season-low 5 points against Merrimack last Tuesday followed by a 4-for-16 shooting performance (0-for-7 from 3) vs. Richmond.

UF coach Todd Golden said Kugel played “a little casual” in the Merrimack game.

“I just didn’t think he had the same level of enthusiasm that we needed to compete at a high level,” Kugel said. “But that’s part of growing up and part of becoming a really good player regardless of the opponent. The effort and energy need to be consistent. It’s as simple as that.”

Meeting with local reporters this week for the first time since the season opener, Kugel agreed with Golden’s “casual” comment and added that playing down to an opponent’s level has been an issue for him in the past, dating back to high school.

“I definitely would say I was playing too casual,” Kugel said of his play vs. Merrimack. “I wouldn’t blame it (on this), but my whole life when we play someone not up to our level, then I usually play down. That’s something I have to work on.

“It’s just a mindset thing. Stay focused, stay confident, treat everybody the same way. Just don’t downplay anything.”

Kugel’s last two outings came on the heels of his 24-point game at Wake Forest and a 25-point performance in the NIT Season Tip-Off championship against No. 13 Baylor.

Kugel also scored 23 in the opener but finished with 5 points against FAMU and Pitt. He’s had a hot-and-cold start to the season on offense, but his defense has been much improved.

“It’s a new situation. Different role, different team,” Golden said of Kugel. “Some nights it’s going to be his night like it was against Baylor and against Wake, and there are going to be other nights where other guys are scoring it. I was really proud of his defensive effort against Richmond. I thought he did a wonderful job on Jordan [King]. … I don’t think he gave up a point to him all game when he was guarding him, and that’s really hard to do.

“When he’s guarding like that, he’s going to get some freedom offensively. … He gives us another element on the defensive end when he’s playing with that energy and enthusiasm. … I think he understands, and there’s going to be ups and downs throughout the year. But the response on the court is what we needed to see. It was a great effort defensively and trying to get himself going a little bit offensively, being aggressive and trying to pick his spots.”

Kugel shut down King on Saturday, a grad transfer guard who led Richmond at 20.9 points per game coming into the Orange Bowl Classic. The Gators held King to 14 points — four away from his season low — on 6-for-15 shooting and 0-for-4 from 3, but as Golden noted, he didn’t score against Kugel.

The preseason first-team All-SEC selection said he has “fun” playing lock-down defense because it gives life to the team. Kugel has been trying to impact the game in other ways this season, such as on the glass or with his assist to turnover ratio, especially when he’s having an off night shooting the ball.

“I’ve improved a lot more just because I just want it more,” Kugel said of his defensive effort. “Defense is really just if you’re willing to do it, then it’s easy. Not really — I wouldn’t say easy. But I think my talents and abilities give me an easier way to defend people this year.

“I would say I’m just finding my groove (on offense). I haven’t really been in a basketball state, I mean I haven’t been in myself state, like I usually am. So, I would say I’m just trying to find my groove. I don’t know, there are going to be times when it comes with more turnovers, but it’s definitely just learning. And it’s going to be way better.”