Out-physical-ed, out-rebound-ed, out-height-ed, out-adequate bench full of big men-ed. That was the story in today's 95-87 loss as the UF Men's Basketball team opened up its conference schedule in the notoriously wacky Vanderbilt University Memorial Gym. The Gators rolled into Nashville looking to advance the momentum avalanche derived from Chandler Parsons' miracle heave last weekend to win at NC State. However, this loss will send the Gators back to Gainesville in search of frontcourt answers.

The last few months were rough for me in school because of a two day board exam I had to take two days before Christmas, and I have been circling the state of Florida in the subsequent weeks, but I am here and ready to cover the SEC spring games. Since the last article I have written covering a home slaughtering of FSU in November, the Gators have signature victories against Michigan State, Rutgers and NC State, and had a miserable home stretch losing to Richmond and South Alabama. Also, UF has made a seasons' worth of movement through the Top-25 rankings in the span of only about a month and a half. But the non-conference slate is over (except a home game against a tough Xavier squad on Feb. 13th), and now on to the SEC opener:

The game started as a back-and-forth three pointer shoot-off. But as the second half started, Vanderbilt focused on feeding the ball down-low to the Russel Crow-ish Center, A.J. Ogilvy. This led to multiple offensive rebounds, uncovered dunks, and rate of scoring the Gators would never be able to match. The only Florida counterparts for Ogilvy, Vernon Macklin and Erik Murphy, racked up fouls in the first half, played tentatively in the second half during Vandy's physical outburst, and subsequently each fouled out of the game with around five minutes remaining. The remaining finish to the game was highlighted by the now infamous "Erving Walker Time" which is found in the waning minutes of a UF blowout loss. In the remaining EWT (7 minutes worth), Erving noticeably played the hardest, hit the floor the most often, and scored 13 points.

The Gators did score 87 points, so there must have been some bright spots. Alex Tyus is amazingly good at the spot-up jumper. I know I have said that previously, but in this game he again excellently demonstrated his NBA quality niche. Freshman Guard Kenny Boynton scored 28 points, and finally hit a string of threes in the first half, a feat he has yet to do at any time. Boynton also had a strong play where he recovered his own miss in the paint, and put it back despite being covered by four Vandy players.

This game displayed a problem which has been foreseen for a few years now. The transfer of Vernon Macklin is great, but he is basically the only big man. Alex Tyus has embraced his move to an outside dwelling, jump-shot finesse player. Erik Murphy is young, not overly aggressive and Donavon has hesitated playing him. Murphy played 13 minutes in this game and fouled out. Chandler Parson is just too skinny to bang down-low with the SEC big nasties. That leaves us with one option, Vernon Macklin.

Vernon has played well, but very alone out there sometimes. Will the Gators continue to lose to the Ogilvy's, Patterson's and Vardarndo's of the SEC? Perhaps the true solution will not present again until the next recruiting class, as maybe Billy can recruit an out-in-one-year big man to accompany Macklin for his senior year.

Until then, I expect the Gators to win a few quality games sheerly based on perimeter shooting and hustle, and I still foresee a tournament berth (and no, not the NIT) in this season's future.

The next game is a monster. The #3 University of Kentucky rumbles into the O'Dome this Tuesday for a 9pm ESPN game. UK Freshman sensation point guard John Wall will face his first true SEC road game. The primetime lights will shine brightly and the Rowdy Reptiles should be rocking for this game. Unfortunately my school is making me watch the game from Naples as I am on rotation there, but I expect a good one.

Side note: This was quite a day to sit inside and watch college basketball here in Gainesville, because at the conclusion of the game at 2pm, the temperature was still an unheard of 32 degrees.