GAINESVILLE,
Fla. -- The Gators had a commanding 23-point lead at halftime of
Wednesday night's 75-36 win over South Carolina.
Part
of the reason why was because senior guard Mike Rosario also led the Gamecocks
at halftime. Rosario had 12 points in the first half while the Gamecocks scored
just 10.
The
Gators broke the game open midway through the first half when Rosario scored 10
consecutive points, boosting an 11-4 Florida lead to 21-4 with 10:12 left in
the opening half.
South
Carolina's pulse faded fast from there.
For
Rosario, his 12 first-half points matched his total from the past two games,
road wins at Georgia and Mississippi State in which Rosaria shot just 4 of 21
(19 percent).
"I
didn't play like I usually play,'' Rosario said of his road woes. "I was
beating myself up about it. My teammates were just telling me to stay focused
on the task at hand and get better every day. I feel like I came out aggressive
and took what the defense gave me."
Rosario's
first basket during his 10-0 run was a layup with 13:35 left. Over the next
3:23, Rosario added a jumper, another layup and capped the outburst with a
4-point play. Rosario nailed a 3-point in front of the South Carolina bench and
was fouled on the shot by Brian Richardson.
Rosario
sank the free throw and the rout was officially on. Florida's defense forced
nine South Carolina turnovers in the first nine minutes, also helping spark
Rosario's output.
"We
want them to be confused out there,'' said Kenny Boynton, one of Rosario's
backcourt mates. "We did a great job. Every time they tried to run a play,
we beat them to their spot."
Rosario
took the floor Wednesday mentally prepared to not only turn his game around,
but to help the Gators continue to stay on theirs. Florida improved to 7-0 in
the Southeastern Conference and won its ninth consecutive overall, the
program's longest win streak since the 2009-10 season.
"We
want to make teams uncomfortable,'' Rosario said. "We are just doing
everything that Coach wants us to do. Being aggressive on the defensive end and
just taking care of the ball.
"Everyone
is doing their job and it's showing. There's just positive energy throughout
this whole team right now."
Rosario
finished 6 of 11 Wednesday, including a pair of 3-pointers, to finish with 15
points, matching fellow guard Kenny Boynton for the team lead.
While
Rosario has bought into Florida coach Billy Donovan's team-first approach much
better than a year ago after sitting out a season as a transfer from Rutgers,
he can still make Donovan scratch his head.
There
was a moment like that Wednesday. The dunk came near the end of the first half.
The play started when Florida's Patric Young blocked a layup attempt by South
Carolina's Eric Smith that ricocheted off the backboard and almost to
half-court.
Rosario
grabbed the ball and raced the other way for a two-handed dunk. Rosario was
then whistled for a technical because he hung on the rim.
That
earned Rosario a glare from Donovan and a spot on the bench for the final
minute of the first half.
"I
think it was a really good official call by the official,'' Donovan said.
"Once the [defender] runs by you just get off the rim."
While
Rosario scored more points than the Gamecocks in the first half, Donovan made sure
to point out that "he was probably responsible for half their points"
due to turnovers and getting called for the technical.
"I
don't think Mike was trying to showboat or anything,'' Donovan said. "He
just hung up there a little long."
Donovan
jabbed at Rosario in a playful manner but wants him to continue to play good
defense and take care of the ball to maximize his role in the lineup.
Rosario
sounds as if the message has sunk in.
"I
was actually mad one time because I didn't get to a rotation and I felt like I
let my teammates down at that moment,'' Rosario said. "You always want to
be perfect at what you do. That's something we strive to do every day."
For a
short stretch of the first half, Rosario was on the top of his game.
