Another game against a ranked opponent presented similar outcomes for the Virginia Cavaliers. On Wednesday night in Gainesville, they suffered an 87 - 69 defeat. Despite a good start, Ron Sanchez's team faced difficulties in winning the small details against a talented Florida team.

Early Ball Handling Troubles and Foul Trouble

The 'Hoos were initially hampered by ball handling issues. Dai Dai Ames picked up his second foul just before the 12 - minute mark of the first half. This limited their ball handling and allowed Florida to increase the pressure. Ron Sanchez acknowledged postgame that when Dai Dai got in foul trouble, it affected their offensive execution. "We're handling the point by committee, and when one of those guys is out, it makes it harder to execute our offense," he said. 2: Florida took advantage of the Cavaliers' ball handling problems and used their athleticism to make things uncomfortable on - ball. This early struggle set the tone for the game and affected the team's performance throughout.

Live - Ball Turnovers and Second Half Struggles

Live - ball turnovers proved to be the downfall of the Cavaliers. This aspect, which has historically been a strength for UVA teams under Tony Bennett, failed them in this game. From bad passes to not being strong enough with the ball, it became a significant issue in the second half. The 'Hoos committed 15 total turnovers compared to forcing the Gators into just six. Florida was opportunistic and scored 20 points off these turnovers. Ron Sanchez was asked about the lack of ball security. "I'll definitely give Florida their credit. They have athleticism and length and are very physical defensively. Some of our turnovers were due to physical toughness and some were sloppy ball handling and poor screening," he said. 2: The Cavaliers struggled to keep the ball out of the paint, and Florida executed their offense at a high level. Sanchez concluded by saying, "We didn't keep the ball out of the paint, and they executed their offense at a high level. We did not respond in the second half. [I'm] definitely pleased with what we did in the first half, and I'm hoping that we can replicate it in the future as we continue to improve as a team."

Florida's Interior Play and Rebounding Advantage

Florida's interior play was a major factor in the game. They used their size and physicality to seal off the middle of the lane and clear space to the rim. Alex Condon did an excellent job in this regard. Despite the eye - test suggesting a larger rebounding disparity, the 'Hoos actually out - rebounded the Gators 34 - 30 and pulled down two more offensive boards. However, Florida still had an advantage in the paint, scoring 38 points. Sanchez complimented the Gators' interior play, saying, "[Florida] is really big and they're physical, athletic, and strong on the interior. They seal you, and sometimes it's hard for young guys to match that physicality." 2: The Gators' length also played a role in clogging passing lanes, as they recorded nine steals as a team. This physicality and defensive pressure contributed to their success and made it difficult for the Cavaliers to mount a comeback in the second half.