FLORIDA BEATS MIAMI 82–68 — BUT THE CANES WALKED OUT WITH THE REAL LESSONS (AND THE GATORS KNOW IT)

Let’s get this out of the way: Florida won the game. Cool.

Congrats to the Gators for finally doing something besides hitting the transfer portal like it’s Black Friday.

But anybody watching that 82–68 loss in Jacksonville knows exactly what it was…Miami’s first real stress test under Jai Lucas. And the Canes walked away with something Florida can’t teach: identity.

Florida? They did what they always do: throw the biggest bodies on the floor and pray nobody fouls out before halftime.

Miami?

Miami learned how close they actually are.

FLORIDA’S FRONTCOURT WON THE GAME — BUT ALSO EXPOSED THEIR OWN LIMITS

Yes, Alex Condon (19 points, 7 boards) and Rueben Chinyelu (16 and 12) did damage. They’re grown men built like construction equipment. But here’s the part Florida fans don’t want to talk about:

Both fouled out before the 5-minute mark. Both looked rattled every time Miami sped the game up. Both looked one whistle away from collapsing like wet cardboard.

Todd Golden was stressing. You could see it on his face.

If Miami hits literally three more free throws, Florida has a full-blown meltdown on the sideline.

The Gators frontcourt didn’t “dominate” — they survived. And survival stops working when you start playing actual national contenders. Miami just didn’t have the rhythm yet to punish it.

Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee played like they were allergic to the rim. Again.

Florida’s backcourt looks like a Craigslist ad:

“Two guards, barely used, only 3/17 from the field, please take them.”

Urban Klavžar carried the entire guard unit on his back and probably deserves hazard pay.

Miami’s guards had an off night too, but the difference?

Miami’s guards will get better. Florida’s guards ARE the problem

MIAMI’S FIRST REAL TEST — AND JAI LUCAS SAW EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDED TO SEE

Let’s talk about the Canes. Because THIS is where the real story is.

Miami shot:

     32.4% from the field (disgusting)

     5-of-18 from three (painful)

     15-of-27 from the line (I’m crying)

And STILL hung around.

If Miami shoots even “moderately incompetent” instead of “full-on disaster,” this is a one-possession game with five minutes left.

Malik Reneau (22 and 11) was a grown man. Tru Washington (16) was fearless.

The energy was there. The defense was there. The fight was there. This team is not afraid of anybody. They just have no idea what they are offensively yet — which is normal when you’ve got 12 new guys, a first-year coach, and half the roster learning plays on the fly.

This quote tells you everything:

“Some lessons you can’t learn until you see it.”

Lucas is treating this game like the world’s most productive film session.

He wanted to know how his team handled Final Four–level physicality. He wanted to know which guys shrink and which guys swing back. And he wanted to see how Miami operated when their offense was a mess.

And here’s what he learned:

When Miami plays with pace? They cook.

When they get into their drags? Florida can’t guard it.

When they string passes together? The Gators look slow.

The blueprint is there — now it’s about repetition. Florida improved to 3–1. Good for them. They’re big. They’re strong. They’re experienced. They should win these games.

Miami? Miami is building something. And this was step one.

This team isn’t anywhere near its ceiling.

The Canes return home Nov. 20 vs. Elon, and that’s where the adjustments start. The offense will smooth out. The free throws will stabilize. The pace will become second nature. And when it does?

A rematch with a ranked team is going to look VERY different. Florida walked out with the win.

Miami walked out knowing exactly how to take that win back next time.

And that should scare the SEC more than anything that happened in Jacksonville.