Things not going Florida's way from beyond arc

By Mark Long

Associated Press

Published: Friday, Feb. 10 2012 1:10 p.m. MST

Florida head coach Billy Donovan reacts to a play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. Kentucky won 78-58.

James Crisp, Associated Press

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Summary

The team that leads the nation in 3-pointers now has concerns from behind the arc.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The team that leads the nation in 3-pointers now has concerns from behind the arc.

Florida's 3-point shooting percentage is way down in Southeastern Conference play, dropping from 41.4 to 35.8. Making matters worse, the eighth-ranked Gators are allowing league opponents to shoot 41 percent from 3-point range — a trend coach Billy Donovan would like to see turn around Saturday against Tennessee.

The Gators have more 3-pointers (247) than anyone in the country. They have made 10 or more 3s in 16 games this season, the most in any of Donovan's 16 seasons in Gainesville.

But the majority of those came early. Florida has failed to reach double digits or shoot better than 33 percent from behind the arc in five of nine league games.

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