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Florida Basketball: 5 things the Gators need for Christmas in 2018

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: Jalen Hudson #3 of the Florida Gators talks with head coach Mike White as they take on the St. Bonaventure Bonnies in the first half in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: Jalen Hudson #3 of the Florida Gators talks with head coach Mike White as they take on the St. Bonaventure Bonnies in the first half in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 04: Deaundrae Ballard #24 of the Florida Gators smiles as he high-fives his teammates during a timeout in the second half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Madison Square Garden on December 04, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 04: Deaundrae Ballard #24 of the Florida Gators smiles as he high-fives his teammates during a timeout in the second half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Madison Square Garden on December 04, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The holiday season is upon us and everyone looks forward to gifts. College basketball is no different, here are five gifts Florida Basketball needs.

The time is near when Santa arrives to give children all over the world presents for being good throughout the year. What would the Christmas list for some of your favorite college basketball teams look like? Here is a look at what the Florida Gators should ask for from the round mound of merriness.

The Gators are currently 5-4, and even though they won 21 games last season and made the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament, head coach Mike White lost two of his top three scorers, which accounted for 25 points per game. Despite losing all that firepower, Florida was picked to finish 5th in the SEC this season.

They did return leading scorer, senior Jalen Hudson and fellow seniors KeVaughn Allen and Kevarrius Hayes. But the team has struggled (by their standards) out of the gate. They lost on opening night to Florida State by 21, but aside from that game, their losses to Oklahoma, Butler, and Michigan State were all by seven points or less.

Offensively the Gators have taken a step back. Hudson led the team in scoring last season at over 15 points per game, but this year he is netting just 5.8 per game and the team has been unable to replace the production of Chris Chiozza and Egor Koulechov. As a team, the point production has dropped from 76 per game to just 70 this year.

Conference play has yet to begin so there is time for Florida to turn things around, here are five things that should be on the Gators’ Christmas list.