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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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SUNRISE, FL – DECEMBER 16: Jalen Hudson #3 of the Florida Gators looks on against the Clemson Tigers during the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic at BB&T Center on December 16, 2017 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL – DECEMBER 16: Jalen Hudson #3 of the Florida Gators looks on against the Clemson Tigers during the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic at BB&T Center on December 16, 2017 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

1. Get the old Hudson and Allen back

The first thing the Gators could use would be the ability to turn back the clock so that they could get last year’s version of Jalen Hudson and the sophomore version of KeVaughn Allen on the floor.

As I said in the open, last year Hudson led the team in scoring at 15 points, he also shot the ball at 45% from the field and 40% from three-point land. This year, however, those marks are just 30 and 20% respectively. Because of those struggles Hudson is seeing about 10 fewer minutes per game and making just two field goals per game. For Florida to compete in the SEC, Hudson needs to revert to last year’s form.

As a sophomore, Allen averaged 14 points per game, in the two years since he has scored just 10.5 per game. Not much has changed for Allen in terms of playing time or the number of shots he has been able to put up but, his efficiency has dropped all over the floor. Two years ago he shot 43% from the field and 37% from deep, while netting 88% of his free throws, but so far this season those numbers have dropped to 39%, 30%, and 78%.

Getting Hudson and Allen back into the form that was expected of them heading into the season will go a long way into getting coach White’s squad headed in the right direction.