Recap: Florida overwhelms Marquette, 82-49

(7) Florida 82 - Marquette 49

Top Performers

Michael Frazier II: 17 points (6/9 fg, 5/8 3pt)
Patric Young: 10 points (3/6 fg, 4/5 ft), 10 rebounds (6 offensive), 3 blocks, 3 assists, 2 steals- third double-double this season
Will Yeguete: 11 points (5/6 fg, 1/2 ft), 7 rebounds (3 offensive), 1 block
Casey Prather: 11 points (4/4 fg, 1/1 3pt, 2/2 ft), 3 rebounds
Mike Rosario: 11 points (6/6 ft)
Erik Murphy: 10 points (4/7 fg, 2/3 3pt), 1 block
Kenny Boynton (5 assists) and Scottie Wilbekin (4 assists)

First Half Notes

• Patric Young didn't start due to a lack of effort in practice, according to Coach Donovan.  If you would've told me that Patric wasn't giving enough effort, I'd call you crazy.  The kid's got an unbelievable motor and is an incredibly hard worker, as he's constantly working on his weaknesses.  So I don't know what kind of effort he was giving in practice, but I was shocked to hear that that was the reason why he wasn't starting.
• Scottie Wilbekin moved into the starting lineup due to Young's benching; Scottie probably had his least effective game since returning from his suspension on November 18th.  Personally, and I think Donovan feels this way, I prefer the starting lineup of Boynton, Rosario, Yeguete, Murphy, and Young.  Scottie's come off the bench for his whole career and has developed a nice niche.
• The 35-second shot clock violation to start the game was the perfect omen to how the game was going to go for Marquette.
• Casey Prather was the first sub off the bench; once Young rejoins the starting lineup, I expect Wilbekin to be the first sub, then Prather.
• Erik Murphy had a great block on Davante Gardner!
• Mike Rosario was out of control for most of the game, committing three turnovers.  He got called for a charge and made a few ill-advised passes, which always drive me absolutely insane!  A lot like some of Erving Walker's shots during his career here.  I'm confident that Rosario's working on that aspect and the number of turnovers will decrease, hopefully, as the season progresses.
• Michael Frazier II proved that hard work pays off: before every game, he's always the first one on the floor getting shots up.  His hard work was rewarded as he hit 5/8 treys and scored a career-high 17 points to be the Gators' leading scorer last night.
• Young was battling all night and the effort was definitely there until a was whistle blown.  I don't know if it was a case of playing with a chip on his shoulder because Donovan benched him, but he normally plays like that.  It was just that it was under the circumstances that more fans noticed.  We have become so used to him playing like that that we probably take it for granted.
• Prather hit a three-pointer, his first of the season; coming out of high school, he was compared to Corey Brewer (another Tennesseean) because he was a great defender, long, explosive, and could shoot.  The shooting hasn't translated, but he is finding more effective ways to maximize his time on the court.
• Halftime score: Florida 38 - Marquette 24

Second Half Notes

• It took Kenny Boynton until the 16:34-mark to score his first points.  Luckily, we didn't need his offense tonight as he only scored six points (2/11 fg, 0/5 3pt).  He did have five assists, though.
• The best hustle play so far this season was Patric Young's all-out dive for a loose ball.  Absolutely incredible! He looked like Superman flying though the air!
• Prather had a couple of nice drives to the basket and his confidence is sky-high, which shows in all aspects of his game.
• Young was a "stat-stuffer" last night.  We've seen it a few times this season, but he has to be more consistent in that area.
• Murphy left the game with a hip pointer, but was back on the bench after visiting the locker room.  There will be more news on the extent of his injury in the FSU Preview.
• Final score: Florida 82 - Marquette 49

What I Was Wondering (from preview)

1. It's key for the Gators to get off to a good start tonight. They started their game with UCF 0/9 from the field. Marquette is far more talented than UCF so the Gators cannot afford to come out of the gate slow. How will the Gators come out?
Answer: The Gators never trailed and dominated from the opening tip.  It was the ideal way to start a game and I was waiting for the Golden Eagles to make a run, but Florida's defense wouldn't let that happen.

2. Florida's defense against UCF wasn't good at all. They weren't getting back in transition and the players acknowledged that they did lots of defensive drills in practice leading up to this game. Will there be a defensive improvement versus Marquette?
Answer: The answer is a resounding YES!  The Gators scored 22 points off 14 turnovers.  Anytime you hold an opponent under 50 points, that's a significant achievment.

3. Patric Young noted that he needs to finish better around the basket. Even though I feel that he's doing fine around the rim, he has high standards for himself. How will he finish around the basket against the Golden Eagles?
Answer: He had a nice put-back off an offensive rebound in the second half, but there were one or two shots around the rim that, although contested, he could've finished.  I'm not too worried, though.  If he keeps playing the way he's been playing, his post game will take care of itself.

4. Marquette will come into the O'Dome wanting revenge from last season's Sweet 16 loss. Outside of a buzzer-beating loss to Butler in the Maui Invitational, Marquette might be coming in here undefeated. I'm expecting a close game throughout, with both teams making runs at various points in the game. Will the Gators respond whenever the Golden Eagles make a run?
Answer: The runs that Marquette made were very insignificant (scoring two or three points to cut Florida's lead from 15 to 13 points, etc.)  The Gators played an almost flawless game, while the Golden Eagles will try to forget it.

5. Marquette has two big (and I mean BIG) men that are their main forces inside: Davante Gardner (6'8", 290 lbs) and Chris Otule (6'11", 275 lbs). Which team will own the paint?
Answer: Florida scored 32 points in the paint compared to Marquette's 28.  Otule was scoreless, while Gardner had six points.  Credit Young, Yeguete, and Murphy with their post defense.  Future Marquette opponents should take note: if you shut down their bigs, your chances of winning increase drastically because their guards do not have the firepower to dig them out of deficits. 

6. The Golden Eagles are outrebounding their opponents by a margin of +5.5 (37.2-32.2). The Gators, meanwhile, are outrebounding their opponents by a margin of +10.6 (40.0-29.4). Which team will own the glass?
Answer: Florida had the distinct advantage on the glass, pulling down 37 rebounds to Marquette's 23.  Quite frankly, the Gators owned the glass.

7. The Gators are averaging only 13.0 assists per game, uncharacteristically low for Donovan's teams who are consistently one of the top teams in the SEC in assists. Will the Gators change that tonight?
Answer: The Gators recorded 16 assists on 28 field goals.  They only committed eight turnovers for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2 to 1.  I thought that once Scottie got back into the swing of things after his suspension, the number of assists would go up and, sure enough, they have.


Selected stats (all Florida stats unless noted)

Field goals made/attempted= 28/55 (50.9%)
Three-pointers made/attempted= 9/24 (37.5%)
Free throws made/attempted= 17/20 (85.0%)
Rebounds/offensive= 37 rebounds/13 offensive
Fouls= 9
Assists= 16
Turnovers= 8
Steals= 5
Marquette turnovers= 14
Blocks= 5
Points off turnovers= 22
Points in the paint= 32
Second-chance points= 13
Fastbreak points= 2
Bench points= 40
Guard rebounds= 8
Marquette offensive rebounds= 7

Officials= Tony Greene, Mike Nance, and John Cahill
Attendance= 10,245

What's Up Next

The Gators travel to rival Florida State for an in-state clash with the Seminoles on Wednesday (12/5) at 7:00 p.m.  The game will be televised on ESPNU and on the radio on WRUF/Gator IMG Sports Network.  The pregame radio show begins at 6:25.

Preview: Marquette at (7) Florida

SEC/Big East Challenge: Marquette Golden Eagles (5-1, 0-0 Big East) versus #7 Florida Gators (5-0, 0-0 SEC)

Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity 11,548), Gainesville, FL 9:00 p.m.

Broadcast Information

TV: ESPN2; Dave Pasch (play-by-play) and Fran Fraschilla (analyst)

Radio: WRUF/Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)

Streaming: ESPN3.com

Head Coaches

Marquette: Buzz Williams (101-46, 5th season at Marquette/overall)

University of Florida: Billy Donovan (391-158, 17th season at Florida; 426-178 overall, 19th season)

Probable Starters

Marquette Golden Eagles

# 5 Junior Cadougan (6'1", 205 lbs SR) Season stats: 7.0 ppg, 5.0 apg

#13 Vander Blue (6'4", 200 lbs JR) Season stats: 11.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg (battling a sprained knee)

# 22 Trent Lockett (6'5", 210 lbs SR) Season stats: 9.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg

# 10 Juan Anderson (6'6", 210 lbs SO) Season stats: 5.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg

#42 Chris Otule (6'11", 275 lbs RS-SR) Season stats: 8.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg

Bench

# 54 Davante Gardner (6'8", 290 lbs JR) Season stats: 14.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg

#00 Jamil Wilson (6'7", 225 RS-JR) Season stats: 11.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg

Florida Gators

#1 Kenny Boynton (6'2", 190 lbs SR) Season stats: 17.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#3 Mike Rosario (6'3", 183 lbs RS-SR) Season stats: 12.7 ppg, 3.0 apg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'7", 240 lbs JR) Season stats: 7.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg
 #33 Erik Murphy (6'10", 238 lbs SR) Season stats: 15.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 249 lbs JR) Season stats: 9.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg

Bench

#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs JR) Season stats: 9.7 ppg, 4.3 apg
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'4", 200 lbs FR) Season stats: 3.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 208 JR) Season stats: 8.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg (played first game vs. UCF)

Injury News

According to Coach Donovan, the active Gator players are injury-free! (Damontre Harris, who is red-shirting after transferring to UF from South Carolina, suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder during the first week of practice and will be out until January or February)

Last Game for Both Schools

Marquette: Defeated UMBC on Monday, 79-46
Florida: Defeated UCF on Friday, 79-66

Gators All-Time Versus Opponent

The Gators are 1-2 versus Marquette, with losses in 1976 and 1977.  The Gators defeated the Golden Eagles 68-58 in last season's Sweet 16.

Last Meeting Between Schools

The seventh-seeded Gators defeated the third-seeded Golden Eagles 68-58 in last season's Sweet 16.

What I'm Wondering 

1.  It's key for the Gators to get off to a good start tonight.  They started their game with UCF 0/9 from the field.  Marquette is far more talented than UCF so the Gators cannot afford to come out of the gate slow.  How will the Gators come out?

2.  Florida's defense against UCF wasn't good at all.  They weren't getting back in transition and the players acknowledged that they did lots of defensive drills in practice leading up to this game.  Will there be a defensive improvement versus Marquette?

3.  Patric Young noted that he needs to finish better around the basket.  Even though I feel that he's doing fine around the rim, he has high standards for himself.  How will he finish around the basket against the Golden Eagles?

4.  Marquette will come into the O'Dome wanting revenge from last season's Sweet 16 loss.  Outside of a buzzer-beating loss to Butler in the Maui Invitational, Marquette might be coming in here undefeated.  I'm expecting a close game throughout, with both teams making runs at various points in the game.  Will the Gators respond whenever the Golden Eagles make a run?

5.  Marquette has two big (and I mean BIG) men that are their main forces inside: Davante Gardner (6'8", 290 lbs) and Chris Otule (6'11", 275 lbs).  Which team will own the paint?

6.  The Golden Eagles are outrebounding their opponents by a margin of +5.5 (37.2-32.2).  The Gators, meanwhile, are outrebounding their opponents by a margin of +10.6 (40.0-29.4).  Which team will own the glass?

7.  The Gators are averaging only 13.0 assists per game, uncharacteristically low for Donovan's teams who are consistently one of the top teams in the SEC in assists. Will the Gators change that tonight?

Records to be Broken in the Near Future

• Boynton (1,670 points) needs 8 points to pass Stacey Poole for 5th on the Gators' all-time scoring list
• Boynton (275 threes) needs 10 three-pointers to pass Erving Walker for 2nd on the all-time list (Lee  Humphrey leads with 288)
• Boynton (110 games started) needs four more starts to pass Erving Walker for 5th on the all-time list
• Patric Young (81 dunks) needs three more dunks to pass Vernon Delancy for 9th all-time (*dunks are unofficial stats)

Final score prediction: Florida 76 - Marquette 72

Preview: Savannah State at (7) Florida

Preview: Savannah State at (7) Florida

Savannah State (3-2, 0-0 MEAC) versus #7 Florida Gators (3-0, 0-0 SEC)

Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, FL

Broadcast Information

TV: Sun Sports; Larry Vettel (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)

Radio: WRUF/Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)

Streaming: ESPN3.com

Head Coaches:

Savannah State: Horace Broadnax (89-115, 8^th season at Savannah State; 131-213 overall, 12^th season)

University of Florida: Billy Donovan (389-158, 17th season at Florida; 424-178 overall, 19th season)

Probable Starters:

Savannah State Tigers

#1 Preston Blackman (6’0”, 170 lbs SR) Season stats: 10.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg

#11 Stephen Wilson (6’1”, 160 lbs JR) Season stats: 6.6 ppg, 2.4 apg

#5 Cedric Smith (6’3”, 190 lbs SR) Season stats: 5.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg

#22 Rashad Hassan (6’7”, 215 lbs SR) Season stats: 16.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg

#44 Jyles Smith (6’8”, 200 lbs JR) Season stats: 2.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg

Florida Gators

#1 Kenny Boynton (6'2", 190 lbs SR) Season stats: 17.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg

#3 Mike Rosario (6'3", 183 lbs RS-SR) Season stats: 12.7 ppg, 3.0 apg

#15 Will Yeguete (6'7", 240 lbs JR) Season stats: 7.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg

 #33 Erik Murphy (6'10", 238 lbs SR) Season stats: 15.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg

#4 Patric Young (6'9", 249 lbs JR) Season stats: 9.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg

Injury News:

Casey Prather has been cleared to return to practice, but I haven’t read whether Coach Donovan will play him tonight.  Prather hasn’t played in any games this season due to a concussion sustained in practice on November 5th. 

Last Game for Both Schools:

Savannah State: Lost 53-50 on the road against UCF on Sunday

Florida: Won 66-45 versus Middle Tennessee State on Sunday

What I’m Wondering:

1.     Kenny Boynton needs five three-point makes to pass Brett Nelson for third on the all-time list.  Will it happen tonight?  I really want to convince myself that it’ll happen, but I’m feel that Boynton may have to wait until Friday versus UCF to pass Nelson.

2.     Patric Young was in foul trouble for most of Sunday’s game, only playing 24 minutes.  While he scored nine points, he was 5/11 from the free-throw line.  He sat for most of the first half with two fouls.  Once again, it’s hot-and-cold with Patric: against Alabama State, 12 points and 12 rebounds; against Wisconsin, eight points and seven rebounds; against Middle Tennessee, nine points and two rebounds.  I know that it’s a work in progress with him striving to “bring it” every night, and he’s working hard at that aspect.  So the question is: which Patric Young will show up tonight?

3.     The Gators shot 17 of 29 (58.6%) from the line on Sunday.  I’m really hoping that was a fluke because, while we’re not as good of a shooting team as last year’s team, we’re better than the majority of the teams that we’ll play.  I give them a pass for the MTSU game, but let’s hope that it doesn’t carry over to tonight’s game.

4.     Savannah State has had three-point losses to both Middle Tennessee State and UCF in their last two games.  They’re the favorites to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference after finishing 21-12 a season ago, which was their first year in the conference.  I don’t quite think that they’re up to MTSU or UCF’s talent level, but the Gators cannot afford to be looking ahead to Thanksgiving too early, or they may find themselves with one loss instead of zero.  Get off to a quick start and we shouldn’t have too much trouble with the Tigers.

5.     I’m interested to see how much playing time Braxton Ogbueze gets tonight.  In the last two games, he’s played six minutes and three minutes, respectively.  Donovan has said that he has confidence in Ogbueze, and in all of the freshmen for that matter.  But the reason why Billy D has been reluctant to insert him for extended amounts of time is the fact that if there are already two freshmen on the court and Braxton checks in, that leaves a lot of youth and inexperience on the floor.  On a nightly basis, at least for the foreseeable future, I see Donovan only playing him in spurts (maybe when Scottie or Kenny need breaks).  Before the season, I would’ve said that Ogbueze was going to be the first guard off the bench.  But with the way that the starting lineup seems to be “gelling,” Scottie coming off the bench for the time-being, the effectiveness of Boynton at the point guard position, and the solid contributions of Michael Frazier, Ogbueze seems to have lost a spot or two in the rotation.  I’m really looking for him to see lots of time tonight and show us all why he was the #50 recruit in the country last year. 

6.     Will Mike Rosario continue his good play?  I think he’s gotten himself into a groove not only offensively, but on defense as well.

7.     Dillon Graham seems to be the 10^th man, and is behind DeVon Walker and Frazier on the depth chart.  Although Graham’s played 27 minutes so far, most of those came in the blowout win over Alabama State.  I think that with Dillon’s shooting and basketball I.Q., he needs to play maybe 3-4 minutes when he’s in so that he can get into a groove.  I’ve found it a little perplexing that he’s only taken two shots in those 27 minutes.  That has to change.  I wouldn’t worry too much at this point, but I’m looking for him to get plenty of time tonight.

Records to be Broken in the Near Future:

·       Boynton (1,641 points) needs 38 points to pass Stacey Poole for 5^th on the Gators’ all-time scoring list

·       Boynton (270 threes) needs five three-pointers to pass Brett Nelson for 3^rd on the all-time list (Lee Humphrey leads with 288)

·       Boynton (1,334 field goal attempts) needs 12 attempts to pass Erving Walker for 5^th on the all-time list

·       Boynton (108 games started) will most likely tie Ronnie Williams for 7^th on the all-time list

·       Boynton (34-straight games with a three-pointer) needs six more games with a three-point field goal to pass Humphrey for the all-time lead

·       Patric Young (77 dunks) needs two more to work his way into the top-10 all-time (*dunks are unofficial stats)

Final Score Prediction: Florida 82 – Savannah State 64

Preview: (22) Wisconsin at (10) Florida

Preview: (22) Wisconsin at (10) Florida

#22 Wisconsin Badgers (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) versus #10 Florida Gators (1-0, 0-0 SEC)

Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, FL

Broadcast Information

TV: ESPN2; Mark Jones (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst)

Radio: WRUF/Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)

Streaming: ESPN3.com

Head Coaches:

Wisconsin: Bo Ryan (269-101, 12^th season at Wisconsin; 652-204 overall, 29^th season)

University of Florida: Billy Donovan (387-158, 17th season at Florida; 422-178 overall, 19th season)

Probable Starters:

Wisconsin Badgers

#3 George Marshall (5’11”, 185 lbs RS-FR) Season stats: 5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg

#1 Ben Brust (6’1”, 195 lbs JR) Season stats: 14.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg

#5 Ryan Evans (6’6”, 208 lbs SR) Season stats: 9.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg

#40 Jared Berggren (6’10”, 235 lbs SR) Season stats: 19.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg

#44 Frank Kaminsky (6’11”, 230 lbs SO) Season stats: 6.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg

Florida Gators

#1 Kenny Boynton (6'2", 190 lbs SR) Season stats: 20.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg

#3 Mike Rosario (6'3", 183 lbs RS-SR) Season stats: 14.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg

#15 Will Yeguete (6'7", 240 lbs JR) Season stats: 3.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg

 #33 Erik Murphy (6'10", 238 lbs SR) Season stats: 15.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg

#4 Patric Young (6'9", 249 lbs JR) Season stats: 12.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg

*Scottie Wilbekin remains suspended indefinitely for an unspecified reason.

Injury News

Casey Prather remains unavailable from a concussion sustained in practice on November 5th.  He will be re-evaluated before Sunday’s game versus Middle Tennessee State…Erik Murphy hasn’t practiced since Sunday because he’s experiencing migraines.  Coach Donovan has stated that he can’t see Murphy not playing.

Last Game:

Wisconsin: Defeated Southeast Louisiana on Sunday, 87-47

Florida: Defeated Alabama State on Sunday, 84-35

What I’m Wondering:

1.      First, and foremost, how will the Gators perform against their first “tough” opponent of the season?

2.     Wisconsin is known for being very much of a half-court team.  They like to keep the pace to a minimum and almost lull their opponents to sleep.  The Gators have been able to go up and down with ease in their first few games of the season.  The change in style could change the way that Florida operates, but how will the Badgers’ style affect the Gators, if at all?

3.     I’m interested to see how many fans turn out for the second home game of the season.  I know the Rowdies will be noisy as usual, but the fans need to show up to the games, no matter who we’re playing.  I’m a big fan of both Kentucky (I know) and Indiana, and the way that their fans support their teams is remarkable.  Let’s see if the Gator faithful can deliver tonight.

4.     The overriding question with Patric Young is which Patric Young will show up?  Coach Donovan has pointed out time and time again that he’ll get great energy for the big man for 2-3 minutes at a time, then either he gets tired or needs a kick up the backside to get him psyched up again.  I want to see some consistency with Pat, like we saw against Alabama State.

5.     Florida has only been able to practice with eight guys due to Cody Larson leaving the team, Scottie Wilbekin’s suspension, Casey Prather’s concussion, Erik Murphy’s illness, Damontre Harris’s shoulder surgery, and Billy Donovan Jr.’s injury.  Will depth play a role in tonight’s game?

Final Score Prediction: Florida 63 – Wisconsin 58

Recap: Alabama State 35 - (10) Florida 84

Top Performers:

Kenny Boynton: 22 points (8/10 fg, 4/4 3pt, 2/3 ft), 6 rebounds, 5 assists
Patric Young: 12 points (5/9 fg, 2/4 ft), 12 rebounds- First double-double of the season for the Gators
Erik Murphy: 15 points (5/10 fg, 3/6 3pt, 2/2 ft), 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Mike Rosario: 14 points (4/7 fg, 6/7 ft)

What I was wondering (from preview):

1.  Once again, Mike Rosario remains the biggest question mark.  He needs to get his confidence up by playing solid defense (maybe drawing a charge or getting a steal) and knocking down a couple of early shots.    He needs to let the game come to him and continue to remain positive.  I'm expecting a solid game by Rosario this afternoon.  So the question is: how will Rosario play?
Answer: This might be the best prediction that I've made in a while!  Rosario looked confident, under control, and played within himself.  His defense was a lot better, which I think helped his offense by getting in the right frame of mind.  Finishing with 14 points, shooting the ball well, and picking up a couple of steals was a very solid all-around game.  The fact that he got to the free-throw line four times shows that he was aggressive.  It was really great to see Mike playing the way we know he can.  If he can contribute like this on a nightly basis, we may have the best backcourt in the country; certainly in the SEC.

2.  Which freshman will score the first points of the season for the class?
Answer: Dillon Graham scored the first points for the freshman class with a nice back-door cut off a pass from Murphy.  Graham is one of those players who won't make very many mistakes, he'll know the ins and outs of the offense, he'll take good shots, and he'll contribute when he's on the court.

3.  Similar to the exhibition game against Nebraska-Kearney, the Gators will have the distinct advantage in the post.  How will Young, Murphy, and Yeguete react?
Answer: While Young and Murphy had the more impressive stats, Yeguete wasn't too shabby either.  Will only had three points, but pulled down seven rebounds and had five assists.  I think the main adjustment for Will is that he has had to learn a whole new position (small forward) due to the suspension of Scottie Wilbekin, as Boynton and Rosario moved up one spot each.  Things like running lanes, taking the ball out of bounds, spacing, etc. are all things that he has had to adjust to.  He's played power forward for most of his life, but he's adjusting well.  However, when Scottie does rejoin the team, Yeguete will go back to his natural position.

4.  How many three-pointers will the Gators attempt?
Answer: The Gators attempted 24 three-pointers, making eight of them.  The 33.3% clip is below what the Gators normally shoot, but the flipside was that they fed the ball down low more often, which is something that they need to do on a more regular basis.

5.  The Hornets' leading scorer, Josh Freelove, played at North Broward Prep, a school attended by Kenny Boynton.  My high school plays them regularly and I watched Freelove a few times while he attended there.  He transferred to ASU from Toledo, probably due to playing time.  Boynton will most likely guard Freelove, so how will that matchup play out?
Answer: Freelove scored 12 points, second-most for the Hornets, but he was obviously outplayed by Boynton, who scored 22 points, to go along with six rebounds and five assists.

6.  I'm looking forward to seeing Yeguete's new free-throw shooting form, so how does it look and will it translate to a better percentage?
Answer: I have to admit: I didn't notice a change in his form, besides the fact that Yeguete looked more confident in his pre-shot routine and follow-through.  He'll be getting to the line a ton this season, so any improvement from the 44.4% he shot last year is a bonus.  He made 1/2, but it just takes repitition and confidence.

Selected stats (all Florida stats unless noted):

Field goals made/attempted= 28/59 (47.5%)
Three-pointers made/attempted= 8/24 (33.3%)
Free throws made/attempted= 20/30 (66.7%)
Rebounds/offensive= 50 rebounds/15 offensive
Fouls= 8
Assists= 18
Turnovers= 12
Steals= 10
Georgetown turnovers= 19
Blocks= 4
Points off turnovers= 29
Points in the paint= 36
Second-chance points= n/a
Fastbreak points= n/a

Officials= Anthony Jordan, Roger Ayers, and Keith Kimble
Attendance= 8,047

What's up next:

The 10th-ranked Gators have a clash with 22nd-ranked Wisconsin on Wednesday (11/14).  Tip is at 7:00 pm from the O'Connell Center.  ESPN2 is televising the game, while WRUF has it on the radio.

Preview: Alabama State at (10) Florida

Alabama State Hornets (0-1, 0-0 SWAC) versus #10 Florida Gators (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, FL


Broadcast Information
TV: Sun Sports; Larry Vettel (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Radio: WRUF/Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)
Streaming: GatorVision.tv/ESPN3.com

Head Coaches:

Alabama State University: Lewis Jackson (109-112, 8th season at Alabama State/overall)
University of Florida: Billy Donovan (386-158, 17th season at Florida; 421-158 overall, 19th season)

Probable Starters:
Alabama State Hornets:
#12 Jamel Waters (5'9", 160 lbs FR) Season stats: 7.0 ppg
#4 Josh Freelove (6'2", 180 lbs JR) Season stats: 12.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg
#24 Stephawn Brown (6'4", 190 lbs SR) Season stats: 5.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg
#2 Luther Page (6'6", 190 SO) Season stats: 7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg
#00 Devonte Neal (6'10", 220 RS-FR) Season stats: 3.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg


University of Florida:
#1 Kenny Boynton (6'2", 190 lbs SR) Last season's stats: 15.9 ppg, 2.7 apg
#3 Mike Rosario (6'3", 183 lbs RS-SR) Last season's stats: 6.6 ppg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'7", 240 lbs JR) Last season's stats: 4.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg
 #33 Erik Murphy (6'10", 238 lbs SR) Last season's stats: 10.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 249 lbs JR) Last season's stats: 10.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg

*Scottie Wilbekin remains suspended indefinitely for an unspecified reason.  Coach Donovan announced that he will return on November 20th versus Savannah State.  He will miss three games including today's.

Injury News 

Casey Prather remains unavailable from a concussion sustained on Monday in practice, his second in the past two weeks.  He should be cleared to play in Wednesday's game versus #23 Wisconsin.

Last Game

Alabama State: Lost 97-53 to Middle Tennessee State on Friday
Florida: Game canceled versus Georgetown on Friday (Gators were leading 27-23 at halftime)

What I'm Wondering:

1.  Once again, Mike Rosario remains the biggest question mark.  He needs to get his confidence up by playing solid defense (maybe drawing a charge or getting a steal) and knocking down a couple of early shots.    He needs to let the game come to him and continue to remain positive.  I'm expecting a solid game by Rosario this afternoon.  So the question is: how will Rosario play?

2.  Which freshman will score the first points of the season for the class?

3.  Similar to the exhibition game against Nebraska-Kearney, the Gators will have the distinct advantage in the post.  How will Young, Murphy, and Yeguete react?

4.  How many three-pointers will the Gators attempt?

5.  The Hornets' leading scorer, Josh Freelove, played at North Broward Prep, a school attended by Kenny Boynton.  My high school plays them regularly and I watched Freelove a few times while he attended there.  He transferred to ASU from Toledo, probably due to playing time.  Boynton will most likely guard Freelove, so how will that matchup play out?

6.  I'm looking forward to seeing Yeguete's new free-throw shooting form, so how does it look and will it translate to a better percentage?

Final score prediction: Florida 83 - Alabama State 48   

Recap: (10) Florida vs. Georgetown (canceled)

Top Performers:

Will Yeguete: 8 points (4/5 fg), 4 rebounds
Erik Murphy: 7 points (2/4 fg, 1/2 3pt, 2/2 ft), 3 rebounds
Kenny Boynton: 6 points (2/5 3pt), 3 assists

What I was wondering (from preview): 

1. I'm predicting Yeguete to start, with Rosario moving to shooting guard, and Boynton taking over for Wilbekin.  If Yeguete doesn't start, who does Donovan insert?
Answer: Will Yeguete did end up starting, so there were no surprises here.  He has been the most impressive player so far in the two "scrimmages."

2. How will the elements affect play?
Answer: Both teams shot a combined 6/23 (26%) from behind the arc and there were a few airballs.  The temperature remained in the low-60s/high-50s throughout the game.  Obviously, the game was cancelled due to the amount of condensation on the court due to the humidity in the Jacksonville area.  Even looking back to last year's game between North Carolina and Michigan State on the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego, both teams were very poor from the field.  So the elements played a part in the poor shooting percentages from both the Hoyas and Gators.

3. Will Rosario step up and make a statement offensively, and also play better defense?
Answer: Mike Rosario continued his poor shooting and his defense was average.  He was 1/5 (0/2 on threes) for two points.  He looked out of place and he was moving too quickly when he had the ball.  He was being too aggressive on offense.  He just needs to knock down a couple of shots to get his confidence back to where it was last season and he needs to continually work on the defensive end.  I'm expecting a big game from him versus Alabama State.

4. How will Patric Young deal with playing at home in front of family and friends?
Answer: Young played okay, nothing special.  He scored the first Gator points of the regular season and it was only fitting that the hometown boy was the one who scored them.  He finished with four points, three rebounds, and a block.  His ever-improving jump hook enabled him to score the first basket of the game.  He had to feel some pressure for being the local kid, as well as trying to build off last season in the hopes of leading Florida to the Final Four.  While Young's stats haven't been that impressive over the first two games, I look for that to change on Sunday versus Alabama State.

5. Braxton Ogbueze will get significant minutes tonight due to Wilbekin's suspension. He played well in the exhibition game.  How will he play in his first collegiate game?
Answer: Ogbueze had one assist, one turnover, and one steal in 4 minutes.  The stats don't tell much because only 20 minutes were played.  I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary with his play, but I'll be able to judge more from Sunday's game, where I expect him to get 20-25 minutes.

6. Will the Gators take advantage of the Hoyas' inexperience?
Answer: With the Gators leading at the half 27-23, you'd have to say so.  The Hoyas are a long team, but struggled shooting the ball (the elements may have played a part in that).  They were lucky to only be down four.  It was a very sloppy game all-around, but the Hoyas' lack of experience showed on multiple occasions.

7. How will the whole experience of playing on an aircraft carrier impact me as a viewer?
Answer: The whole experience on TV was incredible.  I'm going to quote Gene Frenette of The Florida Times-Union: "Everyone understood the decision and exited the ship in polite, orderly fashion. Nobody felt cheated that they didn’t get to see whether the Gators could build on a 27-23 halftime lead or if Georgetown might rally to victory.  That’s because this basketball game wasn’t about who won or lost. It was about honoring the servicemen and women at the inaugural Navy-Marine Corps Classic, both those affiliated with the amphibious assault ship and other military veterans that came aboard to be part of the festivities.  I doubt anyone who witnessed the 20 minutes of basketball will remember Gators’ guard Kenny Boynton hitting a couple three-point shots. Or Georgetown forward Nate Lubick having the game's only dunk.  More likely, the memories players, coaches and fans will carry home with them is things you seldom see at a basketball game. Like seven Navy servicemen taking the oath to re-enlist on the court, then watching players from both teams spontaneously leave their huddles during a timeout to go shake each of their hands."  An excellent use of words by Frenette and I echo his comments.  While it was frustrating to see the game end prematurely, this game was more about honoring our armed forces than playing a game.  Both teams were grateful to be a part of such a historic event and I just want to thank the men and women who serve our country; without you, we could not be free.  


Selected stats (all Florida stats unless noted): *game was canceled after first half due to condensation on court

Three-pointers made/attempted= 3/10 (30%)
Free throws made/attempted= 4/4 (100%)
Field goals made/attempted= 10/22 (45.5%)
Fouls= 5
Turnovers= 8
Steals= 3
Georgetown turnovers= 6
Blocks= 2
Points off turnovers= n/a
Points in the paint= n/a
Second-chance points= n/a
Fastbreak points= n/a

Officials= Ed Corbett, Mike Roberts, and Mike Stevens
Attendance= 3,472

What's up next

The 10th-ranked Gators play their "first" regular season game of the season on Sunday (11/11) versus Alabama State.  Tip is at 3:30 from the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL.  Sun Sports has the television coverage and you can listen to the game on WRUF.

Preview: (10) Florida vs. Georgetown

#10 Florida (0-0, 0-0 SEC) versus Georgetown (0-0, 0-0 Big East)
USS Bataan, Naval Station Mayport, Jacksonville, FL

Broadcast Information
TV: NBC Sports Network; Tom Hammond (play-by-play), Stan Van Gundy (analyst), and Carolyn Manno (sideline reporter)
Radio: WRUF-AM; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst) on the call

Head Coaches:

Georgetown: John Thompson III (184-82, 9th season at Georgetown; 252-124 overall, 13th season)
University of Florida: Billy Donovan (386-158, 17th season at Florida; 421-158 overall, 19th season)

Probable Starters:
Georgetown Hoyas:
#5 Markel Starks (6'2", 175 lbs JR) Last season's stats: 7.1 ppg, 1.6 apg
#22 Otto Porter (6'8", 205 lbs SO) Last season's stats: 9.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg
#2 Greg Whittington (6'8", 212 lbs SO) Last season's stats: 4.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg
#34 Nate Lubick (6'8", 235 lbs JR) Last season's stats: 3.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg
#3 Mikael Hopkins (6'9", 223 lbs SO) Last season's stats: 2.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg

University of Florida:
#1 Kenny Boynton (6'2" SR) Last season's stats: 15.9 ppg, 2.7 apg
#3 Mike Rosario (6'3", 183 RS-SR) Last season's stats: 6.6 ppg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'7", 222 JR) Last season's stats: 4.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg
 #33 Erik Murphy (6'10" SR) Last season's stats: 10.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9" JR) Last season's stats: 10.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg

*Scottie Wilbekin has been suspended indefinitely for an unspecified reason.  Coach Donovan has not announced the reason for the suspension.  More news in the coming days.

Injury News

Casey Prather sustained another concussion on Monday after being cleared for only a few hours prior.  He had previously suffered a concussion in the closed scrimmage against Rollins College that caused him to miss the exhibition versus Nebraska-Kearney.  So, unfortunately two concussions in the last couple of weeks.  Hopefully Casey gets cleared for Sunday's game versus South Alabama. 

What I'm wondering:

1. I'm predicting Yeguete to start, with Rosario moving to shooting guard, and Boynton taking over for Wilbekin.  If Yeguete doesn't start, who does Donovan insert?
2. How will the elements affect play?
3. Will Rosario step up and make a statement offensively, and also play better defense?
4. How will Patric Young deal with playing at home in front of family and friends?
5. Braxton Ogbueze will get significant minutes tonight due to Wilbekin's suspension. He played well in the exhibition game.  How will he play in his first collegiate game?
6. Will the Gators take advantage of the Hoyas' inexperience?
7. How will the whole experience of playing on an aircraft carrier impact me as a viewer?

Final score prediction: Florida 63 - Georgetown 52

Recap: (10) Florida 101 - Nebraska-Kearney 71 (Exhibition)

Top performers: 

Michael Frazier: 21 points (8/10 fg, 5/6 3pt) in only 17 minutes
Will Yeguete: 20 points (8/10 fg, 4/5 ft), 11 rebounds, in 24 minutes
Braxton Ogbueze: 15 points (4/5 fg, 1/1 3pt, 6/8 ft)  in 16 minutes
Kenny Boynton: 14 points (6/8 fg, 2/4 3pt) in 22 minutes
Dillon Graham: 14 points (4/4 fg, 2/2 3pt, 2/2 ft) in 19 minutes

What I was wondering (from preview): 

1. How will Scottie Wilbekin react to being the starting point guard?
Answer: Wilbekin's play surprised me because the offense didn't seem to run smoothly while he was on the floor.  He had three assists, but was 2/8 from the field in 24 minutes.  It may take him a few games to get fully comfortable with his new role.  He needs to be the floor general and just play his own game, not try to be like Erving Walker. 

2. Which freshman will step up and impress Coach Donovan?
Answer: Frazier, Ogbueze, and Graham did themselves a world of good when they combined for almost half of the Gators' points (50 out of 101).  All three are excellent shooters, particularly Frazier and Graham.  To be honest, I wasn't expecting that kind of production from the three of them.  This can only help Coach Donovan with depth and giving guys breaks during games.  If we get this kind of production on a consistent basis, watch out! 

3. How much playing time will Jacob Kurtz (walk-on) get?
Answer: Kurtz played the final minute and a half of the game, scoring a layup to put the Gators over the century mark.  Looking back from last year, Jacob looked poised and confident when he saw action last year.  This will be his first full season, as he joined the team in mid-December last year.
   
4. How will Calvary Christian grad Akeem Morissaint play in the O'Dome tonight? (Kenny Boynton may know him from high school hoops in Broward County)
Answer: I had to throw this one in there.  Morissaint's Calvary Christian Academy is rivals with my high school, Coral Springs Christian Academy.  He was one of the top players in Broward County during his senior year, which also boasted Kenny Boynton and Brandon Knight, who were all in the same grade.  He's only about 5'10", but he knows how to fill it up.  While he only scored one point versus UF, it must've been a cool experience to be playing in Florida again.  I hope that he had some friends and family supporting him in the O'Dome.  I'm looking forward to following his senior season.

First Half Notes

• Will's hustle points have become a norm in his time in Gainesville
• Judging from Mark Wise and the stats, Will's free throw technique has improved.  He shot roughly 36% and 44% the last two seasons, respectively.  Thursday, he made 4 out of 5.
• Mike Rosario was careless with the ball at various points during the game.  With the way Frazier and Graham played, he needs to have a solid week of practice and come out versus Georgetown hungry.  If he's not careful, he could be relegated to the bench.
• Frazier was the first freshman off the bench, followed by Graham, DeVon Walker, and Ogbueze.
• Mark Wise pointed out that Boynton "will play 10-15 minutes per game at point guard."  Being 6'2", he'll need to continue to get experience running the offense (he ran the point a little bit last year) in order to help the team and to prepare himself for the next level.
• Ogbueze is a combo guard at 6'1", but is probably more comfortable at the point, which he played in high school.
• The best shooters off the bench are Frazier and Graham.
• Wise: "Hard for big guys to play against undersized bigs."  As in most exhibition games, the Division 1 team usually has a distinct advantage in height, which may be a downside for players like Erik Murphy or Patric Young because they're not used to someone giving up that much height and it almost comes as a shock when they get into the post.  Wise didn't think Young would have a good game for this reason.
• Every player (besides Kurtz, who didn't play until the final 1:30) attempted a shot at the 8:00-mark.  This shows that, much like last year's team, we're not afraid to shoot the ball.  You're going to see us scored 70-80 points on a consistent basis.
• Murphy was outworked for an offensive rebound.  Murph's gotten stronger and more confident defensively, so I look for him to grab between 5-6 rebounds per game (averaged 4.5 last year). 
• Rosario's defense hurt the Gators while he was in.  It happened all too often last season, and his minutes decreased because of it.  He can't just be a scorer like he was at Rutgers; he has to also play defense.
• Two 35-second calls! I'm a HUGE fan of these, along with diving after loose balls, all-out hustle, and charges.
• Kenny has added the floater to his repertoire.  When he goes into the paint amongst the giants, this shot will be deadly!
• Wise pretty much summed up Yeguete on the floor: "Johnny on the spot!"
• Wise: "Shot selection not good with Scottie Wilbekin as point guard."
• Frazier scored 10 points in the first half off the bench in his collegiate debut.
• Halftime score: UF 46 - UNK 32

Second Half Notes

• Cannot be overstated, but Rosario's defense needs work!  He made a defense lapse and Billy D took him out.  That was a recurring theme last season and he's not afraid to do it again this season.
• Coach D has never tolerated defensive breakdowns.
• Shot selection was not good, with or without Scottie on the floor.  It's tough in exhibition games where a lot of the time it's fastbreaks and the tempo is ratcheted up.
• There was a "revolving door" with the subs as Donovan was experimenting with many different lineup combinations.
• Wise noted that Boynton has made great strides when making decisions at point guard.
• DeVon Walker dove after a loose ball, which was great for me to see!
• Frazier has incredible shooting range, which was displayed in high school at both Tampa Prep and Montverde Academy.
• I cannot say enough about Frazier's debut!  It bodes well for the rest of the season for sure!
• Ogbueze was injured, but returned.  If I remember correctly, it was either his knee or ankle.
• Patric was not involved at all, finishing with 2 points and 4 rebounds.  I'll give him a pass because of Wise's point that I made above in the first half notes.  I wouldn't read too much into it.
• Steve Russell, the play-by-play announcer on WRUF, came up with a creative slogan when Graham dunked: "Slam by Graham!" I'm sure Mick Hubert, the Gators' regular play-by-play announcer, will be using that one very shortly! "Oh my!"
• Only three turnovers in the second half.
• The only upperclassman to have a productive game was Boynton.  Like I said, I wouldn't read too much into that.
• Final score: UF 101 - UNK 71

Selected stats (all Florida stats unless noted)

Three-pointers made/attempted= 11/24 (45.8%)
Free throws made/attempted= 14/20 (70%)
Field goals made/attempted= 38/63 (60.3%)
Fouls= 14
Turnovers= 11
Steals= 10
UNK turnovers= 19
Blocks= 5
Points off turnovers= 25
Points in the paint= 50
Second-chance points= 16
Fastbreak points= 10

Officials= Doug Shows, Mike Nance, and John Heatly
Attendance= 7,121

 What's up next

The 10th-ranked Gators face Georgetown on the deck of the USS Bataan in Jacksonville on Friday (11/9).  It should be quite an experience that you won't want to miss!  Tip is at 9:00 and it's being broadcast on TV on the NBC Sports Network and on the radio on WRUF. 

Preview- Exhibition: Nebraska-Kearney

Exhibition Game: Nebraska-Kearney at #10 Florida (7:00 pm)
Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, FL

Broadcast Information
TV: Gatorvision
Radio: WRUF-AM; Steve Russell and Mark Wise on the call

Head Coaches
Nebraska-Kearney: Tom Kropp, co-head coach (441-203 overall, 23rd season at UNK) and Kevin Lofton, co-head coach (116-83 overall, 8th season at UNK)
University of Florida: Billy Donovan (386-158, 17th season at Florida; 421-158 overall, 19th season)

Probable Starters
Nebraska-Kearney:

Akeem Morissaint (5'10" SR) Last season's stats: 4.2 ppg
Jon Henderson (6'4" SR) Last season's stats: 12.1 ppg
Pierre Newton (6'4" SO) Last season's stats: DNP
Tyler Shields (6'4" SO) Last season's stats: 5.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg
Mike Dentlinger (6'6" JR) Last season's stats: 14.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg

University of Florida:

Scottie Wilbekin (6'2" JR) Last season's stats: 2.6 ppg, 1.6 apg
Kenny Boynton (6'2" SR) Last season's stats: 15.9 ppg, 2.7 apg
Mike Rosario (6'3" RS-SR) Last season's stats: 6.6 ppg
Erik Murphy (6'10" SR) Last season's stats: 10.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg
Patric Young (6'9" JR) Last season's stats: 10.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg

Preview

Well, another season of Gator basketball is upon us.  I believe a lot of us remember the disastrous end to last season, a collapse against fourth-seeded Louisville in the Elite Eight.  The Gators were up by 11 points with five minutes remaining (much like the Elite Eight game versus Butler in 2010, in which the Gators lost in overtime).  It was one of the toughest losses in school history, especially considering the fact that the same scenario had occurred the previous season.  While Louisville went on to lose to eventual National Champion Kentucky in the Final Four, it was not any consolidation for a dejected Gator squad.  It was an unbelievably tough loss to accept, but the Gators will, undoubtedly, use their experiences from the last two seasons as motivation to try to get over the hump and book their place in Atlanta for the 2013 Final Four.

Gone from last year's team are Erving Walker, Bradley Beal, Cody Larson, and Walter Pitchford.  Walker, the school's all-time leader in assists and minutes, second  all-time in threes made and attempted, and fourth all-time scorer, graduated after a career in which many fans, or coaches, thought would never translate into such a record-setting four years.  Beal, the third-pick in this year's NBA Draft to the Washington Wizards, would've won SEC and NCAA Freshman of the Year any other year, but Kentucky's Anthony Davis took home both honors.  Beal was second on the team in scoring, but led the team in rebounding at only 6'3".  He was the highest-profile recruit in school history, a testament to Coach Donovan's reputation and outstanding qualities as a coach and individual.  Beal made plays with ease, whether it was catching-and-shooting from 30+ feet, or driving baseline for a dunk, it was a joy to watch.

Both Walker and Beal will be extremely tough to replace in this year's lineup but, if everyone elevates their game, the production from last year will not disappear.

Cody Larson, who was a key member of the rotation when the big men got into foul trouble, struggled with his offense and lost playing time because of it.  According to Donovan, he was showing significant improvement in the pre-season individual workouts and looked to have turned a corner in his personal life.  However, last week, Larson informed Donovan that he was leaving the team, wanting to focus on academics and getting his personal life in order.  It was a surprising decision, and it leaves UF with one body in an already thin front court.  We certainly wish Cody the best and hopefully he can continue playing basketball in the future.

Walter Pitchford, a seldom-used freshman last season, transferred to Nebraka over the summer, due to the health of a family member.  Pitchford (6'10") was viewed as a project, but may have been able to carve out a role on this year's squad due to his ability to play inside-out.  Nebraska's coach Tim Miles is getting a raw talent who could end up becoming a solid player in the Big 10 as his body continues to mature and he gets more experience.

Now to tonight's game versus Nebraska-Kearney.  As with many exhibition games, there is not much information on the opponent, besides film and stats.  As is the case with most Division II teams, height will be an issue versus the Gators.  The tallest player in their projected starting lineup is 6'6".  I'm sure the Gators will be feeding the ball inside for the full 40 minutes.

Injury News:
Casey Prather suffered a concussion in the scrimmage versus Rollins College on Saturday and will sit out tonight's game.

What I'm wondering:  
1. How will Scottie Wilbekin react to being the starting point guard?
2. Which freshman will step up and impress Coach Donovan?
3. How much playing time will Jacob Kurtz (walk-on) get?
4. How will Calvary Christian grad Akeem Morissaint play in the O'Dome tonight? (Kenny Boynton may know him from high school hoops in Broward County)

Final score prediction: Florida 84 - UNK 51