My reflections after the first 10 games

The Gators are in the middle of final exams week, which is the perfect time for a reflection following the team's first 10 games.  The Gators are 6-4, after playing an extremely tough schedule so far.  Losses to Miami (FL), Georgetown, North Carolina, and Kansas have been acceptable defeats.  Over the last few seasons, coach Billy Donovan has beefed up the Gators' non-conference schedule in preparation for the grueling SEC season and eventual NCAA Tournament.  Donovan recently said that these early season losses have helped this year's team because it has forced the players to address issues quickly and have adversity hit early on rather than later in the season.  Had Donovan's team been undefeated right now after having played low-tier Division 1 opponents, it might not have served the team well in the long run.  So, the fact that Florida is unranked at present is not particularly alarming.

Lack of depth is really plaguing the Gators.  Only having eight scholarship players is hampering them.  The transfer of Dillon Graham (will be attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) and the injury to DeVon Walker (torn ACL) in the offseason have been bigger losses than expected.  Senior walk-on Jacob Kurtz has been the unsung hero through the first 10 games, as he is averaging nearly 24 minutes per game and contributing almost five points and five rebounds in those games.  

Health has played a large part in the Gators' slow start.  Redshirt junior Dorian Finney-Smith's hand injury probably cost the Gators against UM and redshirt junior Eli Carter's foot injury has kept him out of four games thus far.  Add in sophomore Chris Walker's two-game suspension to start the season and there are three losses that have contributed to the four losses the Gators have suffered so far.

The team's offensive statistics have not been impressive so far:

Points per game (68.5): 179th in Division 1
Rebounds per game (36.1): 143rd in Division 1
Assists per game (14.3): 100th in Division 1
Field goal percentage (.450): 128th in Division 1

On the flip side, and it comes as no surprise considering Donovan's reputation as a defense-first coach, the Gators are 15th in Division 1 in points allowed at 56 per game.  The players just need to bring the same defensive mentality to the offensive end and the whole rest of the season could be different.

The Gators return to action Saturday when they face Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise, Florida.  While the Demon Deacons are not the formidable opponent they were three or four years ago, they are an ACC team with plenty of young talent.  And whenever your coach is Danny Manning, you know that you will be successful eventually.  Following Saturday's game, the team will be off until the 30th when they play in-state rival Florida State in Tallahassee.  Then, defending national champion Connecticut visits Gainesville on January 3 before the conference season begins four days later.

What you need to know: University of North Florida

Game 1: University of North Florida Ospreys (0-0, 0-0 Atlantic Sun) at #10 University of Florida Gators (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida 3:00 p.m.

Another college basketball season is upon us.  The Gators played one exhibition game, last Friday against Florida Southern (won 110-88).  Ranked 10th in the AP Poll, Florida opens with the University of North Florida.  The Gators have been highly overranked to begin the season, in my opinion.  There is so much uncertainty surrounding this team that, as fans, we might need to be patient over the first month or so as the the roster gets back to 100%.  Senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin, who was suspended indefinitely in the offseason for a violation of team rules (was suspended for same violation last season), did not play in the exhibition game and there is no timetable for his return.  Two transfers are also suspended indefinitely: redshirt junior center Damontre Harris and redshirt sophomore guard/forward Dorian Finney Smith.  In addition, senior forward Will Yeguete (offseason knee surgery) and junior transfer Eli Carter (broken leg last season at Rutgers) are still not at full strength, but have been practicing.  Freshman point guard Kasey Hill has been dealing with back issues this week, but will play today.  To make matters worse, sophomore guard Michael Frazier has been dealing with mono and he hasn't practiced except for non-contact drills in recent practices.  Fortunately, he will be available to play today but I'm not sure how much action he'll see considering his limited practice time and recovery from the illness.  Assuming Frazier dresses, the Gators will have 10 active players (three suspended players) for this afternoon's contest.

In the news conference yesterday, senior center (and likely team captain) Patric Young said that he's continuing to work on his free throws (55% shooter over his career).  He made seven out of ten in the exhibition game and his form looked more natural and free-flowing.  Young has also slimmed down ten pounds which will hopefully help with his stamina.  Bringing a consistent energy and intensity level has always been a struggle for him, and we've all seen the differences when he's playing at a high level and so-so level.  He can be a complete game-changer depending on which Patric Young shows up.

Sophomore guard/forward DeVon Walker has improved his shooting dramatically during the offseason.  Head coach Billy Donovan sees him contributing as a member of the perimeter rotation.  Donovan actually gave him the option of redshirting, but Walker trusted Donovan that there would be minutes available if he kept playing well.  Due to the injuries/suspensions, Walker will find himself in the starting lineup today.  He only made one out of five 3-pointers in the exhibition game, but don't expect that to be the norm after all the reports from Walker and his teammates regarding his improved shooting.

Projected Florida starting lineup for this afternoon's game:

#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR)
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO)
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR)
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR)
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR)

Broadcast Information

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

Eli Carter now eligible but many uncertainties lie ahead before season starts

Former Rutgers guard Eli Carter will be able to play immediately this season after being granted a waiver by the NCAA on Monday.  The Patterson, New Jersey, native averaged 14.3 points per game in his two seasons in the Big East.  The junior played in 56 games (46 starts) and hit 94 3-pointers.  Head coach Billy Donovan said, "We are happy to have Eli available to play this season.”  Carter originally transferred from Rutgers following the firing of former head coach Mike Rice, who was caught on tape physically and verbally abusing players.  Carter chose Florida over Maryland.  At 6'2," 200 pounds, he gives the Gators another weapon on the perimeter.  With senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin still suspended for an unspecified rules violation, Carter's addition to this year's squad is welcomed.  However, the transfer suffered a broken leg in February and has not been cleared for basketball workouts.  

Meanwhile, the Gators will continue to focus on individual workouts until they officially begin practice on October 11.  According to Kevin Brockway, the Gators' beat writer for the Gainesville Sun, Donovan said, “We just felt like it would be a great opportunity to work with our guys individually, help them continue to get better and focus on strength and conditioning.  Also, starting on Oct. 11 gets us more into a flow instead of practicing three days, then taking two days off.  This way we can get a little bit of consistency.  Based on our first game and where we're starting, we really felt like we had plenty of time to get ready.”  Senior forward Will Yeguete is still not cleared to play after undergoing knee surgery in May.  

So that leaves Carter, Wilbekin, and Yeguete as uncertainties heading into the last week before practices start.  In addition, freshman forward Chris Walker is academically ineligible for the fall semester.  Assuming he complies with NCAA regulations, he will enroll and join the team in December.  

Florida plays their only exhibition game on November 1 against Florida Southern.  The first regular season contest is November 8 at home against North Florida.