Game 27: #2 University of Florida Gators (24-2, 13-0 SEC) at Ole Miss (16-10, 7-6 SEC)
C.M. "Tad" Smith Coliseum (capacity: 8,867), Oxford, Mississippi. 12:00 p.m.
Opinion/Analysis
The Gators travel to Oxford to face the Ole Miss Rebels, a team that defeated Florida in the SEC Championship game last season. The Rebels, under head coach Andy Kennedy, are led by two players: Marshall Henderson and Jarvis Summers. How those two players play will determine the outcome of today's game. Henderson, who averages 4.5 3-pointers per game, is the epitome of a love/hate player: If you're an Ole Miss fan, you love him; however, if you're an opposing fan, you hate him. His antics can drive fans crazy (including myself) and I cannot hide the fact that I dislike him. But he's a great scorer and I have to give him credit for that. Summers isn't too shabby, either, as he averages 17 points per game. Ole Miss' frontcourt players are bigger than Florida's, but they don't really give the Rebels much in terms of offense.
The Gators, who have a chance to move up to #1 in the country with a win today, come into today's game a little hobbled. Michael Frazier (wrist) might see his shooting affected, while backup point guard Kasey Hill (groin) is out. The Gators are going for their 19th-straight victory. The Gators are 5-3 at Ole Miss under head coach Billy Donovan.
The Rebels will be fired up for this game after dropping Tuesday's contest to Kentucky at home. If Henderson is hitting shots and the crowd starts going crazy, the Gators might be in trouble. Dorian Finney-Smith needs to get his rhythm back, as he's 0/18 from 3-point range in the last six games.
Ole Miss has lost four of its last five games, but averages more 3-pointers (8.1) per game than any team in the SEC, but also gives up the most threes (7.0) in the conference.
Projected starting lineups and reserves:
FLORIDA
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 pounds, SR) Season stats: 13.6 points per game, 3.7 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 pounds, SO) 12.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 pounds, SR) 15.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 pounds, SR) 5.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 pounds, SR) 10.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.0 block per game
Reserves
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 pounds, RS-SO) 9.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 pounds, FR) 5.6 ppg, 3.2 apg *WILL NOT PLAY (GROIN)
#23 Chris Walker (6'10", 220 pounds, FR) 1.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 pounds, SO) 2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 pounds, JR) 2.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg
OLE MISS
#32 Jarvis Summers (6'3", 186 pounds, JR) Season stats: 17.0 points per game, 38 assists per game
#22 Marshall Henderson (6'2", 177 pounds, SR) 19.4 ppg, 2.2 apg
#10 LaDarius White (6'6", 211 pounds, JR) 7.9 ppg, 3.3 rebounds per game
#34 Aaron Jones (6'9", 220 pounds, JR) 6.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.1 blocks per game
#23 Dwight Coleby (6'9", 236 pounds, FR) 1.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg
Reserves
#3 Derrick Millinghaus (5'10", 172 pounds, SO) 7.5 ppg, 2.4 apg
#13 Anthony Perez (6'9", 213 pounds, SO) 7.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#11 Sebastian Saiz (6'9", 233 pounds, FR) 4.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg
#4 Demarco Cox (6'8", 276 pounds, JR) 4.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg
#1 Martavious Newby (6'3", 210 pounds, SO) 1.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg
Broadcast Information
TV: CBS; Ian Eagle (play-by-play) and Doug Gottlieb (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: CBSSports.com
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Florida looks to continue streaking in highly-anticipated game at Kentucky
Game 25: #3 University of Florida Gators (22-2, 11-0 SEC) at #14 University of Kentucky Wildcats (19-5, 9-2 SEC)
Rupp Arena (capacity: 23,000), Lexington, Kentucky. 9:00 p.m.
Opinion/Analysis
Arguably the most-anticipated matchup of the season takes place tonight as the Gators try to win their 17th straight game and remain undefeated in conference. As part of ESPN's Rivalry Week, they will take on the Kentucky Wildcats, traditionally Florida's biggest rival in the sport. ESPN's College Gameday is on site in Lexington and this is a good omen for the Gators, as they are 4-0 when Gameday is on site when Kentucky is involved. As a fan, there's just something about playing Kentucky that gets the juices flowing more so than any other opponent. I enjoy watching the Gators play at Rupp rather than in the O'Dome because the atmosphere is so electric (not dissing Gator basketball fans, but Rupp is one of the greatest arenas in the game and "Big Blue" fans are the best in the country).
Before this torrid two-game road trip began, I said that I would be happy with a 1-1 split. Playing at Tennessee is never easy, but the Gators were able to prevail, 67-58, with a strong second half performance. Tonight is a totally different matter, though. The 'Cats are 81-2 at home under head coach John Calipari. Coach Cal has called on the fans to stand for the final eight minutes of each half, attempting to use the crowd to spur on his team. What the Gator players need to do is block out the crowd and play ball. What they can control is what goes on inside the lines, not outside. And if they can somehow take the crowd out of the game, that will do wonders for them.
In terms of the series history, Kentucky has dominated, with a record of 94-34 versus Florida. Under head coach Billy Donovan, the Gators are 14-24, including 3-14 on the road. The Gators will be looking for their first win at Rupp since 2007. The last meeting between the two teams was a tough loss for the Gators, as they were scoreless for the final 7:36 and the Wildcats made a valiant comeback to win, 61-57, at home.
Donovan was a Kentucky assistant coach under Rick Pitino from 1989-1994, where he helped coach current Gator assistant coach John Pelphrey (1989-1992).
Experience will be a big storyline tonight, as the Gators start four seniors, along with sophomore Michael Frazier II, and the Wildcats start five highly-touted freshmen. I believe the key to tonight's game will be how each team's bench responds. Can Dorian Finney-Smith, Kasey Hill, Chris Walker, and DeVon Walker bring more energy and provide more lift than Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress, and Jarrod Polson. Another interesting thing to look out for is if one of Kentucky's other bench players steps up. Maybe Dominique Hawkins, Jon Hood, Marcus Lee, or Derek Willis will be called upon.
I expect this game to be really tight until the waning minutes. I actually believe that Kentucky is the favorite, but that doesn't mean I think they'll win. All the stars are aligned for a UK upset tonight. Let's see if the Gators can make a lot of Wildcat fans unhappy tonight.
*Key team stats for both teams:
FLORIDA
Scoring defense: 57.9 points per game (1st in the SEC and 6th in the NCAA)
Scoring margin: +13.3 (1st in the SEC and 14th in the NCAA)
Field goal percentage defense: 39.3% (1st in the SEC and 20th in the NCAA)
Opponent's rebounding: 31.1 rebounds per game (2nd in the SEC)
Turnovers: 11.5 per game (2nd in the SEC)
Turnover margin: +2.4 (3rd in the SEC)
Fouls: 16.2 (1st in the SEC and 14th in the NCAA)
KENTUCKY
Field goal percentage: 46.8% (1st in the SEC)
Free throws made: 501 (1st in the SEC and 16th in the NCAA)
Free throws attempted: 742 (1st in the SEC and 6th in the NCAA)
Points per possession: 1.15 (1st in the SEC and 18th in the NCAA)
Points per game: 78.8 (2nd in the SEC)
Rebounds per game: 41.8 (1st in the SEC and 7th in the NCAA)
Offensive rebounds per game: 14.8 (1st in the SEC and 4th in the NCAA)
Blocks per game: 6.7 (1st in the SEC and 4th in the NCAA)
*Projected starting lineups and reserves:
FLORIDA
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 13.0 points per game, 3.7 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 12.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 15.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.0 block per game
Reserves:
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 9.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 5.9 ppg, 3.2 apg
#23 Chris Walker (6'10", 220 lbs. FR) 2.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg
KENTUCKY
#2 Aaron Harrison (6'6", 218 lbs. FR) Season stats: 13.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game
#5 Andrew Harrison (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 11.0, 3.5 assists per game
#1 James Young (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 14.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg
#30 Julius Randle (6'9", 250 lbs. FR) 15.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg
#44 Dakari Johnson (7'0", 265 lbs. FR) 4.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Reserves
#15 Willie Cauley-Stein (7'0", 244 lbs. SO) 7.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.1 blocks per game
#22 Alex Poythress (6'8", 239 lbs. SO) 6.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg
#3 Jarrod Polson (6'2", 182 lbs. SR) 1.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg
#00 Marcus Lee (6'9", 215 lbs. FR) 2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg
#25 Dominique Hawkins (6'0", 193 lbs. FR) 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
#35 Derek Willis (6'9", 205 lbs. FR) 1.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg
#4 Jon Hood (6'7", 215 lbs. RS-SR) 1.5 ppg, 0.6 apg
*Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN; Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Dick Vitale (analyst), and Shannon Spake (sideline reporter)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
*Statistics, rosters, news, and broadcast information provided by Gatorzone.com, UKathletics.com, and statsheet.com
Rupp Arena (capacity: 23,000), Lexington, Kentucky. 9:00 p.m.
Opinion/Analysis
Arguably the most-anticipated matchup of the season takes place tonight as the Gators try to win their 17th straight game and remain undefeated in conference. As part of ESPN's Rivalry Week, they will take on the Kentucky Wildcats, traditionally Florida's biggest rival in the sport. ESPN's College Gameday is on site in Lexington and this is a good omen for the Gators, as they are 4-0 when Gameday is on site when Kentucky is involved. As a fan, there's just something about playing Kentucky that gets the juices flowing more so than any other opponent. I enjoy watching the Gators play at Rupp rather than in the O'Dome because the atmosphere is so electric (not dissing Gator basketball fans, but Rupp is one of the greatest arenas in the game and "Big Blue" fans are the best in the country).
Before this torrid two-game road trip began, I said that I would be happy with a 1-1 split. Playing at Tennessee is never easy, but the Gators were able to prevail, 67-58, with a strong second half performance. Tonight is a totally different matter, though. The 'Cats are 81-2 at home under head coach John Calipari. Coach Cal has called on the fans to stand for the final eight minutes of each half, attempting to use the crowd to spur on his team. What the Gator players need to do is block out the crowd and play ball. What they can control is what goes on inside the lines, not outside. And if they can somehow take the crowd out of the game, that will do wonders for them.
In terms of the series history, Kentucky has dominated, with a record of 94-34 versus Florida. Under head coach Billy Donovan, the Gators are 14-24, including 3-14 on the road. The Gators will be looking for their first win at Rupp since 2007. The last meeting between the two teams was a tough loss for the Gators, as they were scoreless for the final 7:36 and the Wildcats made a valiant comeback to win, 61-57, at home.
Donovan was a Kentucky assistant coach under Rick Pitino from 1989-1994, where he helped coach current Gator assistant coach John Pelphrey (1989-1992).
Experience will be a big storyline tonight, as the Gators start four seniors, along with sophomore Michael Frazier II, and the Wildcats start five highly-touted freshmen. I believe the key to tonight's game will be how each team's bench responds. Can Dorian Finney-Smith, Kasey Hill, Chris Walker, and DeVon Walker bring more energy and provide more lift than Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress, and Jarrod Polson. Another interesting thing to look out for is if one of Kentucky's other bench players steps up. Maybe Dominique Hawkins, Jon Hood, Marcus Lee, or Derek Willis will be called upon.
I expect this game to be really tight until the waning minutes. I actually believe that Kentucky is the favorite, but that doesn't mean I think they'll win. All the stars are aligned for a UK upset tonight. Let's see if the Gators can make a lot of Wildcat fans unhappy tonight.
*Key team stats for both teams:
FLORIDA
Scoring defense: 57.9 points per game (1st in the SEC and 6th in the NCAA)
Scoring margin: +13.3 (1st in the SEC and 14th in the NCAA)
Field goal percentage defense: 39.3% (1st in the SEC and 20th in the NCAA)
Opponent's rebounding: 31.1 rebounds per game (2nd in the SEC)
Turnovers: 11.5 per game (2nd in the SEC)
Turnover margin: +2.4 (3rd in the SEC)
Fouls: 16.2 (1st in the SEC and 14th in the NCAA)
KENTUCKY
Field goal percentage: 46.8% (1st in the SEC)
Free throws made: 501 (1st in the SEC and 16th in the NCAA)
Free throws attempted: 742 (1st in the SEC and 6th in the NCAA)
Points per possession: 1.15 (1st in the SEC and 18th in the NCAA)
Points per game: 78.8 (2nd in the SEC)
Rebounds per game: 41.8 (1st in the SEC and 7th in the NCAA)
Offensive rebounds per game: 14.8 (1st in the SEC and 4th in the NCAA)
Blocks per game: 6.7 (1st in the SEC and 4th in the NCAA)
*Projected starting lineups and reserves:
FLORIDA
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 13.0 points per game, 3.7 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 12.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 15.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.0 block per game
Reserves:
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 9.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 5.9 ppg, 3.2 apg
#23 Chris Walker (6'10", 220 lbs. FR) 2.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg
KENTUCKY
#2 Aaron Harrison (6'6", 218 lbs. FR) Season stats: 13.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game
#5 Andrew Harrison (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 11.0, 3.5 assists per game
#1 James Young (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 14.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg
#30 Julius Randle (6'9", 250 lbs. FR) 15.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg
#44 Dakari Johnson (7'0", 265 lbs. FR) 4.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Reserves
#15 Willie Cauley-Stein (7'0", 244 lbs. SO) 7.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.1 blocks per game
#22 Alex Poythress (6'8", 239 lbs. SO) 6.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg
#3 Jarrod Polson (6'2", 182 lbs. SR) 1.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg
#00 Marcus Lee (6'9", 215 lbs. FR) 2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg
#25 Dominique Hawkins (6'0", 193 lbs. FR) 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
#35 Derek Willis (6'9", 205 lbs. FR) 1.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg
#4 Jon Hood (6'7", 215 lbs. RS-SR) 1.5 ppg, 0.6 apg
*Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN; Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Dick Vitale (analyst), and Shannon Spake (sideline reporter)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
*Statistics, rosters, news, and broadcast information provided by Gatorzone.com, UKathletics.com, and statsheet.com
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Gators travel to Starkville to face Bulldogs
Game 20: #3 University of Florida Gators (17-2, 6-0 SEC) at Mississippi State University Bulldogs (13-6, 3-3 SEC)
Humphrey Coliseum (capacity: 10,575), Starkville, Mississippi 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN2; Rece Davis (play-by-play) and Bob Knight (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
Now ranked third in the country, Florida could easily get too over-confident and find itself in a dogfight with a pesky Mississippi State squad. The Bulldogs have already eclipsed their win total from last season (10) and coach Rick Ray deserves consideration for SEC Coach of the Year if they keep their conference record around or above .500. Ray's team is second in the conference and eighth in the country in steals with 8.8 per game. They are 11-1 at "The Hump," where they average 27.2 free throw attempts. In their last game, they lost to in-state rival Ole Miss, 82-63. They are led, primarily, by three sophomores: Gavin Ware, Fred Thomas, and Craig Sword. Ware is their tallest active player at 6'9" and it shows, as their rebounding margin is -1.4. Mississippi State is only shooting 30.9% from 3-point range, making 4.6 per game. They will have to improve in that area tonight if they want to avenge last year's losses to Florida, 82-47 (Starkville) and 83-58 (Gainesville).
Florida received good news this week with the announcement that freshman forward Chris Walker would become eligible for Tuesday's game at home against Missouri (9:00 p.m.). The NCAA had been investigating Walker's amateur status, but he had been practicing with the team after enrolling in the university after the fall semester following his completion of high school credits. As far as tonight's game is concerned, the Gators will be looking to extend their 11-game winning streak (longest since beginning 2005-2006 season 17-0), but don't think that Mississippi State will hand it to them. The crowd will certainly be electric and it is key for the Gators to not play down to the Bulldogs' level. The area where I'll be paying close attention to is turnovers. The Bulldogs force 15.6 turnovers per game, so Kasey Hill and Scottie Wilbekin need to take care of the ball.
Projected lineups and reserves
Florida
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 12.5 points per game, 3.4 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 12.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 16.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Bench
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 10.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 6.5 ppg, 3.3 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Mississippi State
#4 Trivante Bloodman (6'0", 182 lbs. JR) Season stats: 5.8 points per game, 2.4 assists per game
#32 Craig Sword (6'3", 194 lbs. SO) 13.9 ppg, 3.6 rebounds per game
#1 Fred Thomas (6'5", 206 lbs. SO) 8.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#3 Colin Borchert (6'8", 231 lbs. SR) 10.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg
#20 Gavin Ware (6'9", 268 lbs. SO) 11.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg
Bench
#25 Roquez Johnson (6'7", 197 lbs. JR) 10.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg
#15 I.J. Ready (5'11", 170 lbs. FR) 6.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#24 Tyson Cunningham (6'3", 197 lbs. SR) 1.7 ppg, 0.4 rpg
Humphrey Coliseum (capacity: 10,575), Starkville, Mississippi 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN2; Rece Davis (play-by-play) and Bob Knight (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
Now ranked third in the country, Florida could easily get too over-confident and find itself in a dogfight with a pesky Mississippi State squad. The Bulldogs have already eclipsed their win total from last season (10) and coach Rick Ray deserves consideration for SEC Coach of the Year if they keep their conference record around or above .500. Ray's team is second in the conference and eighth in the country in steals with 8.8 per game. They are 11-1 at "The Hump," where they average 27.2 free throw attempts. In their last game, they lost to in-state rival Ole Miss, 82-63. They are led, primarily, by three sophomores: Gavin Ware, Fred Thomas, and Craig Sword. Ware is their tallest active player at 6'9" and it shows, as their rebounding margin is -1.4. Mississippi State is only shooting 30.9% from 3-point range, making 4.6 per game. They will have to improve in that area tonight if they want to avenge last year's losses to Florida, 82-47 (Starkville) and 83-58 (Gainesville).
Florida received good news this week with the announcement that freshman forward Chris Walker would become eligible for Tuesday's game at home against Missouri (9:00 p.m.). The NCAA had been investigating Walker's amateur status, but he had been practicing with the team after enrolling in the university after the fall semester following his completion of high school credits. As far as tonight's game is concerned, the Gators will be looking to extend their 11-game winning streak (longest since beginning 2005-2006 season 17-0), but don't think that Mississippi State will hand it to them. The crowd will certainly be electric and it is key for the Gators to not play down to the Bulldogs' level. The area where I'll be paying close attention to is turnovers. The Bulldogs force 15.6 turnovers per game, so Kasey Hill and Scottie Wilbekin need to take care of the ball.
Projected lineups and reserves
Florida
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 12.5 points per game, 3.4 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 12.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 16.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Bench
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 10.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 6.5 ppg, 3.3 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Mississippi State
#4 Trivante Bloodman (6'0", 182 lbs. JR) Season stats: 5.8 points per game, 2.4 assists per game
#32 Craig Sword (6'3", 194 lbs. SO) 13.9 ppg, 3.6 rebounds per game
#1 Fred Thomas (6'5", 206 lbs. SO) 8.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#3 Colin Borchert (6'8", 231 lbs. SR) 10.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg
#20 Gavin Ware (6'9", 268 lbs. SO) 11.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg
Bench
#25 Roquez Johnson (6'7", 197 lbs. JR) 10.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg
#15 I.J. Ready (5'11", 170 lbs. FR) 6.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#24 Tyson Cunningham (6'3", 197 lbs. SR) 1.7 ppg, 0.4 rpg
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Traditional rival Tennessee comes to town
Game 19: University of Tennessee Volunteers (12-6, 3-2 SEC) at #6 University of Florida Gators (16-2, 5-0 SEC)
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida 4:00 p.m.
Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN; Mark Jones (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
Despite travel problems on Thursday, Florida is confident in their preparation for today's game against one of its biggest rivals. Due to mechanical issues with their chartered plane, the Gators watched film in the hotel in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Thursday night following their 68-62 win over Alabama. They then had a light practice yesterday after getting into Gainesville around noon. But the players and coaching staff aren't making a big deal out of their less-than-ideal preparation.
Tennessee, coming off an 81-74 win over Arkansas on Wednesday, is looking for a signature win, with its only noteworthy victory coming against Virginia. Vols coach Cuonzo Martin is in his third season at the helm and this year's team has embraced the toughness that their coach displayed while playing at Purdue. Junior forward Jarnell Stokes is the SEC's second-leading rebounder at 9.7 per game, with Jeronne Maymon fourth in the conference at 8.2. Both big men are 6'8" and 260 pounds. But probably the best pure-scorer in the conference is Jordan McRae, who's averaging 19.2 points per game, good for third in the SEC. The senior is coming off of a 34-point performance in Wednesday's game.
Florida coach Billy Donovan said that the bench will play a big role, more so than normal due to the Thursday-Saturday turnaround. Remarkably, the Gators are 16-1 in those such turnarounds.
Today's game is the 125th all-time meeting between the two schools, with Tennessee leading the series 72-52, including three in a row. The Gators are 16-18 under Donovan against the Vols. The Gators have been taking care of business at home, going 33-24.
Projected lineups and reserves
Tennessee
#2 Antonio Barton (6'2", 180 lbs. SR) Season stats: 8.3 points per game, 2.0 rebounds per game
#1 Josh Richardson (6'6", 196 lbs. JR) 8.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
#52 Jordan McRae (6'6", 185 lbs. SR) 19.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#5 Jarnell Stokes (6'8", 260 lbs. JR) 13.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg
#34 Jeronne Maymon (6'8", 260 lbs. RS SR) 11.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg
Bench
#15 Darius Thompson (6'5", 181 lbs. FR) 2.9 ppg, 2.6 assists per game
#21 A.J. Davis (6'9", 212 lbs. FR) 2.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg
#23 Derek Reese (6'8", 220 lbs. SO) 3.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg
#4 Armani Moore (6'5", 215 lbs. SO) 2.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg
#32 D'Montre Edwards (6'6", 205 lbs. SR) 2.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg
Florida
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 12.5 points per game, 3.6 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 12.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 17.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Bench
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 10.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 6.8 ppg, 3.4 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida 4:00 p.m.
Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN; Mark Jones (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
Despite travel problems on Thursday, Florida is confident in their preparation for today's game against one of its biggest rivals. Due to mechanical issues with their chartered plane, the Gators watched film in the hotel in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Thursday night following their 68-62 win over Alabama. They then had a light practice yesterday after getting into Gainesville around noon. But the players and coaching staff aren't making a big deal out of their less-than-ideal preparation.
Tennessee, coming off an 81-74 win over Arkansas on Wednesday, is looking for a signature win, with its only noteworthy victory coming against Virginia. Vols coach Cuonzo Martin is in his third season at the helm and this year's team has embraced the toughness that their coach displayed while playing at Purdue. Junior forward Jarnell Stokes is the SEC's second-leading rebounder at 9.7 per game, with Jeronne Maymon fourth in the conference at 8.2. Both big men are 6'8" and 260 pounds. But probably the best pure-scorer in the conference is Jordan McRae, who's averaging 19.2 points per game, good for third in the SEC. The senior is coming off of a 34-point performance in Wednesday's game.
Florida coach Billy Donovan said that the bench will play a big role, more so than normal due to the Thursday-Saturday turnaround. Remarkably, the Gators are 16-1 in those such turnarounds.
Today's game is the 125th all-time meeting between the two schools, with Tennessee leading the series 72-52, including three in a row. The Gators are 16-18 under Donovan against the Vols. The Gators have been taking care of business at home, going 33-24.
Projected lineups and reserves
Tennessee
#2 Antonio Barton (6'2", 180 lbs. SR) Season stats: 8.3 points per game, 2.0 rebounds per game
#1 Josh Richardson (6'6", 196 lbs. JR) 8.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
#52 Jordan McRae (6'6", 185 lbs. SR) 19.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg
#5 Jarnell Stokes (6'8", 260 lbs. JR) 13.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg
#34 Jeronne Maymon (6'8", 260 lbs. RS SR) 11.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg
Bench
#15 Darius Thompson (6'5", 181 lbs. FR) 2.9 ppg, 2.6 assists per game
#21 A.J. Davis (6'9", 212 lbs. FR) 2.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg
#23 Derek Reese (6'8", 220 lbs. SO) 3.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg
#4 Armani Moore (6'5", 215 lbs. SO) 2.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg
#32 D'Montre Edwards (6'6", 205 lbs. SR) 2.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg
Florida
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 12.5 points per game, 3.6 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 12.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 17.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Bench
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 10.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 6.8 ppg, 3.4 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg
Saturday, January 11, 2014
2 keys to beating Arkansas
1. "Man down, man up"
The Gators will be without leading scorer Casey Prather, who suffered a bone bruise in his knee during Wednesday's win over South Carolina. Senior center Patric Young, who is arguably playing the best basketball of his career, has been hobbled by tendinitis in both knees and will not start today. Senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin will not start either, after turning his ankle at the end of Wednesday's game. Sophomore shooting guard Michael Frazier II has been dealing with a calf injury. Young has been in and out of practice, while Wilbekin has not practiced since his injury. Both Young and Wilbekin will play today. The Gators have been undermanned all season, with sophomore guard Dillon Graham (hip) and junior guard Eli Carter (leg) electing to redshirt after not being able to get back to full fitness. According to Coach Billy Donovan, the Gator starting lineup will be: Kasey Hill (PG), Frazier II (SG), DeVon Walker (SF), Dorian Finney-Smith (PF), and Will Yeguete (C). Junior walk-on forward Jacob Kurtz will be utilized and should be a big role in today's game.
2. Dealing with the Razorback crowd
Bud Walton Arena is one of the loudest arenas in the country, and the Razorbacks have won 23 straight games here. According to Donovan, Arkansas is a "top-5 team" when they play at home. Expect all 19,200 seats to be filled. Razorback fans should be excited, as #10 Florida comes into town today and #14 Kentucky comes in on Tuesday.
The Gators will be without leading scorer Casey Prather, who suffered a bone bruise in his knee during Wednesday's win over South Carolina. Senior center Patric Young, who is arguably playing the best basketball of his career, has been hobbled by tendinitis in both knees and will not start today. Senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin will not start either, after turning his ankle at the end of Wednesday's game. Sophomore shooting guard Michael Frazier II has been dealing with a calf injury. Young has been in and out of practice, while Wilbekin has not practiced since his injury. Both Young and Wilbekin will play today. The Gators have been undermanned all season, with sophomore guard Dillon Graham (hip) and junior guard Eli Carter (leg) electing to redshirt after not being able to get back to full fitness. According to Coach Billy Donovan, the Gator starting lineup will be: Kasey Hill (PG), Frazier II (SG), DeVon Walker (SF), Dorian Finney-Smith (PF), and Will Yeguete (C). Junior walk-on forward Jacob Kurtz will be utilized and should be a big role in today's game.
2. Dealing with the Razorback crowd
Bud Walton Arena is one of the loudest arenas in the country, and the Razorbacks have won 23 straight games here. According to Donovan, Arkansas is a "top-5 team" when they play at home. Expect all 19,200 seats to be filled. Razorback fans should be excited, as #10 Florida comes into town today and #14 Kentucky comes in on Tuesday.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Florida opens SEC play with South Carolina coming to town
Game 14: University of South Carolina Gamecocks (7-6, 0-0 SEC) at #10 University of Florida Gators (11-2, 0-0 SEC)
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida 7:00 p.m.
Projected starting lineups and reserves:
South Carolina
#1 Brenton Williams (5'11", 172 lbs. SR) Season stats: 11.2 points per game, 1.8 rebounds per game
#10 Duane Notice (6'2", 221 lbs. FR) 6.7 ppg, 2.9 assists per game
#0 Sindarius Thornwell (6'5", 206 lbs. FR) 10.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg
#25 Mindaugas Kacinas (6'7", 210 lbs. SO) 6.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg
#21 Demetrius Henry (6'9", 215 lbs. FR) 7.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg
Reserves
#4 Tyrone Johnson (6'3", 194 lbs. JR) 11.7 ppg, 3.7 apg
#24 Michael Carrera (6'5", 214 lbs. SO) 7.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg
#14 Laimonas Chatkevicious (6'11, 250 lbs. SO) 3.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#32 Desmond Ringer (6'9", 255 lbs. FR) 2.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg
#5 Jaylen Shaw (6'0", 182 lbs. FR) 3.6 ppg, 1.4 apg
Florida
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 11.8 points per game, 4.0 assists per game, 3.3 rebounds per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 11.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 17.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 4.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.0 block per game
Reserves:
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 10.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 7.6 ppg, 3.3 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Broadcast Information
TV: CSS; Matt Stewart (play-by-play) and Daymeon Fishback (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida 7:00 p.m.
Projected starting lineups and reserves:
South Carolina
#1 Brenton Williams (5'11", 172 lbs. SR) Season stats: 11.2 points per game, 1.8 rebounds per game
#10 Duane Notice (6'2", 221 lbs. FR) 6.7 ppg, 2.9 assists per game
#0 Sindarius Thornwell (6'5", 206 lbs. FR) 10.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg
#25 Mindaugas Kacinas (6'7", 210 lbs. SO) 6.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg
#21 Demetrius Henry (6'9", 215 lbs. FR) 7.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg
Reserves
#4 Tyrone Johnson (6'3", 194 lbs. JR) 11.7 ppg, 3.7 apg
#24 Michael Carrera (6'5", 214 lbs. SO) 7.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg
#14 Laimonas Chatkevicious (6'11, 250 lbs. SO) 3.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg
#32 Desmond Ringer (6'9", 255 lbs. FR) 2.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg
#5 Jaylen Shaw (6'0", 182 lbs. FR) 3.6 ppg, 1.4 apg
Florida
#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 11.8 points per game, 4.0 assists per game, 3.3 rebounds per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 11.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 17.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 4.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.0 block per game
Reserves:
#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 10.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 7.6 ppg, 3.3 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg
#30 Jacob Kurtz (6'6", 210 lbs. JR) 2.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Broadcast Information
TV: CSS; Matt Stewart (play-by-play) and Daymeon Fishback (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Bill Koss (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Gators travel to MSG to take on Memphis in the Jimmy V Classic
The Gators return from an extended break to take on the Memphis Tigers at Madison Square Garden. The game is part of the Jimmy V Classic, named in honor of the famed North Carolina State coach, Jim Valvano, who succumbed to cancer. The Gators received good news on Saturday when 2013 recruit and McDonald's All-American, Chris Walker, became eligible to join the team following his completion of course work. Walker had to wait until the end of the fall semester in order to seek enrollment. At 6'10", he would give the Gator front line much-needed depth. He will not, however, be eligible to play tonight due to his status with the NCAA. The governing body needs to clear him before he can be eligible for games. While the announcement of Walker is positive, there continues to be negative news surrounding Damontre Harris, who has been suspended from all team activities since the off season. Coach Billy Donovan said Monday that he cannot see Harris ever playing for Florida. The transfer from South Carolina sat out last season per NCAA regulations and did not have any incidents. The former All-SEC Defensive Team selection was supposed to provide a big presence in the paint, with his shot-blocking ability.
Meanwhile, the Gators finish their gauntlet of challenging games, complete with wins over Florida State and Kansas, and a buzzer-beating loss at UCONN. To go 3-1 over that stretch would be more than commedable; 2-2 would be slightly disappointing. The team is getting healthier, with Kasey Hill (ankle) and DeVon Walker(foot) being the biggest concerns in recent weeks. Both suited up for the Kansas game, but Walker did not play and Hill played a limited amount of minutes. It will be interesting to see how much playing time Jacob Kurtz receives tonight, as Donovan said in his post-game remarks that he felt that he should have played the walk-on more against Kansas. Tonight's game will be a special one for Casey Leather, who is from Jackson , Tennessee, and played against many of the Tigers in high school. This game also holds special significance for Donovan, who is from Long Island and played for the New York Knicks, and assistant coach, Rashon Burno, who hails from Jersey City, New Jersey, just across the river from the Big Apple.
The tip is at 9:30 (tentatively) and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Friday, November 29, 2013
Gators have yet to have full squad in practice or games
Game 7: Florida State Seminoles (5-1, 0-0 ACC) at #15/13 University of Florida Gators (5-1, 0-0 SEC)
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida 7:30 p.m.
Preview
The Gators have yet to have a full roster for both games and practices, for a myriad of reasons. Here is a list of players who have missed practices or games:
Scottie Wilbekin (suspension)
Eli Carter (leg)
Will Yeguete (knee)
Dillon Graham (hips)
DeVon Walker (foot)
Damontre Harris (suspension)
Dorian Finney-Smith (suspension and illness)
Michael Frazier II (mono)
Kasey Hill (ankle)
For tonight's game against in-state rival Florida State, the Gators will, once again, be short-handed. Hill will not be playing for another 3-4 weeks due to a high ankle sprain suffered during the Southern game on November 18. Graham, who played in the first game of the season against North Florida, will redshirt this season after developing bone spurs on both hips. Harris remains suspended due to a violation of team rules. Essentially, Carter is playing on one leg as he has struggled to get back to full fitness following a broken leg last season while playing for Rutgers. To make matters worse, Walker suffered a right foot sprain in Monday's game at Jacksonville and that makes him questionable for tonight's contest. Luckily, Wilbekin had his suspension lifted last game and he gives the team some much-needed depth and experience.
Florida has dominated this series, winning 42 out of the 65 meetings. The Gators are 20-6 at home versus the Seminoles. Last season, the Gators won big in Tallahassee, 72-47. The 'Noles have played a competitive schedule thus far, beating then-ranked #10 Virginia Commonwealth and losing to then-ranked #14 Michigan in overtime, both in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament. Ian Miller leads the team in scoring at 15.5 ppg off the bench. Okaro White is their most complete player, averaging 14.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg. FSU is a tall team, as their projected starting lineup goes 6'3" (Devon Bookert), 6'7" (Montay Brandon), 6'9" (Okaro White), 6'9" (Robert Gilchrist), and 7'3" (Boris Bojanovsky). Off the bench, 7'0" Kiel Turpin and 7'1" Michael Ojo give the Seminoles add even more height to the frontcourt.
Beginning with tonight's clash, the Gators will play five straight games against high-quality opponents: at UCONN (December 2), home against Kansas (December 10), Madison Square Garden against Memphis (December 17), and Sunrise, Florida, for Fresno State (December 21). Coming up very quickly is Florida's first conference game on January 8 against South Carolina. The SEC is much-improved this season, with Kentucky, Florida, and Tennessee expected to lead the way, with dark-horses LSU, Missouri, and Ole Miss right behind.
Key Florida statistics
Points per game: 74.7
Opponent's points per game: 59.3
Scoring margin: +15.3
Field goal percentage: 47.7%
3-point percentage: 36% (31/86)- 5.2 per game
Free throw percentage: 70.3%- 18.2 per game
Rebounds: 35.7 per game
Rebound margin: +3.7
Assists: 13 per game
Turnovers: 10.5 per game
Steals: 8.2 per game
Blocks: 3.2 per game
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida 7:30 p.m.
Preview
The Gators have yet to have a full roster for both games and practices, for a myriad of reasons. Here is a list of players who have missed practices or games:
Scottie Wilbekin (suspension)
Eli Carter (leg)
Will Yeguete (knee)
Dillon Graham (hips)
DeVon Walker (foot)
Damontre Harris (suspension)
Dorian Finney-Smith (suspension and illness)
Michael Frazier II (mono)
Kasey Hill (ankle)
For tonight's game against in-state rival Florida State, the Gators will, once again, be short-handed. Hill will not be playing for another 3-4 weeks due to a high ankle sprain suffered during the Southern game on November 18. Graham, who played in the first game of the season against North Florida, will redshirt this season after developing bone spurs on both hips. Harris remains suspended due to a violation of team rules. Essentially, Carter is playing on one leg as he has struggled to get back to full fitness following a broken leg last season while playing for Rutgers. To make matters worse, Walker suffered a right foot sprain in Monday's game at Jacksonville and that makes him questionable for tonight's contest. Luckily, Wilbekin had his suspension lifted last game and he gives the team some much-needed depth and experience.
Florida has dominated this series, winning 42 out of the 65 meetings. The Gators are 20-6 at home versus the Seminoles. Last season, the Gators won big in Tallahassee, 72-47. The 'Noles have played a competitive schedule thus far, beating then-ranked #10 Virginia Commonwealth and losing to then-ranked #14 Michigan in overtime, both in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament. Ian Miller leads the team in scoring at 15.5 ppg off the bench. Okaro White is their most complete player, averaging 14.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg. FSU is a tall team, as their projected starting lineup goes 6'3" (Devon Bookert), 6'7" (Montay Brandon), 6'9" (Okaro White), 6'9" (Robert Gilchrist), and 7'3" (Boris Bojanovsky). Off the bench, 7'0" Kiel Turpin and 7'1" Michael Ojo give the Seminoles add even more height to the frontcourt.
Beginning with tonight's clash, the Gators will play five straight games against high-quality opponents: at UCONN (December 2), home against Kansas (December 10), Madison Square Garden against Memphis (December 17), and Sunrise, Florida, for Fresno State (December 21). Coming up very quickly is Florida's first conference game on January 8 against South Carolina. The SEC is much-improved this season, with Kentucky, Florida, and Tennessee expected to lead the way, with dark-horses LSU, Missouri, and Ole Miss right behind.
Key Florida statistics
Points per game: 74.7
Opponent's points per game: 59.3
Scoring margin: +15.3
Field goal percentage: 47.7%
3-point percentage: 36% (31/86)- 5.2 per game
Free throw percentage: 70.3%- 18.2 per game
Rebounds: 35.7 per game
Rebound margin: +3.7
Assists: 13 per game
Turnovers: 10.5 per game
Steals: 8.2 per game
Blocks: 3.2 per game
Broadcast Information
TV: ESPN2; Mike Crispino (play-by-play) and Len Elmore (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
TV: ESPN2; Mike Crispino (play-by-play) and Len Elmore (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com
Friday, November 8, 2013
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
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
Thursday, October 3, 2013
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.
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