GAINESVILLE | Florida’s basketball team might have a new identity this season, but the goal remains the same.
The 10th-ranked Gators want to reach the Final Four in Atlanta after
seeing their hopes end in bitter fashion in the NCAA Tournament the
previous two seasons. UF has reached consecutive Elite Eights, but
failed to hold 11-point leads in the second half in regional final
losses to Butler and Louisville.
“I can tell you there’s not a day that doesn’t go by that I still
don’t think about it,” said Florida junior center Patric Young, a
Jacksonville native.
“People aren’t going to remember us when we leave that they came up
short. Back-to-back Elite Eights doesn’t sound anywhere as good as
back-to-back championships titles. That’s leaning over my head. I want
to leave here with a championship. We all want to. We know we have all
the components necessary.”
UF certainly has the coach. Billy Donovan returns for his 17th season
in Gainesville. Donovan led Florida to consecutive national
championships in 2006-07, but has warned his team about getting too
caught up in worrying about the NCAA tourney in November.
The Gators take the court for the first time this season when they
host Nebraska-Kearney in an exhibition game Thursday night. UF opens its
season next Friday against Georgetown on the deck of the USS Bataan in
Mayport.
A brutal non-conference schedule, which includes games against
Wisconsin, Marquette, Florida State, Arizona and Kansas State, in
addition to the Hoyas, doesn’t leave UF with an easy path to the NCAA
tourney.
“Our guys really need to be careful with the mentality of we have to
try and get over the hump and get to the Final Four,” said Donovan, who
is 14 wins away from his 400th at UF.
“We can actually end up being a better team than a year ago and not
go as far. With that being said, there’s no guarantee right now that
we’re even an NCAA Tournament team. You have to earn your way into
that.”
Despite losing two key starters off last season’s 26-11 team, the
Gators appear in solid shape. No returning player can replace guard
Bradley Beal, who led the team in rebounding and was its second-leading
scorer as a freshman. He left UF after one season and was drafted third
overall by the Washington Wizards. Point guard Erving Walker also moved
on after a career in which he set the school’s all-time assist record.
However, the Gators have a strong nucleus back. Young, a Providence
School graduate, is a physical force inside, who averaged 10.2 points
and 6.4 rebounds a game last season.
UF also returns shooting guard Kenny Boynton. The senior was the
team’s leading scorer last season (15.9 ppg) and ranks eighth on the
school’s career scoring list. Boynton needs 502 points to break the mark
and has gone over that total in each of the last two seasons.
The school record for 3-point shots made is also well within
Boynton’s reach, as he enters the season needing 27 to set the mark.
Young and Boynton give the Gators an enviable inside-outside combo.
Forward Erik Murphy also returns. The 6-foot-10 senior averaged 10.5
points a game last season and is a versatile scoring threat.
Walker’s place in the lineup has been filled by junior Scottie
Wilbekin, while guard Mike Rosario has a tenuous grasp on the final spot
in the starting lineup. Each player was a top bench contributor last
season.
Donovan has options in his starting lineup, as forwards Will Yeguete
and Casey Prather have proven to be reliable players for UF.
Four incoming freshmen will provide depth, but none are expected to have an impact close to Beal’s.
“It’s going to be different,” Boynton said. “But, I think overall
Scottie is going to step in Erving’s place. I think it’s going to take a
collective effort to replace Beal.”
Overall, UF’s identity will switch to more of a defensive-minded
squad. Last season, the Gators led the nation in 3-point field goals
made with 9.8 a game. Florida still has a good shooting team, but its
roster is stocked with quality defenders.
“I think the one thing that is clear right from the get-go is we have incredible potential defensively,” Donovan said.
Having Yeguete healthy will be a big boost for UF. The junior was
UF’s best defender in the press and one of its top rebounders last
season before breaking his left foot against Auburn. He missed the final
nine games of the season.
“I feel great,” Yeguete said. “I still have the screw in my foot, but
I feel great. If it doesn’t bother me, it’s going to be there forever. I
never feel it.”
