November 17th, 2009 11:26pm
by Kevin Brockway
Each November, as college basketball opens, the excitement revolves around the inevitable upsets.
Over the weekend, 18th ranked Mississippi State fell at home to Rider 88-74. Alabama, in former Florida assistant coach Anthony Grant’s debut, lost 71-67 at home to defending Ivy League champion Cornell. And No. 4 Kentucky needed a last-second shot from heralded freshman John Wall to beat Miami of Ohio 72-70.
Late Monday night, Cal-State Fullerton kicked off ESPN’s 24-hour basketball marathon with a stunning 68-65 double-overtime win over …
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November 16th, 2009 08:47pm
by Kevin Brockway
An Achilles heel for Florida early this season has been its inability to take care of the basketball.
The Gators recorded a combined 39 turnovers in its last two games against Webber International (exhibition) and Stetson. In its season opener against the Hatters, Florida had 18 turnovers and just 11 assists.
Why so many turnovers? Florida coach Billy Donovan pointed out a variety of reasons after watching film of the game Monday morning.
“We had some guys maybe trying to do too much …
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November 12th, 2009 10:55pm
by Kevin Brockway
Fans going to Florida’s season-opener Sunday against Stetson at the O’Connell Center will notice a different sound when starting lineups are announced.
Florida has scrapped the traditional U2 “Where the Streets Have No Name” theme, at least, sort of, in favor of different introduction music.
Players approached Florida coach Billy Donovan during the offseason about having different theme songs when they were introduced. Donovan was open to the idea.
“I think anything that can bring some new energy to our fans, to our …
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November 10th, 2009 03:13pm
by Kevin Brockway
Some thoughts after Florida wrapped up its exhibition schedule with a 104-53 win over Webber International.
– Freshman Kenny Boynton should make up for the scoring lost from the departure of Nick Calathes. Boynton not only was Florida’s top scorer in the preseason (23.5 ppg) but has been efficient as well (13-25 from the field, 10-17 from 3-point range). “I think Kenny has so far shown a pretty good understanding of what’s a good shot and what’s a bad shot,” Florida …
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November 2nd, 2009 06:50pm
by Kevin Brockway
Florida junior forward Alex Tyus made the preseason All-SEC coaches team released Monday.
Tyus was second on the Gators in scoring (12.5 ppg) and led the Gators in rebounding (6.3 rpg) last season. He was Florida’s lone selection, making the second team.
A look at the team, voted on by coaches throughout the league:
First team
Devan Downey, G, South Carolina
Tasmin Mitchell, F, LSU
A.J. Ogilvy, C, Vanderbilt
Patrick Patterson, F, Kentucky
Tyler Smith, F, Tennessee
Jarvis Varnado, C, Mississippi State
Michael Washington, F, Arkansas
Terrico White, G, Ole Miss
Second …
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October 22nd, 2009 12:23pm
by Kevin Brockway
What could have been?
Kentucky junior power forward Patrick Patterson has long been considered the missing piece to Florida’s struggles the past two seasons. For team that has been ranked near the bottom of the league rebounding, field goal percentage defense and shot blocking, Patterson’s presence on the boards at the rim could have made a huge impact.
Patterson acknowledged Thursday morning during Southeastern Conference Media Days that Florida coach Billy Donovan’s flirtation with the NBA and eventual six-day stint with the …
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October 20th, 2009 10:22pm
by Kevin Brockway
Vernon Macklin should help Florida this season because at 6-10, 240 pounds, he’ll provide an experienced presence at center the Gators lacked last season.
But the question remains whether Macklin, a transfer who failed to crack the starting lineup at Georgetown, can be an effective low-post scoring option this season for the Gators.
A former McDonald’s All-American, Macklin showed flashes of his offensive ability off the bench for the Hoyas. He scored a career-high 18 points in 26 minutes against St. John’s …
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October 19th, 2009 04:01pm
by Kevin Brockway
Florida was picked to finish fifth in its division in the men’s Southeastern Conference preseason basketball poll released Monday.
Florida was fifth behind Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and South Carolina in the SEC East. The balloting consisted of 25 journalists who cover the league on a consistent basis.
Kentucky was the overwhelming choice to win the SEC championship, receiving 20 first-place votes.
In addition, no Gators were picked on the preseason All-SEC first or second team.
Here’s a look at the preseason picks:
SEC Champion: Kentucky …
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October 17th, 2009 03:15pm
by Kevin Brockway
Some tidbits from UF’s first two practices on Friday and Saturday:
- Florida coach Billy Donovan is pleased with the overall conditioning of his team. Donovan said that freshman guard Kenny Boynton has arrived in good shape and freshman forward Erik Murphy has arrived in “very good” shape. That’s allowed Donovan to raise the intensity level in practice: “The level of intensity they just sustained in there for two hours, last year they would have had no shot to sustain …
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October 15th, 2009 06:39pm
by Kevin Brockway
– Florida coach Billy Donovan said that so far no red flags have been raised in the NCAA attempting to clear Israeli freshman point guard Nimrod Tishman. Tishman was not made available at media day. “If he was a kid that signed back in November of last year I think it would have been done by now knowing whether he is eligible to play,” Donovan said. “But this ruling will come down well before our first game (Nov. …
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