April 9th, 2013 06:41pm
by Kevin Brockway
It’s early, but national college basketball analysts project Florida as a top 10 team again next season.
Florida was picked 6th in the country in CBSSports.com’s early Top 25 and 7th in ESPN.com Jason King’s preseason top 25 for 2013-14.
The Gators lose their top three scorers from 2012-13 (seniors Erik Murphy, Kenny Boynton and Mike Rosario), but return four seniors, including starting center Patric Young and starting point guard Scottie Wilbekin. The Gators also should be deeper next season with the …
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April 8th, 2013 12:32pm
by Kevin Brockway
With Florida’s 79-59 loss to Michigan in the Elite Eight, the Gators fell a win short of the Final Four for the third straight season.
Give Florida coach Billy Donovan credit. He’s mentioned how those outside view the tournament in terms of pinnacles. But he’s consistently maintained that whether you lose in the first round, the Elite Eight or even the national title game, there’s always disappointment or feeling of a goal left unfulfilled.
But let’s put into perspective how hard it …
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April 4th, 2013 05:24pm
by Kevin Brockway
On the surface, incoming Florida signees Kasey Hill and Chris Walker didn’t have overwhelming performances at the McDonald’s All-American game.
Hill, who started at point guard for the East squad, had 2 points, 1 assists and 2 turnovers in limited playing time. Walker, meanwhile, had 4 points, 6 rebounds and 1 blocked shot off the bench.
But an NBA scout who watched both Hill and Walker during practices and the game in Chicago remains high on the two players who compose UF’s …
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April 1st, 2013 09:32am
by Kevin Brockway
The curious case of Patric Young was apparent in Florida’s 79-59 Elite Eight loss to Michigan.
With a gameplan that featured dumping the ball to him and Erik Murphy inside, Young picked up two early fouls and never got in the flow of the game, finishing with 8 points and 7 rebounds in 25 minutes. He was 4 of 8 from the floor and missed several bunnies around the basket.
Should we be surprised? Maybe not. Here’s what Florida coach Billy Donovan …
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March 30th, 2013 01:52pm
by Kevin Brockway
Florida coach Billy Donovan achieved a couple of significant milestones in Friday night’s 62-50 win over Florida Gulf Coast.
Donovan picked up his 450th career win. He’s now 450-185 in 19 seasons overall and 415-165 in 17 seasons at Florida.
Also, Donovan picked up his 31st NCAA Tournament win, passing Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp for the most NCAA Tournament wins by a Southeastern Conference coach. Donovan is 31-10 (.781) in 41 NCAA Tournament games.
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March 27th, 2013 02:48pm
by Kevin Brockway
Florida Gulf Coast University sophomore point guard Brett Comer has emerged as one of the surprise stars of the NCAA Tournament.
But to those inside college basketball, Comer’s rise on college basketball’s biggest stage isn’t so shocking.
Miami coach Jim Larranaga called Comer “one of the best point guards in the country.” Florida coach Billy Donovan compared Comer to Missouri point guard Phil Pressey in terms of his court vision and ability to get others around him involved. Comer is 16th nationally …
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March 26th, 2013 08:53pm
by Kevin Brockway
For Florida, it’s been a joyous run to Dallas, Texas, for the Sweet 16.
For me, it’s been a trip of mixed emotions.
It’s my first time back to the Dallas area since I sold my dad’s house in 2007. He died a year earlier in 2006 at 62 of a massive heart attack.
He was a heavy smoker, an addiction he couldn’t kick. My dad had his faults, but I choose to remember the good times, like when he taught me to …
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March 25th, 2013 12:54am
by Kevin Brockway
For the second straight year, Florida is facing a No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Last year, the Gators knocked off 15th-seed Norfolk State in the Round of 32. This time, Florida is facing Florida Gulf Coast University, the first 15-seed ever to make the Sweet 16. Game time on Friday is scheduled for 9:57 p.m. ET on TBS at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Miami coach Jim Larranaga is aware of the problems FGCU can present. FGCU knocked off the …
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March 24th, 2013 02:12pm
by Kevin Brockway
Regardless of how the 2012-13 season ends, the future looks bright for Florida.
Florida’s incoming 2013 class includes a pair of in-state McDonald’s All-Americans — 6-foot-10 power forward Chris Walker of Bonifay and 6-1 point guard Kasey Hill of Eustis.
Florida assistant coach Matt McCall spearheaded the efforts of recruiting both standouts and has kept tabs on them since they signed their letters of intent in November. McCall was in Lakeland to watch Walker lead Holmes County to the Class A state …
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March 23rd, 2013 12:51pm
by Kevin Brockway
It wasn’t an easy night at the office for Florida 6-foot-9, 247-pound big man Patric Young on Friday night.
Most of Florida’s players welcomed the up-tempo matchup against Northwestern State. But for Young, there were some early struggles. Young was subbed out for Will Yeguete just 3:21 into the game and was noticeably breathing heavily on the bench.
“Yeah, I was a little tired, but I was working my butt off,” Young said. “Coach does a really good job of subbing us …
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Kevin Brockway gave up on his dream of becoming a lefty starting pitcher for the New York Mets when he walked four straight batters, then hit one in a middle school game in Suffern, N.Y. Since graduating college in 1993, he’s worked as a sports writer at daily newspapers throughout the state of Florida, beginning with the Key West Citizen. He then moved on to the Northwest Florida Daily News and Naples Daily News before becoming the men’s basketball writer for The Gainesville Sun in 2003. Brockway has won multiple state and national writing awards during his 16-year career. Favorite pastimes include karaoke and watching baseball. Favorite college hoops team growing up was St. John’s.