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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October 15th, 2009 02:22pm
by Kevin Brockway
I’ve been asked again to provide a ballot for the SEC men’s basketball preseason awards.
I picked Florida to finish fourth in the SEC East division and no Gator players on the All-SEC team. I also picked Kentucky as the SEC champion and UK freshman John Wall on the All-SEC first team. If there was a ballot for an All-SEC second team, I would have given Kenny Boynton and Alex Tyus some consideration.
Here’s my ballot:
East Division
1. Kentucky
2. Tennessee
3. South Carolina
4. Florida
5. …
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October 12th, 2009 01:57pm
by Kevin Brockway
Florida has scheduled up this season to create a buzz after two years of declining attendance at the O’Connell Center.
Here’s a look at the RPIs of Florida’s non-conference opponents, based on rankings from March 16, 2009.
The average RPI of Florida’s non-conference opponents this season is 131.6 if the Gators face UMass in the second game of the Legends Classic in Atlantic City. If the Gators face Rutgers, the average RPI would be 134.5.
Michigan State – 6
Syracuse – 12
Florida State – …
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October 7th, 2009 07:55pm
by Kevin Brockway
The preseason projections for the Florida men’s basketball program are in.
And they aren’t flattering.
Three major publications (Sporting News, Lindy’s, Athlon) picked Florida to finish fifth in the six-team SEC East. None picked them to go to the NCAA Tournament.
Here’s Athlon’s synopsis:
“The Gators, as always, have talent. But this is a team with issues. It lacks a proven point guard and a proven scoring threat — other than (Alex) Tyus — in the frontcourt. (Erving) Walker and (Kenny) Boynton are incredible …
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October 5th, 2009 04:46pm
by Kevin Brockway
Florida junior forward Chandler Parsons likes what he sees so far from Israeli point guard Nimrod Tishman.
In a video interview with Sun sports writer John Patton, Parsons said of 6-foot-5, 182-pound Tishman: “He’s really crafty and a really good passer. He’s going to help us out a lot.”
Tishman is now working out at the UF basketball facility and on scholarship, according to an athletic department source. But Tishman still needs to be cleared by the NCAA in order to compete …
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