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 UCLA.

Yet Florida has so far has avoided early upset losses during coach Billy Donovan’s 14-season tenure. Donovan is 56-7 lifetime in November at UF. All seven of the losses have come against major Division I programs.

A look at the losses:

Nov. 24, 2008 – Syracuse 89, Florida 83 (in Kansas City)

Nov. 23, 2007 — Florida State 65, Florida 51 (at O’Connell Center)

Nov. 25, 2006 — Kansas 82, Florida 80 (in Las Vegas)

Nov. 27, 2002 — Stanford 69, Florida 65 (Preseason NIT, New York)

Nov. 9, 2001 – Arizona 75, Florida 71 (Preseason NIT, New York)

Nov. 23, 1999 – Purdue 79, Florida 68 OT  (neutral court)

Nov. 29, 1996 – Creighton 74, Florida 73 (San Juan Shootout)

Though Donovan has done a good job avoiding November upsets, he’s not surprised it can happen.

“Every time you step on the floor and compete anything can happen,” Donovan said. “I think the one thing about the game of basketball and the 3-point line that also alters the game in a lot of respects. It’s early in the year. A lot of teams come in with a nothing to lose mentality.

“But I think every game provides a different set of challenges for you. I think it’s amazing to me that in the month in March, games like that are upsets in the NCAA Tournament, there’s so much more magnitude placed on that rather than if people were paying attention in November they would see that all of the time.”

With Georgia Southern and Troy at the O’Connell Center this week, the question remains, could one of those two catch the Gators looking ahead to next week. Florida’s Thanksgiving week includes games against Florida State, No. 2 Michigan State and a third game with either Rutgers or UMass.

Georgia Southern, in particular, has made Florida nervous in recent years. The Gators needed a career day from senior Dan Werner (20 points) to rally back from a seven-point halftime deficit and beat Georgia Southern 52-49 in Jacksonville two seasons ago. Last season, Georgia nearly let a 15-point halftime lead slip away before holding on to beat Georgia Southern 88-81.

“They may be smaller schools but they still have talent,” Florida sophomore point guard Erving Walker said. “If you don’t bring your A game they can beat you. It just puts you more on edge because you don’t want to be one of those schools that gets knocked off.”

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 off the dribble a bit,” Donovan said. “I thought Chandler had some plays where he over-penetrated a little bit. I thought there were some opportunities where Vernon (Macklin), Kenny Kadji and Erik Murphy had some opportunities around the basket. They bobbled it and lost balls.

“And then the other thing was we had five charges in the game, offensive fouls which obviously led to turnovers. When guys are driving the ball they have to be somewhat under control and understand who is in front of them and who is open and the decisions they have to make.”

Last season, behind former UF record-setting point guard Nick Calathes, the Gators led the Southeastern Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio at 16.8 assists to 12.9 turnovers (1.39).

Sophomore Erving Walker has taken over in his place and has been more than steady with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 21 of 4. Instead,  the big guys  have been careless at times. Dan Werner, Chandler Parsons and Alex Tyus had a combined two assists to six turnovers on Sunday.

“Those three guys have a negative assist to turnover ratio right now,” Donovan said. “That’s something those guys should clean up because one is a senior and the other two are juniors and those are good handling and passing guys. They should be better than what they are.”

Walker is confident the Gators will straighten out their turnover woes in practice this week. Florida next plays Wednesday night against Georgia Southern.

“We’re a team that passes and moves the ball well,” Walker said. “So I don’t think that will be too much of a problem.”

Also of note

- Florida 2010 incoming verbal commitment Patric Young attended the Stetson game and said he sent the school his signed letter of intent. But Florida has yet to announce the signing of Young and 2010 verbal commitment Casey Prather.

- The one that got away? Kentucky freshman point guard Eric Bledsoe, high on Florida until new UK coach John Calipari swooped him away last spring, scored 24 points in his debut against Morehead State to earn SEC freshman of the week honors.

– Florida still has never gone a game without making a 3-pointer in 14 seasons under Billy Donovan. But Donovan was in the building the last time the Gators failed to make a 3-pointer. On Jan. 11, 1992, at Rupp Arena, Florida failed to make a 3-pointer in an 81-60 loss to Kentucky. Donovan was a 26-year-old assistant under Rick Pitino.

The top 10 pop songs that year were:

1. Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

2. Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You”

3. U2, “Mysterious Ways”

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Under The Bridge”

5. Wreckz-N-Effect, “Rump Shaker”

6. Michael Jackson, “Black or White”

7. House of Pain, “Jump Around”

8. Boyz II Men, “End Of the Road”

9. Arrested Development, “Tennessee”

10. Eric Clapton, “Tears In Heaven”

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 students, is a positive,” Donovan said. “We’re trying to get back to the ‘House of Horrors’ theme a little bit. We kind of got away from that the last few years. Our arena, when it is full and and it’s energized, is one of the great homecourt advantages in all of college basketball.”

The intro songs for each player include:

Kenny  Boynton – Young Jeezy, My Hood
Dan Werner – AC/DC, Thunderstruck
Vernon Macklin – Drake, Forever
Erving Walker – Jay Z and Alicia Keys, Empire State of Mind
Alex Tyus – Young Jeezy, I Put On

Werner said he chose Thunderstuck because of his nickname “Thunder Dan” Werner. Boynton said he had someone from the marketing department pick his song for him.

Donovan, meanwhile, kept “Where The Streets Have No Name” for his introduction.

“I’m a U2 guy,” Donovan said.

I always was a big fan of the U2 introduction, but like Donovan, I’m a child of the 80s. Perhaps to some college students, it was getting too stale.

– 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 coach Billy Donovan said.

- Florida has a nice pressing lineup when Ray Shipman, Erving Walker and Boynton are on the floor at the same time. Shipman is figuring out his role as a defender and a scorer close to the basket. If Shipman can carry that energy into the regular season, it will be a huge asset for the Gators this season.

- Freshman Erik Murphy is the best of Florida’s three center-by-committee approach. The only problem is that Murphy (6-9, 217 pounds) doesn’t have the ideal size to bang  in Southeastern Conference play. But  the alternatives have yet to play to their potential.  Starting center Vernon Macklin had a bewildering second straight off night which included as many turnovers (3) as rebounds (3). Macklin also has lacked touch around the basket and often gets caught out of position on defense. Sophomore Kenny Kadji has been inconsistent as well. Most of the 11 points he scored Monday against Webber International came in garbage time. Also, Kadji has drawn an alarming seven fouls in 33 preseason minutes. He’s playing with a little more energy, but will need to harness that once the regular season begins.

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 team

Dominique Archie, F, South Carolina

Wayne Chism, C, Tennessee

JaMychal Green, F, Alabama

DeWayne Reed, G, Auburn

Trey Thompkins, F, Georgia

Alex Tyus, F, Florida

John Wall, G, Kentucky

Chris Warren, G, Ole Miss

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 Orlando Magic played a role in his decision to pick Kentucky over Florida in 2007.

“Oh yeah, that played a factor,” Patterson said. “He told me if he left he would sign something to allow me to open my recruitment back up to other places. I was constantly listening to what people were saying, if he was going to take a job, and he did take a job despite what he was saying, but he came back.”

Patterson also said his parents were prepared to move to Florida if he signed with the Gators.

“Coach Donovan, he’s a great guy,” Patterson said. “They have great players. Through the recruiting process, my father hit it off with him, my mother hit it off. I loved Florida. I loved the teammates, especially the campus and the girls down there. My mom and dad said they wanted to be wherever I was.”

Florida not only missed out on a All-SEC first-team power forward, but a great kid as well. Patterson is on track to graduate in three years with a degree in communications. Asked if he would consider a career as an analyst after his basketball career is over, Patterson said, “Definitely. I could talk in front of the camera, hold the camera up, take pictures, whatever.”

Other SEC media days tidbits:

• New Alabama and former Florida assistant coach Anthony Grant, on Donovan and UF’s back-to-back NIT appearances:

“I think for any program the head coach probably gets more of the credit and more of the blame,” said Grant, who left UF to take over Virginia Commonweath in 2006. “I think for any program to be successful there has to be continuity throughout the program, be it head coaches, assistants, administration. And when you look at the number of changes Billy has had the last two years with players, coaches, that’s a lot to deal with to sustain the level of success that you want to.

“But I don’t think people realize it’s hard to win national championships, it’s hard to compete for SEC championships on a regular basis. Sometimes you get spoiled when you are not in the trenches every day. There have been a lot of great coaches that haven’t won conference championships, let alone division championships. I think sometimes it’s important for people to keep some perspective.”

• New Kentucky coach John Calipari, on teaching the dribble-drive offense to his players, “Sometimes I feel like I’m coaching Martians.”

• Calipari said that heralded No. 1 freshman point guard John Wall and top-20 freshman point guard recruit Eric Bledsoe have been playing together on defense, but not on offense. “I don’t know if they will start together,” Calipari said. “But they will play together.” Bledsoe was heavily recruited by Florida but chose Kentucky after Calipari was hired there last April.

• Calipari said he could see seven or eight teams from the SEC making the NCAA Tournament, and mentioned Florida was one of those teams.

• Georgia coach Mark Fox on adapting to his new job and surroundings after five seasons as head coach at Nevada: “I drink sweet tea and I love the Waffle House,” Fox said. “So I feel like I’m fitting in.”

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 as a sophomore. And he added 10 points and 12 minutes against Pittsburgh. But as a sophomore, Macklin averaged just 3.4 points per game in 12.8 minutes off the bench.

A more alarming stat — Macklin was a career 31 percent free throw shooter (22-71) in two seasons with the Hoyas. With the potential for more playing time, there is hope that Macklin will find a better rhythm from the line. But if  Macklin’s free-throw shooting woes don’t improve, don’t be surprised to see teams employ a “hack-a-Mack” strategy and take their chances from the charity stripe.

So far, Florida coach Billy Donovan has been encouraged by what he’s seen from Macklin in practice.

“I think he’s gotten better offensively,” Donovan said. ” To sit there and say he’s going to be a low-post offensive scorer for us, I don’t know. But I do feel comfortable getting the ball to him, I do think he can score from there.”

Likewise, Florida freshman guard Kenny Boynton has been impressed with Macklin’s scoring: “Vernon Macklin I think he’s pretty underrated as a scorer,” Boynton said. “He has great post moves, is a great finisher.”

Asked about Macklin’s free-throw shooting, Boynton chuckled: “I don’t know about that,” Boynton said. “We’re all working hard there.”

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 (20); Mississippi State (3); Tennessee (2)

Eastern Division

Kentucky (23)
Tennessee (2)
Vanderbilt
South Carolina
Florida
Georgia

Western Division

Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Alabama
LSU (1)
Arkansas
Auburn

First team All-SEC

Devan Downey, South Carolina G
*Patrick Patterson, Kentucky   F
Tyler Smith, Tennessee  G/F
Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State   C
Terrico White, Ole Miss G

Second team All-SEC

Tasmin Mitchell, LSU      F
A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt    C
DeWayne Reed, Auburn   G
John Wall, Kentucky       G
Chris Warren, Ole Miss  G

- 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 that,” Donovan said. “Now the execution part of it, I still think there’s a lot of things we have to get better at. We’re still spending a lot of time on defense. I think we’ll be better defensively but we have to be more of a cohesive group, playing together on the defensive end of the floor. Instinctively we’re a team that really passes and moves the ball unselfishly.”

- Donovan said despite the loss of two-time school assist record holder Nick Calathes, he expected the Gators to play as unselfish as last season: “I don’t know if we’re going to have a player like Nick to get seven or assists per game which in a way could even be a positive because I think the one thing I’ve watched from the last two days is we’re very unselfish,” Donovan said. “We’re an unselfish ball moving team.

“I think with Nick he was so good at making plays and finding people, that the ball was in his hands all of the time. I think we could be a team that could average just as much assists, if not more, but you are probably going to have a group of guys between 3-5 assists instead of having a guy with eight assists. Boynton is a good passer, Murphy is a good passer, Erving Walker is a good passer, Dan Werner, Chandler Parsons we have a good passing team and an unselfish team.”

- Donovan said that he and Adam Allen (knee) discussed the possibility of a transfer over the summer or getting a medical hardship, but that Allen wanted to try to return this season. “For his own peace of mind, he told me he wanted to try to get back and recover,” Donovan said. “I was totally fine with that.”

- Donovan pointed out that Boynton, an incoming McDonald’s All-American freshman guard, has already done  a good job blending in with his teammates: “Kenny has unbelievable belief in himself, but there is a level of humility and he has done a great job endearing himself to his teammates,” Donovan said.  “When you have a high profile players coming in, you always have players kind of look to see what he’s like. But I think he’s done such a good job and is such a great kid, he hasn’t come in with arrogance.”

- Overall, Donovan is pleased with the maturity of his team: “I feel different being around these guys than I did last year,” Donovan said. “I think they’re older. Vernon Macklin really should be a senior in college is a junior now, Chandler is a junior, Dan Werner is a senior, Erving Walker who played a lot as a freshman is a sophomore, I think what (Ray) Shipman went through as a freshman, Kenny Boynton is a good highly recruited kid as is Murphy. I just think there are some pieces there where some of our kids have grown up a little bit physically and mentally.”

– Donovan also said he doesn’t expect the 6-5, 182-pound Tishman, to be a major contributor this season. Tishman averaged 18.3 points, four rebounds and 2.3 assists at the Under-18 European Championships for Team Israel over the summer. “I do feel like he can come in and play for a few minutes and provide us the relief we need,” Donovan said.

– Redshirt sophomore Adam Allen has been cleared do some light running but will not take part in Florida’s first practice Friday. Allen has had multiple surgeries on his left  knee and has degenerated so much cartilage that it’s become a bone-on-bone injury. “There’s a chance I might not be able to play again at this level,” Allen said. “It’s not the end of the world if I can’t play again. I’m disappointed about it. My family is disappointed but you know they know I’m getting a good education.”

- Donovan said that sophomore guard Ray Shipman is in better shape and could be a big x-factor for the Gators this season. Shipman lost 16 pounds this offseason and is maturing. “It would give us great versatility in our backcourt if he can fill his role of what we need him to do,” Donovan said. “He came in last year with too much focus on being a scorer and not enough on being a defender.”

– Donovan is on the cover of this year’s media guide with UF’s three upperclassmen — senior Dan Werner, junior Alex Tyus and junior Chandler Parsons. Sophomore point guard Erving Walker is on the back cover of the media guide with Shipman, Allen and sophomore center Kenny Kadji.