Florida Gator Hoops Preview
November 12, 2009 by Jim Folsom
Filed under Mens, The Nosebleeds
The last two basketball seasons have been big disappointments in Gator Country. Following up two national titles with two trips to the NIT was not what Gator fans had in mind. This year’s squad looks to get UF back into the NCAA Tournament, a place where Gator fans hah taken for granted up until 2008. After watching last night’s final exhibition game, there is good reason to hope.
Where will Florida end up?
I see many prognosticators have the Florida Gators finishing firth in the SEC East this year. On rivals.com, for instance they site the fact that Erving Walker will be taking over at point guard for the departed Nick Calathes. It sure is funny that two years ago that same website rated Erving # 102 player in the nation and #19 among point guards. Now all of a sudden he stinks? Is that because he plays for Florida?
The Gators have been suffering from a lack of size since Marrese Speights left after the ’07-’08 season for the NBA. Last year Alex Tyus was forced to play center most of the time with Dan Werner at power forward. This year’s team adds Vernon Maclin, a transfer from Georgetown at center along with sophomore Kenny Kadji. Both men a big and can run the floor. Kadji looks vastly improved from his freshman year. He should be the starter on Sunday, the Gators opener vs. Stetson.
With that, Tyus gets to go to the forward position and guard smaller players. He also will be guarded by smaller players. Look for him to be a huge player this year. Chandler parsons at the small forward looks much improved. Perhaps he is ready to break out of Calathes’ shadow. The two played high school ball together and parsons has always been second fiddle. Without Nick, maybe he will bust out. Let’s hope so.
Where the Gators really upgrade is with its incoming freshmen. Kenny Boynton will more than make up for Calathes’ points and assists. He is a big time player. Get a good look at him Gator fans because he will be in the NBA very soon. This guy can ball. Eric Murphy has been described as the “Ahmad Black” of basketball. He’s always in the right place at the right time. He can shoot from outside and he can go inside and rebound with the bigs.
Dan Werner, the team’s lone senior, is coming off the bench. This should be a sign that we have more talent than the past two years when he started. He was also asked to be a huge contributor. Look for him to be a spot up three point shooter this year. When he gets to set his feet, catch and shoot, he can hit the three ball. I look for him to be a pleasant surprise this year.
This team can use several different combinations this year. We can go big. We can go small and quick. We got guys who can play inside. We got guys who can shoot from outside. We got some that can do both. We got guys who can get their own shot and guys who can pass. If this team is only the fifth best team in the SEC East, then the SEC East is going to be something else.
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Gator Nation Worthy?
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The team is on tip top shape and even though they’ll be facing some good team Gators is still no.1.