2009-10 Result: 21-13 (9-7 in the SEC) lost to Brigham Young 99-92 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Coach: Billy Donovan 366-159 in 16 years (331-139 in 14 seasons with the Gators).
Twenty Gators have moved on to the National Basketball Association including current players Matt Bonner, Corey Brewer, Udonis Haslem, Al Horford, David Lee, Mike Miller, Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights and Jason Williams.
Florida has made fifteen appearances in the NCAA tournament (10 under Donovan) with a pair of national title victories in ’06 and ’07, an appearance in the 2000 final game, the national semi-finals in1994 and two Sweet Sixteen showings.
Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/16 vs. Ohio State, 11/28 at Florida State, 12/18 vs. Kansas State, 12/31 at Xavier, 1/3 vs. Rhode Island.
Stat of Identity: 14.7 personal fouls per game.
Key Returners:
Kenny Boynton 32.9 mpg, 14 ppg, 2.7 apg
Erving Walker 32.9 mpg, 12.6 ppg, 2:1 A/T
Chandler Parsons 31 mpg, 12.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg
Alex Tyus 28.4 mpg, 11.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg
Vernon Macklin 25.3 mpg, 10.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg
By Paul Casey Gotham
Since winning back-to-back national titles, Billy Donovan and his Florida Gators have been shutout when it comes to the NCAA tournament. With just one invite and zero victories in The Dance, the Gators look nothing like their once dominant selves.
That streak figures to end this year.
With five starters returning, the Gators look ready to not just earn a berth in the NCAA tournament, but to make a run deep into March.
Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker make up Florida’s formidable back court. Both are capable of handling the ball in the open court and making decision on the fly. Boynton and Walker combined to average almost two and a half steals per game last year. They will need to improve their accuracy from long range if the Gators hope to advance to the Final Four. Both hit more than 65 shots from behind the arc, but neither hit more than 35 percent from long range.
Vernon Macklin (6’10”), Chandler Parsons (6’10”) and Alex Tyus (6’8″) give the Gators plenty of size and athleticism in the paint. The trio reigned in almost 19 boards per game. Macklin led with 91 offensive rebounds.
If Florida is to improve they must regain the shooting touch that the national title teams possessed. Donovan’s championship teams both finished the season ranked in the top ten nationally for shooting percentage. This was the result of those teams willingness to be patient and looking for a good shot. Last year’s team took their fair share of shots but ended up outside the top 100.
Five freshmen will vie for a spot in the lineup: Cody Larson, Casey Prather, Scottie Wilbekin, Will Yeguete and Patric Young.
Will we see a little resurgence in the SEC this year? According to SI.com, Georgia has 3 of the best players in the league. They must have started playing basketball there after Mark Richt killed football.
I saw the SI report on Georgia, and I have no idea who they are talking. I saw the Bulldogs play a couple of times last year, and nobody made me sit up and take notice.
A little resurgence is possible especially considering Alabama is NOT getting mentioned. This is Anthony Grant’s second year as coach. It is just a matter of time before they start getting ranked.
But then there is Tennessee. The Volunteers are a crap shoot. Pearl’s problems could galvanize the team or trigger an implosion. Who knows. Of course, everybody is Lady Gaga over kentucky.
“everybody is Lady Gaga over kentucky”
I am completely and utterly ashamed of you. That comment is so alarming and distrubing that I think a 1-week ban from the Pine should be enacted. Only – you’re the commisioner, so what do we do?
hahaha – trust me. I was trying my best to cast the hype-machine otherwise known as Kentucky in a negative light.
Oh, ok. Phew. I was getting ready to call you out because now with both daughters out of the house, you can’t reference things like that and use them as an excuse.
They may be physically out of the house, but their influence still wafts though the halls like the aroma from a Glade air freshener.