At the Buzzer: No. 8 Florida 116, Gardner-Webb 74 (Instant Analysis)
Monday, November 13, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
The Gators opened the 2017-18 season with a rout of the Runnin' Bulldogs Monday night at the O'Dome.
NO. 8 FLORIDA 116, GARDNER-WEBB 74
WHAT HAPPENED: Fifth-year senior forward Egor Koulechov made a smashing Gators debut by scoring 34 points, along the way drilling six shots from 3-point range, to lead No. 8 UF to an easy season-opening victory over Gardner-Webb. Koulechov, the 6-foot-5 graduate transfer from Rice (and a.k.a "Russian Rocket"), was nothing short of sensational, in scoring 23 points in the first half, raining in shots from inside and out -- but mostly out. He finished 11-for-17 from the floor, 6-for-9 from the arc, 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, and also stuffed the box score with five rebounds and five assists. His 34-point total was one shy of the 35 he hung on Incarnate Word last season for the Owls, but tied the UF record (set by Tom Baxley in 1962) for most points scored by a a player making his UF debut. The Gators also got 16 points from fourth-year junior swingman Jalen Hudson, the transfer from Virginia Tech, who made six of his eight field-goal attempts in what was his UF debut, also. A pair of freshmen, swingman Deaundrae Ballard and guard Mike Okauru, combined to make nine of 16 shots and scored 27 points, to go with six rebounds and five assists. Florida opened a 55-32 lead, thanks to 50-percent shooting from the floor and 10 of 21 from deep, and never looked back. The 116 points was a UF school-record for a season opener.
WHAT IT MEANS: A fat win over a team you're supposed to beat handily doesn't mean a lot, but the Gators now have won 27 straight season openers, dating to a 70-61 loss at South Florida in 1991, the first game of the Coach Lon Kruger era.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: How do say "Duh" in Russian?
STAGGERING STATISTIC: We could go on and on about Koulechov's shooting spree, but what about those five assists? Four came in the first half, which meant he accounted for 31 of UF's 55 points in the period. His 23 points, by the way, were five shy of the school record for a half. That one was set by Tony Miller against Chicago State, who hit 28 of his 54 (als a UF mark) in a half against Chicago State on Feb. 29, 1972.
UP NEXT: Florida (1-0) is back home Thursday night against North Florida (0-3). The Ospreys opened their season Friday night with a 98-66 loss at No. 2 Michigan State, then bused across state to Ann Arbor and were beaten 86-66 by Michigan. It didn't get much easier Monday, either, with a trip to Richmond and 95-85 loss to Virginia Commonwealth -- then on to Gainesville. If a program outside Utah Valley State has played a tougher opening schedule, I don't know who it is. UF has blasted UNF by 29 and 31 points, respectively, on the road each of the last two seasons.
