Chiozza Out 10-14 Days

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Chris Chiozza's shoulder injury will sideline Florida's standout senior point guard anywhere from 10-14 days, the team's team's medical staff determined Friday.

Chiozza sustained a sprain to his left AC joint Thursday night when he slammed into a screen on the second possession of the No. 8 Gators' 88-47 exhibition game victory at Jacksonville. Chiozza tried to play through the pain, but took himself out of the game after only a minute and did not return.

What the timeline means regarding Chiozza's status for Florida's season opener Nov. 13 against Gardner-Webb will be based on how the shoulder responds to treatment and rehab the next two weeks. UF trainer David Werner said he wouldn't be surprised if Chiozza was back at practice, even on a limited basis, after a week.

"He's the toughest guy on the team," Werner said.

With 105 career games, Chiozza also is the most experienced (and valuable) player on the UF squad, but the 2017-18 season will be his first with the point guard spot all to himself. What's more, Chiozza is the only player on the roster that has logged true point guard minutes at this level. His place will be taken in the lineup by a three-man committee of juniors KeVaughn Allen and Jalen Hudson, both more suited for the two-guard spot, as well as freshman Michael Okauru, who got 20 minutes at the point against JU.

Chiozza, the 6-foot, 180-pound senior from Memphis, Tenn., has averaged 6.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists for his career, but played his best basketball as a Gator the second half of last season, as Florida went 27-9, finished second in the Southeastern Conference and reached the Elite Eight.

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Players Mentioned

KeVaughn Allen

Chris Chiozza

Jalen Hudson

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