Hoopla! Gators Basketball Preseason Primer

Mike White is 48-24 in two seasons at Florida, including 3-1 in the NCAA Tournament after last season's run to the Elite Eight.

Hoopla! Gators Basketball Preseason Primer

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry

Coach Mike White's third UF team opens practice next week.

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It doesn't seem that long ago that we were on the floor of Madison Square Garden, two days removed from one of the greatest plays in University of Florida basketball history, and watching the Gators play to go to the Final Four.

After a couple seasons on the mend, UF was back, finishing with a record of 27-9 and on the doorstop of the game's showcase event.

No one knows where the Gators will be in the coming March, but the journey gets going in earnest next week when Coach Mike White convenes his third Florida team for full-bore preseason practice for the 2017-18 season.

The team's annual media day is scheduled for Tuesday. The first true practice is two days later on Oct. 5.

Per NCAA rules, the Gators actually have been on the floor for months now, having held a handful of workouts — rules allow for two hours each week during the offseason — since the players reported for the fall semester in August.

Unlike last season, Florida has a pre-Southeastern Conference home schedule to look forward to, as opposed to barnstorming the state for neutral site games. Also unlike last season (and this is important), the Gators have expectations, thanks to that exciting run to the Elite Eight and a core returning group of two starters (three, if you count a certain NCAA Tournament hero), three backups, the addition of a couple key transfers and a promising young freshmen class.

The first game, set for Nov. 13 against Gardner-Webb, is 47 days away.

Consider this an offseason review and preseason preview.

BIGGEST ROLE CHANGE: Chris Chiozza
All he did was give UF fans one of the most thrilling and cherished moments in their basketball history. Now, Chiozza has to do more. Much, much more. And by

definition, that means on a daily basis. For the first time since the spring of 2013, Kasey Hill is not on the UF roster. Chiozza played a ton the last three seasons, but the job as UF's floor general was never truly his and his alone. Instead, he took his share of playing time the last three years and (mostly patiently) waited his turn, along the way providing some incredibly efficient minutes whether running the point himself or playing alongside Hill. Now, as a senior with 105 games under his belt, this is Chiozza's team. His numbers the last two seasons were practically identical (about 7 points and 4 assists per game), but those 23 minutes a game figure to go way up, what with no proven second point guard on the roster ["Cheez" memo: Stay out of foul trouble, young man]. Chiozza won't be the elite on-ball defender Hill was, but look for him to be better on that end this season. He's already a terrific rebounder for his size. Now, he has to be a leader, on and off the court. Actually, with his track record, Chiozza is now the face of the franchise. And he should be just fine with that.

BEST PLAYER: KeVaughn Allen

Junior KeVaughn Allen has averaged 12.8 points his first two seasons and needs only 77 points to join UF's career 1,000-point list.

Regarding Chiozza's aforementioned shot in the Elite Eight, it never happens without Allen erupting for a career-high 35 points inside the basketball Mecca. The 6-foot-2 Allen, now a junior and likely preseason All-SEC selection, led the team in scoring at 14.0 points per game, hitting 43.8 percent from the floor and 37 percent from the 3-point arc. Allen, of course, can get off his shot anytime (be it a pull-up jumper or drive to the basket). He can be streaky with that shot— both ways — and the goal this season is consistency. One development that could help on that front is Allen's conditioning, which had been an issue since he arrived two years ago following a standout prep career in Arkansas. This offseason, however, Allen got rave reviews for his work in the weight room and conditioning tests. This year, he'll be asked to handle some minutes as Chiozza's backup, but also improve his defense and lend more physicality to his game. That means as a rebounder (coaches want more than the 2.5 per game for his career) and hard-driver who draws fouls (to take advantage of a career 86.4 percent from the line).

INSTANT IMPACT: Egor Koulechov
The Gators have a pretty decent track record with transfers — and a really good one with their most recent graduate transfer. Last year, Canyon Barry, by way of College of Charleston, was considered the nation's top grad transfer prospect. Barry chose Florida and became the SEC Sixth Man of the Year after finishing second on the team in scoring. Koulechov, the Russian by way of Rice, could be an even more significant find. At 6-5, 205 pounds, Koulechov is a tad undersized for the frontcourt, but he plays much bigger — and could be as deadly a shooter as there is in the SEC. He was a first-team All-Conference USA performer last season after averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.4 percent from the 3-point arc (hence the nickname "3-Gor") and 81.9 from the free-throw line. How those numbers translate to the bigger more athletic SEC will be one of the more interesting storylines of the season. Koulechov projects at the small forward spot, but his fierce competitiveness, savvy and ability/willingness to chase rebounds will find him at the "4" in some lineup variations.

DELAYED IMPACT: Jalen Hudson

There were times at practice last season that Hudson was the most explosive scorer on the floor — and it was always while playing the opposing team's hotshot on the scout team as he sat out 2016-17 per NCAA transfer rules. In the spring of 2016, the 6-6, 192-pound swingman transferred from Virginia Tech, where he averaged 8.4 points for the Hokies and nearly 35 percent from deep. Hidden in those numbers were three games of at least 20 points, including 27 against Louisville. As a freshman, he went for a career-high 32 against Wake Forest. Without question, Hudson is a gifted scorer with incredible range. Somewhat like Allen, he can his shot when he wants, thanks to his length and high release point. But offense is only half of basketball. One of the reasons Hudson left VPI was because his defense was not up to the standard of Coach Buzz Williams, which was why he only averaged 20 minutes per game (or half a game). The Florida coaches have had some pointed conversations with Hudson about his defense, so there will be no confusing what's expected of him. If Hudson can pick up his level of play (and effort) on that end, imagine UF's options of offensive firepower. While we're at it, imagine a small-ball lineup of Allen, Koulechov and Hudson on the floor together. [Note: Hudson had been sidelined several weeks due to an infection in his elbow that required surgery, but he returned to non-contact work last week and is on schedule to be cleared full go by this weekend.]

ON THE MEND: John Egbunu

UF's 6-11, 255-pound senior center had come around to play the best basketball of what had been a tough individual campaign when he suffered a season-ending knee injury Feb. 14 at Auburn. Egbunu graduated in May and thus had options, but decided to leave his rehab and comeback in the hands of trainer David "Duke" Werner and play a fifth-year senior season as a Gator. Egbunu is on a timeline that should clear him to play sometime in January, likely several weeks into the SEC schedule. Assuming he regains form, Egbunu is an elite post defender who greatly improved his ball-screen defense last season and, as an excellent shot-blocker (127 for his career), makes for quite the deterrent for those who dare drive the middle. The UF coaches are glad he's back. It's always better to have a proven, experienced commodity on the roster — his career averages show 9.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 54.5-percent from the floor and 90 games — as opposed to a freshman, especially in the post. Speaking of which, freshman center Isaiah Stokes had his senior season at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy ended by a knee injury, as well. The 6-8, 290-pound Stokes is not as far along in his rehab progress as Egbunu, which ultimately will determine whether he plays this season or takes a medical redshirt year to heal.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE: Kevarrius Hayes

In a blowout win at Oklahoma last season, Kevarrius Hayes had a career game with 20 points on 7-for-11 from the floor, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.

The 6-9 Hayes has been a joy for the UF coaches since he arrived on campus. His end-to-end effort pairs nicely with his combination of athleticism and length. In his sophomore season, Hayes averaged 6.2 points and 4.4 rebounds while leading the team with 60 blocks in starting nine of the final 10 games following Egbunu's loss. Although Hayes has gotten stronger, he's still undersized for an SEC center. When matched against bulkier, more physical bigs (Georgia's Yante Maten, South Carolina's Chris Silva, Vanderbilt's Jeff Roberson, all of whom are back this season), Hayes got pushed around in the post. He's done everything asked of him in the weight room, but his wiry frame is only going to get so big. Instead, the Gators will rely on his motor to make things happen in the paint and in transition. That works in White's system, but with Hayes' bouncy energy comes the need to rest (not to mention occasional foul trouble). Enter 6-11, 230-pound sophomore Gorjok Gak, who in 15 games last season averaged 1.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 5.3 minutes. Gak got some much-needed bonus experience playing for his native Australia in the World University Games over the summer, but how much a 17/10 double-double vs. Estonia translates against Kentucky remains to be seen.

PRESSURE'S ON: Keith Stone
With Justin Leon graduating, Devin Robinson turning pro and Hayes, by necessity, playing inside, the 6-8, 240-pound Stone is the only true power forward on the roster with college basketball minutes. And, truth be told, they're inconsistent minutes. Stone will admit as much. As a redshirt freshman last season, Stone came off the

bench with some huge games during the first half of the season: 15 points, eight rebounds against Miami; 14 points and a career-high 17 during the same week in wins over Alabama on the road and home against Georgia, respectively. Then he went 10 games without making shot. After shaking from his offensive funk late in the season, he had some defensive lapses (especially in losses to Vanderbilt) that tested the coaches' confidence in his ability to guard. Ultimately, his up-and-down rookie season showed 3.6 points on 42 percent from the floor and nearly 33 from the arc to go with 2.2 rebounds. Now entering his third season (including a development redshirt year as a true freshman), Stone has to take a big step forward in all facets of his game. The Gators need a breakout season from him and Stone, during the offseason, did his part when it came to extra time in the gym. Best of all, he understands the challenge being put to him -- and he's embracing it.

'FRESH' FACES: Chase Johnson and Deaundrae Ballard
So which of the four freshmen are most likely to announce themselves as rookies? Call Johnson and Ballard "1" and "1a," respectively. Johnson, the 6-9, 205-pounder from Riply, W. Va., is a long and athletic forward who is exceptional at sprinting the floor. He's a product of the hoops factory at Huntington (W.Va.) Prep — among the alum: Andrew Wiggins, Moses Kingsley, Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Miles Bridges — so he knows what it means to play a role. He gets a slight edge here because the opportunity

for backup minutes at the "4" spot looks wide open, what with 6-9, 222-pound redshirt freshman Dontay Bassett, who took a medical redshirt in '16-17 following foot surgery, his top competition. Johnson's acknowledgement here should in no way diminish what the 6-5 Ballard has done since arriving on campus in July. Ballard has been in the gym more than any player on the roster (5 a.m. on many days). He was the highest-rated among UF's incoming freshmen (a consensus top-75 player) and scored 2,500 points during his career at Southwest Atlanta High. But he'll also have to be patient as far as opportunities on the perimeter, the area where UF is deepest and most experienced. Freshman point guard Mike Okauru is another factory guy. His Brewster (N.H.) Academy, loaded with Division-I guys, went 33-0 and won the mythical prep national title last season. Where the 6-3, 180-pound Okauru fits in depends on how well he adapts to to the speed of the game, but also how well Allen plays with the ball in his hands.