Gators Look To Get Back On Track Against American
Saturday, December 4, 2010 | Men's Basketball, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – More than three days will have passed by the time the Florida men's basketball team walks onto the court Sunday afternoon at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
Three long days for the Gators to meet, to practice, to try and move past Wednesday night's loss to UCF.
Florida coach Billy Donovan was happy for his former assistant – first-year UCF coach Donnie Jones – following the Gators' 57-54 loss at Amway Arena, telling Jones repeatedly that the Knights deserved to win. However, Donovan wasn't nearly as kind to his team, which struggled offensively and failed to develop any real offensive rhythm in UF's first loss to UCF in 10 all-time meetings.
Other than senior center Vernon Macklin (10-of-11 shooting, 20 points, 8 rebounds), the Gators had trouble producing points. Macklin's frontcourt mates – senior forwards Alex Tyus and Chandler Parsons – combined to score just two points on 1-of-14 shooting.
Guards Erving Walker (16 points) and Kenny Boynton (10 points) had their moments, but in the final 17 seconds, neither could make a potential game-tying three-pointer, adding to the Gators' frustration in a loss that will likely knock them from the national polls.
“Down the road, we've got to play as a team,'' Boynton said. “We're better than that.''
The Gators have an opportunity on Sunday to erase some of their frustration by playing American in the first game of a triple-header at the Verizon Center as part of the BB&T Classic.
Donovan left no doubt about what type of changes he wants to see, especially from the five returning starters who helped the Gators open the season ranked ninth in the AP Top 25.
“Our issues are bigger than this loss,'' Donovan said after losing to UCF. “We have, I think, a group of guys … way too wrapped up in their offense. We're not a cohesive team right now, certainly on the offensive end of the floor.
“What I think they're doing right now is they're not playing together and they're not utilizing each other's individual talents.''
The Gators had won four consecutive games prior to losing to a UCF team that has already knocked off UF and USF in Jones' first six games leading the program. While losing to the Knights wasn't in the master plan, the Gators arrived in Orlando expecting a tough game.
The loss prompted some instant re-evaluation. Donovan and the players know that for this year's team to reach its full potential, they have to turn up their play at notch, and more importantly, their teamwork.
One area Donovan has harped on recently is Florida's assist-to-turnover ratio. Through seven games, Florida is averaging 14.3 assists and 14.1 turnovers. With a veteran lineup intact, that ratio was expected to be more favorable.
Donovan pointed out the Gators' failure to feed Macklin the ball at key times in the second half against UCF. Macklin obviously had the hot hand, but there were two five-minute stretches of the second half where Macklin did not have a touch.
“Let's get Vernon the ball,'' Donovan said rhetorically. “When you're playing the game and Macklin is doing what he's doing, you can't be thinking about, 'I only have three shots' and that's the way we play on offense
“Those older guys are, to me, less concerned about trying to do something great collectively as a group and are more wrapped up in what's going to happen to me.''
Needless to say, Donovan reminded his veteran team of that message the past three days.
Even in the immediate aftermath of Wednesday's loss, Boynton accepted some of the responsibility.
“We didn't play as a team and they did,'' Boynton said. “We played too individually.''
Parsons had one of the worst games of his career in his Orlando homecoming. Parson acknowledged how hyped he was for the game and that the loss was not his or the Gators' finest moment.
“We can't let our offense affect the way we play,'' Parsons said. “We can't have nights like that. We have a lot to getter better on.
“We have a lot of talent, but to be a great team, you can't just have talent. You've got to be a team. You can't have any selfishness. There is a lot of stuff that we can correct and get better and be the team we can be.''
We'll find out on Sunday how much progress they have made.
GATOR GAMEBOX
No. 18 Florida at American
Tip-off: 2:30 p.m.
Where: Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
TV/radio: Sun Sports/Gators Radio Network
Records: Florida 5-2; American 5-2
Notes: Florida leads all-time series 2-0, including a 76-60 win over American on Dec. 28, 2009 … Third consecutive game away from O'Connell Center for Florida; Gators won at FSU, lost to UCF on Wednesday in Orlando … Homecoming of sorts for Florida senior C Vernon Macklin, who played at nearby Georgetown for two seasons … Macklin is coming off his best game of season, making 10 of 11 shots in UF's 57-54 loss to UCF … Florida has outrebounded six of seven opponents … Gators sophomore G Kenny Boynton leads in scoring at 14.6 points per game; Boynton has scored in double figures nine consecutive games going back to last season … American is led by senior F Vlad Moldododveanu, who is averaging 21.3 points and 5.7 rebounds.
