Gators women prepare to face stiff test in No. 11 Rutgers and its '55' press
Thursday, December 1, 2011 | Women's Basketball, Scott Carter
The Gators women's basketball team is off to a quick start in head coach Amanda Butler's fifth season.
After a three-point home loss to open the season against Michigan, the Gators have reeled off six consecutive wins entering Friday night's meeting with Rutgers.
Butler is interested to see how her team responds to the challenge of facing the Scarlet Knights and their “55” press implemented by Scarlet Knights Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer.
“If they've not cracked the top 10 yet, then they should be in there,'' Butler said. “They've got that level of talent. It's going to be a giant challenge for us and one we're definitely looking forward to. It's a huge opportunity … and just a great indicator of where we're at right now.''
For the record, the Scarlet Knights are ranked 11th in the latest AP Top 25, so they are definitely knocking at the top 10. However, if the Gators can find a way to navigate Rutgers' pressure defense and pull out a win at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, they have a good shot at cracking the rankings when they come out next week.
To do that Florida will have to minimize turnovers, starting with guards Jaterra Bonds, Lanita Bartley and Jordan Jones as they face pressure from a Scarlet Knights team that features seven former McDonald's All-Americans.
“They're really, really dynamic and explosive in transition,'' Butler said. “They do a great job with their full-court defense. Our schedule to this point I think has prepared us for this type of matchup, playing the type of competition we have in Charlotte and Michigan and Florida State. Hopefully we have accumulated enough confidence and game experience from those matchups.''
Rutgers enters with a 7-0 record and is coming off a 21-point win over Temple on Wednesday night. After a couple of seasons lacking depth to fully implement her “55'' press, Stringer's team is beefed back up as she tries to make it to the Final Four for a fifth time in her career.
If Rutgers gets there, it won't be any secret as to how they got there.
“We're going to press. We're going to trap. We're going to run,'' Stringer said after Wednesday's win over Temple. “Everybody is going to know it. That's the way we're going to play it.”
NEEDLES HAS SURGERY
Gators freshman guard Carlie Needles, who was expected to be a regular contributor this season, underwent successful knee surgery on Tuesday.
Needles tore her right ACL in a scrimmage on Nov. 6 and will be redshirted.
“She is doing well,'' Butler said. “She hopped up to see me on her crutches today.”
