Parsons Not Ready For Ride To Be Over
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 | Men's Basketball, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Chandler Parsons can see the road signs ahead. He knows that his four-year dream is nearing a wake-up call.
Since he first pulled on a Gator jersey in the fall of 2007, Parsons has been a fixture in Orange and Blue. He played 36 games as a freshman, often sharing the court with his high school buddy Nick Calathes. He started alongside Calathes as a sophomore, and after Calathes left to pursue a professional career in Greece, Parsons continued his career at UF.
He helped the Gators return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years a season ago, knocking down a couple of memorable game-winners at the buzzer along the way. The Gators lost in the first round to BYU and sharp-shooter Jimmer Fredette, leaving Parsons wanting another shot at March Madness.
With the end of his college career in the distance – Parsons has seven-regular season games remaining entering Wednesday's nights visit to South Carolina – Parsons is playing like someone who isn't ready for the ride to be over anytime soon.
All you had to do was watch him run around the court on Saturday night at the O'Connell Center in Florida's win over Kentucky. Parsons was everywhere, enjoying every second as he scored 17 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dish out five assists before a national TV audience on ESPN.
“I'm loving it,'' Parsons said Tuesday. “Committing here seems like it was yesterday and it has been nothing but what I thought it would be. It's been like a dream come true.''
Parsons was so good in UF's 70-68 win over then-No. 10 Kentucky that Gators coach Billy Donovan did something he couldn't ever remember doing: he left Parsons on the court for the entire 20 minutes of the second half.
Parsons had the ball in his hands much of the time, making passes, grabbing rebounds and hitting shots. On one memorable sequence, Parsons flew in from the wing and grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed three-pointer by Kenny Boynton. In one motion, Parsons caught the ball and made a lay-up in mid-air, getting fouled by Darius Miller.
Parsons made the free throw and later added another free throw in the final seconds to help the Gators send a record crowd at the O-Dome home happy.
Donovan had planned to rest Parsons, but Parsons said no thanks. Donovan left him in and enjoyed the show.
“I thought he had an incredible game,'' Donovan said. “He was doing too many things. He was defensive rebounding, starting the break. I felt like I needed him to facilitate offense against their zone. He was offensive rebounding. He really had a complete game all the way through.''
Parsons' final season in Gainesville hasn't been all sunshine. He has struggled with his outside shot at times and his free-throw shooting (54.2 percent) is the lowest of his career. But of late, there's often been no more complete player on the court for either team.
Over the last five games, Parsons is averaging 13.4 points, 12 rebounds and 3.2 assists to help the Gators (18-5, 7-2 SEC) open some breathing room in the SEC East.
During his postgame press conference on Saturday, Donovan added perspective on Parsons' journey with the Gators after arriving here from Lake Howell High in Casselberry with a different approach.
Other than for former Gators center Joakim Noah, Donovan said he has never had a player develop more on and off the court than Parsons.
“I would say that Chandler has made the same kinds of jumps and steps in terms of understanding what this is all about,'' Donovan said. “I think he came in with really a very poor understanding of competition, work ethic, all that goes into this.
“Where he was from the first day he arrived on campus to where he is now, is as great a jump that I've seen from a guy in terms of just changing in every possible way. I'm really, really proud of him.''
At 6-foot-10, Parsons has a unique skill set that allows him to move around the court freely. He can bring the ball up the court, post up down low, or knock down three-pointers.
Parsons is a defender's nightmare when his game is on. He's also developed into a team leader, rounding up the Gators several times late in Saturday's game.
“I try to huddle up the guys every deadball,'' he said. “I like to tell them what we're doing on defense, what play we're running next on offense. You just make sure everyone's mindset is in the right.''
Parsons admitted earlier this season that he lost some confidence after a 1-for-9 shooting performance and 0-for-6 effort from the free-throw line against UCF. Compounding the disappointment was that the Gators lost in front of dozens of Parsons' family and friends at the game in Orlando's new Amway Arena.
Fast forward to Saturday and Parsons was in full bloom, making a difference in every way possible with the game on the line.
That's what he hopes to do the rest of his time in a Gators uniform.
“The other night was unreal,'' he said. “Those are the games you dream about as a kid. I've been watching Florida versus Kentucky since I don't know how old I was. It doesn't get much bigger than that.
“I'm feeling really good. I feel like my teammates are feeling confident in me. I'm not just a scorer. I'm not just a passer. I think I can do a little bit of everything. With my size, I think I have an advantage against some of the people guarding me. I feel like I can do a lot of things to affect the outcome of a game.''
Four years after he recruited Parsons, Donovan is finally watching the player he envisioned on a regular basis.
But that's not all.
“I'm starting to see … a presence there with him where he as a player is giving me as a coach a confidence of him being very reliable,'' Donovan said.
As he nears the end of his college career, Parsons hopes he can continue to make his presence felt the way he has of late. If so, maybe there will finally be some madness for the Gators come March.
“I feel like I've became just a better player and person and Coach Donovan has really helped me out in my four years here,'' Parsons said. “It's been the best four years of my life. It's just crazy to think I've got seven more [regular-season] games left and I'm out of here.
“I just want to make the most of it and keep making my team better.''
GATOR GAMEBOX
Florida at South Carolina
Tip-off: 8 p.m., Colonial Center
Records: Florida 18-5 (7-2 SEC); South Carolina (13-8, 4-4)
TV: SEC Network (Click here for details)
Radio: Gator Radio Network (click here for affiliates)
Game notes: Click here
Need to know: Florida is 4-1 against the SEC East after going 3-7 last season; only loss was to Gamecocks at home Jan. 15 … Gators have won 20 of last 26 meetings but have dropped two in a row … Gators sophomore G Kenny Boynton has made 19 consecutive free throws … Florida head coach Billy Donovan needs one win to reach 350 at Florida … UF is 15-1 when holding opponents to 70 points or less, including 4-0 in SEC … Florida is coming off wins over Vanderbilt and Kentucky, knocking off back-to-back ranked teams for first time since 2007 … Chandler Parsons leads Gators in three-point shooting (46.9 percent/15 of 32) in conference play … South Carolina has not swept season series from Florida since 1998 … Gamecocks F/C Sam Muldrow is second in league with 3.5 blocks per game … South Carolina leading scorer Bruce Ellington (14.4 points) scored 23 in South Carolina's 72-69 win in Gainesville.
