Gators Notebook: Macklin Hopes for His Second Trip to Final Four; Family Affair for Parsons
Saturday, March 26, 2011 | Men's Basketball, Scott Carter
NEW ORLEANS – Vernon Macklin's journey to the Elite Eight actually started with a trip to the Final Four.
Prior to transferring to Florida and sitting out the 2008-09 season, Macklin played two seasons at Georgetown. The Hoyas made the Final Four for the first time in 22 years in 2007, Macklin's freshman season.
Macklin was a reserve center and never felt comfortable in Georgetown's slower-paced offense.
“To be honest, in high school I didn't watch college basketball,'' Macklin said Friday. “I was so busy hanging out with my friends in the streets. I didn't know what situation I was getting myself into when I committed to Georgetown.''
He soon learned that Georgetown's system didn't fit his low-post talents, and Macklin eventually joined the Gators after visiting Florida and meeting Gators coach Billy Donovan. While his teammates are experiencing the buzz of a deep run in the NCAA Tournament for the first time, so is Macklin in some ways.
“I made it there my freshman year, but I felt like I wasn't a main factor to help the team make it there,'' he said. “So to be here and have the chance to go with this team and have the chance to make it being a starter feels great.''
Macklin reflected on his journey Friday, saying he realized he probably made a bad decision to go to Georgetown the first day of practice in 2006 when the point guard walked the ball up the court. He tried to make the best of being a bench player and play within a system not suited for his skills, but he eventually decided to transfer after two seasons.''
With his college career winding down, Macklin is hoping for three final games with the Gators. He'll be tested in the paint today against Butler bruiser Matt Howard, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward who plays very physical around the basket. Macklin said he arrived on at Georgetown weighing 191 pounds in 2006; he now is at 245 pounds and ready for a battle.
“I'm not ready for my career to end,'' he said. “I love it. I want to thank Coach Donovan and his staff.''
BUTLER'S SMITH IS PROBABLE
Butler sophomore center Andrew Smith (6-11, 239) suffered a sprained ankle in Thursday's win over Wisconsin and missed part of the second half. He didn't practice Friday but is listed as probable for today's game according to Bulldogs coach Brad Stevens.
“I really hope Andrew is able to go,'' Howard said. “That would make a big difference for us.''
FAMILY AFFAIR FOR PARSONS
As long as the Gators keep playing, senior forward Chandler Parsons has his own traveling fan club.
Chandler's parents, Gary and Terri, have attended every game this season except the Gators' win at Tennessee in January.
“Their flight got canceled because of a snowstorm,'' Parsons said Friday.
Gary, Terri and the rest of the Parsons clan is in New Orleans this week as the Gators try to get to the Final Four. A win today against Butler in the Elite Eight sends Florida to Houston and the school's fifth Final Four berth. If that happens, Parsons' family will make the trip. They live in Casselberry, a suburb of Orlando.
Parsons is the youngest of four brothers and Gary played at Rollins College and later professionally overseas.
“They mean everything to me,'' Parsons said. “They travel well. Hopefully, I'm doing Orlando proud.''
TYUS BASKING IN MOMENT
Gators senior Alex Tyus, coming off a 19-point, 17-rebound performance against BYU, was asked Friday if he was glad he decided to remain in school after working out for NBA officials last summer.
“I am really thrilled to be here,'' he said. “It's been great. Starting off the court, I got married. I have a wife and everything is going well with that. As far as basketball, it has come a long way.''
Tyus proved that with perhaps the best game of his Florida career at the most opportune time. He said last summer's experience has helped him enjoy his final season at UF and that he knows he made the right decision to come back.
“It was really just to see what [NBA scouts] were looking for,'' he said. “I never intended to leave and am glad to be here. I'm really excited about playing Butler.''
OLD RIVALS
One Butler player who is very familiar with Parsons is Bulldogs senior guard Shawn Vanzant, who is from Tampa.
Vanzant's Wharton High team was knocked out of the state playoffs twice by Parsons' Lake Howell team in their junior and senior years of high school.
“I didn't forget,'' Vanzant said.
Vanzant said a win Saturday would help him forget a little. While Vanzant has been to UF's campus and has friends from high school in school there, he was never recruited by the Gators. He committed to Butler early and remembers watching the 2007 NCAA Tournament game between Florida and Butler in Tampa his senior year of high school.
The Gators have won both postseason games against Butler in 2000 and 2007.
“My AAU coach actually played at Butler one year, so that connection started there,'' he said. “I definitely am looking forward to playing Florida because that '00, 07 team lost to Florida – so trying to get it done for those guys, too.''
Vanzant isn't the only Bulldog with Gator connections – Butler freshman forward Khyle Marshall is from Davie and his mother is Florida alumna.
QUOTES OF NOTE
n “This is a dream, but you can't get caught in it. You have to be awake.'' – Gators junior guard Erving Walker on playing for a Final Four berth.
n “At first I thought it was his knee, but it was just an ankle sprain. He is all right. We aren't sure what he is going to do, but he seems to be walking around okay.'' – Butler's Chase Stigall on Smith's injury.
n “We're an older team. We're hungry to win.'' – Parsons on Gators' quest to make Final Four.
n “I was at a Gator bar with about 100 fans. It was kind of dangerous. Florida fans didn't like me too much.” – Butler's Vanzant on watching 2007 Florida-Butler game on TV while wearing a Butler T-shirt his senior year of high school.
n “I don't think we're labeled as the 'bad guys.' We've just got to go out there and worry about us.'' – Macklin on whether Gators would be viewed as the “bad guys'' if they knock Butler from the tournament after knocking out BYU and Jimmer Fredette.
n “Absolutely … I think Butler has proven that they're as good as any program in the country.'' – Donovan on whether Butler has risen above Cinderella status.
