Florida Gators
NCAA Championships
How 'bout some mid-summer basketball blogging?
Wednesday, July 25, 2012 | Men's Basketball, Cross Country, Chris Harry
The start of Summer B session means the start of individual instruction for basketball players. That means the UF staff can work hands-on with guys for two hours per week, not including what strength and conditioning coach Preston Greene is doing in the weight room.
Those two hours can encompass just about anything, including a full-bore practice, but Coach Billy Donovan is staggering the time with some film-watching, individual instruction and even some 5-on-5 games, all the while putting significant emphasis on conditioning, as the summer is the only time in the year a player has a chance to gain weight.
I've stopped by the Taj Mahoops complex a couple times to check in on how the returning players are doing and get some first impressions of the new ones heading toward the 2012-13 season.
Hey, it's July, so we're looking for stuff to write.
Getting the point
The job that Erving Walker handled for the better part of the last three seasons goes to Scottie Wilbekin (above). The junior from Gainesville will get the first crack at the point guard spot.
It will be quite an upgrade in responsibility for the kid known primarily for his off-the-bench role as a defensive stopper, but who also was a quietly efficient offensive player. Might come as a surprise, but Wilbekin hit 43.4 percent of his field goals and a team-best 45.7 percent from 3-point range (21-for-46) last season.
Wilbekin not only looks more aggressive, but also more comfortable driving to the basket, whether looking to score or kick the ball on penetration. 
Wanted: offense
The loss of Bradley Beal to the NBA and Walker to graduation means the Gators will have to replace their second- and third-leading scorers -- or 27 points per game.
Obviously, more will be expected of guys in the front court, but senior guard Mike Rosario (right) will be key, as will junior swingman Casey Prather, when it comes to taking some pressure off seniors Kenny Boynton and Erik Murphy on the perimeter.
Rosario is an obvious candidate for offense, given his arsenal for scoring (not to mention his ... um ... willingness to shoot). Rosario didn't get anywhere near the minutes he figured on upon his transfer from Rutgers, where he was an All-Big East performer and scored more than 1,000 points, but the Gators will need him in '11-12. They'll also need him to operate within the framework of the offense -- and play defense, which he showed a bit of as the season went on.
This summer, Rosario played for the Puerto Rican national team that came within a game of qualifying for the Summer Olympics. That experience can only help his development.
Prather worked through what Donovan called “stage fright” and had some spectacular flashes in the postseason. He needs those moments (and the confidence boost) to carry over into his junior year. He is not a natural outside shooter, but can make open shots and uses his athleticism to score around the basket and in transition. This is a big time of year for him.
Welcome back, Will
Had the Gators defeated Louisville in the NCAA West Region final, forward Will Yeguete would have been recovered from his broken foot and played some minutes in the Final Four.
Instead, the 6-foot-7 forward has used his time to rehab and put on nearly 20 pounds of muscle. He's now in the 245-pound range and is working on his offense as well as his ball-handling, which should make him even more active in transition and full-court defense, where he excels at the top of the press.
I think the version of Yeguete most Gator fans know will give way to a much more well-rounded one this season.
New blood
The Florida staff has praised the attitude and work ethic of the four-man incoming freshman class, but it's way too early to tell which of the rookies -- Braxton Ogbueze (pronounced oh-Boise), Dillon Graham, Michael Frazier or DeVon Walker -- will have an instant impact.
Despite the fact they're mostly interchangeable, each member of the foursome is very different and has specific attributes the coaches like.
Without question, all of them need to get stronger and further acclimated into the system. The summer, combined with preseason, will allow them to hit the ground running.
Right now, though, it looks like all will be given a chance to contribute as freshmen -- though ultimately all won't be able to.
Etc ...
Murphy suffered a sprained ankle playing pickup earlier this month, but has recovered enough to get on the treadmill and is now taking part in most individual instruction work. He also has put on about 10 pounds and is pushing 240, which should help him push back on some big guys in the paint this season. ... While Greene is trying to get most Gators to gain weight, junior center Patric Young -- does he really need to sculpt that body anymore? -- is on a different regimen; one geared more toward conditioning. ... Sophomore center/forward Cody Larson has put on some much-needed pounds. Twice last season he fought flu-like illnesses, missed practices (and some games) and noticeably dropped weight -- and strength. Made it tough when he was called on late in the season for pockets of minutes in the post. Word is Larson is now up to 242 pounds. ... Transfers Dorian “Doe Doe” Finney-Smith (Virginia Tech) and Damontre Harris (South Carolina) are enrolled and participating in all activities. Though both have to sit out this season, their presence should make Young a better player. He'll be going against a pair of Division-I starters every single day, all day -- and Donovan will not let them let up on the big guy. ... Though UF's non-conference slate has been announced -- and I bet it'll end up being one of the three most difficult in the country -- the SEC schedule is still several weeks away from release.
