Carter, Finney-Smith 'questionable' for Atlantis
Sunday, November 23, 2014 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Guard Eli Carter has a sprain to his left foot and that's really good news for the Florida basketball team as it preps for next week's Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.
Carter, the junior guard averaging 14.5 points over two games, collapsed during Thursday's practice after planting and attempting a cut in the open floor. X-rays were negative, but the UF training staff waited for Saturday's MRI results before ballparking Carter's availability. Those results were encouraging.
After missing Friday night's 61-56 overtime win over Louisiana-Monroe, Carter is "questionable" for Wednesday night when the Gators (2-1) face Georgetown (3-0) in first-round Atlantis play at Paradise Island. After struggling for offense Friday, UF desperately needs the dribble-drive and perimeter shooting threat Carter (pictured left on bench wearing boot) can give them as a combo guard. In a two-point loss Monday night against Miami, Carter went 8-for-9 from the floor and scored a team-high 21 points.
Meanwhile, junior forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who has missed two games since suffering two hairline fractures to the left hand in the season-opening win over William & Mary, also is listed as questionable for the Bahamas tournament. But Finney-Smith, who went for 15 points and five rebounds in the opener,, has some academic issues to clear up, according to Coach Billy Donovan, who told the 6-foot-8 standout to stay away from the team -- except for rehab with the trainers -- until his classroom issues were taken care of.
Asked about the availability of Finney-Smith, the Southeastern Conference's Sixth Man of the Year last season, Donovan said only, "To be determined."
