At The Buzzer: Florida 79, Barry 70 (Instant Analysis of UF's exhibition game)
Friday, November 7, 2014 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
FLORIDA 79, BARRY 70
WHAT HAPPENED: Junior guard Eli Carter, playing his first full game in more than a year and a half, scored 21 points, making five of his nine 3-point attempts, to lead the seventh-ranked Gators to an exhibition victory against Division II Barry. Junior forward Dorian Finney-Smith had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while junior guard Michael Frazier scored all 15 of his points in the first half. UF was out-rebounded by the Buccaneers, out of the Sunshine State Conference, 42-39, and also held to just 41.8 percent shooting for the game.
WHAT IT MEANS: Not much, other than providing Coach Billy Donovan and his staff a reel of game tape to critique against a different opponent. They'll pay particular attention to improving ball movement in the halfcourt, defensive rotations around the 3-point line and overall rebounding (a lot of the same points of emphasis they've focused on this preseason). Worth noting: UF played minus two players who figure prominently in their frontcourt rotation. Sophomore center Chris Walker is suspended for the first three games and forward Alex Murphy, the transfer from Duke, does not become eligible until after the fall semester ends.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Carter, the transfer from Rutgers, played 30 minutes against the Bucs. Carter played just 53 combined in seven games last season before the medical staff shut him down to let him recover from a broken leg that never healed properly. Carter was credited with a medical redshirt year last season.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Freshman forward Devin Robinson, the top-20 signing prospect from Virginia who has looked very polished and poised on offense during practice, missed his first eight field-goal attempts (including two airballs) before burying a 3-point with less than six minutes to go. He finished 2-for-10, good for five points to go with three rebounds.
UP NEXT: The Gators open the 2014-15 regular season Nov. 14 against William & Mary at the O'Dome. The Tribe, out of the Colonial Athletic Conference, is one of five charter Division I programs never to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, having gone 0-8 all-time tournament-clinching games. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on the even of the UF-South Carolina football game.
