Instant Analysis: Florida 89, Palm Beach Atlantic 42 (exhibition)
Friday, November 6, 2015 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
FLORIDA 89, PALM BEACH ATLANTIC 42
WHAT HAPPENED: After more than a month of practicing and banging bodies amongst themselves, Mike White unleashed his first UF basketball team on Division II Palm Beach Atlantic in a sneak peak for the O'Connell Center home crowd. In the first Florida game in 19 years without Billy Donovan on the sidelines, the Gators had a fairly balanced scoring column, with five players in double figures, led by three with 12 points. Senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, freshman guard KeVaughn Allen had 12 points and five steals, and sophomore forward Devin Robinson came off the bench to score 12 points on 3-for-4 shooting from 3-point range, plus a game-best 10 rebounds. Center John Egbunu, the transfer from South Florida, who had 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting (mostly dunks), six rebounds and three blocked shots, while sophomore backup point guard Chris Chiozza was good for 11 points and seven assists. UF led by 19 points at halftime, but blew the game open early in the second half by taking off on an 18-0 run.
WHAT IT MEANS: Nothing, other than the Gators now have put their new White-produced product on the floor for a live audience. The play wasn't very pretty in the first half -- 33 combined turnovers, including 16 for UF -- but roll a new coach, eight new players and a mismatched opponent into the equation and sloppiness can happen. At the same time, White's pressure system encourages chaos. Florida scored 30 points off 30 Sailfish turnovers.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It was DeVon Walker (4 points, 5 rebounds) who got the start at the small forward spot, but the energy and effort on the glass provided by Robinson in a reserve role is exactly what White and his staff have been lobbying for during practice. More efforts like Thursday and it will be difficult to keep Robinson out of the starting lineup. The key for him, though, is showing consistency at practice.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Gators were the worst free-throw shooting team in the Southeastern Conference last season at 63.5 percent. Now the bad news: UF went a horrific 10-for-27 from the line against PBA. That's 37 percent. And as long as we're on bad news, how 'bout 28 turnovers? White has some talking points to work with the next week or so.
UP NEXT: Florida ushers the White era in for real next week when UF opens the 2015-16 regular season against Navy in the Veterans Class at Annapolis, Md. The game between the Gators and Midshipmen will be the second of a double-header celebrating the Veterans Day weekend after No. 1-ranked North Carolina takes on Temple.
