Men's Basketball Media Day Quotes
Tuesday, September 29, 2015 | Men's Basketball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Florida men's basketball team held its annual preseason media day on Tuesday. Check out what the Gators are saying heading into the 2015-16 training camp, the team's first under head coach Mike White.
#0 Junior Guard Kasey Hill
On changing his shooting mechanics:
“Before I was shooting in front of my face, so I have been working on getting it more on the side and out of my face and just following through”
On expectations for this year:
“I don't really have any expectations right now. We want to win more games than we did last year and just prove a lot of people wrong.”
On a fast-paced offense:
“I am very excited. I love the new style of it and love the new coaches. I think it fits perfectly for me and not only just for me, but for the rest of those on our team. I think it's perfect for everybody.”
#1 RS-Junior Guard/Forward DeVon Walker
On coming back after missing last season:
“I feel like a kid again. I feel like when my mom used to tell me that I could go to the park and play. I am excited, and I think that everybody is excited for me. It's a new look, and it's going to be fun.”
On the intensity this year:
“Everything is picked up. I feel like a track team turned into a basketball team. The pace is jumping, the intensity is high, even higher than it was last year at this time, so we will be ready.”
#2 RS-Freshman Guard Brandone Francis-Ramirez
On what last year taught him:
“I learned a lot from last year's team, so I think this year I am coming in ready to play with no expectations, just trying to take it day by day...I was in the weight room 24/7. I worked as hard as I could. I listened to the coaches, and I just tried to make myself a better student and a better basketball player.”
On the team's expectations for the season:
“We don't have any expectations coming in because we saw what happened last year, so I think this year we are hungry. I have no expectations. I'm just trying to come out there and be the best guy for my teammates and for my coaches to try to win games.”
#3 Sophomore Forward Devin Robinson
On the offseason:
“It's been good. I've been working on ball handling and my overall game. I struggled last year. I've tried to work on the things I need to work on to get better – staying in the weight room conditioning-wise and staying in the gym putting up extra shots after practice.”
On the coaching transition:
“I didn't expect this to happen. I thought Coach D would be here all the years I was here. Everything happens for a reason, so I'm just taking that as a blessing. Coach Donovan had a hand in getting Coach White in here because he knew he could help us and be a good coach for us.”
On the effect of his weight gain:
“It's going to impact me a lot. I'm going to be stronger, and I'm not going to be pushed around as much I used to be last year.”
#4 Freshman Guard KeVaughn Allen
On choosing to come to Florida:
“Coach White, when he came to visit me, was telling me things about the offense, the program, and how he would run things. I believed in him and what he told me. I thought that I could fit in well here.”
On what he needs to improve:
“I will continue to work on my dribbling, shooting and getting stronger.”
On getting into shape:
“The conditioning has been tough lately, but you just have to keep pushing. Pain is temporary, and I just have to keep running.”
#5 RS-Senior Forward Alex Murphy
On the offseason:
“We have had a good summer and a good fall on the court, in the weight room and conditioning. I think they (the coaches) have been pleased. I think we have been pleased as a group with how far we have come in a short amount of time, but we know we have a long way to go.”
On the new coaches:
“The first week they were here, they were on the court with us doing workouts. We kind of got a good sense of what it was going to be like. They have been tough and challenging, but they've been a lot of fun, too.”
#10 RS-Senior Forward Dorian Finney-Smith
On the new coaching staff:
“They are both great coaches and they both like to get up and down (the floor). In workouts so far, the pace of the practices has been so much faster. We just have to stick together as a team. Hopefully we can gel at the right time and have a great year.”
On having on a leadership role this season:
“I know these guys. I know that I have played on a good team, and I have played on a team that wasn't very successful. I know how a good team looks and how a bad team looks. I say that we have to work hard day by day. We can't look ahead to the next game. We have to focus on today. Right now, that's just getting in the gym every day.”
#11 Sophomore Guard Chris Chiozza
On the team's identity:
“It's going to be a defensive team. So were we last year, but (this year we will be) faster-paced, energetic and have a lot of enthusiasm on the court.”
On how he's grown since freshman season:
“I am definitely a lot more calm now – mature. That year helped me get a little experience under my belt.”
#12 Sophomore Guard Zach Hodskins
On the coaching transition:
“We aren't too far in the season yet where I can see distinct changes, but we still have a lot of great energy on the team during practices and that's all that really matters.”
On coaches being hands-on in practice:
“It is exciting getting everyone involved, and it is more energetic and a fun thing to see.”
On his goals for the season:
“To get back to the SEC tournament and get back to the NCAA tournament. To become a real family and real brothers and fight our way back. I am excited for the journey.”
#13 Freshman Forward Kevarrius Hayes
On deciding to come to Florida after Billy Donovan left:
“It's not like I wanted to leave the whole Florida program because, of course I came here with the idea of Billy Donovan, but as I got to know more about Florida, I grew to love it as a whole. The basketball program is what I was most interested in and I just wanted to be a part of it.”
On coaches working handon with the team in practice:
“I enjoy knowing that they are here working as hard as we are. They are on the court with us just helping us get better. I find it pretty great.”
On Dorian Finney-Smith:
“I have watched him play over a couple of years, and I do look up to him as somebody I want to imitate on the court. He knows what he has to do and gets it done. That's something we all need to do.”
#14 RS-Senior Guard Lexx Edwards
On the coaches being hands-on in practice:
“They try to match our competiveness. It's definitely fun having them interact with us like that. It's different, but we try to learn something from them in any aspect that we can.”
On what the coaches have taught him:
“(The importance of) high energy, and how that can carry you a long way. How energetic they are and how positivity can do a lot for you, especially when there is an early morning game and the energy is really low.”
#15 RS-Sophomore Center John Egbunu
On having to sit out a year:
“It was tough, but at the same time, it was a learning process for me. I spent a lot of time working on my game and getting better. It opened up a lot of my weaknesses. It was time well spent.”
On Billy Donovan leaving:
“It was a tough thing for me and for all of us because we all built a relationship with him. He was like a father to us, and we looked at him as someone who could talk to us and tell us the truth. Him leaving was tough for all of us, but at the same time, we understand that sometimes things happen. He will be missed all around here.”
#20 RS-Freshman Guard Jhonny Victor
On the coaching staff:
“It's a very exciting coaching staff – real fast tempo. They like to get up and down (the court) really quickly. They're young guys, so it's very entertaining to watch.”
On Mike White:
“Coach White is very laid back and cool. I like him a lot. He's very outgoing.”
#23 Freshman Forward Keith Stone
On his progress:
“I'm working harder every day and getting better.”
On the other freshmen:
“I see competitiveness, and we work hard in practice everyday.”
On the new coaching staff:
“They're a great group of guys. They're very energetic and nice, and they're just fun to be around.”
#24 Junior Forward Justin Leon
On starting the season:
“I don't know how to explain it. All the times I watched Florida on TV, I never thought I would actually be playing for this school, so it's just something I can't wait for.”
On his best asset:
“I have high intensity and high motivation. I am always constantly moving around with full energy. That's probably the number one thing in my game that I can bring and something that I will always have.”
On how previously knowing Mike White eased his transition:
I can rely on him and talk to him about certain things. It just helps a lot because he has been here over the summer. He knows the players, so if I have a question about somebody, I can ask him. Already having a bond with Coach White helped because I wasn't going into a place that I didn't know anybody.”
#32 Junior Forward/Center Schuyler Rimmer
On the coaching transition:
“I'm really happy with this transition into this new coaching staff. I came here to play for Billy Donovan, but Coach White is another great alternative.”
On his role in the offense:
“I'm not too worried about what my role is going to be in the offense or how many shots am I going to get. I am more focused right now on showing the coaches what I can do, and however they want to use me is up to their discretion. Everyone is going to have to be ready this year whenever his name gets called, so that's what our focus has to be.”
