With So Much Depth, Gators' Starters Should be Penciled In

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Kevarrius Hayes missed a tutor session this week. Florida basketball coach Mike White takes that academic stuff seriously, so he had to do something.

White informed Hayes a few hours before Thursday night's game against North Florida that he would not be in the starting lineup. Hayes would play, he just wouldn't be out there for opening tip.

Hayes' reaction?

He nodded and moved on.

The Gators destroyed the Ospreys that night, 108-68, with Gorjok Gak getting his first career start. Hayes checked in at the 17:20 mark of the first half and went on to score six points, grab seven rebounds and block two shots in 18 minutes.

White was pleased with his junior center's response. Enough so that the 6-foot-9, 225-pound Hayes is expected to be back in the starting lineup Sunday night when the No. 8 Gators (2-0) take on New Hampshire (1-1) at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. Hayes' response, in fact, could serve as a baseline of how every player on the UF roster should react to what could be a slew of different starting combinations (and not necessarily just in the early goings) this season.

[Read senior writer Chris Harry's comprehensive UF-New Hampshire 'Pregame Stuff' setup here]

UF already has used two different starting lineups in two games. Sunday night will make for a third. Given the backlog of players of talented scorers at the perimeter small forward and two-guard spots — Egor Koulechov, Jalen Hudson, Deaundrae Ballard and KeVaughn Allen — White could be having conversations like the one he had with Hayes for a variety of reasons.

"Everybody wants to start, that's just the way it is … and that's a good thing," White said. "We're going to use [the starting lineup] as a way to reward guys, hold them accountable or maybe send a message. But there are other factors that will go into those decisions; offensive factors, defensive factors, scouting reports, opponent factors, of course. Plus, how a guy is practicing, recent [game] performances … ."

Bottom line: White and his staff have options.

What they want along the way, regardless of how they execute those options, is a copacetic bench that is cheering for whatever combination of five is out there. So far, that's been the case. The overall sideline body language has been outstanding.

"We all pull for each other," Stone said. "We love to see our teammates do well."

The best competitors want to start. This Florida team has 10 guys who could be in the first unit. They have six or seven who probably think they should. Unfortunately, there can only be five.

Hudson, the Virginia Tech transfer and offensive microwave, started the first game against Gardner-Webb because senior point guard Chris Chiozza had practiced just twice since spraining his shoulder 10 days earlier. [Note: If Chiozza can sit one out, then no one on this team can complain about not starting.] Hudson went on to score 18 points.

Chiozza was back in the starting lineup against UNF, with Hudson first off the bench. He checked in just 77 seconds after the opening tip.

The UF staff knows Hudson wants to be out there with the first group. When he's not, though, he's the type who just might tend to come into the game a little angry.

And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

"Jalen has a pretty good argument right now, and you respect guys who have an argument," White said. "I tell our guys all the time now, tell them on a daily basis, what they need to do to get more opportunity to help themselves, and therefore help the team. I'm open to those conversations, but you have to have argument."

The argument has be on tape.

It's a great problem to have, actually. One that could get even more complicated down the line when fifth-year senior John Egbunu, one of the best low-post defenders and rim-protectors in the country, is cleared to return from his injury rehab.

So, brush up on that roster, folks.

Gators Calendar

With So Much Depth, Gators' Starters Should be Penciled In

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Players Mentioned

KeVaughn Allen

Deaundrae Ballard

Chris Chiozza

John Egbunu

Gorjok Gak

Kevarrius Hayes

Jalen Hudson

Egor Koulechov

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With So Much Depth, Gators' Starters Should be Penciled In

Next Event

Players Mentioned

KeVaughn Allen

Deaundrae Ballard

Chris Chiozza

John Egbunu

Gorjok Gak

Kevarrius Hayes

Jalen Hudson

Egor Koulechov

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