Media Day Notebook: Newbauer 'Building,' Johnson returning, Freshmen Learning, etc.

Lots of cameras and lots of posing showed up at UF men's and women's basketball media day Tuesday.

Media Day Notebook: Newbauer 'Building,' Johnson returning, Freshmen Learning, etc.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Chris Harry

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — This time a year ago, Cam Newbauer was about to enter his first fall as Florida women's basketball coach and his program was undergoing a complete overhaul of, in some instances, personnel, but also of culture. The Gators went on to finish 11-13 and won just three Southeastern Conference games.

On Tuesday, Newbauer, his staff and players posed for their 2018-19 photo to tip-off the team's annual media day. Nearly 18 months since taking the job, Newbauer was asked where the program stood in Year 2 of its rebuild.

"We say 'build,' not rebuild," Newbauer said. And we feel great about the build."

Fifth-year senior Funda Nakkasoglu talks to GatorVision during basketball media day.

So, what's different?

"Well, it's a completely different team," fifth-year senior guard Funda Nakkasoglu said. "So, they're a lot of differences."

Asked and answered. And the latter starts with personnel.

When the Gators convene for their first official fall practice Friday, they'll do so with two returning starters, and just three players (one a walk-on) that got on the court last season. Going to Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center for a game this year? Bring a roster. After Nakkasoglu, the leading scorer at 14.9 points per game, and junior wing Delicia Washington, the fourth-leading scorer (10.2 points per game) and second-best rebounder (8.7 pg), Florida will roll out a squad that includes five transfers (three who will play right away, including former national top-20 prospect Kiara Smith, by way of ASA College in New York), plus a trio of freshmen all expected to contribute.

Just where they'll all fit into UF's '18-19 puzzle is something that will sort itself out in practice and likely into the start of the pre-SEC schedule. Along the way, Newbauer has every intention to play the same up-tempo, space-and-move-the-floor, and — of course — chuck-it-from-the-cheap-seats style of play.

The Gators won't be as big as they were last year, having said goodbye to a pair of productive and beloved 6-foot-3 forwards in Haley Lorenzen and Paulina Hersler, but with players like Smith, Danielle Rainey (a transfer from Texas Christian who will be eligible in December) pairing up with Nakkasolglu and Washington, the team potentially could be tough to guard in small ball.

Call it building (not rebuilding) toward something.

"We feel really good about our culture, in terms of 'we over me' and the attitude and selflessness we're going to carry ourselves with," Newbauer said. "With who we have coming back and this new corps of players, we're excited about the unknown, if I can use that term. There are a lot of things we don't know are going to happen, but we're going to enjoy seeing it all play out and take our time with this group."

WELCOME BACK, CHASE

It's been one thing after another (and none of them good) for Chase Johnson, the 6-9, 219-pound forward who was shut down four games into his freshman season after suffering a second concussion. Johnson was going to have a role in the UF front court, but instead totaled 17 points and eight rebounds in four games, and over the summer was granted a medical waiver. He will be a redshirt freshman this season.

Johnson, from Ripley, W.Va., incurred more bumps and bruises during the offseason, most recently a cervical contusion that kept him on the sidelines for nearly a month. Last week, Johnson got the go-ahead to take some turns in full contact work and wasted no time flashing the length and athleticism UF coaching staff was drawn to during his recruiting process.

"Chase was good," Coach Mike White said. "He was good and he looked healthy."

Johnson was out on the floor again for Tuesday's two-hour practice after media day, with no limitations.

"It felt great to be back. I can't tell you how great it felt," said Johnson, whose non-contact confinement did not keep him from strength training, something that is quite obvious by looking at him. "It was just always something, but I learned a lot about keeping my head up, saying focused and doing what I can. I listened to the trainer, listened to the coaches and put in the time."

Johnson's return inches the Gators a little closer to becoming whole again up front. Gorjok Gak, the 6-11 center is still rehabbing his knee from surgery in April and 6-8, 275-pound (or so) redshirt freshman Isaiah Stokes is working on getting himself back into game shape after missing almost a year and half due to a knee injury suffered his senior year of high school. Both are on track to be ready for the Nov. 6 opener at Florida State, but how much they can help will be determined along the way.

"But I do expect us to be deeper there," White said.

It's entirely possible — though far from a done deal — the Gators will be in a much better front court place than they were a season ago when John Egbunu and Stokes never played, Johnson was done after four games, Dontay Bassett was an unproven redshirt freshman, and center Kevarrius Hayes was the only veteran post man on the squad.

"We need to keep everybody healthy and keep working hard leading up to season," Hayes said. "We have a chance to start off strong with all of our pieces and people will see where we are in terms of having a whole roster."

FRESH FACES

With each practice, it's becoming clearer that this freshman class of point guard Andrew Nembhard, shooting guard Noah Locke and forward Keyontae Johnson is not just the best in White's four seasons at UF, but maybe the best to roll through here in years.

"We're here to compete," Locke said.

Nembhard, the first five-star prospect to sign with White and an elite passer, will compete for the starting point guard spot. Locke, maybe the best pure shooter on the team, will be instant offense off the bench, while the 6-5 Johnson has all the physical tools to be a great perimeter defender (maybe even at four positions, due to his long arms and 41-inch vertical jump).

"All three of our freshmen will play," White said.

A bunch.

#GatorsMediaDay pic.twitter.com/wsv1yPDirZ
— Gators Men's Basketball (@GatorsMBK) September 25, 2018

FREE THROWS

Media day wasn't just about players being interviewed for print, electronic and internet stories, but also offered a chance to move from one social media production station to the next. A couple of the guys bounce around asking when their turn at this place or that place would be (like they were at Disney World or something). They liked the GIF station, but also the photographers who shoot stills of them jumping in the air (and preening). … The women will play a fairly ambitious non-league schedule, with road dates at Florida State, Mercer and Ohio State, all NCAA Tournament teams, plus a trip to Indiana, which won the NIT. Even Bethune-Cookman, which the Gators play at home Dec. 5, made the tournament last season. … Newbauer actually has yet another transfer who will not be eligible to play this season in 6-5 sophomore center Emer Nichols, who came from Texas A&M and must sit out, per NCAA rules. Another, Corey Staples, spent her entire '17-18 walk-on season rehabbing from a knee injury suffered early in the fall, but the 5-8 junior from Santa Fe (Fla.) College has not only been fully cleared, she was put on scholarship for her final year as a Gator. Staples is the cousin of former UF standout defensive tackle and current assistant strength coach Reggie McGrew, who played for Steve Spurrier's 1996 national-championship team.