Tyree Appleby won't start Tuesday, but he'll lead the Gators by example (and off the bench) into their season opener against the Phoenix.
Appleby Defining Gators' Team-First Buy-in
Tuesday, November 9, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The prime storyline for 2021-22 Florida basketball has been talked about since the last of the Gators' four transfer players, each of them standouts at their previous program, made their moves official last spring. Since they arrived, guards Brandon McKissic (Missouri-Kansas City), Myreon Jones (Penn State) and Phlandrous Fleming Jr. (Charleston Southern), plus forward CJ Felder (Boston College), have heard the numbers they amassed at their previous places trumpeted — starting with 3,882 combined points — trumpeted, all the while saying all the right things relative to putting any personal agendas aside and playing for the common of winning.
Just how it all works, how it all plays out and meshes together, will begin unveiling itself Tuesday night when the Gators open the season against Elon at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. Three of those four transfers will be in the starting lineup, with the other one of the first off the bench, which speaks to their talent. How they embrace their roles — all of whom almost certainly will log fewer minutes than with their former teams — will speak to their character.
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" breakdown here]
Appleby is UF's fifth-year senior point guard. He had to sit out the 2019-20 season because the NCAA's one-time transfer rule was not on the books yet. He started 17 of 25 games last season and finished third on the teaming in scoring, field-goal attempts and minutes played. His 1,181 career points (tallied up in two seasons at Cleveland State and one COVID-shortened campaign at UF) ranks second on the team.
He will come off the bench.
Appleby's newly arrived teammates must show their commitment to a team-first mentality. Appleby already has.
"To me, it's no different than starting," Appleby said. "I think everybody on our team is going to be unselfish about minutes and just come and play. However much you work in practice is going to determine playing time. Everybody knows that. If we buy in, who's starting doesn't matter. What matters is achieving as a team, winning and maxing out."
That's where Appleby's head was last week when he checked into UF's exhibition against Embry-Riddle at the 16:07 mark of the first half. Appleby went on to score 13 points, drop four of his eight 3-point attempts, dish seven assists and commit just two turnovers in an energetic, team-high 29 minutes. The Gators won 80-57.
Appleby's performance was much like what he put on tape nine days earlier when Florida played North Carolina in a closed scrimmage at the O'Dome. He made shots, ran the offense, found open guys and (this is big) took care of the basketball.
Basically, he played like a starter.
Tyree Appleby averaged 11.3 points and was second on the team in assists in his first year with the Gators last season.
"He's an older guy, so he handled that with maturity," fifth-year senior Anthony Duruji said of "App's" reserve role. "You already know what he's going to give you every night. He's a tough, gritty guy."
Competitive and proud, too. UF coach Mike White and his staff made no promises to any player on the team, other than their time on the court would be evaluated by what they did during offseason and preseason practices — and now, the games. Regarding the former, Appleby admits McKissic, Jones and Fleming held the summer edge.
"They won their jobs, fair and square," he said.
That's doesn't mean, as White was quick to point out, they get to keep them. As far as the UF coach is concerned, he has four starting guards and they are vying for their place in the lineup daily.
"At the end of the day, it doesn't matter to me who starts, but I know it matters to young men; just like it did for me when I was 20, 22 years old," White said. "What's important to me is who plays well and who finishes the game. I don't know what App's role will be a week from now or a month from now. I just know he's fulfilling his role right now and playing well despite the fact he didn't start."
Last season, Appleby played a ton, but also — like the Gators, as a team, who had nearly 90 more turnovers than assists in '20-21 — turned it over a ton. He had 82 assists versus 72 turnovers (basically a 1-to-1 ratio) and the coaching staff is not just asking but demanding a better rate this season. Make the right play. Don't try to do too much.
"We talk about it everyday," assistant coach Akeem Miskdeen said.
"It's been a subject all summer and every practice, yes," Appleby said. "I think I'm taking precaution."
And along the way, setting an example for his veteran teammates (be them returning Gators or incoming ones) to watch and mimic.
"He's really seemed to have fallen into continuing to develop from a mid-major primary scoring guard to a high-major point guard. He's been receptive to everything we've asked of him and worked really hard," White said. "His focus has been singular. He's been asked to make better decisions with the basketball and that, above all else, is what we've seen from him this fall."
