Senior point guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) brings the ball up during Tuesday's opening fall practice.
Gators Look to Build on Encouraging Offseason
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The first 30 or so minutes of Tuesday's practice didn't appear much different than the bulk of the Florida Gators' 50-plus workouts over the previous four months. Where it took on a different look was with the length of the practice.
They were at it for real, this time. As in for 105 up-tempo minutes. As in the first of four this week, then five more next week and so on and so on over the next six weeks — with two scrimmages along the way in October — leading up to the 2024-25 season opener Nov. 4 against South Florida at Jacksonville.
It's officially basketball preseason, which is not quite basketball season, of course, but the countdown is on and Day 1 of Coach Todd Golden's third season is in the books.
"It was a little more intense than the others, but it was good to get the season started and started off right," said freshman guard Isaiah Brown, who like the bulk of his teammates has been on campus and working since June, but got his first true dose of a real-life college hoops work day. "It's exciting to have a chance to build on everything we've done."
Per NCAA rules, UF held 30 shorter practices during the late-spring and summer, another 20 once fall classes commenced in late-August and along the way established a blue-collar, go-hard environment that will serve as a baseline in improving last season's 24-12 season — the program's most victories in seven years — that ended with a first-round NCAA Tournament loss. The Gators return five key players from their rotation, including a pair of starters, and added a trio of transfers that figure prominently in the '24-25 plans.
"I think we're really mature. I think we play really hard. And I think we're really unselfish. Those three things, specifically, are kind of the identity of this group," Golden said Tuesday. "People who have been in our gym see the level of competitiveness on a day-to-day basis. I think we're really consistent that way. We have a lot of work to do, but the bones of our foundation are strong. We shoot the ball well. We're athletic, we run, we play hard. At the end of the day, as long as our guys compete I'll be OK and live with whatever happens. But we're off to a good start."
Mature. Play hard. Unselfish. Yes, those are excellent attributes to have heading into a season.
Along those lines, here are three points of emphasis the Gators will look to nurture and hone over the 41-day run-up to the first game.
1) DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT
Get used to hearing a lot about this. John Andrzejek
The Gators were one of the most lethal offenses in the country last season. Their final KenPom.com numbers put them 12th in offensive efficiency (fourth in the Southeastern Conference). This group has a chance to be equally explosive, but Golden and his staff have put a premium on making big strides with a defense that finished 94th in efficiency and allowed opponents to average 86.8 points per game in March.
"It's been a huge jump in focus and it's going to pay off," senior wing Will Richard said.
Get to know this name: John Andrezejek. He's in his second season as a UF assistant, having arrived last year by way of Washington State, and has been charged with the role as defensive coordinator. The team will dedicate more practice blocks to furthering that cause.
Andrezejek is not the only guy with a Wazzu background who's going to make a difference on that end. Sophomore center Rueben Chinyelu, a 6-foot-10, 255-pound manchild in the post, will join forces alongside 6-11 sophomore Alex Condon, a SEC All-Freshman selection last season, to give the Gators a longer, more athletic, physical rim-protecting presence in the post.
The defensive impact of off-guard Alijah Martin, who helped guide Florida Atlantic to the 2023 Final Four, figures to be instantaneous. Meanwhile, returning starters Richard and Walter Clayton Jr. came back from the NBA evaluation process vowing to recommit themselves to upgrade their defense.
UF finished 59th nationally in 2-point defensive efficiency. That's better than the 94th overall, but not good enough. The Gators gave up too many straight-line drives to the hole and also fouled too much a season ago, the former being something that's remained an issue all summer.
"I think those three areas will really determine how big of a jump we make," Golden said.
2) MAINTAIN COMPETITIVE TONE SET DURING THE OFFSEASON
Pickup games were folded twice a week into the team's offseason routine, much to the delight of the players. Those games were appointment viewing, for no other reason than to see the collective competitiveness with which the Gators performed. Rueben Chinyelu (9)
"It's close to a fight every time," Richard said. "Everyone wants to win. I've been enjoying it."
Close, yes, but no one ever came to blows. A lot of high-level play and trash-talking, though.
"The freshman from last year are a year older," Clayton said.
And a year bolder. Condon and 6-9 forward Thomas Haugh are the same fearless, no-surrender guys every day. They're also better players than they were last year. Way better and more confident.
Throw in Chinyelu and his flying elbows and forearms, the battle-tested veteran Martin, along with 6-8 forward Sam Alexis, who nearly averaged a double-double at Tennessee-Chattanooga, and there's just a lot of pride and competitive spirit on the court.
The Gators, as a whole, will be anxious to unleash it all on someone in a different uniform. That's a ways away, but the mentality has to continue.
3) KEEP PUSHING THE PACE
Florida finished 17th nationally in tempo last season, but among power conference teams only Kentucky, Alabama and Arizona played faster (at 15.9 seconds per possession). Assistant coach Kevin Hovde, the offensive coordinator, wants transition, transition, transition. Rebound, go and either get a shot in six seconds or be in position to get one. Kevin Hovde
All four bigs can run. Fast. Clayton will assume the point guard duties, but in a way that will bear zero resemblance to the ball-dominant role of first-team All-SEC playmaker Zyon Pullin last year. The addition of Martin, with 155 career steals, should fascilitate pace, plus he's an excellent transition player and career 37-percent 3-point shoote When the UF offense has to set up in the half court, the ball screens to get Clayton, Martin and Richard open looks, or rim-runners for the bigs, will come fast, furiously and often. Junior Denzel Aberdeen, who made a huge jump late last season and figures to be a 20-minute guy in '24-25, will get a ton of rips with the ball, as well.
Freshman guardIsaiah Brown (right) throws down 6-11 Alex Condon (21) during a transition drill Tuesday.
"Denzel is a guy we expect a lot of this year," Golden said.
The Gators will need a fifth guard, but just which of three candidates fighting for that ninth spot in the rotation — the freshman Brown, returning sophomore Kajus Kublickas or freshman Urban Klavzar, who signed over the summer — will push the ball best, protect it and defend at a high level? The one who distinguishes himself over the next six weeks will be an intriguing and competitive storyline to follow.
