GETTING INSIDE
Florida coach Billy Donovan is aware that fans want the Gators to return to the glory of their recent past.
For nine straight years, Donovan guided the Gators to the NCAA Tournament, culminating with back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007.
That made Florida’s second straight trip to the National Invitation Tournament in 2008-09 tough to take. All season long, Donovan assured that this team was better than a season ago.
But following Florida ’s season-ending 71-62 loss to Penn State in the NIT quarterfinals, Donovan acknowledged more work needs to be done heading into the 2009-10 season to become an NCAA Tournament team.
“We have a long way to go to get there,” Donovan said. “I think we really do. That’s kind of the reality of it. There’s a lot of aspects that go into getting to that point. But I still think that we’ve got a ways to go in terms of developing, getting them better and adding more pieces.”
Donovan said he expected more contributions from his freshman frontcourt players, but Eloy Vargas and Allan Chaney were hampered at different points of the season with ankle problems, and freshman Kenny Kadji was inconsistent.
Without a reliable inside presence, Florida was forced to rely too much on its perimeter shooting for scoring. On nights when the Gators didn’t shoot well, they couldn’t find other ways to win.
For the second straight season, Florida collapsed late, losing three of its final four regular-season games. In a critical postseason game, Florida couldn’t beat Auburn in the SEC quarterfinals after beating the Tigers on their home court earlier in the season.
Whether it was from pressure or fatigue, Florida couldn’t find a consistent performer in clutch, late-game situations. The Gators were 4-6 in games decided by five points or fewer.
“I don’t think it’s from a lack of trying or competing or those guys trying to do those things,” Donovan said. “I don’t sit there and say, ‘Wow, these guys aren’t playing hard, they’re not trying.’ I’ve never felt that way. We had one game this year that we lost by double figures. Every other game we’ve been in there, we’ve battled. There just has to be an understanding of how to make those plays that are necessary.”
Donovan is hopeful that the addition of center Vernon Macklin (a transfer from Georgetown who sat out last season due to Division I transfer rules) and a recruiting class that includes McDonald’s All-America shooting guard Kenny Boynton will provide some more pieces heading into 2009-10. And Donovan has assured he will be around to coach the team.
Donovan, who just completed the second year of a six-year contract extension that pays him $3.5 million, removed himself from consideration for the opening at Kentucky in a statement released by the school Friday.
“In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible. I am committed to the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our program here,” Donovan said.
NOTES, QUOTES
FINAL RECORD: 25-11 overall, 9-7 Southeastern Conference, third in SEC East.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Florida was able to get another record-setting season from sophomore point guard Nick Calathes, who eclipsed his school record for assists with 231 (he had 221 as a freshman.) Freshman guard Erving Walker was a pleasant surprise, finishing the season as Florida’s third-leading scorer (10.1 points per game) and best perimeter shooter (41.9 percent from three-point range.) Despite his 5-foot-8 size, Walker was one of the few players on the roster who had the ability to create his own shot off the dribble. Sophomore center Alex Tyus made the biggest leap from his freshman season, averaging 12.5 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds per game. Florida was a better full-court pressing team this season, forcing 15.1 turnovers per game. The Gators ranked third in the SEC with 8.17 steals per game.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Florida still couldn’t guard consistently on the perimeter. Because of injuries and the lack of athletic players to play man defense, Florida spent much of the season in a matchup zone. As a result, Florida ranked tied for last in the league with Arkansas in field-goal percentage (44 percent) and was ninth in three-point field-goal percentage defense (35.1 percent). A season-ending injury to Adam Allen (knee) hampered Florida’s depth, as did the early-season transfer of guard Jai Lucas (to Texas). Freshman forward Allan Chaney missed much of the second half of the season with ankle problems, and freshman forward Eloy Vargas (6-10, 220) was too far behind to become a factor inside after missing the offseason and most of the non-conference schedule following ankle surgery.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’m just as hungry as the next person to get back there. That’s obviously our goal. I went to college wanting to go to the NCAA Tournament every year. You can’t look back and whine about it. You just got to look forward and understand what you have to do and get better.” -- Florida junior forward Dan Werner, on missing the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
THE GOOD NEWS: Much of Florida’s woes throughout the 2008-09 season could be pointed to a lack of a physical presence inside.
That should improve with the addition of 6-foot-9, 240-pound center Vernon Macklin next season. A former McDonald’s All-American, Macklin transferred from Georgetown and sat out last season due to NCAA Division I transfer rules. Incoming 2009 freshman DeShawn Painter (6-9, 210) and Erik Murphy (6-10, 220) also should add some depth on the frontline.
Another incoming freshman who could make an immediate impact next season is guard Kenny Boynton (6-2, 187), a McDonald’s All-American and consensus top-10 national recruit. Boynton is versatile enough to play both guard spots and could contend for a starting job in the backcourt next season.
THE BAD NEWS: The status of Florida sophomore point guard Nick Calathes remains up in the air. Calathes would not confirm or deny whether the loss to Penn State was his last game in a Gator uniform.
Calathes is projected as a late-first to early second-round NBA draft pick on some mock NBA draft Web sites.
“I’m not really thinking about that right now,” Calathes said. “When it’s time I’ll sit down with Coach (Donovan) and my family and decide from there.”
Asked if not making the NCAA Tournament for two straight years will impact his decision, Calathes said: “I don’t know. I’m definitely a winner. I want to win. So I really don’t know.”
If Florida loses Calathes, it would lose close to 22 percent of its scoring and more than a third of its assists. Calathes led Florida in scoring (17.2 points per game) and assists (231) this season.
KEY RETURNEES: If Calathes decides to come back, Florida will return four of its five starters. Senior-to-be Dan Werner (8.9 points, 4.9 rebounds) is Florida’s best inside defender, but he will need to find a way to improve his three-point shooting percentage (35.7 percent.)
Alex Tyus (12.5 points, 6.2 rebounds) could be even more effective if he slides from the center to power forward spot next season. Freshman guard Erving Walker (41.9 percent from three-point range) would return as Florida’s top perimeter threat.
Somehow, Florida must find a way to get more from junior-to-be forward Chandler Parsons, who showed flashes of potential but whose inconsistency landed him on the bench by the end of the season. Parsons scored a career-best 27 points against Vanderbilt on Jan. 25 but failed to reach double figures in scoring in six of his last seven games this season.
ROSTER REPORT:
--F Allan Chaney, already out for the season with a sprained arch, ended the season suspended indefinitely for undisclosed disciplinary reasons. Chaney’s mother, Brenda Pledger, said that Chaney would like to return to the team.
--C Kenny Kadji missed Florida’s final game against Penn State with a concussion.
--G Walter Hodge, a senior, said he would like to play either overseas in Europe or in his native Puerto Rico next season.
Previous Report: 04/02/2009
|
|
 |
