Opponent Sneak Peek: Florida
As part of our series of snapshot previews of UK opponents, the BBL takes a first look at Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators.
Backcourt
Florida lost leading scorer Nick Calathes and Walter Hodge, the last remaining holdover from its back-to-back titles in ‘06-‘07. Expected to replace that production is freshman sensation Kenny Boynton. More of a combo guard than a true point, Boynton can score from anywhere on the court. He’ll be teamed in the backcourt with Erving Walker, a 5’8 fireplug who averaged 10 points a game last year. Ray Shipman is the only other guard on the roster with significant experience, but the Gators also added Nimrod Tishman from Israel, who they are counting on to add depth. Overall, Florida will be thin and inexperienced in the backcourt.
Frontcourt
6-9 Alex Tyus and 6-10 Dan Werner are both reliable scorers who can rebound and hold their own in the paint. They are backed up by 6-9 Chandler Parsons who averaged 9 points and 6 boards and can shoot from the perimeter. Florida’s biggest impact low-post player probably comes in the form of 6-9 Georgetown transfer Vernon Macklin. Macklin is a warrior type who will battle hard under the goal. Kenny Kadji is a big body with little experience backing up the other four.
Freshmen
Boynton looks to be one of the top Frosh in D-1. It wouldn’t surprise us if he was UF’s leading scorer as a true frosh. Erik Murphy is a 6-10 Matt Bonner type who can shoot it from deep and mix it up underneath due to his size.
Outlook
In a loaded SEC, this group might not be more than a borderline NCAA tourney team. They have so many question marks in the backcourt it’s hard for us to expect them to do much better than 8-8 in the SEC. But Boynton will be fun to watch.
BBL Take
UK should handle these guys this season. Billy D has fallen on hard times since Florida’s championship seasons, and early departures have really hurt continuity. Florida-Kentucky has been a great SEC rivalry in recent years, but due to matchup advantages, the balance has shifted back to the north.
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