Gator Raid - Florida's Young Guns Look to Make a Splash
by Ian James
NCAA betting Tournament after back-to-back national titles. With three returning starters, six freshmen and only one senior, this is phase 2 of Billy Donovan's reconstruction. They have been a strong home team going undefeated through 16 games but has struggled on the road and against tougher opponents.
It was hard to get a read on the Gators early because of a ridiculously soft non-conference schedule. If nothing else, that provided Donovan time to experiment and gauge the temperature of the freshmen. What it boiled down to was that the young Gators are happy to shoot their 3-point shots and don't much trade elbows in the paint. Ah, if only this team still had big man Marreese Speights, who left after his sophomore season to become the 16th pick in the NBA betting draft.
Still, raw talent is not the issue. Florida's sophomore class was once the top recruiting group in the nation. The freshmen were a top 10 group. For what it's worth, next year's newcomers are a top 10 class, too. But the Gators aren't willing to play the "wait 'til next year card" because they are equipped to make a little bit of noise this postseason.
Sophomore guard Nick Calathes is a special talent who, at 6'6" can play multiple positions well. He is the team's leading scorer, one of the best passers in the nation -- he led the SEC in assists as a freshman with 6.1 per game -- and he just makes everyone around him better. Florida's perimeter game -- as well as its ability to press and create easy baskets, especially against lesser opponents -- is augmented by senior Walter Hodge and 5-8 freshman backup Erving Walker.
Dan Werner, at 6'8", 230, is the closest thing Florida has to a tough-guy enforcer, but he doesn't mind stepping out behind the 3-point arc. Kenny Kadji, a 6'10" freshman, has helped only marginally. Eloy Vargas, another 6'10" freshman, missed the first half of the season because of injury. The Gators can hold their own on the glass in many games, but this is also a team that was out-rebounded 46-22 in its SEC opener against Ole Miss, which is not a great rebounding team by any stretch.
Florida is good, but looks to be another year away from greatness.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nick Calathes: Superb all-around talent who likely will be a first-round pick some day.
Walter Hodge: A steady glue guy with the speed to penetrate and the stroke to drain the three-ball.
Alex Tyus: Athletic 6'8" forward is the team's best at crashing the boards and finishing from close range.
