SEC Basketball Preview: #2 Florida Gators
By Jacob Rude
2013-14 Season Results: 36-3 record, 18-0 SEC, 1st in SEC. 63-53 loss to Connecticut in NCAA Final Four
Key Losses: Casey Prather, Scottie Wilbekin, Patric Young, Will Yeguete
Key Returnees: Michael Frazier II, Dorian Finney-Smith, Chris Walker
2014 Recruiting Class: Devin Robinson (#23 overall), Brandone Francis (#35 overall), Chris Chiozza (#45 overall), Zach Hodskins (unranked)
all rankings according to ESPN
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Hail Florida Hail
Nearly every team across America has problems replacing� a senior starter or two, often the leaders of the team. Billy Donovan has that problem….times four.
With a veteran group of players including four senior starters, Donovan and his charges cruised through the regular season, going a perfect 18-0 in the SEC en route to a 36-3 record. All three of their losses came against ranked teams – at Wisconsin and Connecticut early in the season and again to UConn in the Final Four.
Rarely does a team go 36-3 and feel as disappointed as Donovan’s did, though. The Gators were ranked in the top 10 from the beginning of SEC play on, eventually moving into the top spot in late February just prior to tournament time, making the loss against UConn the second time around all the harder to swallow.
Now, Donovan is left trying to fill in the pieces, similar to the task he had following his back-to-back title teams. Unlike last time, Donovan appears to have a roster more fit to rebound as opposed to his 2007-08 team that went 24-12 and missed the NCAA tournament.
The lone returning starter, Frazier II, was one of the best shooters in the country last season. His 45.5% 3-point percentage on 235 attempts was third in the nation last year for players with at least 200 attempts. This season, he’ll be the focus of defenses and certainly will have a much bigger task on his hand.
Joining him in the starting line-up will likely be forward Chris Walker, who came in as a highly touted freshman last season. However, after being ruled academically ineligible, Walker didn’t make his debut until the beginning of February. In his short time, he gave glimpses of what to expect, but still was sporadic in his production. Nevertheless, he’ll be expected to take on a much bigger role this season.
Fellow sophomore and big-time recruit Kasey Hill could also very likely find himself thrust into the starting role as point guard. In 32 games last year, Hill averaged just 5.5 points a night, but did finish with 3.1 assists per contest, second on the team. Like the majority of the roster, Hill will see a big bump in minutes and responsibilities, but based on what was seen last season, Hill is ready to lead the Gators.
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Returning SEC Sixth Man of the Year Finney-Smith will likely abandon his role off the bench for a starting spot this season. Finney-Smith and Frazier II had the most appearances in games last season of any returning players and will take over leadership roles. Depending on the development of incoming freshman, Finney-Smith may maintain his role off the bench as an anchor for the second unit.
Part of the reason Donovan will be able to make the transition from last year’s young squad to this year’s is the freshman class, which features a trio of top-50 recruits. Robinson leads the way as a versatile forward. The body of a power forward and the skill set of a small forward will lead to many match-up problems for opponents against Robinson.
Guards Francis and Chiozza could be impact players as well for the Gators. Francis could nab the shooting guard spot depending on Finney-Smith’s role this season, but will be a handful for defenses either way with his aggressiveness and feel for the game. Chiozza is small at just 5’10”, but makes up for it in quickness and shooting, providing the second unit some scoring.
On top of all that, Donovan will be gaining the services of a pair of transfers in Alex Murphy and Jon Horford, both brothers of former Gators in Erik Murphy and Al Horford. Murphy, who came in during the spring of last season, will be eligible to play come December.
Horford, however, transferred in for his final year of eligibility after graduating from Michigan, meaning he will not have to sit out. According to the roster found on Wikipedia, Horford was named captain of the squad, which is unsurprising considering he will be one of just four seniors this season, with two of the others being walk-ons. Depending on how the rest of the rotation shakes out, Horford could even find himself as a starter, but will play a big role either way.
What does all of this add to? Despite their youth, Donovan has a deep squad and will find himself near the top of a weak SEC conference. With just the four aforementioned seniors, the core of this team will be together for multiple years, which is great news for a Gators program that will likely run into speed bumps early in the season during their transition from last year’s veteran unit.
Where do you think Florida will finish this season? Let us know down below!